Maelstrom Profile Preview - The Remnant

Imagine civilization wiped out, with two surviving factions battling for supremacy only to have an alien race invade the planet. That's the premise behind Maelstrom, an upcoming real-time strategy game that will let you play as one of three factions fighting amid the ruins of Earth. There are the corporate Ascension, the ragtag freedom fighters known as the Remnant, and the Hai-Genti aliens. We previously covered strategies that you'll want to use if playing as the Ascension, and below are the strategies that you'll want to use if playing as the Remnant. Maelstrom is due to ship in February.

Remnant Strategies

The Remnant represent the ultimate survivors of the alien cataclysm. Lacking the high-tech resources of the Ascension, the Remnant must make do with weapons and gear salvaged from a shattered civilization. Having such secondhand gear means that the Remnant can't last in a stand-up fight against the other factions, and instead must rely on unconventional tactics.

Defenses are something that the Remnant use to good effect. In fact, the Remnant is the only one of the game's three factions with dedicated defensive structures. In addition, these structures can be upgraded. The watchtower, for example, can be upgraded with machine guns, rockets, or a cannon, depending on your needs. Machine guns are antiinfantry, rockets are antiair and powerful ground support, and cannons are for when you expect enemy heavy units.

Placement of defensive structures is always critical. You should always build watchtowers at the entrances to your base, since those serve as excellent choke points. If your base is in the open, you should terraform the terrain to create barriers and choke points. One good tactic is to position a sniper at each watchtower so that the sniper can take out infantry from long-range. Another good idea is to place one hunter unit in your base, as it can hack into and take control of any units that manage to penetrate your defenses. Hunters can even hack into alien units. If you know you're going to be attacked, you should also deploy four paladin tanks with upgraded cluster shells. The cluster shells explode in midair, raining shrapnel and death on your enemies.

While Remnant units tend to be inferior to those of their opponents, that's not to say that they aren't worthless. When upgraded with accuracy, damage, and defensive improvements, Remnant units are potent and powerful. Remnant vehicles can also be upgraded so that they can travel over water, a valuable ability considering the alien forces like to use tainted water against their enemies.

Tactically, the Remnant should always use unconventional tactics when possible. A good example is the twofold plan. Find a place on the map where you can terraform a large, crescent-shaped mound high enough that units behind it are safe from direct fire. Place artillery behind the wall, and then use an all-terrain vehicle to draw enemy units into the center of the crescent. Then use the artillery to rain barrages down on the enemy, with a ground attack afterward to sweep up any survivors.

Another excellent guerilla tactic is to load up several Valkyrie transports with marauders, firebugs, and hunters. Have the Valkyries deliver the troops to the rear of the enemy base, just out of range of the enemy. Then create a small distraction force of several ATVs, as well as a main fighting force of tanks and infantry. Have the main attack force move up to the enemy base, then send the ATVs through the front gates. They won't last long, but they'll create a distraction that you can use to have the Valkyries deliver the hunters and other troops into the base. Use the hunters to hack into and take over enemy vehicles, which will create havoc inside the base. Then send in the full attack force to finish the job.

Using such tactics will lead you to victory most of the time. However, don't get too confident. Always remember that your troops lack the advanced weapons and equipment of their enemies. And be careful of the alien water attacks that can destroy your troops.