RTS like game with emphasis on base-building

[Pandamonium]

I like RTS style games, but I don't like feeling like I need to stick with a certain building plan and timed rushes. Mainly I want to build up a base, upgrade all my tech, and reinforce a few strategic chokepoints. Basically play defense. After I've amassed a huge army, I want to duke it out and destroy everything.

I had a chance to play a friend's SC2 beta a while ago and it was kind of frustrating. Are there any games that offer RTS controls/gameplay with an emphasis on base-building/defensive play rather than offensive play?

 

[Martimus]

Generally the best defense is a good offense, since you can dictate the battle when you are on the attack. That is the real reason most RTS games become more about how you attack than how well you defend.

That said, I was able to build good base defenses with Supreme Commander, and Universe at War. The original C&C had pretty good base defenses as well.

The way I used to play to make sure everyone had enough time to build up their base and army, was to not attack until a specified amount of time (usually 10-15 minutes). This worked really well, but back then we were playing on a LAN or over a modem with friends so we could enforce the rule, not sure if there are games that have that mechanic built into them.

 

[skace]

SC2 is all about base building. It's just not EASY base building which is why it can be frustrating.

 

[AstroManLuca]

It's getting kind of old but there were a lot of defensive structures in Age of Empires 2 and the Conquerors expansion. If you picked the right map you wouldn't be able to rush early - some of the maps had each base completely surrounded by forests and the only way to get out is to have a lot of wood choppers or to build catapults, which you can't get right away.

 

[Tifosi248F1]

The first Empire Earth could be played by base building. Absolute building freedom, except where terrain dictated otherwise. You could sit yourself in the corner of the map, build a 2 stage wall all around your spot, throw up a bunch of towers for defense and have a small army patrolling in case of clashes. Build fortresses to garrison your units, and just keep pumping out an army and garrisoning them. Whenever you're ready to go storming through the opposition just roll out your massive army and march across the map. You just have to be mindful of the pop cap, and you might need to have a ton of citizens at the start to really build up your resources, but you can kill them off later when you need the spots for military units. It's almost 10 years old but still one of my favorite RTS because it doesn't have the territory restrictions that games like EE2 and Rise of Nations have.

 

[Zoeff]

That said, I was able to build good base defenses with Supreme Commander,

I second that. Having a similar mindset as the OP I find Supreme Commander to be quite enjoyful. When played truly competitively rushing is still a must but in most casual games rushing doesn't get you very far and you end up having to be a bit more strategic about your base building and offensive tactics.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Supreme Command: Forged Alliance (stand alone expansion).
I'd skip the first as the story is rather weak, but can be found at $9.

Sins of a Solar Empire. 4X'ish, but allows for a great deal of defensive play. Even has a expansion "Entrenchment" that allows for even more turtling.

 

[evident]

age of empires, but try and build a bunch of towers and i'll come rumbling in with catapults

 

[Pandamonium]

Are there any games with AI that can adhere to a delayed battle rule? I'm more of a casual gamer so unless the game enforces it, I think I'm better off with AI.

I mean, the most fun I've had in RTS games were when I made a map with easily defended choke points and basically pre-built an invincible base. Then I'd set the computer AI as difficult as it could and started the game. I had time to do all my upgrades (or whatever) while the computer was building up; and I got to amass a giant army.

AoE: I usually had towers but I'd set up a narrow valley as the only entrance to my base and line up catapaults along the cliffs. I'd set them to autofire the length of the path. It was entertaining just to see how far an enemy could get before dying.

C&C: I remember liking the original but do any of the older versions play nice with Win7x64?

I'll have to look into Supreme Commander and Empire Earth and Sins of a Solar Empire.

 

[shortylickens]

If you choose to play it that way, Supreme Commander can have a lot of base building.
Age of Mythology, Empire Earth 1 and Empire Earth 2 all require assloads of building even in a fast game.

 

[PingSpike]

Yeah, I suck ass in multiplayer at RTS games. But I like to play turtle defense again the computer. I think I'm not the only one judging by the popularity of tower defense games, which are somewhat similar.

 

[JD50]

OP, I'm in the same boat as you. I hate rushing, I love base building and defending. I've found that you can do that on some of the company of heroes maps, but I know that's not exactly what you're looking for. I'd love to see a more modern game like this. I used to use the StarCraft map editor to make custom maps with invincible air defenses and put myself basically on an island. The only way in or out was by air and there's no way the AI could get to me. That was loads of fun. I know most people don't enjoy this kind of gameplay so the game that we're both looking for probably isn't very popular, if it exists at all. If anyone knows of a more modern game that's like this I'd be interested too.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Are there any games with AI that can adhere to a delayed battle rule? I'm more of a casual gamer so unless the game enforces it, I think I'm better off with AI.

I mean, the most fun I've had in RTS games were when I made a map with easily defended choke points and basically pre-built an invincible base. Then I'd set the computer AI as difficult as it could and started the game. I had time to do all my upgrades (or whatever) while the computer was building up; and I got to amass a giant army.

AoE: I usually had towers but I'd set up a narrow valley as the only entrance to my base and line up catapaults along the cliffs. I'd set them to autofire the length of the path. It was entertaining just to see how far an enemy could get before dying.

C&C: I remember liking the original but do any of the older versions play nice with Win7x64?

I'll have to look into Supreme Commander and Empire Earth and Sins of a Solar Empire.

Supreme Command + expansion has a 20 minute "no combat" timer where you are limited to move & build within a bubble around your base. You can start with some extra buildings & units and I think you can list starting resources.

 

[Maximilian]

OP, I'm in the same boat as you. I hate rushing, I love base building and defending. I've found that you can do that on some of the company of heroes maps, but I know that's not exactly what you're looking for. I'd love to see a more modern game like this. I used to use the StarCraft map editor to make custom maps with invincible air defenses and put myself basically on an island. The only way in or out was by air and there's no way the AI could get to me. That was loads of fun. I know most people don't enjoy this kind of gameplay so the game that we're both looking for probably isn't very popular, if it exists at all. If anyone knows of a more modern game that's like this I'd be interested too.

I enjoy this too and i did the same thing with the SC map editor, just had my fun in that with the AI and some spawner beacons built into the map. Only games i can think of where bases are a big thing are:

Supreme Commander (pita online as your base is very vulnerable)
Earth 2150 (old but very cool game)

Apart from that usual RTS games with a no rush rule can be fun, starcraft, c&c generals on a 4v4 map with only 2 players. I think there was a game called "stronghold" as well, ive never tried it though.

 

[JD50]

I enjoy this too and i did the same thing with the SC map editor, just had my fun in that with the AI and some spawner beacons built into the map. Only games i can think of where bases are a big thing are:

Supreme Commander (pita online as your base is very vulnerable)
Earth 2150 (old but very cool game)

Apart from that usual RTS games with a no rush rule can be fun, starcraft, c&c generals on a 4v4 map with only 2 players. I think there was a game called "stronghold" as well, ive never tried it though.

I really liked C&C generals. It's funny that you mention stronghold, I was just in Walmart and saw the stronghold collection for $30, wasn't sure if it was worth it. Medieval games are cool, but I still prefer modern or futuristic games with guns, vehicles, air combat, etc...

 

[Via]

I'm looking forward to digging into Age of Mythology (I just ordered to gold edition).

It's the only one of those games I never played.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I would agree with supreme commander. I know most people dont like it much, but Supreme Commander 2 also has a no rush timer, at least when playing skirmish against the AI. Sup Com 2 is fairly amenable to turtling if you build a lot of turrents and shields, especially if you base is located behind a choke point.

 

[Canun]

Rise of Nations w/ Throne's and Patriots expansion. You can sit back, build up defenses and have a token army to help. (of course, depending on difficulty). You get to research quickly and/or expand quickly to build up to the pop. cap.

 

[KMFJD]

It's getting kind of old but there were a lot of defensive structures in Age of Empires 2 and the Conquerors expansion. If you picked the right map you wouldn't be able to rush early - some of the maps had each base completely surrounded by forests and the only way to get out is to have a lot of wood choppers or to build catapults, which you can't get right away.

I think that was called The Forest...would take you 45 minutes min to cut through all those trees to attack the enemy...what a pita map that could be, choke point ment it would be a long game. You'd just pour hundreds of pikemen through it or whatever counter unit was required, eventually the game would de-sync or someone left due to boredom.

 

[Wardawg1001]

I think that was called The Forest...would take you 45 minutes min to cut through all those trees to attack the enemy...what a pita map that could be, choke point ment it would be a long game. You'd just pour hundreds of pikemen through it or whatever counter unit was required, eventually the game would de-sync or someone left due to boredom.

It was Black Forest I believe.

AoE2 and its expansion had some custom maps that I used to play a lot, one was called Art of Defense (AoD). In AoD you started with a town center and a couple peasants, and you had to defend against waves and waves of progressively more powerful enemies. The key was getting up a wall quickly since you had no defense whatsoever and the enemies start coming immediately, but you had to get at least enough land walled in to build basic structures and some towers to kill enemies. Once you get upgraded and get some units you start sending them out to expand your land. Game ended at 2 hours, you win if you are alive. It wasn't really all that difficult if you know what to do, but it was amusing and since its a team game there are some variables in there such as protecting a team mate who didn't get his walls up quick enough or botched an expansion attempt. If the enemies get a hole in your wall you are pretty screwed since you cant build a wall on top of them and they will just constantly flood through, you usually die or need serious help from your allies if manage to get a hole in your defenses or screw up a land grab.

 

[pontifex]

I always liked playing a defensive game against the AI as well. most newer RTS games are all about attacking and rarely have anything resembling a base that you could build up.

 

[QuantumPion]

Are there any games with AI that can adhere to a delayed battle rule? I'm more of a casual gamer so unless the game enforces it, I think I'm better off with AI.

Rise of Nations is a very macro-heavy RTS that is all about city (base) building and much less about micro'ing armies. Also there are a large number of game options, some of which include "no war until certain age is reached" or "no war for first x minutes", etc.

 

[Gibsons]

Are there any games with AI that can adhere to a delayed battle rule? I'm more of a casual gamer so unless the game enforces it, I think I'm better off with AI.

I mean, the most fun I've had in RTS games were when I made a map with easily defended choke points and basically pre-built an invincible base. Then I'd set the computer AI as difficult as it could and started the game. I had time to do all my upgrades (or whatever) while the computer was building up; and I got to amass a giant army.

AoE: I usually had towers but I'd set up a narrow valley as the only entrance to my base and line up catapaults along the cliffs. I'd set them to autofire the length of the path. It was entertaining just to see how far an enemy could get before dying.

C&C: I remember liking the original but do any of the older versions play nice with Win7x64?

I'll have to look into Supreme Commander and Empire Earth and Sins of a Solar Empire.

Almost completely off-topic: have you tried Defense Grid yet? It's tower defense, not RTS, but you might enjoy it.

I played a bit of Total Annihilation and there were some custom AIs out there that could do most anything. One guy made an AI that would only attack by air, so you could build an air defense base. Fun times.