This is a momentous occasion.
For the first time in TSC, an AWBW match has finished.
MY GOD.
A summary of the game, as best I remember it, will follow, but those without the patience for a glossy narration can see the full replay
here.
Sondow (Orange Star, Andy) vs. Genus (Blue Moon, Sami) on the map
A simple 1 vs. 1, fog of war on.
So I was against Sondow in this map, and I figured I would play Sami because Sami is an amazing CO when used properly. Sondow played Andy for...some reason. I'm not sure what, really.
So this match gets a-rolling, and I realize off the bat there are 3 targets of major importance for me: the two airports, and the two bases down the road from both hq's. Realistically, I realize I'm only getting the airport and base nearest my HQ, so the first thing I do is move my fta-counter infantry towards the uncaptured...base to the left. I do nothing else that turn. On the next I buy an infantry and apc, and end my turn. The apc leaves the base with a loaded infantry, and I reach the airport, dropping off the infantry to capture it on the next turn. The base is taken, the airport a given, and I think that I'll come across some of Sondow's units soon. I want quick cash for that, so I build a solitary infantry on one of the bases near my hq, to lay siege to the surrounding properties. I load the apc with another unit and figure I'll test the waters towards the south, not really caring about it that much. I get near the base towards the south, unload the infantry on a mountain, and notice there is nothing near me. I seize the opportunity, and capture the base. Meanwhile, I've started capturing bases, and I build a recon in the base to the west, figuring I'll scout out Sondow's action. My first real unit is built; a B-Copter. I'm not seeing Sondow on any fronts, but I'm nervous, afraid he's allready launched a capturing initiative down the middle of the map, which I couldn't deal with and that would give him a huge edge. As a result, I decide to strike quick and dirty; I bring my B-Copter between the mountains, and hit what I assumed was an unprotected infantry with my recon.
Then a tank comes out from nowhere and fires on me. I don't know this, but Sondow has a recon stationed right outside the woods of my HQ, keeping tabs on everything I'm doing at those bases (as you'll soon see, nothing). He's also made an antiair, which I can do nothing about...yet. I send my crippled recon on a suicide mission to see if Sondow captured the airport, and he had. I took a city north of the airport anyway, even though I knew the infantry was a dead unit; it would get me a few thousand funds in the meanwhile, and there was nothing else productive for it to do. Knowing he's playing with tanks and expecting a raid on the western base, I make one of Sami's phenomenal mechs to do a few things-let me see what he's doing on the airport, cripple a tank, maybe sack a city as well. Knowing he's not going to take that property anytime soon, I send my BCopter south to back the fledgling base I captured, wondering when the shit will hit the fan for my little communist buddies hanging out in the middle of nowhere.
For the hell of it, I unload an infantry from my APC down there into the woods to see if I can pull a surprise capture. I can't; the infantry gets killed that turn when his antiair stumbles upon it. I build a mech, and then a neotank; I intend to produce a T-Copter as well, since I think Sondow is strapped for funds at this point and want to try another capturing initiative. I've scouted the west with my mech on a mountain and a recon, and there's not much going on for him propertywise...his income is a paltry 8k, compared to my 12. Sighting a copter with my recon, I produce an anti-air on the southeast base, fire upon a capturing mech with a bcopter since I don't want it messing with my units, and twiddle my thumbs.
My psychic sense tingles; I know that antiair is ready to mess with my Bcopter, so I waste the infantry where Sondow can't get it. I position my Neo to strike the recon on his hq...and can't! I didn't know units in fow can't hit units they were unable to see prior to moving. The tcopter moves, it's loaded with my infantry, and I am locked and loaded with 14k income each turn.
His copter comes out of the woodwork and strikes my neotank; in retaliation I knock his copter out with my antiair. I strategically place a mech I've been carrying along with me in the rear into the woods, 4 squares away from his hq (Sami's co power gives him that mp), and fire on his recon. My co power is ready...but I want more and know once that gets charged this game is over. Feeling the love for indirects, and nervous about any surprise captures, I build an artillery for my hq and stash it in the woods. Another artillery to end any potential clogging on Sondow's end. My income is 15k; I can taste a bomber, so build one. The artillery is nearly in position...thinking it's worth a shot, and the loaded tcopter is going to do the same thing for my cause, I launch a capture with the mech on one of the bases adjacent Sondow's hq. He cripples the unit; whoops. My Neo's getting scuffed up by a copter, and is really useless for me at this point. I look at my CO bar, and notice it's not much longer until my scop is ready. A few minor skirmishes are happening on the north of the map, but the real action is near his headquarters.
Day 16; the Bomber's almost in range, the artillery is in the woods, and my tcopter...well, I forgot to unload my tcopter. Sondow guns it down with his antiair next turn, and it's a shame because the match would have ended day 17 if I weren't so careless. My Super CO Power is ready; an infantry is made on the southeast base for my end...all I need to do is get the infantry within 5 squares of his hq, and knock out whatever he has on that space. A copter's put on his hq to protect it; realizing he doesn't have much left in the way of money, I blast it with my antiair. An MD Tank takes care of it the next turn, which is a shame.
The gamewinning move though: I build a Megatank, and inch it towards his base, with an infantry hiding in the woods. My artillery is slaughtered, but I don't care; as long as I have the bomber and the megatank working together, I can destroy any feeble barrier he can put up. I cripple the antiair with my bomber, and the megatank plays cleanup crew, nuking a random recon I come across Sondow sent to spy on me. I build a recon of my own in the southeast base; I need to see the unit on the base to hit it, lesson learned. The recon spots the hq, protected by a lonely artillery. I knock that out, activate Sami's SCOP power, and take the headquarters that day, giving me the victory.
Results: genus (Sami, Blue Moon) defeats Sondow (Andy, Orange Star) in 19 days.This is why Sami is one of my favorite CO's in the game.
CO information for the main game is pending; I'll edit this post later to make the uninformed informed.
