The first thing you need to ask yourself is "What is the cheapest form of Energy on this map?" Here a little research is necessary. It's scary the number of people I have seen building solars on maps like Cluster Freak, Red River North and The Cold Place. If in doubt, build a wind first. The key thing to remember is that a solar costs 3x as much metal to build as a wind so if the wind averages better than 8 or so, wind is your best bet. On maps where the wind is extremely variable it pays to go with a mixture of winds and solars. Also you will want to make an energy store a priority some time early in the game. This lets you smooth out the fluctuations.

       Water maps are different again. On a map like The Bayou the tide is cranking out a constant 28 E, that's pretty hard to beat. Evad River Conf on the other hand has a pathetic amount of E from a tidal. So I guess thing number one is know your map! If you are playing in a 2v2 keep an eye on your ally's E building, ask what he's making from a tidal if you don't know.

       On medium to large land maps my basic build order is E, M, E, M, E, M. It's stressful going for so long without a plant I know, but it will give you a nice resource headstart. On most land maps it's a Vehicle plant next. There are some exceptions, but on the whole if you want to spank your opponent, go with Vehicle first. Here's the key crunchy crucial thing (or one of them anyway). From your plant build a couple of slashers/Samsons to cover your ass against an early Jeffy attack, then build AT LEAST three Con Vehicles.

       On the whole the person who builds the most con vehicles wins the game. Watch recordings of the greats, you will see what I mean. Key, Crunchy piece of advice number two is this: with your first two con vehicles build ONLY METAL. There is a huge temptation to build a few rocket towers, don't do it. Send those suckers out to build all the metal patches you can. On a map like Painted Desert where there is a lot of rocks lying around, suck them up! Mix in the odd radar too, it pays to end your queue of metal extractors with a radar, the sound will tell you that it's time to give that unit something else to build. Your third con vehicle's job is to build energy. If there is a convienient Geo near by get that sucker up. It's worth 4 metal to you if you build the Geo then 4 metal makers. I have one con unit building winds and/or solars full time.

        After your plant has built your con V's I get it to crank out slashers. For every 10 slashers you queue up add in a con vehicle. You can never have too many of those suckers.

       When you first plant is up, you have to decide what to do with your com. If you have enough resources to get him to guard your plant get him on that. If you don't (and this will be the case most of the time) send him off to build the near metal patches. Don't stray too far because that d-gun is your best friend early in the game.

       The metal starts flowing in, when you have 700 spare, make another plant (vehicle usually). From your new plant build two Con's then the unit of your choice (Slashers on days of the week ending in a 'y'.) Keep doing the same thing...more metal, more plants. If it's a small map get your con v from plant two onto a few missile towers in strategic places.

       What if your enemy attacks? Sweet! Bring me that metal baby. A battle fought close to home means you have an easy time sucking up that wreckage. Get a con V or 2 to patrol that battleground. You can often finance 3 or 4 new plants with the proceeds of a fairly minor battle. Don't attack too early. If you send in an inadequate bunch of units early on you are basically giving your enemy all the metal he needs to kill you.

       Ok, when do you go advanced? YOU DON'T. On most land maps you will not need an advanced plant. Take Greenhaven for example. All you do is build another plant as often as your metal allows. Soon you will have a kick ass fleet of Slashers to go and cause mayhem.

       Well, that's about it! Try it out, you will be surprised how fast you spread out if you use your con vehicles wisely. In TA it's spread or die. Don't let your enemy box you into a corner, push out early.