Strategy: Rocketlocking

My sincere thanks go to GipFace from AWN for teaching me this tactic. I think I'll just re-summarize and put it into writing.

Rocketlocking is a technique used to prevent your opponent from gaining territories/key points on the map, by pinning them with rocket units. The most brief example I can give is positioning your rockets near several cities, ensuring they are in range. Any units that try to enter the cities to capture them will be destroyed by your rocket, it's that simple. This strategy proves useful in randon online matches are games have a set amount of time and when the time runs out the player with the most properties wins the game, and with an effective rocket lock, you can prevent them from gaining properties.

So how do we do it? It's not very hard, and it doesn't involve saving funds either. Assume we're playing an online, random match with no fog. Your player one (this strategy often involves FTA), you build a couple infantry or bike units and set off to capture your properties. Your opponent does likewise and soon your into day 4 or 5 of the game with a decent income.

You each have around the same amount of properties, but there is still a neutral cluster of cities on the map. You have 18,000 funds, enough to build a rocket with some left over. Perfect. Build your rocket in the factory closest to the neutral factories and on your next turn move it in range of the cities.

Most opponents will know what you're trying to do, and will not rush in with a single infantry mech or bike unit. They will try to counter this strategy with what I call the Rocket Lock Rush (RLR). Since a single unit can only attack one unit a turn, your opponent can send 2 or 3 infantry into those neutral cities, allowing time for your rocket to only attack and eliminate 1 infantry, allowing your opponent the capture of two bases before your rocket can successfully eliminate all the infantry.

So make sure you don't just leave a rocket sitting there, so once it's in place make sure you have infantry to quickly rush in and capture the cities under the protection of your rocket.

Short post and the second today, but that's a simple strategy which involves pin-point tactics, and can give you the edge in almost any game.

For a video from the #1 ranked DoR player in the world on rocketlocking, check this out: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=idnnQmSPT9o.

I just copied my forum post so some of it may not make sense but here goes.

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Rules
- No cheats/cheat software/hardware (i.e Action Replay)
- Only DoR, AWBW/any other online versions will not be supported
- Must have your own copy of DoR
- Must be a member of AWN (if you're a guest register NOW)
- Must have a valid friendcode/username
- Once entered you cannot change your DS username until the tournament has ended
- Matches cannot be played on design maps, unless approved (post an image here so we can determine if it's fair)
- Matches will be set up like ladder matches, players must agree on map/rules
- Caulder may not be used, any other CO is fine including no CO
- Don't enter if you have bad internet and can disconnect in the middle of a game
- If you do disconnect however, match will be counted as a win for the other player, unless they agree to a no contest
- May not receive assistance from other players during gameplay (i.e MSN/voicechat)
- Recording games via webcam is encouraged, as recordings can be used to settle disputes
- Games may be broadcasted over the Internet

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Now I'm not a mod here on the forums so I can't officially announce ANY prizes whatsoever, nor can I create them. But it would be nice with the approval of a moderator/administrator if someone could make a 1st Place, 2nd Place and 3rd Place badge for the participants that can go in the participants signature, also maybe another badge indicating that you are/were a participant in the 09 AWN DoR Tournament. If you have another creative idea for a prize, post here.

If you are interested in entering, please post your username (online display name for AW), your Force and Team as well, which can be accessed from the History Page under Records.

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Online name: CB09
Friendcode: 064 553 742 236
Force: Ground
Team: War Tank Corps

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All entries must be submitted by February 1st, 2009.

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And if you're not a member register at www.advancewarsnet.com