The importance of Silo placement

[Teddy Coalition]

Ok, hello, this is my first post and I'm reletively new to Defcon.

I've learned alot from playing diffrent games, and I have traversed the forum, looking for strategies, and insight into the game.
I realised that this game is nothing but a big Chess game, except where you can't always see your opponents peices...

My basic Strategy is like this:

Placement Fleets of battleships of 3 up front then AC's. Also in 3's.. (some occasion in 4's)
The subs i place in 2's or 3's depending on territories in play.
I've learned not to suck ass in navy, since the main battle is fought and lost there... if you can't see.. you can't fight...

But litely I've noticed by spactating games, that many ppl put all silos in same place. I can see the benefit of it, by protecting each other, however, I also see ppl putting these silos in the most populated areas? is this a good thing? I spread my silos by 3 sets of 2's or 2 sets of 3's, in variaty of places.... am I doing the wrong thing? What is your opinion, or personal strategy in this.

My question is, what is the general rule of thumb, about silo placement. Especialy when your opponent is close by, (south of the boarder.)

Also, how these strategies vary in 1v1 as oppose to a 4 player battle.



On a diffrent note. I'm new here, nevertheless, I've studied this game for a bit, and an came to mind.
Care to find out what it is?

[torq]

But litely I've noticed by spactating games, that many ppl put all silos in same place. I can see the benefit of it, by protecting each other, however, I also see ppl putting these silos in the most populated areas? is this a good thing? I spread my silos by 3 sets of 2's or 2 sets of 3's, in variaty of places.... am I doing the wrong thing?

Yes. In most cases.
Three silos won't save your cities. In the default game mode you score 2 points for each million you kill and only lose 1 point for 1 million of your population loss. So, in most cases silos are deployed for attack, not defense. When silos are tightly packed and launched in the same order, nukes fly very close to each other and, if you do it right, they hit the target at the same time. This way you can penetrate enemy's AA defense pretty easily.
And of course, when silos are close to each other they're harder to hit.

You should make sure that your silos are invisible to your neighbors - place them outside their radar range. If enemy sees your silos - you lost them already - find where enemy silos are and don't let enemy discover yours - this is one of the key points of this game.

Also, how these strategies vary in 1v1 as oppose to a 4 player battle.

In 1v1 your skill should generally be higher. You concentrate on only 1 opponent, deploy your units to maximize your advantage, etc.
In 4-6 player games you only need to get as many points and as soon as possible. Other considerations like defending your population become unimportant. You can still win having zero population in the end. Just make sure to hit major cities first. It's becoming a race.
In default mode try to avoid alliances - allies usually don't help at all but you will have moral difficulties about grabbing their cities for yourself.

Diplomacy games is a quite different game. You spend more time in the chat box deceiving, persuading, plotting and scheming players against each other.
Of course you would want to save as much of your population as possible so your silo setup should be defensive. Don't try to attack the others. Just defend yourself. It's possible to win without launching a single nuke in diplo.

[Nightwatch]

Ok, hello, this is my first post and I'm reletively new to Defcon.

Welcome to the forum.

Placement Fleets of battleships of 3 up front then AC's. Also in 3's.. (some occasion in 4's)

Wrong. Thats the second worst thing you can do (apart from using mixed fleets /exceptions). Your units will be deployed far to closely.
One Nuke can finish them off.
Its not that bad when we talking about carriers. You can do that if your oponent is rather weak. But don`t to it with battleship.
Deploy them in groups of two or better as single units (when playing mainly East-West and not North - South).
CVNs in groups of two is totally sufficent.

The subs i place in 2's or 3's depending on territories in play.

Same here. Subs in groups of three means i can take them out with on nuke / depth charge.
Groups of two are okay.

But litely I've noticed by spactating games, that many ppl put all silos in same place. I can see the benefit of it, by protecting each other,

Yeah well, its the only way to have a chance nowadays. Especially in 1v1.

however, I also see ppl putting these silos in the most populated areas? is this a good thing?

That depends. But in general, yes.
You protect your cities, the enemy has to deploy more nukes to get them.
Of course they are more likely to be scouted that way.

I spread my silos by 3 sets of 2's or 2 sets of 3's, in variaty of places....

Consider this:
Sets of three can be taken out with ease by a experienced player for a fraction of the nukes needed for the classic setup.
Pairs of two are just suicide. I recon them and take them out. End of story.
If you don`t like the silo cluster but the silos in two groups but closely together. You`ll just lose protection.
To be honest, i don`t think it pays off against even medium skilled players.

My question is, what is the general rule of thumb, about silo placement. Especialy when your opponent is close by, (south of the boarder.)

- as close together as possible (anything else and you lose protection)
- out of the enemy sights (a visible silo is a dead silo)
- with as much radar coverage as possible (silos who can`t see anything is useless)
- close to your cities
- not easy scoutable

Also, how these strategies vary in 1v1 as oppose to a 4 player battle.

Everything i said is for 1v1 matches. It doesn`t matter in six player games that much since it is a only race for points anyway.
Can`t talk about 2v2 tactics. That gamemode sucks IMO.


Dislcamer @rusMike: im talking about tactics agains the average defcon player

[Teddy Coalition]

Thank you both for your input and great adice, I have taken much from what both of you said. Thanks..

[Blackbeard]

Can`t talk about 2v2 tactics. That gamemode sucks IMO.

Waaa It's fun!! .

[Nightwatch]

No, its not fun to write more words than you have nukes to throw around.
Its a nuclear war, damit. It don`t want to nurse my partner which i can`t backstab.

[Blackbeard]

No, its not fun to write more words than you have nukes to throw around.
Its a nuclear war, damit. It don`t want to nurse my partner which i can`t backstab.

Hehe, a good partner is someone who sees your bombers in trouble and pushes out battleships or fighters to give them cover, or knows not to mix their navy with yours (in order not to slow it down) - stuff that doesn't necessarily need lines and lines of alliance chat.
Also, I think two average players that work well together have a good chance of beating two excellent players who might be selfish; which is encouraging for players who enjoy teamwork in their games .

Ps. Even when an excellent and poor player are partnered, there's more to be gained than lost - just so long as the good player is willing to support his partner, and the weaker player is willing to listen .

[rus|Mike]

In 1v1 place silos together or die. Pretty much the same in 2v2, but things change as we come to 6 player games, default mode especially. Some good players prefer them being spread. I can't tell you much about it as I always group them tightly apart from when I play as USA (straight line) and Europe (search for SuiSilos).

And listen less to Nightwatch There's no any vital need to place your ships in "groups" of 1. I suggest you place them as you thiks it's correct and just wait until you may be realise there's other, better way to place them. I personally place fleets of 1 only in the mose important matches.

P.S. Contact me via PM in case you'd like to have a challenging 1v1 game I'm GMT +4.

[Nightwatch]

And listen less to Nightwatch There's no any vital need to place your ships in "groups" of 1.

Surely there is no "vital need" to do that. I never said that.
But i can help in certain situations. And it surely does no harm whatsoever.
Which you can`t say about groups of three and above.

I personally place fleets of 1 only in the mose important matches.

So you do that, but he shouldn`t? Instead he should figure out what is best for him?
Kinda strange argument here

[Teddy Coalition]

funny... I never thought that posing basic questions and ideas would stirr up such arguements, and such funny comments.
No offense intended, I'm just a little amused at some of the bickering I found on these forums.

The funny point is, that I think (hope) I will fit well in this community, since I myself can be a bit uptoose, argumentative and audacious.

Then again, lol,maybe not.

[sfericz]

I'm just a little amused at some of the bickering I found on these forums.

I always enjoy the 'bickering' welcome to the forums.

Also nice bear, I bought one of those for my mother from Vermont Bears.

[Nightwatch]

funny... I never thought that posing basic questions and ideas would stirr up such arguements, and such funny comments.
No offense intended, I'm just a little amused at some of the bickering I found on these forums.

What do you expect from people who blow the world up on a regular basis?
Anyway, compared to Cobra, MOR, mvpe or Johnis, i`m harmless

[Teddy Coalition]

lol, yes.. nightwatch, you're ok. So true, about the destruction though, so true..

I'm in the 6 player warroom lobby right now waiting for players. Please come if ur online!

[iRadiated]

funny... I never thought that posing basic questions and ideas would stirr up such arguements, and such funny comments.
No offense intended, I'm just a little amused at some of the bickering I found on these forums.

The funny point is, that I think (hope) I will fit well in this community, since I myself can be a bit uptoose, argumentative and audacious.

Then again, lol,maybe not.

You have to remember that you are dealing here with Generals and in some cases Petty Tyrants, and every one will have their own opinions on what is best.

You need to take on board everyones opinions and try different stuff out to decide what works best for you.

I've been playing this game for 18 months now and I still haven't figured out what's best for me !!

[Why?]

I like straight lines sometimes, or the ones that kinda look like the number 1, or a J. They work pretty well in russia, asia, africa and usa... but definitely not for 1vs1. They defend well from the sides, but they're easy to pick off from the ends.(the triangle at one end, helps a lil bit with this defense)

Teddy, try making these shapes with your silos, but keeping them as tight together as possible.(zoom in): cross, 5-point star, triangle, 6-pk of whoop ass. (The later two are the best, imo.)

When placing your silos, you have to take into account the most likely trajectories of the incoming missiles, and naval attacks. So you might wanna turn your shape a certain angle and move it a bit in one direction, to help with the defense of both your cities and silos. Also, never put silos right on top of cities...if they hit the city, they hit your silo too.