EDITED: 11-19-09 11:05 AM
Here is my noob strategy for the first 5 minutes and 3 seconds playing Advent on a random map that is similar to THIS map. This includes most 3v3, 4v4 and 5v5 games. Its strategy is for an aggresive/econ player and not for a defensive postion.
When SOSE online starts there is -usually- about a (5-20) second pause before it begins due to lag/connection/sync. I take advantage of the moment and pre-click several processes.
[FIRST 5-20s pre game load]
(1) Que Progenitor Mothership[63s build time]
(2) Que 4 Scouts[14s x 4 build time(56s)]
(3) Que 2 Missionary Vessel[33s x 2 build time(66s)]
(4) Que a Temple of Harmony[63s build time]
(5) Manually (Que) guide the first 2 scouts (the first of which) behind your HW to the high probability astroid and (the second of which) directly along the outer circumference path leading to the suspected enemy player(s).
Now you have taken advantage of a (pre game) pause situation and once the game starts you will automatically be procsessing many commands. This is very useful especially against those who wait until the game starts. Your factories and such will build in the que order so it is very important that you click in the proper order.
[FIRST 1-63s]
At this stage the game has just begun and all of your processes have initiated.
(1) Immediately unlock the first fleet tier[46s upgrade time].
While you are awaiting your Progenitor Mothership continue to manually guide your 2 scouts towards your suspected enemy and also those (4) which have begun to sprout. The goal is to reveal the enemy ASAP so that you know what he is building and what his fleet consists of so that you can counter it when needed. Also to explore the local neutrals and planets so that you are aware of the surroundings.
[FIRST 63-260s]
(1) Immediately unlock the first cap tier[35s upgrade time] ASAP!
(2) The very moment your Progenitor Mothership sprouts use her 1 point on the Colonize ability and +1 fighter and then que it to move to the astroid nearest you (usually behind/next to HW). Once your Progenitor Mothership arrives shift+click so that she (yes, "she") attacks and kills the [Krosov Siege Frigate], Colonizes the astroid and then moves on towards the next closest planet. You will be ignoring the [Colbalt light frigate] because it cannot bomb your astroid. Most likely it will die before your Progenitor Motherhsip leaves the roid, though if it doesn't you can always build a Beam Defense Tower to peck at it until its timely demise.
[FIRST 260-323s]
By now you should have 2 planets (HW and astroid), a Progenitor Mothership already on its way to another planet, 1 fleet and 1 cap teir acquired and 6 scouts having already revealed at least 13 planets/astroids/nuetrals, etc.
(1) Immediately que the Halcyon Carrier[63s build time] ASAP!.
Also keep moving your scouts around so that you can reveal the enitre map.
(2) Now that you have purchased the necessities upgrade your astroids civil infustructures and extractors ASAP!
(3) Build another Temple of Harmony on your HW ASAP!
(4) Upgrade to colonize Valcanic/Ice planets ASAP! Obviously you will upgrade the closest/easiest one first.
(5) Once your Halcyon Carrier has sprouted immediatly use his point on the Adept Drone Anima ability giving you one more fighter and the 2 fighters + 1 bomber and then que it to move to the next closest uncolonized planet. You will use him the same way shift+click in that you kill the [Krosov Siege Frigates], and then the [javelis LRM Frigates], and so on etc.
(6) When there is only 1 [Krosov Siege Frigate] left move in one of your Missionary Vessels to colonize and then get it and your Carrier the bug out of there! Obviously you can have your Vessel ready along the outer edge of the gravity well so that when you que it to move to the planet it moves instantly. Now move your Carrier on the the next uncolonized planet and have your Missionary Vessel taging along behind.
As you can see the main theme here is to take out the "planet bombers" first and then immediately colonize, upgrade and move on. You will not be wasting your time with pirates any more than you must. If any/many pirates are left causing havoc on your planets you can alsways build a Beam Defense Tower or two. You need to be moving along faster than the enemy. You need to be building, thinking and acting faster than the enemy. You need to be several/many steps ahead of the enemy.
(7) By now you should also have available neutrals to extract and so move your second Missionary Vessel to these. If a nuetral has enemies simply build several disciples to take out the [Krosov Siege Friogate] first and then move in your Vessel to colonize, move it and the desciples out on the next neutral. Rinse and repeat.
[Summary]
Within the first 5 minutes and 3 seconds of your online game you should have (at least) 3-4 planets with the astroids civil infustructure and extractors in upgraded/built, a Mothership(Colonize and +1 Fighter) colonizing the third planet , a Halcyon Carrier(Adept Drone Anima[1 extra fighter] +2 fighters, 1 bomber) working on the fourth planet, 2 Temples of Harmony, 2 Missionary Vessels out and about colonizing/extracting neutrals/planets and volcanic and or ice planet colonization upgraded. Everything after this is pending until you know what towers/fleet your enemy has though I usually try to get 3 Temples of Hostility up next and pump out Illuminators, Drones and Guardians.
This strategy does not always work due to map configuration and enemy timing though I am usuing it as the main theme and then tweaking it viscously.
How does this sound? Any input is greatly appreciated.
