Improving Game Play - the Mini Map

I would like to dedicate a couple of articles to helping the newer, below average player improve their game play.   The overiding message I want to give is that absolutely anyone can improve playing this game.

Speaking from personal experience, many players starting out may start to plateau and notice all of a sudden that they are hitting a brick wall in terms of improving and getting to the next level.

More often than not, there will be two key things which will be holding you back:

1. the use, or otherwise, of the Mini Map; and
2. the use, or otherwise, of Hot Keys.

Let's talk about the Mini Map today, and I'll cover Hot Keys another time (although with practice, you will use them seamlessly as you improve your game play).

Take a look at this shot of the mini map from Relentless Canyon from Delos, part of the Alliance quests:

Relentless Canyon - it's a long, long, long map

Open the book to find out more.


If you were anything like me, you originally started playing for a bit of fun and relaxation, slouch back after work or study, while away a few hours, try and escape the nagging of wives and girlfriends, etc, etc.

You've cruised through to level 40, a few challenges, co-opped a few to ease the pain, and then you join the Alliance quests, and you have a go at something like Relentless Canyon - and around the 12 minute mark, before you know what's going on - you are getting absolutely pulverised by a rampaging enemy.  Sound familiar?

Now I've picked out Relentless Canyon because if you play it without using the Mini Map, then there is absolutely no way you are going to get anywhere.

Take a close look at the shot above.  Relentless Canyon  is looooong, baby, it's looooooong man, it's soooooo loooooong.

It's over a minute in, and my villagers are just crossing the river, about half way there. You can just see my spearmen and scout to the far left of the screen.

Just scrolling up and down will take up to 10 seconds!  You think you can waste 10 seconds scrolling up and down doing this quest?  No - of course not!!  During those 10 seconds of scrolling, you are NOT issuing instructions.

So the very first thing you need to do, you must send what ever units you want to use up the top and you use the Mini Map to send them there, and look - you're still there next to your TC while you keep on issuing orders.  You've just saved 10 seconds, the first of many, and you've made a big step towards faster game play.

Here's another good example.

1 vs 2 Skirmish - use mini map to guide scout and villies to desired location

I've just started playing 1 vs 2 Skirmish, the top enemy TC is unstoppable, and the bottom one is Strong.  In the first 10 seconds I want to guide the scout and villies to an approximate spot to build the barracks (must get close to the unstoppable enemy because I need to take them out first) - I'll use the mini map to do that, then immediately issue instructions back at my TC. When done, I'll jump to where my scout is on the mini map.  I'll use the mini map to see if either the scout or villies has run past any cattle and go back and collect - using the mini map.

The mini map is way more efficient  - don't scroll backwards and forwards!  Life is far too precious to waste that sort of time.

In fact what I mention above for the scout applies to most quests.  Don't waste time scrolling around to mark the course - in the majority of cases, it's unnecessary - mark out the scout's course on the Mini Map.  Issue other instructions, take quick glances at the Mini Map to see if any red shows up, if need be, click the Mini Map to save your scout from an awful, premature death.

One last example - A New Pharoah's Challenge is a popular quest from Delos.

Start of New Pharoah's Challenge

I've just sent my two ships out, West and North, via the Mini Map, I'll do a couple of quick things back at the camp, and then shoot straight back to the ships via the Mini Map - the efficient way. No scrolling, no sitting back and watching, it's all go, go go.

Now all of this will sound obvious, and yes, it is - but many of us don't do it, or don't do it enough, or get lazy, or fall asleep at the wheel, our mind starts wandering, and we forget these basics.

If you want to be a better player - do not forget these basics - keep them in mind - practice them over and over and over - keep reminding yourself, if necessary, repeat out loud:  mini map....mini map....must....use....mini map....

Click here for part two of the Improving game play series.

Brawny Polecat