General Strategy (Tree Layout)

[Nequissime]

I'm interested in seeing if any "general" strategy for placing trees has worked for anyone, especially in the later and harder levels of the game. Typically, I like to place all dyson trees as the defense trees become obsolete when I move across the field. With laser mines, however, they may now have some use. So what general strategies are there that are most effective for planets with 3 tree limits to 5 tree limits (can it go any higher?)?

[Bonobo]

Welcome, Nequissime,

I like to have defense trees on those asteroids that are close to the enemy, and yes, the laser mines can be of great use, IIRC there exist levels which can't or can hardly be won w/o at least one laser mine. If enemies are extremely aggressive I sometimes plant 2 or even more defense trees on asteroids which are necessary way points from one cluster to another.

And yes, the tree limit can go higher, I think remember asteroids with 8 trees, though I can't remember whether it was in the built-in levels or in one of the many fantastic user-built custom levels you can find in the appropriate board here.

BTW, having learnt Latin BIG TIME at school (46 to 31 years ago ) but being stumped by your nickname, I simply had to look it up

Greetings, Tom

[annikk.exe]

I typically only build 1 defense tree to get a laser mine (if applicable to the level).
All the rest goes on Dyson trees.  Maximum swarm ftw!

[Mihhaelo]

I'll build one or two defense tree's on the highest rated asteroid to get good mines. I'll also fill defense tree's on any asteroids that act as choke points, although choke points are a rare occurance.

[AWS]

I typically only build 1 defense tree to get a laser mine (if applicable to the level).
All the rest goes on Dyson trees.  Maximum swarm ftw!

yep - me too. thats mostly what i do too.
i try to steer clear of building too many mine trees if i can help it, as games progress i find they become less and less efficient. but as an early game tactic its great to use as a defence guard, or to keep an enemy roid occupied, etc.

in one of my levels one of the roids has, if i remember correctly, a 15 tree limit. (too many maybe?!)

AWS

[InTouch]

in one of my levels one of the roids has, if i remember correctly, a 15 tree limit. (too many maybe?!)

AWS

DO WANT

which one is it?

[Ytaker]

Defence trees do serve some purpose on harder levels. The enemy's AI sucks, and they'll often send a mine unassisted to attack a planet. Often to the same planet. The defensive trees can destroy any mine, and serve as a decent defence. Whilst I was building up an army, and building lots of dysons, I often found that each well placed defence tree could save me 40-60 troops over the course of the game, and prevent me from having to call my main army of 80-100 troops away from the front line.

[Zach]

I'm actually quite specific in my layout.  If the asteroid has poor stats (core energy less than 100, others less than 40%, &c.), I plant one dyson tree and make the rest defense trees, just so they can be static defenses against enemy swarms.  If the asteroid has appreciable stats, I plant more dyson trees than defense trees, but both will be present if possible.  For example, if I can plant five trees on a nice asteroid, I'll put down two defenses and three dysons.

[bryseron]

I'm actually quite specific in my layout.  If the asteroid has poor stats (core energy less than 100, others less than 40%, &c.), I plant one dyson tree and make the rest defense trees, just so they can be static defenses against enemy swarms.  If the asteroid has appreciable stats, I plant more dyson trees than defense trees, but both will be present if possible.  For example, if I can plant five trees on a nice asteroid, I'll put down two defenses and three dysons.

Wow, this is pretty much exactly how I play the game.  Adjustments are made if I've played the level before and know where the enemy is coming from.  But yeah, this works well for me.