A Guide to the American faction and Campaign
Command and Conquer: Generals features the U. S. forces squaring off against primarily the Global Liberation Army, with occasional bouts with the People's Republic of China. This guide will help with both the general use of the Americans in tactical games, plus give a walkthrough of the U. S. campaign against the GLA.
Faction Profile: United States of America
The U. S. uses technology and advanced weapons to defeat its foes, usually having small numbers of highly advanced weapons systems and defeating numbers dwarfing their own. U. S. forces would be wise to hold off on offensives until their ultimate power is ready to fall down on their enemies.
American Tactical Strengths
Infantry: American infantry packs most of its punch in its special forces, the Pathfinders. Rangers and Missile Defenders are basically the same power as their Chinese and GLA counterparts, but the Pathfinders are the king of infantry. Their range is unmatched, and any infantry unit will die from a single hit from a pathfinder. Add to that the fact that Pathfinders are stealth when not attacking, the Pathfinder is the pinnacle of American infantry forces.
Armor: American armor is their Achilles' heel. Crusaders are inferior to Chinese Battlemasters and can't go head-to-head with large numbers of GLA tanks. Rocket Buggies are especially effective against American armor of all types. Even the top U.S. armor unit, the Paladin, isn't capable of taking on heavy enemy armor. The most effective U.S. armor unit is actually its lightest unit, the Humvee. When filled with the deadly combination of 1 Ranger, 1 Pathfinder, and 3 Missile Defenders, a TOW-armed Humvee is a deadly force that is fast and hard to kill.
Air Power: Air power is where the U.S. reigns supreme. American Aurora bombers are the most powerful unit in the game. Invulnerable on their attack, Auroras can level structures with practical impunity. Backing up the Auroras are the Raptors, anti-air fighters without match. Raptors can rain death from above onto any enemy unit. A flight of Raptors has the power to eliminate every unit in the game.
American air power extends beyond these aircraft. Hidden from view, American Stealth Fighters can drop a pair of missiles down on units, and a flight can destroy most units without warning. With the ability to stay hidden from view, Stealth Fighters have the ability to strike without warning and flee without a chance for counter fire.
American Comanche helicopters are the backbone of the American attack force. Their missile barrage power can wreck anything on the ground, and a group of Comanche's acting together can prove practically unstoppable.
Technology: American technology is unparalleled. Their helicopters bring in more money per trip than any other, and their drop zones bring in more than they cost with each drop. At their Strategy Center, they can implement a battle plan capable of turning the tide of a war. A fully advanced American Army is quite a force to be reckoned with.
One further note of worth is the power of the American Patriot missile system. This defensive building is capable of wrecking enemy armor, and when used in conjunction with Pathfinders, enemy forces will be hard-pressed to break through the American defenses.
Tactics for the American Faction:
American players should focus on survival in the early moments of the game. Both the Chinese and GLA forces have powerful rush potential, and American forces should beware a quick push by Chinese infantry or GLA Technicals. American forces should take care to build a battery of Patriot missiles backed by either Humvees or Rangers to deal with infantry attacks.
Once an Airbase is installed, American forces should build a flight of Comanches. These powerful helicopters will tear apart most units and can reinforce unstable areas and deliver a devastating counterpunch when the time is right.
Once the American defense is secure, the general strategy should be to begin to build an air armada of Auroras. These planes can eliminate any building in the game and have the potential to almost single handedly turn the tide of a war.
Against the GLA, American forces should focus on the use of high-tech units. GLA anti-aircraft defenses like Singer Sites can be easily neutralized by a single Pathfinder, leaving the GLA base vulnerable to Auroras and Raptors.
Against the Chinese, American forces should focus on high power units. A flight of Auroras will devastate Chinese anti-air, and the power of Comanches and Auroras can finish off the Chinese military with concentrated strikes and raw firepower.
Another advantage that cannot be ignored is the power of the American General's Powers. No other faction has the power of the American A-10 strike or Fuel-Air Bomb, and the ability to drop a small army of Rangers into an enemy base can prove invaluable to any American commander.
American forces have the technological advantage over both the other factions in the game. This advantage must be used effectively in order for the Americans to win in any game.
