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Command & Conquer: Generals Side Comparison Guide by Alasdair Lo
System: PC, CD-ROM
E-mail: kylohk@netvigator.com
Date: 4 June, 2004
Version 4.1
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Contents
1. Introduction
2. Updates
3. Disclaimer
4. More about the New Scoring System
5. The Sides
6. Infantry
7. Armored Units
8. Air Units
9. Base Defenses
10. Base Infrastructure
11. Super Weapons and Generals Abilities
12. Final Overall Comparison
13. About the Talented Generals
14. Conclusion
Appendix I. Feedback Information
Appendix II. Letters from Readers.
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1. Introduction
---------------
Command & Conquer: Generals is the newest installment of the world famous
real time strategy Command & Conquer series. As usual, there is more than
one side. This time, there are 3! USA, GLA and China. As usual, each side
has its own strong points and weak points, and now, I will just give some
guidelines on which side is good at what, and hopefully, will give you
an idea of which side suits your style of playing. The guide now includes
comparison of units that appear in Zero Hour now.
---------------
2. Updates
---------------
Version 4.1:
Added the supplementary information for the A-10A Thunderbol, with
reference to the Jane's Combat Aircraft Guide.

Version 4.0:
Added supplementary information about the Troop Crawler, with reference
to Sinodefence.

Version 3.9:
Added supplementary information about the Battlemaster Tank and the
Inferno Cannon, with reference to Sinodefence.

Version 3.8:
Added some supplementary information about the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
and the Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirit with reference to Jane's Combat
Aircraft Guide, and added supplementary information on the Red Guard with
reference from Microsoft Encarta.

Version 3.7:
Added some supplementary information about the Comanche and Stealth
Fighter, with reference to the Jane's Combat Aircraft Guide.

Version 3.6:
Added some supplementary information about the Raptor and MiG, with
reference from the Jane's Combat Aircraft Guide.

Version 3.5:
Answered a newly submitted question from someone who would be known as
Black Scorpion.

Version 3.4:
Added a new section called letters from readers at the end.

Version 3.3:
Added information on General Tsing Shi Tao.

Version 3.2:
Added Information on General Ta Hun Kwai.

Version 3.1:
Added Information on General "Anvil" Shin Fai.

Version 3.0:
Added information on Prince Kassad.

Version 2.9:
Added information on General Rodall "Demo" Juhziz.

Version 2.8:
Added information on Dr. Thrax.

Version 2.7:
Added information on General "Pinpoint" Townes.

Version 2.6:
Added information on Malcolm "Ace" Granger.

Version 2.5:
Started comparing the Talented Generals.

Version 2.4:
Added the price of each unit, if any. I also judged which units are a good
value for money. After all, I got a B for Economics in last year's Hong
Kong public examination.

Version 2.3:
Changed some of the comparison data in the guide, as some reasons are too
simplistic.

Version 2.2:
Reinstated the scoring system. Added an extra chapter to explain the
scoring system, so people would not be misled by my new scores.

Version 2.1:
Added some tips here and there on how to use this ability and so on.

Version 2.0:
Fixed some problems with the punctuation marks.

Version 1.9:
Decided to retain the original name. Fixed a few more mistakes in the
individual unit comparisons. Decided to abandon the scoring system
altogether. Instead, I will just say which side is good at what.

Version 1.8:
Changed the name of the guide to Offline Side Comparison Guide.

Version 1.7:
Fixed some typos in the Technical and Marauders.

Version 1.6:
Revised the scoring system, and instead of giving each unit a score, I
just give a conclusion for each type of unit.

Version 1.5:
Again, readjusted the scoring systems, so that the point difference between
GLA and China are narrowed. Added some additional pointers in the Final
Overall Comparison Section. Fixed the typo that China has a population
of 13 billion, as it only has 1.3 billion! Added a new type of scoring
method, called Score by Category.

Version 1.4:
Fixed some formatting problems. Adjusted the score of GLA and China so
they are closer to each other, as I did not have the technicals and battle
buses enough points.

Version 1.3:
Added Zero Hour Expansion Units.

Version 1.2:
Fixed some problems with the punctuation marks.

Version 1.1:
Added a disclaimer section for the comparison.
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3. Disclaimer
---------------
I must say, for real time strategy games like C&C, people will always argue
about which side is better. So, before we begin, I must stress that this
guide is based on MY (I must stress this) own views. As OPINIONS ARE NOT
EQUAL TO FACTS, do not send in e-mail saying that I am a liar or whatever,
as my eyes do not fool me.

The definition of offline games: Single Player Missions, Multiplayer
Skirmishes and LAN games, all of these 3 games do not need any internet
connection to be played. So, they are offline games.

The comparisons are based on many factors, such as attack power, rate of
fire, their speed, their armor, their ease of deployment and so on. Each
factor is given a different weight, of course, different types of units
have different weights on their factors, more instance, for rifle infantry,
deployment speed and rate of fire are 2 important things, so I give them
a better weighting than attack power.

For each unit, I will now tell you which factors I compare them by which
factors. Sometimes, I will determine which unit is better by performing
a test run with each unit while I play an online game with my best friend.
So, all those scores are BASED ON MY OWN OBSERVATIONS. So, as my Pure
Mathematics Algebra Teacher likes to say when he spots a student cheating,
"DON"T ARGUE WITH MY OBSERVATIONS!"

So, in conclusion, it is just normal for readers to disagree with this
guide, and if you have any opinions, feel free to e-mail me and express
it. Please express yourself in a more polite manner, or I will regard that
as flame, and delete. Of course, a unit of a side maybe weaker than another
sides' but if you attack in quantity, you should always win! So, always
play all 3 sides for maximum enjoyment!
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4. More about the New Scoring System
-------------------------------------
For each unit, I will now tell you which factors I compare them by. Sometimes,
I will determine which unit is better by performing a test run with each
unit while I play an online game with my best friend. So, all those scores
are BASED ON MY OWN OBSERVATIONS. So, as my Pure Mathematics Algebra Teacher
likes to say when he spots a student cheating, "DON'T ARGUE WITH MY
OBSERVATIONS!"

Some factors compared include:
Attack Power
Armor
Efficiency
Flexibility
Special Abilities

Note that price is not considered at all. After all, if you are so stripped
of cash, could you buy anything?

Another rule I make when comparing units is that. If some units in the
same category have attack capabilities, while the other has not. I will
automatically give the unit without any attack power a 0.

Although there must be a winner in the final score. Having the highest
score DOES NOT imply that side is the strongest. It just implies that side
is all rounded. So, no more e-mails about how biased I am towards a side.
OK?

As you can see, I have included the price of each unit. I also have made
comments on which units are a good value for your money, and which are
not worth it. Note that the score of each unit is INDEPENDENT of its value
for money. There are in total 5 different price ratings for the units.
They are:

Excellent
Good
Fair
Bad
Poor

OF course, again, I judge their value for money from MY observations while
playing the game, so DO NOT ARGUE WITH MY OBSERVATIONS.
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5. The Sides
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USA:
The United States of America is definitely the side with the most high
tech units. Many units can make use of many technologies to boost their
attack ability. The air power of the United States is something to be
reckoned with, as they have 4 different air units, suited for various tasks!
In fact, a lot of units in reality appeared in the US arsenal.

GLA: (Green is my favorite color, heh heh heh.)
The Global Liberation Army is a multi-national terrorist organization
based in Kazakhstan. They are practically the most cunning and most
resourceful side in the game. 3 of their units can upgrade their own weapons
by picking up the scraps of the enemies they have defeated. Using the Palace
and the Black Market, they can acquire many important upgrades and funds,
which come from the darkest corners of the globe. Of course, these
terrorists have a lot of nasty tricks up their sleeves, as you can see
later.

China: (That's where I live, heh heh heh.)
The People's Republic of China is certainly becoming more and more powerful
these days. With a population of about 1.3 billion, China certainly has