14 DAY TRIAL // I don’t know and do not want to learn a full build order for Company of Heroes 2, one of the strategy games that I currently play in competitive modes, because I feel that would detract from the amount of fun I get out of the experience.
I understand that truly competitive players have clear progressions in mind when starting the game but to me such a level of commitment brings a game a little too close to work for comfort.
I could spend many matches against the computer and other humans simply seeing what the difference is between buildings three Grenadiers at the start of a one on one map and building two Grenadiers and one mortar team to back them up.
I could watch replays endlessly in order to see exactly where I accumulated too many resources and where I launched an ill-timed assault against an entrenched position rather than target the flanks of the enemy force.
But I already have too much information in my life and I see video games, even if they have a competitive edge like Company of Heroes 2, like a distraction and that means I want to rely on feelings rather than on rationality.
That means I often switch out of a familiar strategy that has a great chance of success just to see how throwing out a Jeep early in the game would affect the enemy.
Truly high-level players will balk at such actions and would say that I am nothing but a noob who needs to go back to single player.
And I acknowledge that true mastery of a game requires a lot of work, time and mental power.
But I would love to continue playing and enjoying Company of Heroes 2 without having to make it part of my work day.