a Play / Strategy Guide for Multiplayer NetStorm
For Beta Version 9.0
c1997 Albert Lo (Seeker)
Seeker's Guide to Battle

Contents
1.1 Getting Started
2.1 The Rest of the Game (Battle)
3.1 Strategy
4.2 Appendix : Spells
4.3 Appendix : Unit Strengths & Weaknesses (Strategy) 
4.4 Appendix : Spells, Pros and Cons, Tips and Tricks 

1.1 Getting Started
The first thing you have to do of course, is start a multiplayer game. Once you are in,
get the temple built  right away. While the temple is building, don't sit there and watch
it finish like I see many people doing.  Get your workshop started. Then you can finish
building both at around the same time, and not have to waste time building your workshop
later in the game. Then start connecting to geysers and start gathering storm crystals,
as much as possible, as fast as possible. 

2.1 The Rest of the Game (Battle)
By this time you should have your temple up, your workshop ready, and your transportation
units (usually golems at the start) gathering storm crystals. You should now have enough
storm crystals to build an outpost, and if necessary, build a generator. Now pick an
island to build an outpost. From this point on, expand your control and when you feel
you have sufficient resources, begin to build offensive and defensive units, starting
your attack against the enemy. Once you have eliminated your opponent, have a transport
go grab the immobilized enemy priest. Build an altar, and have the transport set the enemy
priest on the altar (for aerial transports, in order to set the priest on the altar, you
must aim a little lower on the altar). Then have your priest sacrifice the enemy priest.

3.1 Strategy
Lets resume where we left of in the Getting Started section. It is important that you get
a head start on your opponents by building your temple and workshop quickly. In a real
time game like this there is no time to sit around and think. You can do that after you
have started attacking your opponent. If you do sit around, that will allow your opponent
to get the first blow. Now, it is important that you expand quickly. Start using bridges
to connect to geysers, taking control of them, and to islands, also taking control of them
with outposts. The quicker you start your expansion, the less your opponent can get his 
hands on, and the weaker he gets while you get stronger. This has helped me win many games,
in as little time as 5 minutes. When you build an outpost, try to set them as close as
possible to a geyser, if not right next to one. This allows your transport units,
preferably golems, have less distance to move and allow you to get a quick initial infusion
of storm crystals. Then you can have enough storm crystals to start your offensive early.
If you see any of your opponents transport units around, attack them so your opponent not
only loses units, but gets a smaller flow of money also. Also, make sure you yourself have 
plenty of transport units. It is essential that you have a steady and constant flow of
storm crystals. If you are using aerial transports, then build at least 10 and you don't
have to worry about them any more. They will go about gathering by themselves. Ground
transports are a different matter. Since they can't fly, you need to constantly be connecting
to storm geysers. If there aren't any left, they stop gathering and you are in big trouble,
your money supply being cut off. But don't just go blindly building bridges, pay attention
to two things. First is that you are not going into enemy territory, because they can then 
destroy your transports with ease, as they keep going back for more. The other thing is that
you make sure you are not getting attacked. You do not hear the sound that are off screen,
and by the time you hear "our island is under attack," it is usually too late. Keep your
eye on the battle field constantly. If you are lucky and get the area with a lot of geysers,
you should have quite a bit of storm crystals in your pocket. It is time to start attacking.
Put units, if you haven't already, into production. If you run out of slots, it is cheaper
to build another workshop than to upgrade, but you need to have room. Once you have put
into production what you need, start building units and attacking your opponent. Note: You
do not have to have your own bridge connected to an island to be able to build on it; as
long as you are able to get to that island with a ground transport, even using or connecting
to enemy bridges or islands, you can build units on that island. Make sure you have plenty of
room to build so that you do not have one unit attacking, while the opponent has three or so
defending. Though it is usually not recommened that you group your units closely together, it
is smart at times to do so. The more you have in one area, the more damage is done at one
time. The number of enemy units that you can destroy is well worth the cost of replacing the
units you lose because of vicinity explosion damage. It is also helpful to build a group of
units when attacking buildings, since they can the be destroyed much more quickly. Also, make 
sure to leave room for defensive units, since you can hide behind them and attack enemy units
while not recieving any damage. Each unit has its weakness and strength, and those are
documented in the Appendix. If you have expanded as much and as quickly as I recommend, then
you should be able to make your way to your enemy's island. Attack his temple, if possible,
first so that you can build on his island and if you immobilize his priest, he can not heal
and you do not have to worry about grabbing him quickly (that is unless there are multiple
opponents, where you grab them as quickly as possible so he doesn't get stolen). Another
important aspect of battle is the use of spells. Many consider them cheap but they are very
useful if used correctly. They are best gotten with aerial units. Grab all you see in safe 
zones as quickly as possible so your opponents don't get their hands on them. The best spell
to get is invisibility. Next to that is decimation because it has such a long destructive
range. Learn when and where to use your spells. Decimation and invisibility is deadly
combination, and the best one I know, but there are others. Have your unit with invisibility
cast it on your unit with decimation. Then you have that invisible decimation unit head over
to your opponents. Land your unit right in the middle of his buildings, and start casting.
By the time your invisibility wears off, you should have destroyed all of his buildings 
and disabled his priest. Then your opponent is helpless, and you can finish him with ease.
Any unit with a spell that has had invisibility cast on it will allow you cast that spell
anywhere with ease. Treason is good to turn opponents units on him near his island, and
paralyze is good to paralyze units attacking you, and allow you to destroy them wouthout
resistance to get the kill reward. Kill reward is important, because it provides you with
extra storm crystals. Kill all enemy units, and salvage any units that you yourself are not
using. Thats about all I can think of for now. I will update this guide as I discover more 
tips and tricks, and feel free to e-mail me. You can find my e-mail address and updated guides
on my web page at http://www.jps.net/seeker/netstorm.htm. In order not to insult anyone, all
mentions of he/him/his on this page can also be replaced by she/her/hers. ;-)

4.2 Appendix : Spells*
Name Type Range Cost
Paralyze Defensive 7 1000
Point Blast Offensive 1 300
Invisibility Defensive 7 1000
Heal Defensive 9 200
Bridge Harden Defensive 7 150
Decimation Offensive 7 800
Devastation Offensive 3 400
Treason Offensive 7 2000
* This chart contains all pertinent information regarding spells. Damage in game is listed
as special, and so there are no numerical numbers. I'll add them if I can find them.

4.3 Appendix : Unit Strengths & Weaknesses (Strategy) 
Sun
Golem - One of the transport units with the least hits. Good for short distance gathering
of storm crystals.
Disk Thrower - An units that has relatively little range and does little damage. It also
does virtually no damage to Cloud Floaters. Useful against Whirligigs and Man 'o Wars.
Sun Cannon - A good overall shooter. It does a decent amount of damage, is cheap to build, and 
requires little energy. It's main weakness is its slow shot speed, allowing it to be easily
destroyed by faster shooting units such as the Crossbow.
Stone Tower - A cheap wall that requires little energy. Only down side is that it doesn't
have any special abilities like the other defensive units have.
Whirligig and Base - Weak units in both in hits and damage, but have nice range. Are good
for bombing enemy units at long range. 
Balloon - The cheapest flying transport, both in cost and energy. It is good for gathering
crystals without having to build bridges, but very easy to kill.
Sun Barricade - A really nice wall when put in pairs that does not allow any enemy fire to
pass in between. Its weakness is that when one of the pair is destroyed, the beam in the
middle vanishes. Also, when attempting to make a square around your island, it is a pain to
align all four.
Wind
Sail Skater - A fast transportation unit that is useful for all gathering activities. Costs
relatively little but is still rather weak. 
Crossbow - It's strength lies in its high damage and it's incredible shot speed. If used
in large groups, in inflicts huge amounts of damage. Its only real weakness is that it can
be attacked from behind and that is has less hits than other shooter units.
Wind Tower - A really useful wall because one face is utterly invincible. Good for blocking
all shooters except Ice Cannons unless set right in front of them. Vulnerable to aerial attacks. 
Dust Devil & Base - A strong unit with good range. There are no real weaknesses. The Dust
Devil is a really deadly unit. It does lots of damage and can not be destroyed, except by
the Acid Barricade. Dust Devil only lasts ten seconds. Takes 20 to remake.
Air Ship - The most versatile transport unit. It can sustain large amounts of damage, and
flies. It is good for all gathering activities. It does however, cost a lot and requires lot
 of energy. 
Rain
Acid Barricade - A cheap defensive unit in both cost and energy. Deadly because it sucks up
everything built or moving between it. However, it's not really a wall, so not useful for any
other form of defence. 
Crystal Crab - A transport unit that I have had little experience with. It is faster than 
golem, so can be used for longer range gathering, though that requires extensive bridge
building. Can take more damage than Golem and Sail Skater, but still weak.
Ice Tower - Another good wall. It regenerates, so it's hard to get rid of. Must have base
destroyed by a spell. A great cost saver. Bad thing is that regeneration takes time, and
while that happens, damage goes through. Better used in layers.
Ice Cannon - A weak shooter, but fires a lot and very fast. It's projectiles also split
and ricochet. Its weakness is that is can be attacked from sides and behind, and that if
a unit is placed right in front of it, usually a wall, it tends to kill itself. 
Man 'o War and Base - Another good aerial unit with good range. The Man 'o Wars can take
quite a bit of damage, and deal decent amounts of damage themselves. However, their bases
are easy to destroy. 
Cloud Floater - Another good transport unit. It has very little hits by itself, but it's
very hard to shoot it. Most shooters miss it 75% of the time and the Sun Discs just bounce
off it. A good unit for all gathering activities.
Thunder
Bulf - A transport unit that can take the most damage out off all transport units, and is
realtively cheap in both cost and energy. It is however, the slowest, and not very useful
in the long run. 
Thunder Cannon - A really good shooter. It does the most damage and has the greatest range.
It is so damaging in an offensive that may people hate them, and remove them from the game.
It's down side is that it is expensive and can be attacked from the sides and back. 
Arc Spire - Like the Sun Cannon and Acid Barrier. Works in pairs and does much damage to
the units that pass between it. It's down side is that is hurts all units, even yours.
Bulwark - The best wall in the game. It can take huge amounts of damage and is immune to
aerial attacks. It has no real weaknesses, and is good for drawing Dust Devil and Man 'o
War attacks away from your units and buildings.
Vander Tower - A strong shooter that only attacks aerial units. Good to pick off enemy
transports and defend against aerial spell attacks. Its weakness is that it is easy to destroy.

4.4 Appendix : Spells, Pros and Cons, Tips and Tricks 
Paralyze - This spell is very useful when you are able to cast them amongst a group of
enemy units. This is also good to use on an enemy priest. When cast on an enemy priest,
the priest becones immobilized and can no heal even though his temple still exists. The only
way to heal paralysis is to cast heal. An expensive spell but well worth the cost. You can
then destroy the paralyzed units without resistance and get your money back.
Point Blast - This is one of the worst spells there is. The range is so small that you must
use a small unit like a golem or a balloon to be able to even use it. Even then, it is still
hard to find a spot next to a scructure close enough so that the spell does damage. This
spell is very weak, the weakest it seems out of the damaging offensive spells, but costs
relatively little. It's not worth your time to use this spell. Invisibility - One of my
favorite spells in the game. Though costly, it is very effective when used with other
offensive spells. It allows you units to move without hinderance and destroy the enemy
without resistance. It is also useful to hide your priest and altar. 
Heal - A cheap spell to cast that is used mainly used to cure paralysis. It is also useful
to around your island when it is being attacked. You can heal your structures while mounting 
a defense.
Bridge Harden - Another spell I find rather useless. It hardens your bridges and prevents
them from being destroyed. You do not have time to do this in the game, and there is no
real necessity to. If a bridge is destroyed, build another one. The only good thing is
that it's the cheapest spell of them all.Decimation - The best offensive spell in the game.
It is best used in conjunction with invisibility. Becuase of its long range, it is possible
to destroy many enemy structures at once. Especially damaging at the center of your opponents
island, where all his vital structures are located. You can then blow them all up 
at once.
Devastation - A weaker spell than Decimation and has half the range. Your priest can pray
for it, and is still rather useful. Can also be used in conjunction with invisibility to
do the same things that can be done with Decimation.
Treason - Another powerful spell. If used correctly, and even better in conjunction with
invisibility, it can be used to turn an opponents units against him. Especially useful
with enemy aerial units and transports. The aerial units will be able to target enemy
structures since they won't be facing you instead of your opponent, and the transports
will gather resources for you. The most expensive spell, but what you usually get out is
more than what you put in.