Download and install the Phoenix Worx client. If you have already registered at the forums, you can use the same user info to login to the client, otherwise you will need to register. Once you've logged in, you can either create a game, or join an already existing one (using the "Create" and "Join" buttons respectively).
Note that you need to forward a set of ports from your router to be able to play TA online. For more information on this, read the thread titled "Router Config/Timed Out error" in the Technical Support forum.
Also note that any questions and problems about playing TA online, or the client, belong in the mentioned Technical Support forum.
Stuff to have
The following is listed in the order which it should be installed.
- Total Annihilation
- Core Contingency expansion pack
- Battle Tactics expansion back
- The latest patch which is version 3.1c
- TA Demo Recorder (Install version 0.99b2, then apply the latest update)
- Six Cavedog units (FARK, Flea, Immolator, Hedgehog, Scarab and Necro)
- Unit limit patch (1500 unit limit comes with the TA Demo Recorder update v1.0.0.545 by Xon)
- Anything else your heart desires
Apart from the game itself and version 3.1c, none of the above is required, but still highly recommended, as this is what most people use.
All of the extra files can be downloaded from most Total Annihilation sites.
http://d-gun.com (Files / Maps)
http://funthings.org
http://tazone.tauniverse.com (Files / Maps / Units)
The TA Zone map pack (287 MB) is a collection of many good custom maps, and some not so good ones. You can also download them one by one.
Types of games
1. Friendly
These games are “For Fun”. They are not ranked, recorded or counted in any way, except logged in your game history. They can be created in any chat room and joined by any player, up to the max set when the game was created.
2. Training
Training Games are counted towards Student and Teacher Training Points. They can be created from any chat room and no game options are locked. Only players on the same side as the host may join a training game.
Training Games work as follows: Every player in the game receives a
certain amount of Points Per Minute (PPM), so longer games means more
points, up to a limit of 120 minutes.
Student Points are gained by playing Training Games with ranks higher than your own (higher rank index, the numbers in the far left column as seen on the rank overview). The higher the rank compared to your own, the more PPM you get.
Teacher Points are awarded to the highest rank in a training game, compared to the lowest rank in the game.
If a Training Game is played with two players of the same rank, the winner is awarded with Teacher Points, and the loser gets Student Points.
3. IGW - Intergalactic War
IGW is a special type of game, played strictly as Arm vs Core, battling for the planets of a galactic sector (seen by clicking on the Galaxy button). As you win games, you gather
Experience Points (XP) and you may eventually rise in ranks.
To join the IGW, you must first choose your allegiance to either Arm or Core. This is done by going to View > My Profile in the client menu, and selecting from each of the three drop-down menus at the bottom.
Enlisted or Officer?
Enlisted may start playing IGW games right away. Enlisted is also the recommended choice for new players.
Officers start out as a Trainee and must first undergo a period of training. Once you have gained 600 Student Points, you are promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer and you may participate in the actual IGW.
Other than this, the XP calculation formulas are slightly different.
Army, Navy, or Air Force?
The branch you select only affects the amount of extra points you get when you win on certain maps (land, sea, air maps). Each map has its own set of bonuses according to what kind of map it is.
When you are done, reconnect the client to update your allegiance.
Creating IGW Games
IGW Games must be created by first entering (double-clicking on) a
planet that is
contested (marked with a
white circle,
as opposed to red or blue). The IGW game will then use the locked game
settings for that planet. IGW games are visible from all chat rooms and
can be joined by any Arm and Core player, except Trainees. For an IGW
game to count, one person on each side must be in the game. There are
two types of IGW games, Non-Comm and Comm. Games are Non-Comm unless
all players are of rank LT Commander and above.
For more information on this and details on the various ranks, click the Misc. Info button at the bottom of the client window; here you will find an
overview of all the ranks and their respective requirements, as well as formulas for experience points (XP) and more.