A game of chess can be over after the very first turns. A slight mistake in the opening literally opens up a hole in your strategy that your enemy can and will exploit to his advantage. The same goes for Grey Goo and strategy games in general. You might start thinking:

How do I “open” a skirmish game?

The asymmetry of the factions gives you the need to reconsider your options on how to start and approach a game in a 1 VS 1 skirmish. This little guide will spotlight some approaches and considerations on how to start your skirmish. Critiques and recommendations are welcome to expand this guide and maybe do a full-blown skirmish guide in the future. No opening name is official and just describes the opening as best as possible.

Balanced Opening:

Build your Refinery and add a Factory. Finished. You fully use up your starting resources and are ready to go. But where to go from here?

• Second Refinery Expansion: After or while pushing out a handful of units to scout or defend, build the next Refinery as soon as possible. One Refinery can barely keep up with the production of two basic Units at once. This approach should ensure a good balance of growth and defense.
  
  
• Second Factory Rush: AFTER you build the first Factory, build another one and start production of Units in the first one. Then build a handful of units (around 6) and go for the enemy to harass. After your first wave, suspend unit production and go for the next Refinery.
  
  
• Fortification: Build a few Towers around your base to defend yourself from early aggression. Beta should produce Commandos while building their Towers (not complete walls) to put them on them later on. Strategic positions are somewhere in the middle of your Collector routes or near the catalyst vents. After the towers went up, continue to expand your base and resource production.
  
  
• Air Rush: Go for Air Units as soon as possible to establish control over the map. Probably only advisable against the Human since their anti-air units take two not-early attachments. Beta and especially Goo can react much better against it. Requires more testing.
  
  
• Be reminded that these are your first steps only. Continue to build Refineries and Factories to grow and to be able to keep up with the demand of the frontline.

Double Refinery Opening:

A high risk – high reward strategy where you immediately build two Refineries in your main base I see but too often. While it allows you to boost your production in a massive way, it leaves you very vulnerable. Do the maths:

You start with a 1000 catalyst. The first Refinery costs 800, leaves you with 200. These are immediately consumed by the second Refinery. Leaves another 600 to be harvested. A regular catalyst vent will net you 10 cps, so it takes another minute to finish it. But just another minute? Despite the claim of regular income, you have to count in establishing time of the first Harvester and Collectors (another 20 seconds?) plus slight hiccups in the Collector line (worst case 5 seconds?). If the enemy goes for a Balanced Opening, he has enough time to establish his first Factory and push out 3 units. With his scout he has 4 units marching on to your base. Now you have to be either quick or lucky or else you might find yourself in a world of pain. After your second Refinery you still need another 25 seconds to establish your own Factory and another 20 for your second unit. The best approach would be to invest in defense or all your hard work might crumble to an early, steady stream of enemies.

DANGER: Do not use the Double Refinery against the Goo. A single small Protean will ruin your day and stop the income of one Refinery, then the other. With no actual units to defend yourself, you will find yourself swarmed with Proteans (not the good ones) and soon to surrender.

Small Protean Rush:

Use your first Mother point to create a Small Protean. It is used to rush to enemy base and do as much damage as possible. Devastating against the Double Refinery Opening as it cripples the economy by simply staying in front of a Refinery. The small Protean is as powerful as it is fragile and should not be wasted. If the economy of the enemy cannot be attacked safely, place the Protean on a hill to scout. You can also transform the Protean into Drover or Strider to harass from a distance.

Keep the pressure up while you either send in another Protean (if your first attacks are successful) or build a second Mother to increase your production (if you cannot hinder the enemies growth).

Against Goo it is advisable to transform the Protean, as in melee combat the Protean will just become food for the enemy Mother. Both Strider and Drover are useful against the enemy Mother. The Strider can trump with a high range and damage, but requires more micro than just Drover, who can run and shoot. However, Drover have a very small range and can easily land inside a Mother if not careful.

Fast second Mother:

Like the Double Refinery Opening, this is a risky maneuver, as it leaves you unprotected early on. However, the Mother is mobile and dangerous, and can take care of potential attackers as well – if the enemy doesn’t pay attention.

Simply gather catalyst until you have 2 Mother points and split the second Mother. From there on build units and establish dominance over the battlefield.

The Goo is rather simple in its opening moves since its economy is not as complex. However, advice on that topic is highly welcome!

I enjoy Grey Goo very much and try to challenge myself with the PvP scene in this game. While I lack some experience, I try to share what I learned and hope I can learn from you as well! So do not fret from sharing your experience, critique and recommendations with not only me, but the whole community here.

Pictures may follow.

Guide Picture from: http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100630175158/yugioh/images/d/d9/Opening_chess_position_from_black_side.jpg