Originally released in Alpha to a small audience back in 2016 by developers Landfall Games, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (or TABS) has grown and evolved over the years, so much so that it even spawned its own Battle Royale spin-off. After launching into early access in 2019, it received numerous free updates that brought new maps to fight on and unique units to play with.
With the launch of the full version, they’ve finally added something the community has been desperate for: multiplayer. Now players can face off with their friends to create some creative battles. Alongside this, there have been a few other fun additions such as Twitch Integration, as well as two new factions and campaigns. So if you’re thinking of taking the plunge into multiplayer, here are a few tips that might give you that winning edge.
10 Multiplayer Is Better With Friends
Though you can now play with other random players online, one of the absolute best ways to play the game is with a friend.
Setting up battles with a buddy just makes the whole thing much more fun as you get to hear their reaction to your unit placements, the types used in the game’s massive roster, and how the battle itself plays out. Although Quick Match is perfect for jumping straight into the action, matchmaking times are a little long just now despite the Christmas giveaway of the game on Epic boosting the player base somewhat. Hopefully, official servers are introduced in the future, but having a party ready to go makes things a lot smoother. There’s also a LAN option if you want to get a little old-school split-screen nostalgia going.
9 Some Units Are Overpowered
There are a lot of really strong characters in TABS and some that are completely overpowered and broken. Over time there’s been a lot of tweaking to some of them, but there are still a few that can utterly decimate the field without breaking a sweat.
For example, the Reaper is pretty brutal with his Scythe and Tentacles, whilst The King is an incredible tank that is hard to knock over as his swinging Claymore breaks crowds of units easily. For real shock and awe tactics try bringing in Thor or a gigantic Tree Giant or two and watch your friends or other online players struggle to figure out how to beat them. If you’re unsure what character is the strongest try checking a guide on which is the most OP or spend some time in the Sandbox mode with different setups to figure out what works for you.
8 Strong Opening Volleys Are Key
A lot of melee units in TABS can destroy even the best-laid plans once they get into range. So a strong ranged volley before they get up close can sometimes turn the tide on what at first might seem like a tough fight.
A traditional musket line is a good all-rounder as their piercing shots can take a solid chunk of men down in an opening volley. Or if there’s a particularly tanky character causing havoc you can manually control one and snipe them yourself. Being able to pick off threats from afar or provide ranged support can occasionally help you pull victory out of the jaws of defeat. So think wisely about your choices.
7 Don’t Forget To Bring A Tank
Whether it’s the modern armored version or the anarchic spinning top of the Da Vinci, having large armored units that can break through lines and cause havoc can be a great strategy.
Also, Tanks always draw the most aggro from hostile units, so take advantage of this by having some quicker-moving boys that can pick off enemy forces whilst they’re distracted. If you can’t use tanks, the Mammoth works in a pinch as well if you’re looking for something that can soak up a lot of damage whilst putting out a lot of its own.
6 Embrace The Weird Units
There are a lot of weird, wacky, and just plain odd units to tool around with in TABS and even more when you start to unlock the secret hidden units in the game. Some of them can be kind of useless in a fight, but occasionally an odd gimmick might work in your favor.
The Ballooner for example fires an arrow that attaches a balloon to a target. Whilst not doing any damage, enough balloons can lift the heavy units and immobilize them for a while whilst others inflict damage on them. Or there are the Valkyries which can just soar over enemy lines out of harm before diving in and breaking up formations. So try to mix and match different combinations to find the roster that works for you.
5 Use The Battlefield Space Efficiently
Whilst the battlefield you get to play on isn’t the biggest and most players will just dump everything in a line in front of you for one big melee, being smart with your unit placement could make you unstoppable.
For example, on some of the city maps such as The Renaissance or the Simulation levels, there are tight streets and corners that are perfect for bottling troops up in for maximum damage from artillery. There are also a few that contain rivers that can be used as natural barriers. So try to use the landscape to your advantage when you’re placing units.
4 Bring A Healer
Every MMO player will tell you the importance of having a healer, they keep everyone (especially the tank) alive. In TABS this helpful role is performed by the Medieval support unit The Healer, formerly known as The Priest.
This staff-carrying Clergyman will release a big gold beam onto nearby tank units, keeping them alive as they decimate the opposition. Although one is enough, an ideal setup is to have one per tank that way you can maximize your ability to keep your army alive. Also, considering they’re the only healer on the roster they’re a mandatory pick regardless.
3 Cavalry Can Be Your Best Friend
The majority of players you will encounter online tend to favor a big block of units tightly packed together or a solid infantry line that will push through your forces. A good way to counter this is with cavalry such as the jouster, or the Raptor Riders.
Having something that can push through that dense line and scatter everyone beyond it can be crucial to that first opening charge. A good tip to use is to manually control some of them once they breakthrough to take down key targets behind enemy lines like healers or particularly tough ranged units.
2 Be Smart With Your Unit Selections
When you first start playing the multiplayer in TABS on a console or with a PC through Steam or another launcher, your initial instinct will be to pick the biggest and strongest units or as much infantry as possible. Whilst this may work for a little while, eventually, you might encounter someone with a better setup.
Try to get a combination that compliments each other. An example would be a solid line of shield-bearers to block arrows and hold back infantry whilst archers or muskets fire volleys from the rear. Then have a healer or two mixed with a large tank that can then smash through foes and cause chaos. Sometimes less is more when it comes to winning a fight.
1 Don’t Be Afraid To Take Control
Battles in TABS don’t last very long, with most burning out within a minute or so since all the AI of the units is so aggressive. But during this short space of anarchic time, taking control of a unit or two could work out in your favor.
Manually running around with a large sword or finding the perfect sniper spot can lead to a lot of damage being done to the enemy team. Plus, with the AI so blinkered with hunting you down, sometimes you can trick it into running into rivers to be swept away if you get in the right position. So don’t be afraid to jump into the melee now and then.
NEXT: Simulator Games: 10 Niche Titles For When You Get Bored Of Fantasy Games
