...after beating my head against the final demo scenario for over a dozen tries, I've decided to pack it in. If I can't beat a tutorial level on the demo, I doubt there's any hope for me in the big games.

This is in no way an aspersion on anybody who worked on the game or who can, indeed, play it well. I just wanted to throw a voice up to maybe make all the other lame-o's out there feel a little better.

Did you try reducing the difficulty level? If you can't select difficulty, then download the demo now and you'll find you can

Part of the fustration comes because the demo doesn't explain to you (well, I think it does now, but it never used to) that you CANNOT purchase units in a territory if the enemy is in it.

Do you have the LATEST Demo? (released yesterday)
In not, then please, download the latest Demo and try the "Easy" or "Medium" level.

"Easy" level should be really easy and relaxed.

Well that final tutorial level is more difficult if you follow the advice you're given. If you ignore the neighbor to the east its alot easier (even on hard...)

what's the name of final demo scenario? is it from additional mission pack?

"The Stand."

I downloaded the demo a few days ago, actually. Last Wednesday, I think.

Maybe I'll give it another shot. When you watch a successful .rep file and still can't beat the level, though, it might be time to pack it in.

I've never been very GOOD at turn-based strategy, see... I can beat Civ II or Alpha Centauri, but only up to the mid-range difficulty levels. But MA is just so goshdarned GOOD-LOOKING that I can't stop trying.

- Matt

when you get the full version you'll have allot of fun in multiplayer.

I had trouble with that at first as well, but eventually got it, even on the hardest difficulty level.

You HAVE to get control of the territory to the east. It has a revenue of 3 ... if it falls into enemy hands you're screwed. On the other hand, it seems the AI rarely invades neutral territories. You might be able to wait them out, but I haven't been successful with it.

What I do is put both tanks in the APC-type thing and immediatley take over the capital. This will spawn the 6 smallfoots as guerillas AND then the enemy will send forces in from the northern border. You have to put the tanks and the empty APC back to back to lower the number of directions that smallfoots can fire at them from, allowing them to last longer. Also bring in the large robot and one smallfoot of your own from the NE border. Use these units and support fire from one of your RLs to destroy the guerillas and more importantly to keep enemy units from crossing that N border into the once neutral territory. If you play your cards right you can avoid a border skirmish on your own E border ... because if that happens, the game is over.

Meanwhile, just defend your own N border with your own smallfoots and RLs. If you space them out just right in relation to the positions of the enemy smallfoots, you can make sure you destroy the right ones to ensure that on the next turn no one will be able to get over the border, even if you have gaps in your defensive line. Expect to be invaded once to raise your $4 in guerilla forces (probably best if all spent on smallfoots) and immediatley repel the invasion.

While doing this, your opponent is splitting the direction of his assault, and should be occasionally losing some of his artillery to your RLs as well, weaking him significanlty. Once you capture the neutral territory, you get $5 to spend every turn and the rest is gravy.

I hope that description helps, although it's probably a descripiton of everything tried already. It took me awhile, but it was very satisfying once I beat this scenario.

I'm really looking forward to getting the full version of this game.

"The Stand" is damn good fun, isn't it?

You're right, the AI doesn't attack neutral territories enough IMO, but in this scenario it really isn't equipped to do so.

in that scenario i found it alot easier to just ignore the neutral and just smash the enemy in their country using the rocket launcehr u start with and just kept buying lavs, he'll run out of resources in taht country once that happens invade with whatever u got left and jsut mop up whatever he brings as guerillas (prob more lavs)

2 Enfprcer - i disagree - it's easy to capture that neutral and it give you good extra cash
i posted replay somewhere on forum (loong ago since it's a typical n00bs whining theme )

Yes, that's true. On easy and medum levels it is easier to ignore neutral country. On hard level - i'm not sure.