General Advice

Now that you have read and hopefully digested the basics of one on one game play for Fleet Operations, it is an opportune time to address cooperative multiplayer. Easily the most favored form of online play, many people find this aspect of Fleet Operations the most relaxing and enjoyable form of game play.

It is of course one thing to be good at playing against a single player, but to anticipate the capabilities of two opposing players—or more—you must be aware of what your teammate(s) strengths and weaknesses are and how to cooperate with them. The best team is generally only as good as its weakest member, and even if you might be the stronger player, you could very well lose because you do not lend a hand when it is most needed.

Although it is fairly obvious, it deserves to be said again: communicate often with your ally. Ask them when they are prepared for an attack, if they need back up, and whether they need resources (if you have enabled this option at the start of the game of course). Let them know if you have found an unattended unit of theirs, and give advice if you can.

A good team is also one which has generous members. Remember that you can give most units (if the option is enabled), but those vessels will not have the Level 2 or 3 abilities once transferred (or any universal upgrades).

Above all else, pay attention to the mini-map. If your opponent is engaged in a battle, they are likely incapable of taking the time to type out exactly what they need. Think ahead and don’t wait for frantic pleas of assistance. For instance, if told to guard the base, do not stop attacking altogether for all eternity (unless expressly told to). Use your brain.

The early game phase of a cooperative multiplayer game can play much like a one on one match. Usually you can thus begin by building your shipyard(s), destroyers, and mining in the same manner. However, if you have determined that mixed tech units are worth it, generally your second or third shipyard should be a mixed tech yard.

If you capture units that are available to the same faction (and generally avatar) as of your ally, give them as then your ally will gain access to the special abilities of those units and thus they will become more combat effective (aka, capture a Rhienn, give to ally, ally is Romulan, now ally can upgrade them and give them special weapons).

Make joint attacks. Join your ally’s fleet for an attack or attack someplace else to spread your opponent’s fleet. A combined attacking force will obviously limit your potential losses if you know exactly where your opponent’s fleets are. If you can just barely win an engagement on your own, try to wait for your ally to join you before engaging. Risking your fleet is just the sort of thing which will weaken you so much that you will not be able to recuperate. You can also have an ally attack one opponent and retreat so that you have an opening to harass the other opponent. Draw your opponent’s fleet into the waiting jaws of your ally’s vessels. Remember, you cannot win a team game by building turrets and staying within your base: if your ally falls, you will too. It is only a question of when.

On the otherhand, if your allies are far away from you and engaged with your opponent's fleets, sometimes it is best if you take the initiative and attack your adversaries vulnerable mining and production facilities. If your allies can hold off enemy forces long enough, those adversaries will have nothing to replenish their thinned ranks.