1) I read the FAQ (Jan 2, 2009) and it says that the strategic areas should be ignored when executing a special order. What does that mean exactly?

2) Tassadar Stage III Leadership card: Return to Aiur: You may place 8 transports on any navigation routes but you have got just 7 transports. How can you do that? I think it is only possible in Eye of the Storm scenario when you controll both protoss faction.

3) I played BW twice and I have a big problem with terrans. I think they are very weak at the beginning (in first 2 rounds) and they can be easily defeated. Terrans tough units are tanks and bc-s but you need 4 builds to have one. There are the zergs who can easily get a lurker (cloaking and ground splash) and it is as tough as a tank. The protoss has got Archon and Reaver which can be built ver soon. So I'd like to know some terran tactics because I find terran so weak know. :S

1) Strategic areas let you execute all orders on this planet as they were special. What's more, they are not counted to the limit of special orders in each round (so you may place your true special orders elsewhere and execute them).

Previously controlling SA was inreasing the limit and worked as an additional R&D module. But, as a result, you were able to execute easily all your orders in round as special. This was definitely overpowered. Now strategic areas give benefits only on specific planets, where they are located.

2) Well, this must be some error, or it has use only in scenarios, as your suggested.

3) Playing Terran is not as simple as Zerg rush or building powerfull Protoss units. You need to constantly modify your tactic during game, according to the oppotents' plans. The more different types of units you can build, the more flexible, and potentially powerfull you are. Just avoid focusing on one strategy. And watch what your enemies do.

One of most difficult things playing Terran is teching & building together. You are not able to do it both as fast as your oppotents. I find especially teching difficult and not worth of effort. So here you should take only technologies you conisder as necessity to your strategy.

At start, I find in most games usefull investing in Vultures with Spider Mines or Wraiths.

- Vultures with Spider Mines are definitely more dangerous than in video game, you may also use Spider Mines as a good infantry card

- Wraiths are also preety tough and should serve as good unit to counter enemies' agressive, early attacks

A bit problematic may be defending the base in first round - if you are expecting an attack , use your mobilize orders well. Your most dangerous units, main forces shouldn't take part in defence, rather in counterattack.

See also this blog: www.haslo.ch/blog/starcraft-tbg-strategy-terrans/

To summarize:

Terrans are not weak, but more demanding from the player during game.

Carnate said:

From the FAQ:

Spec ial Order Pool
The reference to strategic areas under “Execute Special
Order” on page 5 should be ignored.

From page 5:

Execute Special Order: The player executes the order and
then places the token in the “Special Order Pool” of his
Faction Sheet. He may only choose this option if the number
of orders in his “Special Order Pool” is less than the number
allowed by modules and strategic areas he controls.

Strategic areas don't have any effect on the limit of your special order pool. This is why that little bit of text which refers to strategic areas is to be ignored. Your pool limit is the same with or without the strategic area.

Strategic areas allow you to bypass the pool completely for special orders executed on a planet where you own a strategic area .

I still don't understand the point in having the actual special area pool on your army sheet. Putting them in there doesn't mean anything does it? I understand the whole needing enough modules to support them but having to put them in the special order pool just seems like pointless busy work

I mean why not just put them with your other tokens once you've revealed it and use it during the execution phase? Is it just there for people who have trouble remembering or does it actually serve some other purposes that I'm just not seeing?

Also some of the new cards refer to the 'action' phase. Have they just renamed the execution phase in BW?

According to the original BW rules you are allowed to execute a special order if the orders in you spercial order pool are less than the number of strategic areas you control + number of R&D modules you have and after executing, you have to take the special order to the pool. So there you can count how many special orders you have already used. But it is true, that there are only 3 special orders, so you can easily remember how many of them have been used.

Anyway according to the corrected rules the number of the special orders you can use depend only on R&D modules. So the pool is not so important now.

And yes the executing phase is now action phase.

Actually, if you play Mengsk (red) as Terran you can get arguable the easiest SVC in the game (every area on two planets), i do like their flexibility, and you can say about zerg rush and protoss teching, you can also say terran somewhere in between or a bit of both or flexibilty.

The 1 gas assist module has made science vessels better that before and early medics a viable strategy. Although let's not start a big debate about best faction... (but i do love the reds )

SIlly Question of my own: Is my assumption that an infested CC can ONLY build infested terrans, and that you need a base to build zerglings etc correct?

Yes, it's correct.