Co-Op RTS Games

I'm wracking my memory here to try and recall which games have used a similar "shared unit" mechanic... Perhaps Warcraft 3 did, if Starcraft did. I can't recall, but it's possible the Earth: 2150 series of game did, as well.

For dedicated co-op campaigns, you could check out Red Alert 3 (OK game, shitty DRM) or Starcraft 2 (Great campaign, toxic multiplayer). I don't think either has the unit sharing you're looking for, but it's something.

RA3 has a fairly good version in that you have to work with your ally, though it doesn't have shared units. Dunno about SC2, not heard of it being playable in co-op before.

SCII can be done co-op in multiplayer, complete with shared unit control.

Where at?  I know that with SC2 you can share control of YOUR units, but as far as I know there is not a mode that allows for everyone to be controlling and building with the same team.

You can share unit control through the diplomacy options.

Not the same thing - that is not shared everying, ala "Team Melee" from StarCraft 1.  I did some research, and found a custom map that emulates the old way of playing - sadly, though, you cannot play it vs. overwhelming numbers of AI, or more than two players on a team.

I have never played a game like this before but more importantly

What Happened to all the good rts'?

The Kohan games had coop RTS - very cool.

Supreme Commander, and to a lesser to extent it's sequel, have some of the best Co-Op RTS action around.  Starcraft II's Co-Op is pretty lacklustre, frankly.  One person spams ground units, the other spams Air units, and you steam roll your opponents.  If it's online Co-Op, then in Starcraft II whoever has highest number of Zerg players is going to win.

I've never seen a game other then Starcraft 1 do it in exactly that way. Shame, that was a really fun mode.

Lol. Only if you are a against bad players.

Its that simple? Wow.

You could do this kind of coop in the original Age of Empires. This was great because one person could focus on building, upgrading, and resource management while the other took control the military. Damn I miss that.

Age of Empiers 2 coop i build the Building my mate command the army i did miss that alot I hope coop RTS games come back out soon like that would be fun

Isnt Dawn of War 2 singleplayer also co-op?

sorta. Each player controls two units, instead of one player controlling 4. 

DoW2 singleplayer isn't RTS though; it is more like a tactical RPG than anything.

Men of War: Assault Squad has a Skirmish mode where 1-4 (or more?) players can fight the AI on one of 15 skirmish maps. Granted you don't build a base it still comes down to strategy and tactics. Units are controlled individually but from what I understand the player with the least forces always get supplied first and you can and should gift units over the course of gameplay. It requires a lot of teamwork to conquer & hold against the AI and the more you advance the better are the unit options.

Not true, it takes tremendous skills, on par with the way the AI can't effectively use the Advent in Sins, for someone to successfully use the Zerg in StarCraft II. Zerg are in a bad place, one of the numerous reasons I haven't bought StarCraft II yet.

Speaking of interesting RTS mechanics, anyone ever play dark reign?  Though it was only a so so game in general, it allowed for players to customize ai on individual units.  You could select a squad then set them to harass, but to come back and heal when low.  You could set the hp threshold at which they would flee and then ignore them while you concentrated on expanding/major assaults.  Anyone heard of that in another game?  That was years and years ago.  Anything newer/better with similar mechanics?

Dark Reign was such a fun RTS, and it had a great setting too.  Most RTSes as of current emulate StarCraft, focusing on fair competitive play.  Few try to make things easier - Sup Com was a rarity in this respect.  I can't think of any others that have tweakable AI features like that.

I would love to see that sort of AI again.  Seems odd that others have ignored such an excellent  mechanic.

Maybe Stardock can do that kind of AI in a RTS game. =)  Good ideas frequently can come back if they are remembered by at least some.

Best regards,
Steven.

I think rise of nations had this kind of co-op experience, it was a lot of fun.

Not recently....

Cossacks2 (napoleon) certainly did iirc