Command and Conquer[app.athenacrisis.com] is a rare map in that it seems to be designed to be played as a 1v1v1 map, but to make the most of it you’ll want to have the AI control the central Green faction. You’ll discover why as you start the match: Red and Blue start on opposite sides of the map with only a Pioneer and a Jeep to begin with, and no ability generate funds at the outset. You’ll need to quickly expand and build your economy before moving forward to strike at your enemy.

The kicker? Green stands poised to ambush anyone who crosses the central island. Their AI is set to Passive mode, so they won’t move on their turns if the AI controls them, but the snipers there have the ability to pick off almost anything that comes their way. They’re too far from the rail tiles to be easily hit by a Transport Train or a Support Train, and they each have Medics nearby to support them if they take damage. You’ll need to clear them from their mountainous perches before you advance across the island, or you can attempt to avoid them entirely and expand to the south or north to wrap around for a flanking assault on your opponent.

This is one of the more interesting AI implementations in a PVP map that I’ve seen, so give Command and Conquer[app.athenacrisis.com] a whirl!

In this month’s update we are introducing Costumes & Invasion Skills! You can now customize your faction for PvP with custom outfits for Pioneers, Infantry, Rocket Launchers and our new Vampire Medic. We also added exciting new skills to go with the theme, such as Blood Moon. This skill continuously heals units, but uses those health points when activating its power. We also added brand new invasion skills like Bubble Wrap that equip all units with a shield for one turn, and Charge Overflow which brings charges into an invasion right away.

NEW AND IMPROVED

• Unit Costumes: You can now buy various costumes for units in the shop to customize your faction! Initially you can choose between 6 different styles for Pioneers, Infantry and Rocket Launchers AND you can unlock the Vampire Medic style. Happy Halloween!
  
• Leader Animations + Leader Medal: There is now a subtle animation on leader units to remind you which units are leaders. The leader icon was changed to a medal. The previous icon is now finally used for Effects again.
  
• Sea Barriers: Two Sea Barrier structures were added. They work the same as barriers on land. The Corvette, Frigate and Destroyer received the ability to attack structures. Frigates are the only long-range unit that can attack structures
  
• New Unit Moved Icon: Units that have moved but can still act now have a tiny shoe icon on the bottom right
  
• New Per-Player Rescue and Capture Flag: The icons for rescue and capture are now using faction colors. This gives more information when rescuing a unit is contested. Players can now give up in ranked games.
  
• Power Activations: The Player Card now receives a rainbow border when you can activate a power. Power activation animations were sped up by 4x when using the "Normal" animation speed, same as when using "Fast AI" / "Always Fast". This was indeed way too slow before.
  
• Super Tank Power: +2 movement for tread, heals tread units by 50% and increases attack by 30% (4 charges).
  
• Editor: Added a "Load Map" button to the Map Editor that takes you to the map list on your user profile. The Entity Panel now has text input elements next to the slider for easier adjustment of unit values

INVASIONS

• New: You can now bring skills into invasions! That's it, that's the feature. Yay!
  
• New: Crystal Rewards: When you activate a Power Crystal and you win against an invader, you now get a random crystal as a reward. When you invade using a Phantom/Command crystal and you lose, you will receive one of Power, Valor or Phantom/Command, whichever you didn't use to invade. The probability is related to the cost of the crystal.
  
• New: You may receive a supply unit as part of your spawns.
  
• New: When you activate a Power Crystal on a map without an HQ, one of your Barracks or Spawn Platforms converts into an HQ, which makes those maps more interesting to Phantom invaders
  
• Changed: On big maps, the deploy area is now slightly larger, reducing the likelihood that your faction will spawn far apart.

NEW SKILLS

• Blood Moon: This skill works best with the Vampire Medic costume. It heals units by 10hp at the beginning of each turn and increases the attack of Medics. When you activate the power it increases movement range of soldiers by 2 and attack of all units by 30%, but reduces the health of all your units.
  
• Bubble Wrap: This power activates a shield for one round which reduces the next attack to 5 damage. This skill is the first available invasion skill, meaning that it activates when you consume a crystal.
  
• Charge Overflow: The second invasion skill gives the user 2 charges when consuming a crystal, increases charge speed and uses charges for an attack bonus.

BALANCING

• Super APU Skill: The Super APU power now increases attack by 50% instead of 300% Last Resort / Inferno: Units in transporters now also get converted. Enjoy your Hovercraft Jeep Zombies!
  
• Damage: Damage is now always rounded up instead of rounded down which eliminates some (but not all) "99 damage" situations, like for example Bombers against Infantry with cover will now do 100 damage.
  
• Bombers: Damage of Bombers against vehicles was increased by 5, improving the Jeep match-up.
  
• Wild Companion Skill: The power for this skill now spawns a bear at the HQ as well as at Shelters. Increased the price of Bears from 250 to 350.
  
• Alien Invasion Skill: Increased the required charges for the power from 3 to 4.
  
• Large Footprints: Updated the cost of Ogre units from 300 to 350.
  
• Ogre: Added the ability to capture buildings, their movement range was reduced from 4 to 3, and attack buildings and structures.
  
• Acid Bomber: Supplies were increased from 20 to 30.
  
• Artillery Expert Skill: Changed the 20% defense increase for Tires/Tread to a 40% defense increase for Artillery, Heavy Artillery and Cannon units.