History Main / ACommanderIsYou

* ''The Mario Faction.'' These factions do not specialize in anything, nor do they have any downsides. [[HumansAreAverage This typically tends to be humans]] in a setting with multiple races. Basically, a 'jack of all trades, master of none' sort of deal. Tends to be easy to learn and play, and is a good beginner's faction for getting a grasp of the game mechanics.
* ''The Spammer Faction.'' This faction works by [[ZergRush sending wave after wave of weak units]] at the enemy. Their units are cheap and disposable and are produced and die in huge numbers as they gradually overrun their opponent's defenses. The Spammer faction [[WeHaveReserves always has reserves]].
* ''The Elitist Faction.'' The opposite of the Spammer faction. This faction focuses on an army composed of a small number of powerful but costly units. The exact scale of Eliteness may vary, from nearly OneManArmy-level units, to units that are just a bit stronger than those of the Mario faction. Sometimes they have very strong starting units, but not much variety other than that.

** Soviet Union - Offensive Brute Force (They have tanks. A lot of tanks. One for every concieveable need, in fact)

** Atomic Kingdom of China - Defensive Brute Force (High attack values, but low speed and power-hungry units)

* ''StarCraft'' & ''StarCraftII:

* ''{{Warhammer}}''

** Wood Elves - Guerilla-Ranger-Technical hybrid, totally lacks defensive power and another Pariah

** Chaos Daemons - Brute Force bordering on GameBreaker
** Imperial Guard - The Spammer if using infantry, Brute Force with tanks, the Mario when using combined arms

** Witch Hunters - A Ranger and Gimmick Faction, years out of date
** Daemonhunters - Brute Force and [[GreyKnights Elitist]], though disadvantaged due to being years out of date

** Necrons - The Elitist
** Tyranids - Can vary between a Spammer/Horde and an Brute Force faction based on whether more, bigger 'nids ("Nidzilla") or hordes of the little bastards come out

*** Progenitors - Game Breaker. Their units make [[{{Understatement}} heavy]] use of [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill lethal]] WaveMotionGuns. One specific kind of Progenitor ship is even [[ImplacableMan so strong]] that even a fleet won't stop a single one, and it even [[RasputinianDeath attempts to escape, only to return in good condition]].

* ''WarWind'':
** Tha'Roon - Elitists
** Obblinox - Brute Force
** [=Shama'Li=] - Rangers (the magic kind)
** Eaggra - Spammers

* ''MassEffect'' (though not a strategy game, each species/civilization has a distinct doctrine that lends them to this characterization)
** Systems Alliance: Ranger/Technical - doctrine emphasizes rapid mobility and response, avoiding direct contact with enemy forces, and stealth
** Turian Hierarchy: The Mario/Brute - doctrine favors straightforward combined arms assaults with disciplined troops
** Asari Republics: Guerrilla/Elitist - doctrine emphasizes elite infantry formations of powerful troops used in guerrilla-style combat
** Salarian Union: Espionage/Technical - doctrine emphasizes us of stealth, infiltration, and elite strike teams using high-end tech to sabotage and disrupt enemy operations
** Geth: Spammer/Technical/Research - doctrine places no value on individual ships or platforms, and have highly-advanced technology, specialists, and research capabilities
** Quarian Migrant Fleet: Elitist/Technical - doctrine and population limits emphasize small, elite, well-equipped units of marines focused on disrupting enemy tech
** Krogan: Brute/Spammer pre-Krogan Rebellions, Brute/Elitist post-Krogan Rebellions - early doctrine placed emphasis on sheer numbers, due to krogan hardiness and birthrate. After [[DepopulationBomb the genophage]], doctrine shifted to use of highly-trained and heavily-armed individual soldiers
** Reapers: Elitist/Technical/Brute/Espionage - doctrine of subtle infiltration through indoctrination prior to open assault using large numbers of powerful, extremely advanced units.

** Orc- Brute Force[=/=]Guerrilla
* (Non-strategy game example) ''OpenBlue''
** Avelia - Brute Force/Spammer
** Sirene - Elitist/Research
** Remillia - Ranger/Espionage
** Pirates - Guerilla/Gimmick (can have multiple ship mods to make up for lack of raw firepower)

* {{Colonization}}
** English - Industrial/Spammer
** French - Diplomat
** Spanish - Brute Force
** Dutch - Economist
* RedAlert3Paradox
** Allies - Technical (Most of the buff/debuffs come from their special line of WeirdScience units)
** Confederates - Guerrilla (Almost every unit has access to stealth in some form)
** Soviet Union - Offensive Brute Force (They have tanks. A lot of tanks. One for every concieveable need, in fact)
** Order of the Talon - Elitist (Strange for a SteamPunk faction, but their special AppliedPhlebotinum allows them to keep up)
** Empire of the Rising Sun - Mario (Hordes of transforming mecha, allowing individual units to fill more than one role)
** Atomic Kingdom of China - Defensive Brute Force (High attack values, but low speed and power-hungry units)
** Electrical Protectorate - Spammer (To the point of completely forgoing build times)
** Mediterranean Syndicate - Ranger (Their best units are infantry which use distance-based AbnormalAmmo, and artillery)

* ''StarCraft'' & ''StarCraftII:
** Terrans - A mixture of Ranger and Mario.
** Zerg - A mixture of Guerrilla and Spammer.
** Protoss - A mixture of Brute Force, Elitist, and Technical.
** Hybrid - GameBreaker.

* ''{{Homeworld}}'' series: the series tends to mix several kinds of factions into one... and what kind of faction each one looks like depends on the situation.
** ''Homeworld'': the only two officially playable factions, Kushan and Taiidan have [[CosmeticallyDifferentSides more to do with aesthetic than tactical difference]], so the best way to compare between them is by their special units.
*** Kushans - Guerillas in terms of Cloaked Fighters or Technical by Drone Frigates.
*** Taiidani - Unit Specialization with a little Brute Force. Their Defense Fighters are Defense Field Frigates help their fleets last longer in combat.
*** Turanic Raiders - Guerilla by story, Pariah by gameplay. One of their craft can MacrossMissileMassacre, but that's all they've got.
*** Kadeshi - Elitist Spammer, sometimes [[GameBreaker gamebreakingly so]]... or Unit Specialization Spammer, sometimes [[CripplingOverspecialization cripplingly so]].
*** Bentusi - Game Breaker, if you count their only combat-ready Tradeship unit present the game.
** ''[[CanonDiscontinuity Homeworld: Cataclysm]]''
*** Kushans (Hiigarans) and Taiidani: Mario.
*** Turanic Raiders - Guerilla when they started to field disguise and cloaking systems.
*** Somtaaw - Brute Force where combat is concerned: their ships are plainly built to kill. Noncombat-wise, they are Technical.
*** Beast - Gimmick, mostly, owing it all to [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs infectious]] [[EldritchAbomination techno-organic viruses]].
*** Bentusi - Game Breaker, only this time, they have a usable fighter unit.
** ''Homeworld 2''
*** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeworld_2#Hiigarans Hiigarans]] - The Mario, they are more effective when deploying a mixed force.
*** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeworld_2#Vaygr Vaygr]] - A mix of the Mario, the Spammer, and the Unit Specialist, they are most effective when deploying a mixed force designed around a primary unit, which tend to be smaller on average than Hiigaran ships.
*** Progenitors - Game Breaker. Their units make [[{{Understatement}} heavy]] use of [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill lethal]] WaveMotionGuns. One specific kind of Progenitor ship is even [[ImplacableMan so strong]] that even a fleet won't stop a single one, and it even [[RasputinianDeath attempts to escape, only to return in good condition]].
* ''StarWars''
** Trade Federation: Spammer; according to one episode, galaxy wide, combat droids outnumber clones 100:1.
** Old Republic: Clones are Brute Force, Jedi are Guerilla.
** The Empire: Brute Force (TropeNamer for ThatsNoMoon, after all, plus Star Destroyers & AT-ATs).
** The Alliance: Guerilla (commandoes), Unit Specialist (typically X-Wings or infantry).

* ''AdvanceWars'' has several. Most are unit specialists, these are the other archetypes they fall into.
** Andy - Mario
** Sami, Sensei, Colin, Hachi - Spammer
** Max, Grimm, Will (Days of Ruin), Tabitha ([=DoR=]) - Brute Force
** Grit - Ranger
** Olaf, Lash, Kindle, Jake, Koal, Sonja, Penny ([=DoR=]) - Gimmick
** VS mode Sturm in [=AW1=], Brenner ([=DoR=]) - Turtle
** Sturm, Colin, Kanbei, Hachi, Sensei, Caulder ([=DoR=]) - Game Breaker
** Kanbei - Elitist
** Sonja - Guerrilla
** Sasha - Economist
* ''SupremeCommander'':
** UEF - Brute Force
** Aeon - Technical
** Cybran - Guerrilla
** Seraphim - Game Breaker (but they're supposed to be elitist, funny how that works)

* ''{{Deadlock}}'':
** ChCh-t (insectoids) - Spammers.
** Cyth (illithids) - Diplomats (the spy kind)
** Maug (techno cows) - Productionists.
** Tarth (cats/dogs) - Brute Force.
** Humans (duh) - Economists.
** Re'Lu (tibetan elves) - Elitists.
** Uva Mosk (something strange) - Productionists.

* ''WarWind'':
** Tha'Roon - Elitists
** Obblinox - Brute Force
** [=Shama'Li=] - Rangers (the magic kind)
** Eaggra - Spammers
* ''GalacticCivilizations'' 2:
** Terran Alliance - Diplomats
** Yor Collective - Industrial (in theory)/Pariah (in practice)
** Drengin Empire - Brute Force
** Altarian Republic - Researchers
** Drath Legion - Espionage/Diplomats
** Torian Confederation - Loyal/Spammers
** Arcean Empire - Brute Force (slow but tough)
** Dominion of Korx - Economists
** Iconian Refuge - Researchers
** Thalan Empire - Elitists (very expensive, limited buildings)
** Korath Clan - Brute Force/Industrial
** Krynn Consulate - Loyal/Espionage/Gimmick (culture conquest)

* ''BattleForWesnoth'':
** Loyalists - Mario
** Rebels - Mario/Rangers
** Drakes - Elitists/Rangers
** Knalgans - Brute Force/Elitists
** Northerners - Spammers/Brute Force
** Undead - Technical

* {{Warhammer40000}} - Tabletop Example
** Space Marines - a Mario and Elitist
** Chaos Space Marines - a Mario and Brute Force
** Chaos Daemons - Brute Force bordering on GameBreaker
** Imperial Guard - The Spammer if using infantry, Brute Force with tanks, the Mario when using combined arms
** The Tau Empire - Ranger faction
** Witch Hunters - A Ranger and Gimmick Faction, years out of date
** Daemonhunters - Brute Force and [[GreyKnights Elitist]], though disadvantaged due to being years out of date
** Eldar and Dark Eldar - The Guerrilla mixed with The Elitist (Eldar more towards Elitist, Dark Eldar more towards Guerrilla)
** Orks - We's bringin' da biggest and da most boyz ta crump all da 'ummies! (Spammer and Brute Force)
** Necrons - The Elitist
** Tyranids - Can vary between a Spammer/Horde and an Brute Force faction based on whether more, bigger 'nids ("Nidzilla") or hordes of the little bastards come out

* ''{{Achron}}'' is an interesting example: Its factions are best defined by their focus on time and space, but can still fit in this classification:
** Vecgir (Teleportation; spatial focus) - Brute Force/Elitist
** CESO (space/time balanced) - Brute Force
** Grekim (Chronoportation; temporal focus) - Technical with a bit of Industrial
* ''{{Earth 2150}}''
** Eurasian Dynasty: Spammer/Brute Force
*** Early units are little more than cannon fodder and must be fielded in insane numbers. Late-game tanks are one of the most powerful units in the game. Vehicle-mounted ''nukes'' are available.
** United Civilized States: Guerrilla/Unit Specialist
*** Early units are weak but UCS plasma weapons border on GameBreaker status. Only faction with access to [[InvisibilityCloak SHADOW generators]].
** Lunar Corporation: Technical/Elitist/Ranger
*** Units are generally more expensive than the other factions' but every single unit is amphibious. Early units are {{Fragile Speedster}}s with a significant disadvantage in firepower.
* ''{{Star Trek}} Armada'' and ''Star Trek Armada 2'':
** Federation: Mario with some elements of Technical. All factions rely pretty extensively on special abilities, but Federation ships mostly have abilities that are consistently useful throughout the game throughout every tier.
** Klingon: Brute Force, also unique in that they can commandeer enemy ships more easily than other factions.
** Romulan: Guerrilla and Technical. Their ships have the least hull and only average weapons, but ALL their ships can cloak, and they are the only faction that has a method of being able to use weapons while cloaked. They also have some of the most potent special abilities in the game when used correctly.
** Borg: Starts out as Spammer, then makes an unusual switch to Elite. Their lower tier units are pretty weak and expendable, but their higher tier ships are some of the toughest in the game and are much more powerful than their equivalents on the other factions. Tactical Fusion Cubes are not something you want to deal with.
** Cardassian: Mostly Mario with some minor elements of Guerilla and Technical.
** Species 8472: Elite/Brute Force with a twist of Economist; while other factions need particular resources to build their ships (Klingons in particular will hurt pretty bad if they don't get their hands on significant amounts of Latinum) Species 8472 will take ANY resource and convert it into Bio-Matter, the only major resource they need.
* ''MassEffect'' (though not a strategy game, each species/civilization has a distinct doctrine that lends them to this characterization)
** Systems Alliance: Ranger/Technical - doctrine emphasizes rapid mobility and response, avoiding direct contact with enemy forces, and stealth
** Turian Hierarchy: The Mario/Brute - doctrine favors straightforward combined arms assaults with disciplined troops
** Asari Republics: Guerrilla/Elitist - doctrine emphasizes elite infantry formations of powerful troops used in guerrilla-style combat
** Salarian Union: Espionage/Technical - doctrine emphasizes us of stealth, infiltration, and elite strike teams using high-end tech to sabotage and disrupt enemy operations
** Geth: Spammer/Technical/Research - doctrine places no value on individual ships or platforms, and have highly-advanced technology, specialists, and research capabilities
** Quarian Migrant Fleet: Elitist/Technical - doctrine and population limits emphasize small, elite, well-equipped units of marines focused on disrupting enemy tech
** Krogan: Brute/Spammer pre-Krogan Rebellions, Brute/Elitist post-Krogan Rebellions - early doctrine placed emphasis on sheer numbers, due to krogan hardiness and birthrate. After [[DepopulationBomb the genophage]], doctrine shifted to use of highly-trained and heavily-armed individual soldiers
** Reapers: Elitist/Technical/Brute/Espionage - doctrine of subtle infiltration through indoctrination prior to open assault using large numbers of powerful, extremely advanced units.

** Terrans - A mixture of ranger and mario.
** Zerg - A mixture of guerrilla and spammer.
** Protoss - A mixture of brute-force, elitist, and technical.

** Peacekeeping Forces - Diplomats/Loyal, also TheMario, combat-wise.

* ''The Brute Force Faction.'' ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. A faction that pounds their enemy into submission with raw power, and does not partake in any sort of trickery, fancy tactics or intricate micromanagement. Common disadvantages are slow movement and a lack of special abilities. Along with the Mario faction, the Brute Force faction tends to be easier to learn due to the lack of complex combinations and special abilities. May overlap with the Mario faction or Spammer faction, and sometimes even with the Elitists.

* ''The Unit Specialist Faction.'' This faction specializes in a certain type of unit, such as infantry or tanks, or a certain type of weapons or technology ([[PyroManiac flamethrowers]], chemical weaponry, [[NukeEm nuclear technology]], etc.). They are usually disadvantaged by having their non-specialized units nerfed in some way. Their game tends to rely on holding out and manipulating the TacticalRockPaperScissors so that their specialized unit(s) can be deployed heavily without fear of being hard-countered, and then steamrolling the opposition. Usually found when factions in a game have sub-factions. A Brute Force Faction could have sub factions focusing on infantry power, vehicle power and air power. Also found when a game has so many factions it covers all the other faction types and just takes the base idea of one faction and leans it to a certain unit type.

** Eldar and Dark Eldar are the guerillas.
*** Eldar could also qualify as ''The Elitist Faction'' since they field relatively small armies focused on highly specialized units.

** Sturm, Colin, Grit Hachi, Sensei (in Dual Strike), Caulder ([=DoR=]) - Game Breaker

* BrutalLegend
** [[HeavyMetal Ironheade]] - Balanced
** [[DeathMetal DrowningDoom]] - Subversive
** [[IndustrialMetal Tainted Coil]] - Powerhouse.

* ''StarCraft'':

* ''StarCraftII''
** Terrans - A mixture of ranger and mario.
** Zerg - A mixture of guerrilla and spammer.
** Protoss - A mixture of brute-force, elitist, and technical.

** Protoss - A mixture of brute-force, elitist and technical.

** Protoss - A mixture of brute-force and elitist.

** Protoss - A mixture of brute-force and elitist.

** Terrans - Brute Force faction, with some Guerilla tendencies.
** Zerg - Spammer faction (TropeNamer for the ZergRush)
** Protoss - Elitist faction

** Terrans - Ranger, some Guerilla units thrown in
** Zerg - Spammer, Brute Force
** Protoss - Elitist, Industrial (Can produce units nigh-instantaneously with the Warp Gate)

** Grekim - (Chronoportation; temporal focus) - Technical with a bit of Industrial

* ''{{Achron}}'' is an interesting example: Its factions are best defined by their focus on time and space. However, they do fit this trope as well directly
** Vecgir - Teleportation / Spatial focus. Brute Force/Elitist
** CESO - Spacetime balanced. Brute Force
** Grekim - Chronoportation / Temporal focus. Technical with a bit of industrial

** [[TheEmpire Avelion]] - Mario/Brute Force/Espionage
** [[ThoseWackyNazis Seran]] - Research/Elitist/Ranger (Range)
** [[OneNationUnderCopyright Remus]] - Economist/Ranger (Speed)
** [[TheHorde Yaman]] - Spammer/Brute Force
** [[TheKingdom Axiflos]] - Turtle
** {{Pirates}} - Guerilla/Spammer

* ''{{Achron}}'' is an interesting example: Its factions are best defined by their focus on time and space.
** Vecgir - Teleportation / Spatial focus
** CESO - Spacetime balanced
** Grekim - Chronoportation / Temporal focus

** Yor Collective - Industrial

** Thalan Empire - Industrial

[[IThoughtItMeant This trope is not related to]] ''MassEffect'' or its protagonist Commander Shepard at all. If BioWare were to make a Mass Effect RTS with Shepard as one of the faction leaders, ''then'' it would (probably) apply.

** Thalan Empire - Elitists