Earth Defence Force Tactics

Turn-based tactics game with elements of the Wars, Nectaris, and 大戰略 (AKA: Daisenryaku) series.

By thinkArts, who seem to have done a few of the Daisenryaku games around the same time (2005/6), but not the PS2 ones.

Guide

There's not much info around on how to play so here're some notes:

When you're picking your units before the stage there doesn't seem to be a disadvantage to spending all the points you can. It's 4000 (or whatever) each time, no carry-over.
Took me a minute to figure out why you kinda get two turns in a row. The second one's only for queuing up more units in your barracks. Hence the big text saying 'reinforcements'.
The more bases you capture the more XP you get. When there's an ally army on the map I find it handy to send pale wings to go camp on places so they can't capture them :)
- Though units don't seem to actually gain XP unless I kill stuff with them? In the not-story mode they call the points you spend to buy units 'experience', so maybe it's that kind of experience…
I thought dying and the 'Remove' command just sent a unit back to base, which seemed like a handy way to move them around, but it resets their experience level to 1. Whoops!
Highest character level is 5.
Online snooping suggests there are 100 stages. You play the first 50 as the EDF, and the second 50 as the aliens/invaders. The alien ones might be just the EDF ones repeated. Alien mode might be more difficult as the aliens are weaker.
L1/2 move to next unit that hasn't acted yet, including those in bases. Makes it easy to check if you've don all your actions.
- Related: In the reinforcement stage it will just move you to the base. Saves you some scrolling :)
Seems quicker to scroll the map with the analogue stick? Quicker acceleration?

Units

Storm Unit: Basic unit, good for taking bases
Ranger Unit: Too slow to be much use, usually. Can only fire it didn't move. Can shoot at range, and some weapons hit multiple hexes. Got an anti-air weapons recently.
Armored Unit: I never even use them TBH. Can use various weapon types like flame-throwers and web guns. If they get anti-air might be a good pairing with tanks.
Maintenance Unit: Can't fight for shit, but keeps your troops' guns loaded.
Pale Wing Close Range Model:
Pale Wing Ranged Model:
Pale Wing Bomb Model: All weapons seems to come with Destroy Stronghold?
Pale Wing Reconnaissance Model: Can see really far.
Gigantes: Slow, but strong if you can get them into combat. Good for defending positions. Could pair well with a Ranger Unit behind?
Bazerato: Helicoptor.
Airbike: Their speed makes them really handy for capturing bases. Can hit hovering enemies too.

Lv	Level
FOW	Fog of War. How far they can see
DR	Dodge Rate
MP	Movement Power
Fuel	Consumed when moving. Have only ran into trouble with it with pale wings, but it 'caused them to die and return to base.

Unit	Lv	FOW	DR	MP	Fuel	Skills
Storm	1	1	28	4	50	Overpower
〃	2	〃	30	〃	52	〃
〃	3	〃	32	〃	54	〃
〃	4	〃	35	〃	56	〃
〃	5	2	37	5	60	〃

Ranger	1	1	24	3	29	Overpower
〃	2	〃	25	〃	30	〃
〃	3
〃	4
〃	5

Armored	1	1	30	3	40	Overpower
〃	2	〃	32	〃	41	〃
〃	3	〃	34	〃	42	〃
〃	4
〃	5

Maintenance	1	1	15	4	50	Maintenance
〃	2	〃	16	〃	52	〃
〃	3	〃	17	〃	54	〃
〃	4
〃	5

Pale Wing Close Range	1	1	20	4	33	Land
〃	2	〃	22	〃	34	〃
〃	3	2	24	〃	35	〃
〃	4	〃	27	〃	36	〃
〃	5

Pale Wing Ranged	1	2	36	5	40	Land
〃	2	〃	38	〃	42	〃
〃	3	〃		〃		〃
〃	4	〃	42	〃	46	〃
〃	5	〃	45	6	48	〃

Pale Wing Bomb	1	1	26	5	60	Land
〃	2	〃	28	〃	62	Land
〃	3	2	30	〃	64	〃
〃	4	1	32	6	66	〃
〃	5

Pale Wing Reconnaissance	1	3	28	6	50	- -
〃	2	〃	29	〃	52	- -
〃	3	〃	30	〃	54	- -
〃	4
〃	5

Gigantes	1	1	28	3	55	Destroy
〃	2	〃	30	〃	57	〃
〃	3	〃	31	〃	59	〃
〃	4	2	33	〃	61	〃
〃	5

Bazerato	1	1	18	5	36	Land
〃	2
〃	3
〃	4
〃	5

Airbike	1	1
〃	2	〃	22	5	46	Overpower
〃	3	〃	25	〃	47	〃
〃	4	〃	28	6	48	〃
〃	5	〃	30	〃	50	〃

Weapons

Weapons Collected	69/393

Lv		Minimum unit level to use
Cost
Type
	Anti-ground
	Ranged	Don't need to be adjacent
	Indirect	Hits multiple hexes. Friendly fire :O
	Anti-air and Missile
Direct Hit Rate		Higher number means easier to hit that enemy type
		High Altitude
		Mid-Altitude
		Hard ground
		Soft Ground
		Special
AP		Attack Power
Ammo		Ammunition
Rge.		Range
Skills		'Attack Specialties'. Additional skills weapon adds.
	Wide-Range Attack
	Destroy Stronghold

Storm Unit

Name	Lv	Cost	Type	Direct Hit Rate					AP	Ammo	Rge	Skills

AS-18	1	150	Anti-ground	0	0	45	65	0	35	10	1	- -
AS-19	1	150	Anti-ground	0	0	50	65	0	40	8	1	- -
AS-18R	1	150	Anti-ground	0	0	35	55	0	30	14	1	- -
AS-20R	2	200	Anti-ground	0	0	75	80	0	45	16	1	- -
SG-4	1	150	Anti-ground	0	0	65	40	0	70	8	1	- -

Ranger Unit

Name	Lv	Cost	Type	Direct Hit Rate					AP	Ammo	Rge	Skills

SNR-227	1	180	Anti-ground (Ranged)	0	0	75	80	0	98	6	3	- -
SNR-229	2	230	Anti-ground (Ranged)	0	0	85	90	0	105	6	3	- -
Hercules	1	180	Anti-ground (Ranged)	0	0	85	90	0	105	12	3	- -
Goliath-1	1	200	Anti-ground (Indirect)	0	0	55	78	0	90	4	4	Wide-Range Attack
Goliath-2	1	200	Anti-ground (Indirect)	0	0	60	75	0	95	4	4	Wide-Range Attack
Goliath-D	1	200	Anti-ground (Indirect)	0	0	65	78	0	93	4	4	Wide-Range Attack
Sky Turtle Prototype	1	150	Anti-air and Missile	90	64	0	0	60	95	6	4	- -
ML-R	1	150	Anti-air and Missile	85	55	0	0	60	90	8	4	- -

Armored Unit

Name	Lv	Cost	Type	Direct Hit Rate					AP	Ammo	Rge	Skills

HG-01	1	180	Anti-ground	0	0	70	59	0	105	10	1	Destroy Stronghold
HG-13A	2	230	Anti-ground	0	0	70	55	0	140	10	1	Destroy Stronghold
G Launcher UM-1	1	180	Anti-ground	0	0	70	45	0	110	8	1	Destroy Stronghold
G Launcher UM-1 Revised	1	180	Anti-ground	0	0	80	50	0	115	10	1	Destroy Stronghold
Bound Gun	1	150	Anti-ground	0	0	80	34	0	80	6	1	- -
Bound Gun M2	1	150	Anti-ground	0	0	82	30	0	85	6	1	- -
Flame Thrower F1	1	150	Anti-ground	0	0	75	45	0	87	6	1	- -

Maintenance Unit

Name	Lv	Cost	Type	Direct Hit Rate					AP	Ammo	Rge	Skills

Repair Spray V1	1	180	Anti-ground	0	0	40	55	0	0	8	1	- -

Pale Wing Close Range Model

Name	Lv	Cost	Type	Direct Hit Rate					AP	Ammo	Rge	Skills

Rapier	1	200	Anti-ground & Hover	0	68	55	75	0	70	10	1	- -
M2 Rapier	1	200	Anti-ground & Hover	0	79	66	55	0	80	10	1	- -
MX Rapier	2	250	Anti-ground & Hover	0	68	60	90	0	90	10	1	- -
Plasma-Whip	2	250	Anti-ground & Hover	0	66	50	78	0	98	12	1	- -
Laser Lance	1	200	Anti-ground & Hover	0	83	94	76	0	95	8	1	- -
2-Way Lance	1	200	Anti-ground & Hover	0	88	52	40	0	100	8	1	- -
LAZR-197	1	200	Anti-ground	0	35	80	70	0	70	6	1	- -
LAZR-198	1	200	Anti-ground	0	37	83	74	0	80	8	1	- -
LAZR-199	1	200	Anti-ground	0	38	85	85	0	90	12	1	- -

Pale Wing Ranged Model

Name	Lv	Cost	Type	Direct Hit Rate					AP	Ammo	Rge	Skills

Izuna-A	1	220	Anti-ground & Air	85	80	70	60	0	75	12	1	- -
Izuna-B	1	220	Anti-ground & Air	75	80	85	70	0	78	12	1	- -
Eclaire 10	1	220	Anti-ground & Air	65	63	77	69	0	80	6	1	- -
Thunderbow 10	1	220	Anti-ground & Air	78	65	86	69	0	95	10	1	- -
Ixion	1	220	Anti-ground & Air	87	82	71	64	0	80	10	1	- -
Ixion MX	1	220	Anti-ground & Air	87	65	70	60	0	83	6	1	- -
Ixion-Mark 3	2	270	Anti-ground & Air	90	87	83	70	0	89	10	1	- -
Dynast	1	220	Anti-ground & Air	91	70	70	60	0	89	6	1	- -
Dynast X	2	270	Anti-ground & Air	70	75	80	65	0	94	6	1	- -
Thunder Sniper Prototype	1	220	Anti-ground & Air	75	80	86	69	0	85	10	1	- -
Thunder Sniper A	1	220	Anti-ground & Air	80	60	50	65	0	90	10	1	- -
Thunder Sniper B	2	270	Anti-ground & Air	84	66	56	66	0	95	10	1	- -
LRSL-33	1	220	Anti-ground & Air	74	69	86	70	0	75	10	1	- -
LRSL-34	1	220	Anti-ground & Air	88	72	90	76	0	81	10	1	- -
LRSL-35	1	220	Anti-ground & Air	73	67	72	80	0	84	10	1	- -

Pale Wing Bomb Model

Name	Lv	Cost	Type	Direct Hit Rate					AP	Ammo	Rge	Skills

E1 Plasma-Launcher	1	200	Anti-ground (Explosive)	0	0	80	85	0	100	10	1	Destroy Stronghold
E2 Plasma-Launcher	1	200	Anti-ground (Explosive)	0	0	85	87	0	120	10	1	Destroy Stronghold
E3 Plasma-Launcher	2	250	Anti-ground (Explosive)	0	0	86	88	0	140	10	1	Destroy Stronghold
Double-Shot Plasma-Launcher	1	200	Anti-ground (Explosive)	0	0	83	84	0	155	10	1	Destroy Stronghold
Double-Shot Plasma-Launcher R	1	200	Anti-ground (Explosive)	0	0	88	85	0	170	10	1	Destroy Stronghold
M15 Plasma-Launcher	2	250	Anti-ground (Explosive)	0	0	89	92	0	160	10	1	Destroy Stronghold

Pale Wing Reconnaissance Model

Name	Lv	Cost	Type	Direct Hit Rate					AP	Ammo	Rge	Skills

Blast-Grenade	2	250	Anti-ground (Explosive)	0	26	85	87	0	135	6	1	Destroy Stronghold
Mirage Zero	1	200	Anti-ground (Explosive)	0	30	88	79	0	110	10	1	Destroy Stronghold
Rapid-Mirage	1	200	Anti-ground (Explosive)	0	32	70	82	0	100	12	1	Destroy Stronghold
Mirage 5-Way	1	200	Anti-ground (Explosive)	0	35	83	86	0	140	8	1	Destroy Stronghold
Geist	1	200	Anti-ground (Explosive)	0	33	78	85	0	120	8	1	Destroy Stronghold
Pandora	1	180	Anti-ground & Hover	0	79	66	55	0	40	6	1	- -
Pandora Beta	2	250	Anti-ground & Hover	0	78	70	62	0	50	6	1	- -
Heaven's Gate	1	180	Anti-ground & Hover	0	75	30	40	0	50	4	1	- -

Gigantes

Name	Lv	Cost	Type	Direct Hit Rate					AP	Ammo	Rge	Skills

E551 Gigantes-1	1	180	Anti-ground	0	0	70	65	0	130	10	1	- -
E551 Gigantes-2	1	180	Anti-ground	0	0	73	62	0	133	10	1	- -
E551 Gigantes-3	1	180	Anti-ground	0	0	75	63	0	136	10	1	- -
E551 Gigantes-4	2	230	Anti-ground	0	0	77	65	0	140	10	1	- -

Bazerato

Name	Lv	Cost	Type	Direct Hit Rate					AP	Ammo	Rge	Skills

EF24 Bazerato 1	1	200	Anti-ground & Hover	0	66	50	40	0	80	10	1	- -
EF24 Bazerato 2	1	200	Anti-ground & Hover	0	68	53	45	0	83	10	1	- -
EF24 Bazerato 3	1	200	Anti-ground & Hover	0	70	55	50	0	86	10	1	- -

Airbike

Name	Lv	Cost	Type	Direct Hit Rate					AP	Ammo	Rge	Skills

SDL2-1	1	180	Anti-ground & Hover	0	15	18	55	0	44	8	1	- -
SDL2-1 Revised	1	180	Anti-ground & Hover	0	18	20	57	0	48	8	1	- -
SDL2-1 Custom	1	180	Anti-ground & Hover	0	21	22	59	0	52	8	1	- -

Regional Differences

The font is way better in the Japanese version, especially the numbers.
The Japanese version also includes some extra info when you're first picking the units you'll take.

Similar Games

Wars series.
Nectaris series.
大戰略 / Daisenryaku series.
Battle Isle series.

Trivia

If you play the game on an emulator in a higher resolutions you'll notice that the 'Direct Hit Rate' icons have more detail that you can normally see.
If you play the PAL version in 60hz mode the grid is misaligned.

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