Mid-Game Strategy

The mid-game is the time between the security of all the scrap pools (end of the scrap race) until the full Tech Tree is acquired. The main focusses of a commander at this time would be defense, scrap upgrading, unit building, and the tech tree. The Scion's Tech tree is much smaller thnn the ISDF's, but ISDF have many more effective Mid-Game capapbilities, mostly in the Plasma Tank (or just the tank) the Mortar Bike, and the Missile Scout. All the Scions have is a realtively weak (without shields) Warrior and the SG, or Sentry.  The Sentry can prove effective against the tanks, but mortars can get irritating if the enemy is good with them. As ISDF, it is important to get tanks quickly and upgrade them quickly through an armory. The commander has to balance all four of the issues stated above as well as take part in the action, making this a difficult part of the game, even if you have the upper hand. Do not lose the upper hand, if you possess it, as too much defense can be costly, but not enough can prove fatal to your extractors. 

First thing that should be done out of the scrap race is build a constructor. Some commanders do this during the scrap race and start building then, but there are downfalls to that. First, as ISDF your buildings are vulnerable without protection, it is easier to protect one recycler than a power plant (weak) and a factory. Do not begin construction of a base until you have all the scrap you need (or you are willing to risk it), as the scrap you start with is imperative for turrets, and scavengers and the like. If you can early on, build two builders, one to stay home, one to travel to extractors and place Gun Emplacements. The first building you should make as both Scion and ISDF is upgrade the nearest extractor. The extra scrap will surely help you out because you are going to need a lot of scrap to build fast. The second for ISDF will be Power plant, then Factory. The factory's basic units (Msl Scout with TAG) are useless for now, so start making buildings, not units. The next building should be an Armory. Make sure you use your second Constructor to do a rely bunker at your recently upgraded extractor (give him a different Ctrl-F# identity) probably a hot spot. While you're there make two gun towers and upgrade the extractor if you neglected to do this, or it got destroyed.. This constructor should move along to the other extractors you have to upgrade/garrison. The first three should be done quickly, and it is less important to do the extractors after that, while you move that constructor along with his duties you should go home and make a basic building in your queue, or another power plant if needed. This is the order I do it: Factory, Armory, , Relay, Service, Tech Center. This leaves out the Training Facility and The Bomber Bay, which you do not until the long game, by far. ISDF tech tree costs the least, but their gun towers are the weaker of the two and require the bunker, so it is easier to make two at each extractor. At the point in which you make your Factory, Relay Bunker, Armory and Service bay (Tech centre costs a lot) you can upgrade most of your weapons on the tanks to Plasma or Pulse Stabbers, good choices for sieging enemy. From here, upgrade all your units after you get each building (to be safest), and remember to go into your recycler to upgrade your turrets to chain-gun, or laser turrets. During this time, the one who can get the better tanks faster can cause damage to the other. A superior tank or warrior can cause a lot of damage if all they have is sentries or scouts to back their defense up. When the top of the tech tree is reached, units are available that can break gun towers without getting in range.
As to the Scions, their tech tree is larger, but the units are much superior to their ISDF counterparts due to shields and the Arc Cannon. If the enemy is agressive, make a gun spire first to avoid them rushing your builder. Then make a Kiln, Upgrade it, then a Stronghold, then a Dower and Antenna, then Upgrade it if you are playing against a Scion!! If playing against ISDF do it in this order: Kiln, Antenna, Dower, Upgrade to Forge, Stronghold, Upgrade to Antenna. At the point when you have a Kiln and Antenna, you get the Deflection shield which is a very effective shield when put on a sentry and rushed against an ISDF enemy when they have only scouts and turrets. At each point in the tech tree, re-upgrade your units (give them shields ASAP) and do like the ISDF. The rest of the game is determinable on how your pilot fares and if your units are better.
Keep a close watch on the overview radar as commander. This view can show radar of enemies approaching, so take care to intecept them when you have to. Gun towers can be taken down easily later in the game so dont rely on their protection alone, and make sure you have shields set to the proper type. Absorbtion shields and Deflection shields protect against different fire (shown in Weapons sections) so make sure you have a shield that protects against the enemy's main weapon (most of the time it's plasma). ISDF should consider this, too, and use different weapons depending on the situation. If you don't want to stick with one for lack of protection, use a Stasis shield for an OK protection against both.
Scions are a different story as far as building goes. They need more scrap than the ISDF and they have a bigger tech tree. Their warriors and tanks are however, better by far. Their gun towers are also effective, more so than the ISDF, but are more vulnerable due to their geographical weaknesses, like their geothermal lung, which, when killed, allows all access to the tower without it firing. At least all the towers cant be dealt with in this way, like the ISDF's vulnerablility of power plants. The same follows a scion build tree as does an ISDF one, but the path starts to change when you get your tech tree. Scion builders should put one (or 2 if you are paranoid) spires at each extractor, but because of rushes that may happen at this point, you need to get one in your base first, next to your recycler and kiln. Because the spires cost so much, you should have to wait a little before making one. The wait is well worth-it for protection. When playing ISDF, try to get deflection shields fast. Deflection shields are very very helpful against many of the ISDF's starting units and they cant really do much damage to you until they get plasma and laser tech. When playing against another Scion, however, deflection shields are very useless so the best thing to make is absorbtion shields ASAP. When you get the stronghold, you are allowed to customize absorbtion shields; a great deal better for playing against another scion character, being that all but four of their weapons are energy based, and all their starting weapons are energy based as well. A smart commander will make units with projectile weapons, for killing scion shielded units, and make Arc Warriors to kill buildings, Tanks, maulers, and other unshielded units. If you know what the shields do, you can many times tip a game in your favour due to the enemy using arc cannons on your absobtion shields :) Once you get the Overseer array (it has to be the last building anyways) your midgame is over and you can use the Scions' awesome weapons to your advantage.

Click the nuke to go home