How to create a custom practice game in BAR

Want to test build orders and opening strategies by yourself? You can set up a quick custom skirmish game with no active AI opponent. Here is how.

Tags: beyond all reason, custom game, skirmish, opener practice, inactive AI, build order testing

Setting up a one-player test game

Open BAR and choose Skirmish from the main menu. In the setup screen, click Advanced. Pick the map you want to practice on. Then add an enemy AI slot but set that AI to inactive.

The map loads with your starting position and the standard terrain features, but no AI opponent pressures you. You get the full game clock and interface to drill builds at your own pace.

What to practice in a custom game

Test your first few minutes of any faction you play. Run through the metal extractor placement order, builder production timing, and your first scouting unit launch.

Repeat the same opener five to ten times. Time it each run using the in-game clock. Once the sequence is automatic without thinking, your real match opener starts smoother and you can focus on reading the enemy instead of fumbling with production queues.

Getting feedback on your practice

Once you have a custom opener dialed in, take it into actual games. Then grab the replay from the BAR website and share it for review with the community.

When you want a mentor to look at your game, create a thread in the relevant community channel. Drop your replay link from the website replay section and include your in-game name. Mentors review matches when they have time and will point out what you did right and where the opener needs work.

Closing thoughts

Custom skirmish games with inactive AI are the cheapest, fastest way to drill opening strategies in BAR. Set one up in under a minute and run through your favorite faction openers until the build order is muscle memory.