EPTThis is my first blog...and I have decided to try to blog every once in awhile about SC2. I was one of those people hitting refresh on TL everyday waiting for that post to say "ITS HERE". Last month...I finally got my wish. For those unfortunate souls who do not have a beta...I guess I can be just another source of information to soak in. (if you want to take the time to read some of my ramblings)
The fury of excitement, anticipation, and pure joy that hit me all at once when I saw my email was astounding. (Should I be getting so excited over video games? I think so =D) I installed the game and jumped right in.
For the first few nights...it was complete domination. I was playing Zerg and just swarming over people left and right. Zergling rushing...roach rushing...never really hitting lair until 30ish games in. Hell even me and my 2v2 partner Mikilatov goto like 3rd in the 2v2 ladder just doing a roach/marine rush.
As the days went on and people started to learn how to counter early game rushes...I had to expand my skill-set. I could no longer just rush in with a lot of units and win. I started to explore with lair units. Both hydras and mutas seemed very powerful. The amount of damage and durability they had compared to SC1 surprised me. Was this the same Zerg I remembered from the old times?
When I started to hit harder opponents...I could feel the skill gap that was starting to manifest. People would have better micro/macro and I would lose games even with the correct unit makeup. I would often times yell at my monitor and scream imba...but as games went on I started to find out that I needed to change how I micro or pickup on my macro game another notch. I would slowly start to learn how to beat builds that had just recently crushed me. Things I could swear were imba suddenly started to feel beatable.
Currently, I feel that I am playing some of the higher quality players. They are doing correct openings...scouting properly, and responding accordingly. I have hit a wall and my winning record is slowly becoming even. Oddly enough, I am still having just as much fun as I was when I was winning most of the games. I think this is because I am starting to get into the later stages of games and get to explore new units / micro techniques / macro timings / cheeses almost every game. The amount to learn in this game is endless...and I feel that this game will require the same, if not more than SC1, dedication to become a master.
Just a few of my thoughts on Zerg throughout this roller coaster ride that has been beta so far:
1. I have a much larger issue balancing larva and economy in this game. Many times I will have tons of larva and no money, or tons of money and no larva. I know with proper macro these issues will eventually disappear, but it is a surprisingly hard talent to hone.
2. Micro slip ups can cost you a game early on with speedlings. If you see a ball of marines and slip up just a little on your surround, you will get steam rolled. I think this is because the game moves at such a fast pace. On the other hand...when you get a proper surround off, the T has almost no way to avoid it...against because things are so fast. Is this a good or bad thing...? I am not sure yet.
3. I miss the lurker
4. ZvZ as of right now makes me want to puke blood until I die. I have gotten to the point where I just about 6 pool every game so that the matches are at least fast. No it is not fun massing roaches and hydras and mashing them together. Please god blizz fix this matchup.
Anyways...I hope if you took the time to read this that you were entertained...I also hope my massive amount of grammatical errors didn't make you throw up.
Here is to another 100 victories for the swarm!
