EPTI played Zerg in BW, but never really seriously, just with friends, few games vs comps here and there.
After watching the no queen funday monday it got me thinking. Most of those people did very well despite not getting a Queen. Some actually tended to deal with early agression much better because of earlier roaches/lair.
Lately I decided that in my 3v3 matches and my practice matches with friends I was going to try to minimize how much I use queens in the early game in ZvP and ZvT.
I dont know how well this style with work, but on paper and the few matches I ahve played it seems like it has some potential once I refine it. I am currently a mid plat player.
I am looking for ideas and brainstorm, if a Zerg player was to delay his 1st queen until after his Lair was started.
Currently this is my regular BO:
9 OL
13 Pool
15 Hatch at natural
Gas
Roach Warren
Lair
I dont have specific food counts for Gas/Warren/Lair as I get those currently on feel, and based of scouting info, and am still strying to work those out.
Once I start the lair, I get a queen out of my 2nd hatch, initially I use it for tumors, I place enough tumors so I have 2 tumors spreading creep in each direction of of my base, once that is done I go ahead and use the queen for injections.
I usually tend to get a 3rd hatch in my main, or near my main ramp to create a somewhat artificial choke, while I get Hydras.
If I have spare minerals and no larvae I simply build another hatch in base or at expansion, but I am currently considering of simply adding queens for injections at this point instead.
Scouting is imperative with this build, I always keep zerglings at towers, and 1 zergling constantly checking the front of the enemy base. So you know what is coming and when.
I have 1 main concern with this build though:
Early Phoenix. I haven't encountered this yet, so I am not sure whether my hydras will come out quick enough to handle them.
Summary of Thoughts:
Advantages of Minimal Queens:
-Faster Warren/Lair
-You cant lose a queen early due to harass
-Stable production of larvae out of hatcheries
-I seem to have more money for upgrades, while still maintaining a good amount of units
Disadvatages:
-Hatch + Queen = 10 larvae/min, 2 Hatch = 8/min
-No early AA
-Creep spreads quick midgame, but early game creep spread is minimal
Once I refine the build a bit more and see if it is actually viable, I will post a replays in a later blog post.
Any input for ideas or brainstorming would be great.
