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Hi TL!
I am Peanut, and I love StarCraft.
I am starting this blog to chronicle and provide motivation for a personal project: I'm going to make it my job for the next 4-8 weeks to get into the North American Diamond League (1v1).
I am not a particularly good StarCraft player - I started playing SCBW in high school but mostly played with friends on money maps/fastest or, later on, WWI UMS simulations (thanks Cholera). I was ranked D- on iCCup about 2 years ago and I think that was the high point. I played a bunch of 2v2 matches in the SC2 beta with a friend, but I think I could count the number of post-release games I've played on two hands. Most of those have been 3v3 so I haven't even been ranked 1v1 yet.
My involvement with StarCraft has so far been as a fan, promoter, tournament organizer, community site mod, journalist, evangelist, and entrepreneur. It's been really fun and all, and I definitely intend to keep doing it, but I also often catch myself saying "I wish I were better at StarCraft." And then I keep on doing what I'm doing and laugh ruefully when people challenge me to games because I know I'd never win.
This ends now. I want to stop shaking my head and start exchanging Real IDs so that I can pin down a date and a time to lay the smackdown on someone. I want to be able to win.
Further Background Info
+ Show Spoiler +I'm currently unemployed after having two intense gaming industry jobs back to back over the past year. I was the Community Manager for a f2p MMORPG called Aika Online and then did a stint at a social game developer/publisher as an Online Content Manager (kind of like a marketing manager but more community/player-oriented). I had some great times at these companies, and I got a lot of great experience, but I want to step back and do something for myself for a while instead of working my butt off to make other people's products better.
The Setup
+ Show Spoiler +Place: Temporal's apartment in Mountain View, CA (where I am living rent-free  ) Rig: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition CPU, 4GB RAM, Radeon HD 4890 GPU, Windows 7 Home Premium, Logitech G110 keyboard and MX518 mouse
The Plan
- Devote at least 7 hrs/day to StarCraft II Mon-Fri
- At least 4 hrs/day of this will be spent playing
- Vacations for events such as BlizzCon and job interviews are acceptable
- Write 1-3 blog entries/day about the experience Mon-Fri
- The first blog entry in a day must contain a summary of the previous session's activities, including win/loss record
- Evaluate progress at the end of 4 weeks
- If in Diamond League --> GREAT SUCCESS!
- If in Gold/Platinum League --> Keep going
- If in Bronze/Silver League --> Crawl back to real life
Misc Goals
+ Show Spoiler +- Cut back on red meat, junk food, simple sugars
- Jog in the mornings 3+ times/week before training
- Keep the apartment reasonably clean and organized
- Give back to the StarCraft/TL community in some way
What It's All About
This thing isn't just about getting better at a (really awesome) game - it's about training myself to be better at something I'm bad at, namely pursuing independent projects.
I think I rely too much on having other people around to motivate myself to see a task through to the end. I tend to put other people's needs above my own and do things because I want to make other people happy instead of because I want to make myself happy. This is a trait that's valuable in a team-based environment (like at work), but I think in the long run it's good to offset it with the ability to plan and execute projects which enrich yourself.
This is what it comes down to: when I'm on my deathbed with all my progeny around me or whatever, I want to be able to look back and say that I trained hard and hit 1v1 Diamond League in StarCraft 2 because I thought it would make me a better person. I think now is the time.
Why This Blog (and You) Is (Are) Important
I'm a very community-minded and social person (when it comes to games in particular) and I enjoy getting feedback about things I'm doing. I think I'll be much more likely to stick with this project if I can feel like there are people out there I'm entertaining or benefiting in some way with it instead of it being a purely private thing. I really hope that people will read this and find my story interesting enough to keep up with what I'm doing, even if they're just trolling the comments section or whatever.
I hope Chill trolls me. Chill, I love your trolling the best <3. Miss you, bro (no homo).
Anyway, I also want to use this blog to give back in a more concrete way to the StarCraft community, but I have to figure out what that way is. And anyway, it won't be any use if people aren't around to read what I'm writing. So, we'll get to that part later.
First Steps
First I'm going to go back to SCBW and finish the single player campaign, because I love the story and I meant to go through the whole thing (SC + SCBW) before SC2 hit but ... didn't happen.
I start tonight. Wish me luck! 
Major shoutout to Temporal for making this possible.
  
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I think im more impressed by how much work you put into your post than i might be when you get there. Either way, good luck.
That is a hefty schedule you laid out though. I wish you even better luck on working that one out.
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I'd totally help you out if you were europe! good luck ^_^
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you sound so motivated haha!
good luck have fun!
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JWD
But soft! What text through yonder browser window breaks?
It is this ridiculous topic, and Peanutsc is the subject!
Arise, fair Peanutsc, and kill the envious Chill
Who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou his maid art hooking with me.
Be not his maid, since he is envious.
On May 21 2009 12:58 Peanutsc wrote:
OMFG HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
This has Kennigit written all over it.
JWD, if only I were worthy of you. KnightOfNi, yeah, you kinda suck.
Hey Mogwai, sup?
It is my lady! O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks, yet she says nothing.
With love's light wings did I o'erperch this inter-site drama;
For consistent trolling cannot hold love out,
And what love can do, that dares love attempt.
Therefore thy SC2GG affiliation is no stop to me.
Felt like this should be here. lol
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Oh Hai Peanut!
I remember you from some kind of Idol hosted by Cholera. Well good luck have fun!
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This reminds me: where is that image macro that plots noted TL.net females on the Chaotic/Lawful/Good/Evil axis?
Oh and uh good luck!
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Good luck, Peanut! Will read your blog over the coming days. I think the most important thing for you is to keep to your schedule, especially jogging and eating healthier (arguably more important than StarCraft!) so you have the energy to persevere. Good call: stick to a training schedule. Time management is important when you do this kind of stuff.
Glhf!
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Wow. I'm in basically the exact same situation as you are. I haven't played a lot of games either since the beta because I fear doing too many wrong things that soon become bad habits. 0 1v1s as well for me. But I truly want to be good at the game. I spend so much time in the starcraft world watching videos, listening to podcasts, reading forums, trying to learn strategies and I'm not sure where to being and choose what I need to improve upon first. I will very anxiously await your posts as I feel we have quite a love for this game and have approached it in a similar fashion. You may show me how to improve if I follow in your footsteps. Maybe we can learn this game better together. I would love to play some matches with you. Seriously.
(also, I never finished the sc or bw campaign either...heh)
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Vatican City State2594 Posts
Lol I forgot you were that bad at BW until I remembered the day at Culture's house haha
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Zurich15325 Posts
So envious. I'd love to follow a strict schedule of practicing for a while. I am sure you'll see substantial improvement in your game.
Go GL FH!
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You will be diamond by the end of next week. I believe in you!
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glgl peanut
why is it no homo to chill
???
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Good luck.
I am racing you to diamond.
When I lose my excuse is school.
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On October 15 2010 14:23 FragKrag wrote:
glgl peanut
why is it no homo to chill
???
Chill is obviously sometimes female. Ribbit!
+ Show Spoiler +http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Reed_Frog
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lol this is so adorable
GL!!!
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United States11637 Posts
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Cut the blogs, get more playing time.
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O wow you were a CM for a gpotato game lol, used to play Flyff t.t
basically thats my way of saying I feel bad for you, being a CM for gpotato.
hope to see you around ladder ;o will be waiting
~Zlasher
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On October 15 2010 14:05 Murderotica wrote:
Lol I forgot you were that bad at BW until I remembered the day at Culture's house haha
Yeah I'm really good at covering up how bad I am at StarCraft by saying things like "the Bisu build is so 2007" and "OMGWTFBBQ why is Flash going 14-CC?" and "remember to always irradiate defilers first!" It's amazing how far that kind of thing gets you.
Although, to be fair, Flash going 14-CC against Jaedong in the GomTV finals summer of 2008 was really dumb.
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Good luck! My advice would be to make sure you keep making even smaller goals like 'this game i'm not going to be supply capped' as to not get discouraged. Give it your all!
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I'm sure there'll be great interest in your progress 
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Calgary25977 Posts
Hahaha. SC players love to say what they're going to do, don't they? I wish I hadn't seen this formula repeat a millions times before:
- Post what you're going to do
- Receive praise as if you did it
- Don't do it
I guess we're a community of geniuses because we've found how to extract 95% of the feeling of doing something amazing without actually doing anything.
That being said, I will soon be hosting weekly TL:Attack! episodes and a 120,000 USD starleague sponsored by Microsoft in the next month. Keep your eyes open for it.
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Vatican City State2594 Posts
On October 16 2010 00:22 Chill wrote:
Hahaha. SC players love to say what they're going to do, don't they? I wish I hadn't seen this formula repeat a millions times before:
- Post what you're going to do
- Receive praise as if you did it
- Don't do it
I guess we're a community of geniuses because we've found how to extract 95% of the feeling of doing something amazing without actually doing anything.
That being said, I will soon be hosting weekly TL:Attack! episodes and a 120,000 USD starleague sponsored by Microsoft in the next month. Keep your eyes open for it.
Make sure to blog 1-3 times a week about the progress of the negotiations and the prep work for the TL:Attack, including special features, solutions to minor problems, and in-depth flow chart on your prioritization of the various aspects of each project you undertake. Then make a blog documenting the progress of your blogs, and release this once a week, where you will review viewership statistics and give response to feedback.
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Taiwan619 Posts
D- high?, gl
you're gonna need it
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On October 15 2010 14:27 EtherealDeath wrote:Show nested quote +On October 15 2010 14:23 FragKrag wrote:
glgl peanut
why is it no homo to chill
??? Chill is obviously sometimes female. Ribbit! + Show Spoiler +http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Reed_Frog
Chill isn't a girl?!?!?!?!
Well, there go all my eSports fantasies.
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On October 16 2010 04:42 Peanutsc wrote:Show nested quote +On October 15 2010 14:27 EtherealDeath wrote:On October 15 2010 14:23 FragKrag wrote:
glgl peanut
why is it no homo to chill
??? Chill is obviously sometimes female. Ribbit! + Show Spoiler +http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Reed_Frog Chill isn't a girl?!?!?!?! Well, there go all my eSports fantasies.
lol
On a serious note - find someone who is already diamond to give you some help. Getting to diamond only takes like 40 apm, a basic understanding of the game, and the capability to multitask to some extent..... I'm sure you can do it in a month.
GL
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On October 16 2010 07:36 Impervious wrote:Show nested quote +On October 16 2010 04:42 Peanutsc wrote:On October 15 2010 14:27 EtherealDeath wrote:On October 15 2010 14:23 FragKrag wrote:
glgl peanut
why is it no homo to chill
??? Chill is obviously sometimes female. Ribbit! + Show Spoiler +http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Reed_Frog Chill isn't a girl?!?!?!?! Well, there go all my eSports fantasies. lol On a serious note - find someone who is already diamond to give you some help. Getting to diamond only takes like 40 apm, a basic understanding of the game, and the capability to multitask to some extent..... I'm sure you can do it in a month. GL
I don't know too many people who can reach diamond by making 2 actions per 3 seconds.
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gl! I'm sure if you play half as much as you are planning on playing you will reach diamond eventually with few difficulties. Especially if you have a friend who is a bit better review your replays and give you tips or have some people obs while you play some custom 1v1s.
On October 16 2010 08:02 ilovezil wrote:Show nested quote +On October 16 2010 07:36 Impervious wrote:On October 16 2010 04:42 Peanutsc wrote:On October 15 2010 14:27 EtherealDeath wrote:On October 15 2010 14:23 FragKrag wrote:
glgl peanut
why is it no homo to chill
??? Chill is obviously sometimes female. Ribbit! + Show Spoiler +http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Reed_Frog Chill isn't a girl?!?!?!?! Well, there go all my eSports fantasies. lol On a serious note - find someone who is already diamond to give you some help. Getting to diamond only takes like 40 apm, a basic understanding of the game, and the capability to multitask to some extent..... I'm sure you can do it in a month. GL I don't know too many people who can reach diamond by making 2 actions per 3 seconds.
Is that a challenge? Come ladder reset TL should host a competition to see who can get diamond with the lowest amount of apm.
Personally, I think I could do it with 30.
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day9 said it best on how to get into diamond... find a race you enjoy playing... find one build that works for one or two races... and master it... definately will get you into diamond... if u like terran, watch ogstop/into the rainbow... protoss: ogsinca/ssks (tester)... zerg: fruitseller...
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or, later on, WWI UMS simulations (thanks Cholera). lol I miss playing WWI with Cholera 
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On October 16 2010 13:13 Sentenal wrote:lol I miss playing WWI with Cholera
Me too =[
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On October 15 2010 13:11 Peanutsc wrote:
I hope Chill trolls me. Chill, I love your trolling the best <3. Miss you, bro (no homo).
Can it really be homo if one's a female?
I approve of mx518, this alone should be enough to get into diamond.
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man im jealous i wish i could do this . . .
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You can make it, I'm almost there and I've just awful.
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u can do it ! I believe you !
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Thank you so much you guys!
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Just seen one of your placement matches vs McAwesome was quite a fun game to watch, good luck
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HonestTea
5007 Posts
Good luck, hope this goes well. Keep us updated!
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I love you. A girl gamer that is dedicated to do something and not give up. At a RTS game too. <3
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Girl gamer or not... if you make it from bronze to diamond in those 4 weeks I have a goal!
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On November 03 2010 06:02 MazeMouse wrote:
Girl gamer or not... if you make it from bronze to diamond in those 4 weeks I have a goal!
After much reflection, I really don't think I'm going to get to diamond in 4 weeks - I'll be lucky to get to gold lol. However, I will keep playing and writing about it until I get to diamond!
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I remember when I first got into beta I actually had 5 TvP's and went 1-4 and was placed into bronze, I worked my way up to silver. Then there was a wipe and this time I placed into silver, and worked my way up to gold before the next wipe. Then came the next phase of beta where I placed into gold, worked my ass up to get to #1 platinum and stayed there for the longest time hoping I could finallyg et into diamond before release.
Come release day, I immediately play my 5 placement games, place into Platinum, and a couple weeks later I got into diamond.
You can do it, I remember starting from the bottom up, just keep at it.
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United States4796 Posts
Hey, good luck! I'm gonna try to ladder up too. ^^
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If you're only concerned about the league rank, maybe you should just learn a few cheese builds and keep doing 'em. You only need to be, say, 30% as skilled as another random player to win 50% of the time with cheese. I know I got to ICCUP C+ with pure cheese in BW, and I got to platinum in a month (ranked 1 in my division) with rushing reapers or marauders every single game.
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I'm not actually just concerned about the league rank - I'm just using diamond as shorthand for "learning to play the game decently well." I'm not doing any cheese builds, unless 1-1-1 cloaked banshee for economy harass is cheese (some people say it is, some say it isn't).
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Cut back on red meat
why would you ever want to do this
hell on a good day i eat a steak for breakfast and two steaks for diner
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if you ever want to practice send me a PM... I'm not amazing diamond but I know what I'm doing, but I bet plenty of other higher level players could offer.
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If you don't eat enough meat you get that feeling where you're not hungry but you're never quite satisfied.
Look at artosis, he can never find any satisfaction.
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hi Peanut! let me know how things are going! /Julia
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On October 15 2010 14:40 boesthius wrote:
I am Kennigit.
He is Waxangel, don't let him troll you. X/David sent me here and gooooooddd luck Peanut.
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honestly i think the crafting of your post took more effort than it will take to get to diamond.. but good luck dear peanut
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Today is the 8 week mark eh.
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Prediction: Peanut in the GSL S6 Ro8.
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With how fast she's improved, that may be a possibility (maybe not S6, but at some point in the future). Keep it up!
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PEANUT! I wish you the best of luck, I have only ONE request... Continue singing to us in German on the VT vent, its quite enjoyable!
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On December 11 2010 04:31 LazyMacro wrote:
Prediction: Peanut in the GSL S6 Ro8.
Whats the line on this?
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On December 11 2010 06:57 ZlaSHeR wrote:Show nested quote +On December 11 2010 04:31 LazyMacro wrote:
Prediction: Peanut in the GSL S6 Ro8. Whats the line on this?
I'd give it about a 1,000,000,000,000,000-1.
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On December 11 2010 04:27 ZlaSHeR wrote:
Today is the 8 week mark eh.
She's rank 1-2 in her plat division. I got matched up with her a few days ago and she's really improved. A tough concussive timing push to hold back for a 1 gate FE P like myself. But macro wise, peanut, gotta kick it into high gear and spend more, expo faster, less all-in =p. GL hope you get promo in the next few weeks!
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What you're not a girl????!!!!. Because I can recall a girl playing SC by the name "peanut"...
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How do you devote 7hrs a day for Monday through Friday without being a progamer? You look like Darcy.
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EPT
