GSL2 RO4: Foxer vs HopeTorture

Game 1: Delta Quadrant, close positions, Hope clockwise

      Foxer MakaRaxes, Hope goes baracks/tech lab then factory. Foxer gets up Hope's ramp with three marines and an scv, which manage to take out a constructing bunker and two marines. Hope has to pull a bunch of scvs, but they all fall to Foxer's micro. Hope tries to micro a hellion against the now five marines in his base, but it's too much.

Hope was essentially dead as soon as he went for the tech lab and factory.

Foxer 1-0

Game 2: Lost Temple, cross positions

      Boxer goes for a one-barracks expand; Hope goes for the same start as before. Scouting is denied to both players. Hope adds on a reaper and a starport as Foxer adds on another two more barracks and a tech lab for stim. A banshee with cloak starts to make for Hope, which goes in and takes out a fair amount of scvs. Foxer sets up a softish contain at Hope's expansion with marines and marauders, stranding an orbital command in Hope's base. But Hope breaks it and successfully expands, though many minutes after Hope did.
      Foxer invests a lot into production capacity, bringing himself up to five barracks and a starport, all with reactors except for one tech lab that is getting combat shields. A weapons upgrade is also on its way for Foxer's many marines, which are taking out his gold's rocks. A drop on the ledge of Hope's expansion denies a bunch of mining, and then retreats. Siege finishes for Hope. Foxer goes for a very strange drop right on top of Hope's army, which deals middling damage. However, it allows Hope to move out to the middle of the map and setup with tanks. Hope's position is fairly easily broken with a bunch of marauders, though, after which Foxer is able to move in for the win.

Foxer was way ahead in economy this entire game, showing that he is definitely not just a micro-based flashy player. Hope is very frustrated, and actually leaves his booth to collect himself.

Foxer 2-0

Game 3: Xel'naga Caverns

      Foxer expands right after his barracks again, and Hope goes for the early two-gas tech play again, actually proxying a starport in Foxer's third. Foxer, on the other hand, gets FIVE barracks with no gas at all. Foxer pushes out with twenty or so marines, but it is repelled. In the meantime, cloaked banshees take out a ton of scvs. Foxer makes a desperation attack with his remaining marines, but it's not enough against a bunch of tanks that have just gotten siege mode.

Interesting game. Foxer made only un-upgraded marine the entire game. Each banshee managed to live with single-digit hit points and went on to kill many more units, so the could have been entirely differnt if a couple marine got off a just a few more shots. It is hard, though, to see how pure marines could beat even two or three sieged tanks with enough support.

HopeTorture 1-2

Game 4: Steppes of War

      Hope again quickly techs up to a starport, in his own base this time. Foxer goes rax/expand/raxraxrax again. This time, he does get a little bit of gas, which he uses to get two tech-labs and eventually stim. Hope gets a second factory and another barracks. Foxer intercepts the banshee before it gets to his base, and flushes a bunch of Hope's resources down the drain. Hope starts to push out into the middle of the map with marines and tanks, but Foxer senses it and stims right into the army with his marines just before siege mode finishes researching for Hope. Hope's army just melts under the crazy DPS of the marines, and there is nothing left between Foxer's army and victory.

Foxer's marine play wins again. Hope just doesn't seem to know how to fight it. I feel, though, that there are definitely timings against this build that can take it out, maybe with hellions. Hope just cannot find them.

Foxer 3-1

Game 5: Blistering sands

      Foxer gets gas before command center for the first time in his entire life this game, as both players go barracks-factory-reactor-starport. Foxer slips some tanks in there as well. Foxer uses his starport to get a medivac, whereas Hope gets his usual banshee with cloak, which spots an incoming marine-tank push. The push breaks through the rocks, Hope's banshees get taken out, and it really looks like that might be game. However, another banshee comes out and cleans up, and a banshee has been in Foxer's base this whole time. But Hope is eventually left with exactly zero scvs. Hope goes on to put up an impressive struggle, but it's not enough: the game, and match, is lost.

Very, very impressive win by Foxer. His play style is very unique and hard to deal with. The thing that sticks out, though, is that there wasn't ever a time when it seemed like HopeTorture had a chance to win the series. Foxer attacked at the right time, every time, and never really even had to defend except against harass.

Not to take anything way from Foxer's victory, it is worth noting that he did essentially the same thing in every game but the last, so it is worth wondering what might happen when someone figures out what counters this style. Mass hellion, quick siege tanks, a thor rush, or even the same three-marine rush Foxer used in the first game all feel like they'd put up more of a fight then the continual banshee play did against one-barracks expand. It is hard to argue with results, though, and nobody has been able to beat Foxer so far.

Not needed.

You open the spoiler. There are ten-thousand marines waiting. You die quickly.