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Hi tl,
so I've been playing 1v1 in sc2 for almost 4 months now (after campaign, challenges etc), learning all races (main race being toss), build orders, watched tons of replays, MLG, GSL and so on. Because it is so complex and demanding (first rts i've played seriously) I naturally had no capacity for another game, so it was the only one I played in these four months. I'm now at a point where I feel my mind is kind of oversaturated and I am not improving any longer. I also still have 1v1 anxiety, so I mostly just play tons of customs trying to execute my bo's as meticulously as possible, cutting down on mistakes I make. I feel like I'm nowhere as good as I should be with the amount of practice I've had.
So my question is, would it be more "fruitful" to take a break from the game for a few weeks or just keep playing? Am I more likely to get rusty or actually play better when I return after a break?
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If you're not having fun, I'd just take a break. You're not being payed.
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On January 03 2011 06:39 Froadac wrote:
If you're not having fun, I'd just take a break. You're not being payed.
The problem is I want to get to a point where I'm having fun. I really like the game, I just don't feel I'm improving anymore. Being called names by lowlifes in customs just because I'm not in a certain league isn't exactly fun though. "Oh herpderp he isn't Diamond, guess i'm free to trashtalk the shit outta him lolroflz"
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I take multi-week breaks from time to time for various reasons. If you are like me your first few games back will be very rusty (like, high energy queens, getting supply blocked and whatnot) but I usually just play 4 or 5 customs and then feel like I'm back to about where I was when I stopped mechanics-wise.
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Take a break. While you are on your break start establishing macro hotkey pattern and practice it in single player. Learn to macro solid well into the late game. Once you've established comfort with your left hand being able to hit the right keys (hitting population 200/200 every game on 4-5 bases), start learning solid builds that will win you game on a regular basis. If you can do all of this, you will enjoy starcraft tremendously.
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On January 03 2011 06:53 Lemonwalrus wrote:
I take multi-week breaks from time to time for various reasons. If you are like me your first few games back will be very rusty (like, high energy queens, getting supply blocked and whatnot) but I usually just play 4 or 5 customs and then feel like I'm back to about where I was when I stopped mechanics-wise.
Well I guess I'll do just that then, was afraid you're like getting totally out of "shape" when you take a longer break. Hopefully some of what I've learned will have sunk in when I'm starting again. Anyway, thanks for the input.
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On January 03 2011 06:57 LOcDowN wrote:
Take a break. While you are on your break start establishing macro hotkey pattern and practice it in single player. Learn to macro solid well into the late game. Once you've established comfort with your left hand being able to hit the right keys (hitting population 200/200 every game on 4-5 bases), start learning solid builds that will win you game on a regular basis. If you can do all of this, you will enjoy starcraft tremendously.
Thanks for the advice LOc, but I'm like way beyond that. i know how to macro reasonably well with every race, I'm mechanically solid, and I know like a library worth of bo (ok, 1 for each mu). i'm just a bad player, simple as that.
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So what are you saying?
The problem is I want to get to a point where I'm having fun. I really like the game, I just don't feel I'm improving anymore
So you have the most fun while improving? I suggest taking lessons then.
If even this isn't helping and you reached ur personal Skillcap at Sc2, which I doubt something like this really exists, you have to ask yourself if sacrificing so much of your time for so little gain is worth it? If improving is what brings fun into your life, improve on other stuff, learn an instrument, visit a sport club or learn a new language, maybe try some acting classes and improve on social
skills.
I doubt that you can't get want you want from something else than sc2. Maybe try another game that suits your natural talents.
I also still have 1v1 anxiety
Thats not really 1v1 anxiety, it is too common among sc2 players. It's something very human, it is the fear that something bad could happen to you, like getting crushed by some kid in a game you put so much effort into. It's the same fear that causes midlife crisis, or makes you not talk to that girl you really like because if you don't ask she won't say no. I personally think living life like this is very sad, but very human too.
Being thrashed and called names by lowlifes in customs just because I'm not in a certain league isn't exactly fun though.
They win vs you and call you names in customs??? WTF, I am sorry to hear that, people=shit sometimes - I know it's hard to block that from your feelings.
I dunno, just block communication.
Am I more likely to get rusty or actually play better when I return after a break?
Both outcomes are likely. I think you will get rusty, but you will also have the chance to see things from a fresh perspective and find some new ways to improve.
I say, figure out how much you wanna commit to sc2, if the answer is a friggin lot, don't take a break, take lessons and overcome your 1v1 anxiety...it's like asking that girl, and believe me, most of them will say yes and you don't wanna miss that.
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infinity21
Canada6683 Posts
On January 03 2011 07:01 Harrad wrote:Show nested quote +On January 03 2011 06:57 LOcDowN wrote:
Take a break. While you are on your break start establishing macro hotkey pattern and practice it in single player. Learn to macro solid well into the late game. Once you've established comfort with your left hand being able to hit the right keys (hitting population 200/200 every game on 4-5 bases), start learning solid builds that will win you game on a regular basis. If you can do all of this, you will enjoy starcraft tremendously. Thanks for the advice LOc, but I'm like way beyond that. i know how to macro reasonably well with every race, I'm mechanically solid, and I know like a library worth of bo (ok, 1 for each mu). i'm just a bad player, simple as that.
Here's the harsh truth -- you're not actually mechanically solid. Heck, most people in diamond aren't mechanically solid (I'm guessing you're not in diamond from what I read in this thread). You don't need perfect build orders to be 2500+ diamond league, just good sense of the game and unit counters with good mechanics to back everything up.
Watch a top player's first person vods. Follow their mouse and observe how they are multitasking and microing their units. That's what you want to be aiming at.
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Take a break, keep watching E-sports, and just take it easy. Just fill your downtime with some YouTube cast a few times a week and when you see a very impressive play you will want to jump back into the game.
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On January 03 2011 07:20 infinity21 wrote:Show nested quote +On January 03 2011 07:01 Harrad wrote:On January 03 2011 06:57 LOcDowN wrote:
Take a break. While you are on your break start establishing macro hotkey pattern and practice it in single player. Learn to macro solid well into the late game. Once you've established comfort with your left hand being able to hit the right keys (hitting population 200/200 every game on 4-5 bases), start learning solid builds that will win you game on a regular basis. If you can do all of this, you will enjoy starcraft tremendously. Thanks for the advice LOc, but I'm like way beyond that. i know how to macro reasonably well with every race, I'm mechanically solid, and I know like a library worth of bo (ok, 1 for each mu). i'm just a bad player, simple as that. Here's the harsh truth -- you're not actually mechanically solid. Heck, most people in diamond aren't mechanically solid (I'm guessing you're not in diamond from what I read in this thread). You don't need perfect build orders to be 2500+ diamond league, just good sense of the game and unit counters with good mechanics to back everything up. Watch a top player's first person vods. Follow their mouse and observe how they are multitasking and microing their units. That's what you want to be aiming at.
Also going to agree here. I just got into diamon: I'm 2300 diamond and I am by no means even that mechanically solid. At all. In fact my mechanics are pretty awful.
In fact some of the peopole in the round of 64 in the GSL seemed to have shitty mechanics.
Essentially you have a long ways to go, but there are a lot of great players to learn from.
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anyone below 3k has only their macro + mechanics to improve. forget everything else just make a fuckton of shit, i still regularely play 2.8k Protosses with 2k games played that have shit macro (and then complain about race imba ^_^)
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I've personally found that after taking a few weeks off from playing and then getting back into it is usually when I make my jumps in skill. I think it's because taking time off allows your head to clear, and then you have an easier time focusing when you start again.
I'd suggest a break if you're feeling overworked.
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Hey if I were you I would go down to your nearest Best Buy and pick up a copy of SCBroodwar. Awesome game that is rewarding no matter what level you are on. Plus if you ever decide you want to go back to playing sc2, most of the mechanics will transfer right over  .
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lol i agree with the above post. Seriously though, in my personal experience anxiety comes from doubt, and doubt comes from ignorance, so if you are feeling frustrated with just mass gaming, step back and think more about what you are doing. Get lessons if thats your thing, watch top player steams/vods/replays, read strategy, get new ideas about how to improve your play. Then you can start playing again and feel good about improving.
You wont lose your mechanics by taking a break for a week or 2, or even a month, if you are thinking about the game during that time. Unless your finger/wrist muscles are wasting away or something, its your thoughts that are the determining factor - if you remember what to do at every step of the game, youll be able to perform those actions, its that simple. If you completely remove sc2 from your thoughts though, thats when you forget what/when to do at certain times in the game, and become slower.
I recently played a few games of bw after about a month without logging on against one of my previous practice partners, who had not stopped gaming in my absense. It took only 1 game for my hands to feel comfortable again, and I ended up winning 3-0 with no previous warmup, so obviously I didnt lose any skill from my break. Ive been playing bw for years though, so for you a week or 2 is probably safe to take off and still be in top form upon your return.
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EPT
