|
So, I just started this "Starcraft 2 n00b" thing, where I'm going to be analyzing my own replays and identifying what went wrong. I'm currently a bronze player, but I win probably 80% of my games, so I should be progressing to silver in the relatively near future, but I'm mostly going to be showcasing replays of just my losses. Along the way, I thought it'd be fun to chronicle my n00bness and pick apart my game to help me (and potentially other n00bs) improve.
The first episode, which can be watched here and here (in 2 parts) actually covers two games. The first is a TvT, and the second is a ZvP (I play random).
There's a common theme in both of these, and it's almost embarrassing it's so obvious: respond to your enemy's army with the proper counter units. In both of these, I made the mistake of starting off with an idea of what I wanted to do, then sticking with that idea regardless of what kind of forces the other guy threw at me. The second one is especially embarrassing, as I was playing against someone who couldn't even get his probes to do the things he wanted them to do a good portion of the time. But I lost because I kept idiotically pumping roaches against stalkers and immortals. Like I said, embarrassingly obvious.
So, lessons learned:
1. Be more conscious about producing units that counter those the other player is producing.
2. Keep scouting your opponent throughout the game.
3. Don’t be so stupid.
|
lessons you should have learned
1. counters dont exist, just build more stuff than him and you win even if his stuff "counters" yours 
-this rule is broken by air, and DT
2. know what hes doing 100% of the time
3. dont be an idiot, prepare for the stupidest strats that you shouldnt lose to (such as your opponent MADE a cloak banshee or a DT)
4. in a mass roach vs stalker immortal, targetfire immortals first, they should be in front of the stalkers...if they arent then your opponent fails at army positioning and you should roll him anyway...
5. expand after even or won battle, unless you just won the game
|
Don't beat yourself up over a mistake, i joined a friendly tournament last night and got a PvT first round. I thought "awww yeah 1Gate Expo time" and proceeded to watch my natural get invaded by hellions, marauders, and SCVs 20 seconds after i began building it. He had basically prepared to all-in the second he suspected what i was doing. Next game i pick a big map intending to try it again, i scout 2rax before orbital and do it anyways. Yeah, i lost that one too.
Point is, Its O.K. to lose a friendly game or ladder game. You having nothing at stake but a meaningless ladder score and bragging rights. I don't care that i lost those games, because i now have some fresh ideas and i now know not to do something like a FE against a unpredictable player.
Don't call yourself stupid, because your smart enough to look at those games and tell yourself that you can do better. that is the best mindset to have.
|
It is always nice to see things like that and a fellow Bronze player trying to climb up the ladder. Even the fact you play random, kudos to you, sir. I've not met many random Bronze players. Good luck with your self-analysis... it's something I've started recently as well so feel free to check mine out as well! (Won't put link here to not hijack your thread, so if you want, check my public profile  )
|
On January 19 2011 03:42 unit wrote:lessons you should have learned 1. counters dont exist, just build more stuff than him and you win even if his stuff "counters" yours -this rule is broken by air, and DT 2. know what hes doing 100% of the time 3. dont be an idiot, prepare for the stupidest strats that you shouldnt lose to (such as your opponent MADE a cloak banshee or a DT) 4. in a mass roach vs stalker immortal, targetfire immortals first, they should be in front of the stalkers...if they arent then your opponent fails at army positioning and you should roll him anyway... 5. expand after even or won battle, unless you just won the game
Thanks for the advice, but I did have more roaches than he had units, right? And still he slaughtered me. I know I'm a n00b, but isn't it still likely that counters are important?
|
On January 19 2011 04:14 BabyToss! wrote:It is always nice to see things like that and a fellow Bronze player trying to climb up the ladder. Even the fact you play random, kudos to you, sir. I've not met many random Bronze players. Good luck with your self-analysis... it's something I've started recently as well so feel free to check mine out as well! (Won't put link here to not hijack your thread, so if you want, check my public profile )
Oh, cool, Babytoss. I'll definitely be keeping up with your blog. We should play each other sometime. It'd be a cool sort of crossover.
|
On January 19 2011 03:45 Gecko wrote:
Don't beat yourself up over a mistake, i joined a friendly tournament last night and got a PvT first round. I thought "awww yeah 1Gate Expo time" and proceeded to watch my natural get invaded by hellions, marauders, and SCVs 20 seconds after i began building it. He had basically prepared to all-in the second he suspected what i was doing. Next game i pick a big map intending to try it again, i scout 2rax before orbital and do it anyways. Yeah, i lost that one too.
Point is, Its O.K. to lose a friendly game or ladder game. You having nothing at stake but a meaningless ladder score and bragging rights. I don't care that i lost those games, because i now have some fresh ideas and i now know not to do something like a FE against a unpredictable player.
Don't call yourself stupid, because your smart enough to look at those games and tell yourself that you can do better. that is the best mindset to have.
Thanks, Gecko. I don't think I think I'm as stupid as it sounds like I think I am, though (if that makes any sense whatsoever). My "don't be stupid" remark was more in the spirit of playful self-deprecation, not me being all depressed and saying, in a Homer Simpson voice or something, "I'm just so stupid." So no need to feel sorry for me.
But thanks for the advice. I had a similar experience to the ones you describe this morning. I was P playing against a T and I saw that he had no wall-off and just one or two bunkers, I decided to get up four gates and zealot rush. Well, when I got there, he had an army of about six reapers and was able to totally micro me to death, with me hardly getting a hit in.
More lessons learned.
|
On January 19 2011 04:31 KingOctavious wrote:
Oh, cool, Babytoss. I'll definitely be keeping up with your blog. We should play each other sometime. It'd be a cool sort of crossover.
Well, I have no problem with it. My ID's are flying somewhere in my profile as well ^^
And the reason, why it's good to see a fellow Bronze writting and doing this stuff is, that a lot of people in the Bronze do not try to get better. They do whatever they deem necessary to win, even if it's some lame cheese, which grants them victory.
The thing is - nobody gets better by cheesing, so hopefully people like me and you will advance to higher leagues by actual improving, whilst these cheesers will get stuck at dead point. Yes, I'm mean like that to wish that on them, as there's nothing worse than seeing people who put no effort into game to win and get points.
|
United States47024 Posts
On January 19 2011 04:27 KingOctavious wrote:
Thanks for the advice, but I did have more roaches than he had units, right? And still he slaughtered me. I know I'm a n00b, but isn't it still likely that counters are important?
In resource value or in number? In terms of min/gas value, stalkers are worth almost twice as much as roaches and immortals are worth almost 4 times as much, so having more roaches than he has stalkers/immortals doesn't mean a whole lot.
|
On January 19 2011 04:38 BabyToss! wrote:Show nested quote +On January 19 2011 04:31 KingOctavious wrote:
Oh, cool, Babytoss. I'll definitely be keeping up with your blog. We should play each other sometime. It'd be a cool sort of crossover. Well, I have no problem with it. My ID's are flying somewhere in my profile as well ^^ And the reason, why it's good to see a fellow Bronze writting and doing this stuff is, that a lot of people in the Bronze do not try to get better. They do whatever they deem necessary to win, even if it's some lame cheese, which grants them victory. The thing is - nobody gets better by cheesing, so hopefully people like me and you will advance to higher leagues by actual improving, whilst these cheesers will get stuck at dead point. Yes, I'm mean like that to wish that on them, as there's nothing worse than seeing people who put no effort into game to win and get points.
Hey man, I'm totally with you on that. I take my SC2 seriously, despite not having played for long, as it is just so rewarding to know when you've truly outwitted an opponent. I'm not against cheese, per se, but I am completely avoiding them for Bronze league play for the exact reason you stated. Cheese tactics don't help you get better. Right now, I just want to improve.
I'll try to find your Battle.net name and hit you up some time. My IDs should be around here somewhere, too.
|
On January 19 2011 04:27 KingOctavious wrote:Show nested quote +On January 19 2011 03:42 unit wrote:lessons you should have learned 1. counters dont exist, just build more stuff than him and you win even if his stuff "counters" yours -this rule is broken by air, and DT 2. know what hes doing 100% of the time 3. dont be an idiot, prepare for the stupidest strats that you shouldnt lose to (such as your opponent MADE a cloak banshee or a DT) 4. in a mass roach vs stalker immortal, targetfire immortals first, they should be in front of the stalkers...if they arent then your opponent fails at army positioning and you should roll him anyway... 5. expand after even or won battle, unless you just won the game Thanks for the advice, but I did have more roaches than he had units, right? And still he slaughtered me. I know I'm a n00b, but isn't it still likely that counters are important?
im an idiot, i forgot #6 dont build 1 type of unit, zergling roach is a million times more powerful than roach, same with hydra roach or mutaling
|
On January 19 2011 03:42 unit wrote:lessons you should have learned 1. counters dont exist, just build more stuff than him and you win even if his stuff "counters" yours -this rule is broken by air, and DT
Why do people even say this, is it loosely based on Day9s rant about unit counters?
His point was pretty reasonable, he just defined it far too definitively. Yes, you shouldn't suddenly make a huge change in army composition based on what information is discovered. But you should have contingency plans in place in your matchups.
For example in TvP I aim to know if my opponent is making colossus (and if so how quickly) or not by the time my starport finishes, so I can immediately begin viking production, delay it and get a few medivacs out or produce ONLY medivacs.
I think this is what he's talking about, being more aware of what your opponent is doing and reacting accordingly.
|
On January 19 2011 04:47 TheYango wrote:Show nested quote +On January 19 2011 04:27 KingOctavious wrote:
Thanks for the advice, but I did have more roaches than he had units, right? And still he slaughtered me. I know I'm a n00b, but isn't it still likely that counters are important? In resource value or in number? In terms of min/gas value, stalkers are worth almost twice as much as roaches and immortals are worth almost 4 times as much, so having more roaches than he has stalkers/immortals doesn't mean a whole lot.
I still just don't believe that if I have, say, 100 more minerals-worth of roaches that I would be able to take down a slightly less mineral-invested army of stalkers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT
