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This week I'm doing all Protoss because I recently realized that I kinda suck as that race. My biggest problem is a failure to continue producing units while I do other, more micro-intensive things (like engage the enemy, scout, etc.). I don't have this problem so bad with other races. Mainly just Protoss.
This match is a pretty good example of how I go so wrong with them. Watch as my resources skyrocket simply because I don't produce units consistently. The result is a pitifully small army that can do nothing but roll over and play dead when the other army arrives.
Check it out here
Lessons learned:
1. Always be warping in units. Even during scouting, expanding, or attacking, take a second, frequently, to jump back to base (or a proxy pylon) and warp in some units.
2. When resources get super high, don’t automatically assume it’s beacuse teching is needed. The problem may very well be that too few units have been produced.
Further thoughts?
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The thing with Protoss is, when you have warpgates, you simply cannot queue. Queuing is imo an easier way for inexperienced players like us to still keep producing while in the middle of the battle. I noticed a lot of Terran players on Bronze level queue a lot. Although, that doesn't mean it's good habit to get into.
What I try to get into habit is, to simply cycle through my control groups, to check my production structures, if I can produce from them or not. That way, once it becomes a habit, you'd technically not miss the warp in window inbetween cooldowns. Also, having a good ol'proxy pylon somewhere helps. I often forget that, so I end up warping guys in one of my bases...but it's another habit which'd be good to get into.
Regarding too many resources - I personally have this problem when I have like 3-4 bases. Why? Because as the game gets into more busy state lategame, I simply forget to build more production structures (be it warpgates, stargates, robos... whatever is needed). I figure you might have the same issue.
Good luck from fellow Bronzie 
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^ Yeah, those sound like the same problems I have. When I'm in the midst of a battle and I notice my minerals are way up, I usually just start spamming production hotkeys. Obviously not the best strat. It is hard to keep up with making more production facilities as the game progresses because there are already so many things you have to have in your head.
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I play random and my Protoss macro is the worst so I know where you're coming from. Some tricks I learned...
Use the location hotkeys (I changed mine from f5-f8 to f1-f4). Just set f1 to your forward pylon and then just pop over there to warp in and then bounce back to your army. Also, if you're serious about a push, then bring a probe and warp in a forward pylon or two.
Macro whenever you go to chrono boost. Chrono boost has an easy timing since it never changes, so whenever you chrono boost just build more units. Macro when you go back to build pylons.
I know 4gate is the all the rage but try something like 3gate expand. 4gate is heavy enough on the resources that if you miss a production cycle your money will still be low, but with 3gate you really have to keep macroing.
And always keep an eye on the top right of your screen. I'm sure you know this, but those little numbers up there are as important as anything going on in your main screen. I try and look up there every 5 seconds. It's like driving where you have to check your rear view mirror constantly. If you can't remember set a timer or something.
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On February 02 2011 07:52 starfries wrote:
I play random and my Protoss macro is the worst so I know where you're coming from. Some tricks I learned...
Use the location hotkeys (I changed mine from f5-f8 to f1-f4). Just set f1 to your forward pylon and then just pop over there to warp in and then bounce back to your army. Also, if you're serious about a push, then bring a probe and warp in a forward pylon or two.
Macro whenever you go to chrono boost. Chrono boost has an easy timing since it never changes, so whenever you chrono boost just build more units. Macro when you go back to build pylons.
I know 4gate is the all the rage but try something like 3gate expand. 4gate is heavy enough on the resources that if you miss a production cycle your money will still be low, but with 3gate you really have to keep macroing.
And always keep an eye on the top right of your screen. I'm sure you know this, but those little numbers up there are as important as anything going on in your main screen. I try and look up there every 5 seconds. It's like driving where you have to check your rear view mirror constantly. If you can't remember set a timer or something.
Thanks for the advice. Another one of my problems is that I don't chrono consistently, especially late game, so that technique should help with both my chrono and production.
I've also been trying to do a good job watching minerals/gas/supply. I think I started to pick up on this pretty good today, where I felt like I was robo-building supply depots right on the mark for most of the match. I really like the rear view mirror analogy.
Thanks again.
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One thing you will run into is not using chrono boosts. You may feel that there is nothing to use them on, and you may think it is a waste to use a boost on a single probe and instead save up for 2 probes. That is something I struggled with for a while and is something all protoss players have to overcome. Dont let chrono boost stack up even if the only things you have are warpgates. Use it on your nexus to pump out that 1 extra probe. Having more probes isnt bad since once your mineral line become saturated you will probably be expanding soon anyways.
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On February 02 2011 12:34 Xyik wrote:
One thing you will run into is not using chrono boosts. You may feel that there is nothing to use them on, and you may think it is a waste to use a boost on a single probe and instead save up for 2 probes. That is something I struggled with for a while and is something all protoss players have to overcome. Dont let chrono boost stack up even if the only things you have are warpgates. Use it on your nexus to pump out that 1 extra probe. Having more probes isnt bad since once your mineral line become saturated you will probably be expanding soon anyways.
Yeah that is a big problem I have. I figure I need to use it more on warpgates throughout the match.
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For chrono boost I would say research>upgrades>probes/high tech units.
Obviously at the start you want to boost probes and warpgate tech. But later on you want to boost things you can't do in parallel. That is, you can build stalkers faster by getting more gateways, but you can't get charge or thermal lance faster except through chrono boost, so give your boosts to those. Same goes for +1 armor and other upgrades, and to some extent probes (since it's limited by how many expansions you have). And don't forget you can cb a quick obs.
Also prioritizing like this will help make sure you don't forget an important tech or upgrades since you'll think about it when you go to chrono boost. I've had embarrassing losses because my opponent has 9 range colossi and I don't, or I have a 200/200 0/1/0 army and it gets crushed by a smaller force.
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Also I find it's really useful to chain things like that (ie whenever you check A, you always check B after) since all you need for good macro is just 1) remember to do shit and 2) use hotkeys. So by having something like chronoboost->check upgrades or check money->check food->build probes->build units, you really only need to remember to do the 1 or 2 things at the start of the chain, and everything else will just come naturally.
It doesn't have to take long with good hotkeys. I use 1 for nexus and 2 for units, so I glance to the top right, 1e, w f1 and 22 back to the army.
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On February 02 2011 14:29 starfries wrote:
Also I find it's really useful to chain things like that (ie whenever you check A, you always check B after) since all you need for good macro is just 1) remember to do shit and 2) use hotkeys. So by having something like chronoboost->check upgrades or check money->check food->build probes->build units, you really only need to remember to do the 1 or 2 things at the start of the chain, and everything else will just come naturally.
It doesn't have to take long with good hotkeys. I use 1 for nexus and 2 for units, so I glance to the top right, 1e, w f1 and 22 back to the army.
Good advice. I like the idea of chronoing upgrades/etc. to help me stay on top of macro.
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EPT
