• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 16:13
CEST 22:13
KST 05:13
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Maestros of the Game: Week 1/Play-in Preview5[ASL20] Ro24 Preview Pt2: Take-Off7[ASL20] Ro24 Preview Pt1: Runway132v2 & SC: Evo Complete: Weekend Double Feature4Team Liquid Map Contest #21 - Presented by Monster Energy9
Community News
Weekly Cups (Aug 18-24): herO dethrones MaxPax6Maestros of The Game—$20k event w/ live finals in Paris35Weekly Cups (Aug 11-17): MaxPax triples again!13Weekly Cups (Aug 4-10): MaxPax wins a triple6SC2's Safe House 2 - October 18 & 195
StarCraft 2
General
Maestros of the Game: Week 1/Play-in Preview #1: Maru - Greatest Players of All Time Greatest Players of All Time: 2025 Update BoxeR's Wings Episode 2 - Fan Translation A Eulogy for the Six Pool
Tourneys
Maestros of The Game—$20k event w/ live finals in Paris LiuLi Cup - August 2025 Tournaments $5,000 WardiTV Summer Championship 2025 $5,100+ SEL Season 2 Championship (SC: Evo) Esports World Cup 2025
Strategy
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 488 What Goes Around Mutation # 487 Think Fast Mutation # 486 Watch the Skies Mutation # 485 Death from Below
Brood War
General
Post ASL20 Ro24 discussion. BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Easiest luckies way to get out of Asl groups BW General Discussion No Rain in ASL20?
Tourneys
Cosmonarchy Pro Showmatches [ASL20] Ro24 Group F [IPSL] CSLAN Review and CSLPRO Reimagined! [ASL20] Ro24 Group E
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Muta micro map competition Fighting Spirit mining rates [G] Mineral Boosting
Other Games
General Games
General RTS Discussion Thread Path of Exile Mechabellum Nintendo Switch Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread YouTube Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Canadian Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
INnoVation Fan Club SKT1 Classic Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread High temperatures on bridge(s) Gtx660 graphics card replacement
TL Community
The Automated Ban List TeamLiquid Team Shirt On Sale
Blogs
Lemme tell you a thing o…
JoinTheRain
How Culture and Conflict Imp…
TrAiDoS
RTS Design in Hypercoven
a11
Evil Gacha Games and the…
ffswowsucks
INDEPENDIENTE LA CTM
XenOsky
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1183 users

Advice for a Casual Player - Goals Etc.

Blogs > CooDu
Post a Reply
CooDu
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Australia899 Posts
March 01 2011 22:55 GMT
#1
Hi guys,

As mentioned in the title of this topic, in the last couple of years leading up to the release of SC2, my life has turned from studying/being able to dedicate a lot of time to StarCraft to having a new family and a marriage. As such, I'm wanting some frank, honest advice about where to move forward with my beloved game series from here.

A bit about me: I'm 23 years old, currently living in a small town in regional Australia with a partner and now wife of 6 years and a 9 month old baby. I currently work full time as a computer technician having completed my cert IV/diploma in Information Support.

Just a few short years ago I was still living at home playing Brood War for many hours a day and often long into the night. As such, when SC2 was released, I felt pressured to try and achieve the same level and commitment of play as I put into BW. Due to the aforementioned circumstanced I am now on about 3 hours of SC2 a night, with about 7-8+ on weekends.

I'm a gold league player (SEA) currently with about 300 games played. The advice I am after is what sort of goals I should try to achieve as a casual player. I know I will probably never make Master's League, but have this thought at the back of my head every time I play that I want to be that good which I'm not sure is the right mindset.

Ultimately, I just want to hear some thoughts from other people who have had to make the swap from being a huge player to just a casual player. I also try and find time to fit in the GSL vod's that I pay for each season too. Don't have much time to watch anything else except the odd Day9 daily.

Thanks for reading,



Just a simple guy, going wherever this journey takes me.
ieatkids5
Profile Blog Joined September 2004
United States4628 Posts
March 01 2011 23:19 GMT
#2
It's difficult. But maybe you can gradually just change your way of thinking from "gotta practice practice practice and beat everyone with my perfectly executed stats and super macro mechanics!" to "find cool or creative ways to beat people who have better mechanics than i do." Since perfecting execution and honing your mechanics and micro are things you don't really have the time to do any more, i guess focusing your game plan on something else may work.
Zeroes
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States1102 Posts
March 01 2011 23:30 GMT
#3
just have fun with the game not everything is about being the best unless of course you want to beat the hell out of your friends
Check out my SC Lan pics Here: http://picasaweb.google.com/bunk.habit
Chef
Profile Blog Joined August 2005
10810 Posts
March 01 2011 23:47 GMT
#4
If you play that often and that long and are still Gold, maybe you should just accept that you aren't very good at video games haha. (You wanted "honest and frank")

If I were you I'd just enjoy the game for what it is and not worry about getting good at it. Play UMS, play team games, play 1v1s on occasion etc.

If you really want goals.. just make small ones. Like "I want to beat my friend in a 1v1" or whatever.
LEGEND!! LEGEND!!
chocopan
Profile Joined April 2010
Japan986 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-02 00:21:52
March 02 2011 00:20 GMT
#5
my 2c

Family is the most important. That doesn't mean you can't work a worthwhile sc2 life around your rl though. Since spamming games dusk to dusk to hit Masters isn't an option, I'd turn to the more general goal of Being a Better Gamer. By which I mean, try not to rate yourself too much by League and Rank, and instead look at what sort of game you -can't- win at your current level, and work on that.

In my case I've realized I could play my current style a fair way further up, but I really want to develop a strong macro style. So I'm losing games all over the place on my smurf NA account. My League is bleargh. But I enjoy it because I know I could win a lot of these games if I was playing any way I wanted - I'm choosing to invest time/lost games in improving partic skills I want to get down.

So yes in summary I'd set yourself really specific skill goals, and do what you can to minimize League/Rank paranoia (eg. NA smurfing if you are SEA.)

Go SEA!

gl
Dance those ultras
krndandaman
Profile Joined August 2009
Mozambique16569 Posts
March 02 2011 00:31 GMT
#6
--- Nuked ---
Dhalphir
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Australia1305 Posts
March 02 2011 02:47 GMT
#7
Uh, 3 hours every night and 7-8 hours on weekends is far from "casual" and you should probably stop doing that if you have a wife, a full time job, and such a young child.

That said, thats a lot more than I play and I've still managed high Diamond, so maybe you just aren't as good at the game as you thought you were going to be.
Supporting TypeII Gaming - www.typeii.net - TypeReaL, TypePhoeNix, TypeSuN, TypeDBS!!
chocopan
Profile Joined April 2010
Japan986 Posts
March 02 2011 04:32 GMT
#8
My other 2c (makes 4)

These sorts of threads always attract a set number of "maybe you have to just accept you suck at sc" responses. Please filter them out. People respond intending to be helpful but sometimes that sort of thing slips out, don't take it seriously. Just play and enjoy your game and they can play and enjoy theirs.

gl!
Dance those ultras
CooDu
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Australia899 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-02 09:54:21
March 02 2011 08:59 GMT
#9
Thanks for the advice, I expected a bit of backlack from folks but that's fine.
Gives me something to work on now.

Also, 3 hours a night + 4 hours per night on weekends is hardly hardcore, get a grip
Just a simple guy, going wherever this journey takes me.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
[BSL 2025] Weekly
18:00
#12
ZZZero.O64
LiquipediaDiscussion
Maestros of the Game
16:00
Round of 24 Preliminary Stage
Rogue vs MaNaLIVE!
ComeBackTV 1011
IndyStarCraft 275
SteadfastSC255
CranKy Ducklings244
CosmosSc2 69
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
IndyStarCraft 275
SteadfastSC 255
BRAT_OK 101
CosmosSc2 69
JuggernautJason43
Livibee 32
Nathanias 23
StarCraft: Brood War
Bisu 1045
EffOrt 732
Shuttle 372
Soulkey 179
sSak 152
firebathero 150
TY 83
ZZZero.O 64
Bale 6
Dota 2
capcasts41
Counter-Strike
fl0m3515
Stewie2K371
flusha91
Other Games
summit1g9098
Gorgc2243
FrodaN2094
Grubby1883
qojqva1077
Hui .210
KnowMe101
Trikslyr61
MindelVK22
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1017
StarCraft 2
angryscii 24
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 21 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• printf 67
• davetesta18
• sooper7s
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• Migwel
• intothetv
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
StarCraft: Brood War
• Azhi_Dahaki16
• HerbMon 13
• iopq 1
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• C_a_k_e 4627
• masondota21438
• Ler39
League of Legends
• Doublelift1850
Counter-Strike
• imaqtpie852
Other Games
• Shiphtur144
Upcoming Events
SC Evo League
15h 47m
Maestros of the Game
19h 47m
SHIN vs Creator
Astrea vs Lambo
Bunny vs SKillous
HeRoMaRinE vs TriGGeR
BSL Team Wars
22h 47m
Team Bonyth vs Team Sziky
BSL Team Wars
22h 47m
Team Dewalt vs Team Sziky
Afreeca Starleague
1d 13h
Soulkey vs BeSt
Snow vs Light
Monday Night Weeklies
1d 19h
Replay Cast
2 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
PiGosaur Monday
3 days
LiuLi Cup
3 days
[ Show More ]
Replay Cast
4 days
The PondCast
4 days
RSL Revival
4 days
Maru vs SHIN
MaNa vs MaxPax
RSL Revival
5 days
Reynor vs Astrea
Classic vs sOs
BSL Team Wars
5 days
Team Bonyth vs Team Dewalt
CranKy Ducklings
6 days
RSL Revival
6 days
GuMiho vs Cham
ByuN vs TriGGeR
Cosmonarchy
6 days
TriGGeR vs YoungYakov
YoungYakov vs HonMonO
HonMonO vs TriGGeR
[BSL 2025] Weekly
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Acropolis #4 - TS1
WardiTV Summer 2025
HCC Europe

Ongoing

Copa Latinoamericana 4
BSL 20 Team Wars
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 3
BSL 21 Qualifiers
ASL Season 20
CSL Season 18: Qualifier 2
Maestros of the Game
SEL Season 2 Championship
Sisters' Call Cup
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

Upcoming

CSL 2025 AUTUMN (S18)
LASL Season 20
2025 Chongqing Offline CUP
BSL Season 21
BSL 21 Team A
Chzzk MurlocKing SC1 vs SC2 Cup #2
EC S1
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
Skyesports Masters 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
MESA Nomadic Masters Fall
CS Asia Championships 2025
ESL Pro League S22
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.