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I've been playing sc2 for a few months now. I've reached platinum and I am pretty happy with my progress. However, now I want to become even better at the game. I hope to get to diamond and hopefully masters by the end of the year!!
i dont think plat to diamond will be super hard (maybe a month or 2), but I anticipate diamond--> masters to be a long and difficult journey.
Before, I would think "I can never get into masters, its the top 2% in the region!" One of my friends said there was no way I could get in, which irked me a bit.
But then I thought... In my gen chem 1 final, i scored in the 100th percentile in the nation, so heck, it is possible for me to get into masters (if i put in the effort!).
So.. here goes my journey. I think I will:
1)Watch day9/ pro gameplay more often. I think I should watch at least 1 day 9 daily a week and 1 pro game and take notes, etc.
2) Don't play like 10 games at a time, but rather after every game, analyze the replays.
3)Practice with a practice buddy my skill level.
4) Macro macro macro!!
5) Practice multitasking by doing multitasking custom maps where you have to micro an scv from a zergling as I do my build.
So here it goes.. I hope I make it. Is there anything else I ass to the above btw?
 
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The problem with using leagues as an indication of progress is that when you hit masters, there's nowhere left to go, and you still aren't good at the game.
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Add a rule 0
0) Have fun
Without that, you won't get into masters. Trying to improve is good, but don't force yourself too much.
Also, try to find a practice partner a step above your skill level, at best one for each race and try to beat them consistently.
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On March 15 2011 18:24 Morfildur wrote:
Add a rule 0
0) Have fun
Without that, you won't get into masters. Trying to improve is good, but don't force yourself too much.
Also, try to find a practice partner a step above your skill level, at best one for each race and try to beat them consistently.
good point haha. if i dont have fun, improving is no fun lol.
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Skip 5, it will not help you, or at best, will help you very little, use the time to play actual games.
GL, HF with that. It is pretty managable to get into Masters, you just need to have a more broad understanding of the game and Day9 helps a lot with that.
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On March 15 2011 18:20 Alphonsse wrote:
The problem with using leagues as an indication of progress is that when you hit masters, there's nowhere left to go, and you still aren't good at the game.
well theres still high masters right? 
in all seriousness, masters is good enough. heck even diamond is good enough for me, but i want to have a goal to keep playing past diamond and accomplish a feat of strength (at least in my eyes).
some say masters is still not good, but imo top 2% is very very good.
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Ive been trying to hit masters for for the last couple of weeks.
Best of luck to you!
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First of all I wish you luck with your project, and I definately believe you can pull it off.
But one of your points I don't fully agree with.
On March 15 2011 18:12 plbro81 wrote:
2) Don't play like 10 games at a time, but rather after every game, analyze the replays.
Oftentimes there is a specific set of mistakes that lose you the match, that are quite self evident after - or even during the match. When this is the case I would say that your time is better spent queueing up for another game, rather to confirm what mistakes you made.
Ofcourse, if when the game is over and you're completely puzzled as to how your opponent could pull that off, or you want to scrutinize a certain build because you're having trouble with it - look at the replay.
I guess TL:DR; playing is the best kind of practice.
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On March 15 2011 18:20 Alphonsse wrote:
The problem with using leagues as an indication of progress is that when you hit masters, there's nowhere left to go, and you still aren't good at the game.
Rubbish. In my eyes, anybody in masters is good (Unless they got there solely by cheesing, of course). I would wager that the vast majority of the sc2 playing population would also echo that masters = good.
OP, be proud when (not if, WHEN) you reach masters. Don't let people put it down as an easy accomplishment.
Also, I'm in platinum as well. Protoss player. If you want some practice games, feel free to add Moonloop#673. Just don't ask me to 4gate you, I can't 4gate for the life of me.
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What irks me is how dumb it actually is to get into masters right now. My friend of much lesser skill got promoted after 1 game and sits at low masters now, while ive mass gamed all the way to 3400 diamond with no bonus pool, yet still do not get promoted 
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On March 15 2011 18:12 plbro81 wrote:
I've been playing sc2 for a few months now. I've reached platinum and I am pretty happy with my progress. However, now I want to become even better at the game. I hope to get to diamond and hopefully masters by the end of the year!!
i dont think plat to diamond will be super hard (maybe a month or 2), but I anticipate diamond--> masters to be a long and difficult journey.
Before, I would think "I can never get into masters, its the top 2% in the region!" One of my friends said there was no way I could get in, which irked me a bit.
But then I thought... In my gen chem 1 final, i scored in the 100th percentile in the nation, so heck, it is possible for me to get into masters (if i put in the effort!).
So.. here goes my journey. I think I will:
1)Watch day9/ pro gameplay more often. I think I should watch at least 1 day 9 daily a week and 1 pro game and take notes, etc.
2) Don't play like 10 games at a time, but rather after every game, analyze the replays.
3)Practice with a practice buddy my skill level.
4) Macro macro macro!!
5) Practice multitasking by doing multitasking custom maps where you have to micro an scv from a zergling as I do my build.
So here it goes.. I hope I make it. Is there anything else I ass to the above btw?
You should practice with people who are better than you. If you get your arse kicked 10 times out of 10, and you'll see your mistakes easier! But you don't want to burn yourself out, so don't do it all the time
If you're anything like me (I'm in plat too), your macro is probably your biggest issue - I've faced masters in ZvZ that went the same build as me, but outright killed me because they had more units than me (by quite a bit). I think that's the main difference between a master and everyone else.
Oh, and join custom games of the ladder maps! I find that it helps me not get frustrated if I lose to someone when it isn't going on my ladder score.
Good luck! With enough effort, you should make masters 
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On March 15 2011 18:20 Alphonsse wrote:
The problem with using leagues as an indication of progress is that when you hit masters, there's nowhere left to go, and you still aren't good at the game.
Its still fun for the average person who isnt a progamer to want to have a goal, or a certain visible bar that they can use to measure some level of success. Achieving Masters league is a measure of success. I acknowledge that that fact doesnt instantly make them pros at the game, it gives people something to strive for.
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May I suggest the old BW classic in getting good as another thing on your checklist?
6) Choose a build order for each matchup.
Of course you can mix it up when you know one by heart I guess. Always nice to not be a one build wonder. Or well if you have one build per matchup you are by default at worst a 3 build wonder.
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Practicing against masters players/ the best players in the league, will raise your skill level much faster. But this tactic works for people who are patient and try to learn from their mistakes and also know what it means to "Work harder" to "Break your own barriers/limits".
Another tip is work on your basics:
Learn to expand, learn your timings, these help you in the early games. After a certain point in the game you have to be able to adjust to situations that arise. But if you have a good foundation you can win/survive for the first 10-16 minutes in most of your matches.
Building workers when you need to and when you need to stop.
I have actually played and gotten good at so many games from being terrible.
Dungeon Keeper1/2 multiplayer I would do 3vs1, SC1 I would play 2vs1 sometimes. And I have played good players that i guess were pro's but i didn't know there was a gaming league i only heard rumors as a kid.
C&C:RE, total annihlation. AoE1-3, learning all the builds with the different civilizations, and AoE2's fabled 12 minute T3 with fishing boats. AoE1(don't remember the timing but I remember something about like 9 minutes.) AoE3 15-16 minute T3, with army ready right when you turn.
SC1/BW SC2, obviously. SC3rd Strike Lots of great players play in GameWorks in Seattle for this one. King Of Fighters 2k1-2k3 (2k2 is probably the best for vs)
Anyway just stating, I've had to go past this barrier many times, but I am the patient person, I lost 100 times in a row on Street Fighter 3rd Strike in Gameworks until i finally started to win 1 out of 10 games then later 2 out of 10 then 4 out of 10, etc..
Halo also, I was the best on my Campus, but then faced a champion and got roflstomped, and improved from there.
Hope this helped, these aren't quite accomplishments but examples. If you can remember times in your life when you were bad at sometimes and tried to improve, and how you did it. That'll be the main motivator. It's usually the same. "I know I can do this fast" "God damn, still not fast enough." and just keep trying.
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I find setting goals to limit myself when I sit down to play a lot easier. Like, I'm going to play 1 4v4 to warm up, then 6 1v1's. So if I get frustrated with something I have that benchmark in my brain to keep me from ragequitting.
Since I don't play as much as I should, I constantly run into things that I have no idea how to deal with and I just make up something. Remember every time that this happens to you. After the game come up with a plan to deal with that situation, and do it the next time that it happens.
Don't worry about it working or not. The key is to be more decisive. Your brain should say "Oh he's doing X, I'm going to do X." Then all you have to worry about is executing your plan, rather than thinking of a response, how to do that response, wondering if your made up response is good and then executing your plan.
That’s one of the reasons that good 4 gaters are so highly ranked. Their answer to everything is “Oh he’s doing X, I’m going to do a 4 gate.” They are prepared for every situation, because in every situation they 4 gate.
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GL man. you definitely can get into diamond! :D What race do you play btw out of curiousness.
Also, I'd suggest hunting for some free coaches off TL if you want to meet your goals with ease. There seems to be a lot of individuals offering free coaching to people like yourself that want to actively get better at sc2
On March 15 2011 18:20 Alphonsse wrote:
The problem with using leagues as an indication of progress is that when you hit masters, there's nowhere left to go, and you still aren't good at the game.
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Wow thx for all the responses and support! I feel better about undertaking this task.
To answer as many questions as possible:
a) im Terran :p
B) yes I do have a build order for each mu except for protoss as im trying to figure out what to do lol. Vs Terran I go tanks and vikings and go for an early contain. Vs. Zerg I do a 2 tax Fe with pressure and transition to mass much.
If anyone wants to practice or mentor me just send me a friend request on b.net.
Sc2 name: TheBeast. (775)
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United States129 Posts
On March 16 2011 04:55 plbro81 wrote:
Wow thx for all the responses and support! I feel better about undertaking this task.
To answer as many questions as possible:
a) im Terran :p
B) yes I do have a build order for each mu except for protoss as im trying to figure out what to do lol. Vs Terran I go tanks and vikings and go for an early contain. Vs. Zerg I do a 2 tax Fe with pressure and transition to mass much.
If anyone wants to practice or mentor me just send me a friend request on b.net.
Sc2 name: TheBeast. (775)
If you see the person going to a massive amount of gateway units ghosts are honestly your best friend. x3 I mean, they're good all the time against Protoss for obvious reasons, but especially versus the gateway units as it makes them explode that much faster. Even if you don't use the ghosts in your main army, you can always put them around the map and if you see a push just EMP it. Usually that will delay the push and give you more time if you're uncertain about your army composition as the guy waits for the units to get their shields back.
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On March 16 2011 06:08 Meko wrote:Show nested quote +On March 16 2011 04:55 plbro81 wrote:
Wow thx for all the responses and support! I feel better about undertaking this task.
To answer as many questions as possible:
a) im Terran :p
B) yes I do have a build order for each mu except for protoss as im trying to figure out what to do lol. Vs Terran I go tanks and vikings and go for an early contain. Vs. Zerg I do a 2 tax Fe with pressure and transition to mass much.
If anyone wants to practice or mentor me just send me a friend request on b.net.
Sc2 name: TheBeast. (775) If you see the person going to a massive amount of gateway units ghosts are honestly your best friend. x3 I mean, they're good all the time against Protoss for obvious reasons, but especially versus the gateway units as it makes them explode that much faster. Even if you don't use the ghosts in your main army, you can always put them around the map and if you see a push just EMP it. Usually that will delay the push and give you more time if you're uncertain about your army composition as the guy waits for the units to get their shields back.
Hmm I know that ghosts are good vs protoss but I've always been afraid to use emp because of im afraid ill miss that important shot.
I guess that's something I should work on too.
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On March 15 2011 18:33 Mortician wrote:
Skip 5, it will not help you, or at best, will help you very little, use the time to play actual games.
GL, HF with that. It is pretty managable to get into Masters, you just need to have a more broad understanding of the game and Day9 helps a lot with that.
hmm i thought improving multitasking was an important part of the game though?
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yes i found a masters terran to coach me for free!
On March 16 2011 03:01 Stealthypoo wrote:GL man. you definitely can get into diamond! :D What race do you play btw out of curiousness. Also, I'd suggest hunting for some free coaches off TL if you want to meet your goals with ease. There seems to be a lot of individuals offering free coaching to people like yourself that want to actively get better at sc2 Show nested quote +On March 15 2011 18:20 Alphonsse wrote:
The problem with using leagues as an indication of progress is that when you hit masters, there's nowhere left to go, and you still aren't good at the game.
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lol am i supposed to update this blog with my progress? not sure how blogs work.
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EPT
