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Hello TLers!
Over the last week or so I didn't really have much time or motivation to play games until last night.
I was still browsing the forums and checking out some of my favorite streams.
-MrBitter
-Destiny
-Moonglade
-DecemberTV
-Rigid
-CatZ
Guess what race I play!
Anyways, I played a few games last night, and I felt faster, smarter and better!
Things that I normally struggle with were just coming together for me:
I held off 4 gates and 2-base pushes easily, had good creep and overlord spread, good scouting, good macro. I was getting about 260 APM where I normally get 200.
I've noticed this same effect when I step away from Golf or Basketball for awhile, usually come back stronger than before.
Has anyone experienced something similar in SC2, or in other aspects of life?
Was it just the time off that cleared out my "cache" or did watching the streams and checking out TL sharpen my skills?
Was I playing poorly before due to battle fatigue?
Penny for your thoughts TLers!
 
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Idunno.
Same thing happens to me after extended breaks. I think it's love for the game.
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260 apm is a lot.
And yea, sometimes taking a break can make you play better when returning. Playing 10 hours a day can dull the mind and make one stop caring.
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Netherlands816 Posts
Yes. In playing piano, it's a good idea to take a small break from the piece you're studying. A week, not more than a week and a half. You'll come back with a refreshed sight of things, it feels new and exciting.
Taking breaks is awesome, more people should do it. 
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I think that, atleast for me, it's partially psychological. I mean, it certainly feels like I'm playing better after an extended break, but when reviewing my replays it's obvious that I'm actually playing quite worse than I was before. For example, I'm in master league ATM, but I haven't played more than 2 games in the last 6 months. When I came back the other week I felt like I was playing at my old level after 2 or so games but when I was watching my replays I noticed my APm was 50 lower than it was before, and I had terrible controls and screwed up my build order
In many places.
When I'm playing for a long time it feels like alot of the game becomes automatic, I don't need to think to macro, I know build orders by heart etc. And when I come back from a long break these things are no longer automatic and I need to remind myself to build probes and pylons and go back to base to warp in new units. Because these processes aren't automatic anymore I guess I just feel more impressed by myself because I'm noticing everything that was invisible before.
Anyways, maybe thats just me.
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Ye I was off for a couple weeks, and today I played vs AI to test the changes of 1.3patch and I got 105average apm, when I always had like 80 max.
And I felt like I spammed less too
//tx
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happened to me with counter strike the other night, I was scrimming for the first time after I had started to play LoL and I had the best score on my team when normally I am close to last.
I wonder if there is a scientific reason for this phenomena..
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Happens for me with SC and also guitar/piano/drum playing.
When you step away from something for a while you will necessarily return with a new outlook. "Clearing the cache" is a great metaphor.
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don't know about an APM increase, but I've experienced something similar taking a break from FPSes before
things just seem clearer for whatever reason
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Hmm, I haven't played in about... 2-3 months I suppose? (Trying to get back into it now~)
But I played the other night for the first time in that long and like
I was ontop of my game and doing EVERYTHING right.
I was so confused. >_>
Maybe taking a break and coming back with a clear head is a good thing to do. =D
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Yea, LiquidTyler does it and it works for him!
Thanks for all the feedback. I wonder if there is some actual physical reason for it.
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I used to take breaks from our "SUPER HARD WORKING PLAYING COUNTER-STRIKE" or something and I always had better aim with the awp when I came back. I guess that's becaues I was less tense and I knew I could blame it on "Haven't played in a couple of days" which made me calm and able to aim better.
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Wouldn't you just get matched up against worse players after your break due to how the bonus pool works? The 4k Masters were 3k Masters a month ago? Pardon if my numbers are off I haven't actually played a ladder game in a month.
Of course after a few games the system would have your internal rating recalculated and you would be going against even opponents.
You should never measure skill by APM, perhaps your mechanics aren't as polished and that is increasing your APM. You could just be spamming more then you use to and missing out on something important, such as vomiting larva. Rhythm > Actions.
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Yes. happened to me too in all sorts of games / even sports.
I think when you play after an extended period of breaks, you get rid of all your bad habits and you actually think when you play instead of relying on reflex/ repetitions that you built up if you play very regularly.
Sadly for me though, all the bad habits will start creeping back in and i'll "drop down" back to my normal level.
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On March 23 2011 03:30 Ipp wrote:
Wouldn't you just get matched up against worse players after your break due to how the bonus pool works?.
due to how bonus pool actually works, no
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On March 23 2011 03:49 Mindcrime wrote:Show nested quote +On March 23 2011 03:30 Ipp wrote:
Wouldn't you just get matched up against worse players after your break due to how the bonus pool works?. due to how bonus pool actually works, no
Care to actually do some explaining? To my understanding every player accrues bonus pool at the same rate whether they play or not. It just stacks if you don't play, therefore if you 50% of your games, which is "normal" you will go up in points.
So coming back after 2 months your ELO will still be the same but you will play worse players then when you had quit. Yes, the bonus pool will help you get to where you are suppose to be faster but at first I believe it will match you up against worse players until you get back into gear.
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Whenever I get tired of sc2 (which happens frequently), I go and ladder on BW, Since I don't solely play bw anymore I can play without pressure or worries. Then I come back to sc2 really refreshed, Last time I did it I got 200 ladder points in a day!
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On March 23 2011 03:49 Mindcrime wrote:Show nested quote +On March 23 2011 03:30 Ipp wrote:
Wouldn't you just get matched up against worse players after your break due to how the bonus pool works?. due to how bonus pool actually works, no
Also, it's not only about winning, but doing better with mechanics etc...
//tx
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Whenever I get the urge to hop on counter-strike, I usually am 90% better than when I stopped playing, but this is the opposite for me in SC2; I start rusty after long absences and get better as I keep playing frequently.
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On March 23 2011 03:54 Ipp wrote:Show nested quote +On March 23 2011 03:49 Mindcrime wrote:On March 23 2011 03:30 Ipp wrote:
Wouldn't you just get matched up against worse players after your break due to how the bonus pool works?. due to how bonus pool actually works, no Care to actually do some explaining? To my understanding every player accrues bonus pool at the same rate whether they play or not. It just stacks if you don't play, therefore if you 50% of your games, which is "normal" you will go up in points. So coming back after 2 months your ELO will still be the same but you will play worse players then when you had quit. Yes, the bonus pool will help you get to where you are suppose to be faster but at first I believe it will match you up against worse players until you get back into gear.
Displayed rating has no effect on matchmaking. Neither does bonus pool.
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On March 23 2011 04:04 goiflin wrote:
Whenever I get the urge to hop on counter-strike, I usually am 90% better than when I stopped playing, but this is the opposite for me in SC2; I start rusty after long absences and get better as I keep playing frequently.
Haha, i'm the opposite of you. Hop onto CS:S after a month and I'm terrible. Hop onto SC2 after a month and I'm pro status(in my mind)~
Haha.
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I wish this happened to me, I havent played in about a week, got back on and was greeted by an about 8 loss streak and I feel a demotion is close.
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Happens to me too, though not so much in sc2 as in other games/activities. Mostly I don't do as well in sc2 if I'm not current on what strategies everyone is using, and since I play random I have to keep up on a lot of matchups. But it definitely is noticeable in fps games. Sometimes I'll get onto cs or quake and just tear up a server for a couple rounds, realize how well I'm doing, and start sucking again. Or I'll get on rhythm zone after remembering that I still have it on my computer and completely smash my personal best. It never wigs me out until after I finish playing.
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EPT
