To start, like many on here, this is my first serious RTS. I played SC 1 back in the day, but I was young, and didn't really understand it as well. I remember playing the "No rush for 20 min" game rules thinking those who rushed were cheaters. But now, I've smartened up. Being 24 years old I feel I may have jumped into the fray past my "prime" but it's been a fun experience so far. I first got into SCII competetively by watching casts such as HDStarcraft and Husky. I got amped, and I remember saying "I could play like these guys". I quickly jumped on, played a few practice matches with my main race of Zerg and then moved onto my placement matches. I went 1 and 4 and was promptly put into bronze league. After getting my ass kicked multiple times over I remember in frustration during one loss I typed "I hate being a noob!". Luckily the other players was kind and said "I am too, but what makes me better is watching Day[9]. Look it up, he'll definitly help."
So in my frustration I thanked him and gg'd. I then promptly looked up Day[9] and watched almost all of his SC2 casts in the couple of weeks I had time. I followed his advice, master the macro first. Hotkey, know when to make drones, and master an opening. By doing that you will jump you're win percentage. So I searched this website for openings. I never cheesed and wanted a legit, relatively aggressive but non-all in opening. I found the 1 base 8 roach > Lair > Expand opening. I practiced in and out of league games and eventually mastered it. I went from bottom of the barrell in bronze to the top 25 very quickly. Then yesterday Season 1 ended. As I booted up and played today, I placed as number 2 in bronze.
I played about 20 games, winning all but 3, and took the number one spot and have a solid lead with points. But I've realized my problem and I hope for tips or help with it if possible as I work on it myself. Having a single solid opening isn't exactly tip top. And this opening cuts drones early in favor of a big Roach/Speedling follow up. It works 99% of the time and I barely get to mid game. I WANT to get to midgame though, because it's where I have the most trouble. When to throw up my third base, when to know I'm fully saturated. My money skyrockets VERY quickly afterward and sometimes if they hold off my roach/ling rush and counter attack I have VERY little to stop them. I want to be able to easily transition to mid-game. Thinking I should go roach/hydra vs. toss? It's here where I need the most help, but its hard since almost all the players I play crumble to my opening and I can't get the practice in. I would someday like to get to Masters, I know it's a long ways off, but I know it's possible. And I hope to chonicle it here.
Thanks, I know this is rough, I didn't proof read as I'm busy right now, but I needed to get that out. 
-Mathas
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Hyrule19196 Posts
1. You could do with a bit more whitespace in your post :X
2. Liquipedia has a LOT of good info about openers, builds, counters, etc...
3. Screw your "prime". Just because a 24 year old can't get 400 apm average (typically) doesn't mean you're old.
4. Bronzies have always seemed to be nicer than the higher ranked players. Dunno why.
5. Cheese is good to use sometimes.
6. You can try for something called the 300 food push, which is basically attacking with a maxed army while stockpiling larva and money, and once your army dies you instantly rebuild it (more of a late game plan).
I'm going to stop using numbers now. But remember to get upgrades and such. One of the pros to playing Zerg is that since you have parallel unit construction (yay larva!), you can replace a large army quite quickly. With enough bases and if you keep on top of injections, you should have no problem with that. It does get harder the longer the game goes on, though.
And as with anything else, the more you practice, the better you get. Pick a new opening that's suited better for getting into the mid-game. Play with the goal of winning in the mid-game. Eventually you'll get good at it, and you can move on to the late game.
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Welcome!
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EPT
