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Edit: I just wanted to make two things clear. First of all, I am not the Baz from N.A. Grandmaster league. Secondly, although I am trying to take my Starcraft more seriously now that I have finished Uni, I must have made it seem that this losing streak has really upset me, which it has not. It was simply frustrating at the time after two very succesful laddering days, but looking back it is quite funny how badly I played 
After finally finishing my 3 years at University, completing my course on Games Design, I couldn't think of a better way to utilize my coming spare weeks than hitting the ladder hard for the first time since last summer. It was time to get myself up to a decent level in Masters League after hanging around in diamond since september when my final year at Uni started and my days of large amounts of laddering ended. I still managed to get games in here and there over my Uni year, but I don't think I ever played more than 5 games in a row. Time to put that right. I told my girlfriend the plan (my theory being she can't get moody if she knows what I am planning in advance!), and the next day began my way up from the lower reaches of diamond.
Day one was a great success, I guess I was sitting at a way lower MMR than my skill level was at. I won 9 games in a row, lost one, then won another 8 before calling it a day. My progress in the ladder had been significant. I moved from roughly 80th in my league to somewhere within the top 30. The next day I had some similar success, with a few more losses sprinkled in here and there, getting myself up to 5th in my league by the end of the day. Masters players had been beaten comfortably on a couple of occasions, I ended the day pretty pleased with myself, feeling confident of my target of getting up to the top of Masters within a week or 2. Then came day 3... a lack of sleep from the night before was not going to put me off, it was time to get promoted to Masters! ... or so I thought...
Played 12, won 2, lost the rest. Dropped from 5th to 15th. Gutted! For the first time in my Starcraft career ("career"?) I had gone on a horrible losing streak. Even the games I won didn't go well, I played horribly and got pretty lucky. I knew I needed to stop playing after about game 8, after only one win so far, I obviously was having a bad day! Yet I got so angry at myself after each loss I just hit the ladder queue again to try and turn it round... failing just about every time! I eventually stopped because it was time to make some dinner. At this point I told myself I wouldn't be playing again until tomorrow and after a good night's sleep.
Over dinner my girlfriend reminded me that we were supposed to be heading back to our parents houses for the weekend when we finished eating. WHAT?! Now I have to sit at home all weekend with no Starcraft to play and that losing streak laying heavy on my mind! I had been looking forward to putting things right on Friday and now I would have to wait till Monday or Tuesday! Frustrating to say the least.
It is now Saturday and I am sat here at my parents house typing this out on TL, annoyed that the timing of my first ever losing streak has come just before I spend a long weekend at home at my parent's house. At the same time, the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester (scum) Utd is tonight and I cannot wait to watch it. I have just finished University and life is good...
... if only it weren't for that damn losing streak!
 
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Wait, are you the real Baz (on ladder) or another one? I suppose it's another one, but there's a Baz in GM x.x read this blog without realizing heh
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Perhaps you should watch the replays to see what you did wrong or watch some streams to take your mind off the losing streak but keep your mind on StarCraft so you can get right back into it if you can play again tomorrow. Everyone is bound to hit a hard losing streak just like they are bound to have long winning streaks. Don't get angry about it, its just a game. You play StarCraft for fun, remember?
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Rather be a "scum" than diving every on every single opportunity, and then some.
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On May 28 2011 23:40 Pokebunny wrote:
Wait, are you the real Baz (on ladder) or another one? I suppose it's another one, but there's a Baz in GM x.x read this blog without realizing heh
Haha, no that isn't me. He is far better. Although I aspire to make that level, perhaps over this summer.
And Dessy, I obviously didn't get my point across well enough, I am frustrated but I realise it was because I chose to play when I had hardly slept, I should have just avoided laddering that day as I was really tired and I worried it would effect my play... it did. But I am now just more determined to put it right!
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Honestly, it's probably good that you're forced away for a few days.
Use this time to think constructively about what caused you to lose and what you can do to fix it. Did you get outmacro'ed? Did you not scout as well as you should have? Were you indecisive at times? Could you make your builds more efficient or more complete?
This is a learning experience. When these things happen, I usually take a week off to think about it, and come back a much stronger player.
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I've had the very same feeling recently. I started questioning myself, stopped playing 1v1s for a little while because I was afraid to get demoted (which is a bullshit mindset to have anyways).
Luckily I managed to overcome my fears and started playing again, with some success.
Think of it as an experience you need(ed) to have. Obviously losing streaks occur to everyone no matter what level of play, and the key is not to put pressure on yourself when they happen. Noone performs at the peak of their capabilities forever, so its necessary to learn how to deal with that fact. You've had a bad day, just like I and everyone else reading this have probably had. It's quite certain, that you'll find yourself in a slump again someday. Sure you may lose one or two ladder-points, but think of it the other way round: You FINALLY get a decent amount of material/replays to learn from, since the best way to improve is to identify and embrace your mistakes.
That's kind of the nature of RTS games; sure they are awesome and stuff, but losing some games in a row can turn out to be very frustrating. But do not worry about that now; enjoy tonights match (hope your rooting for barça, as I'm sure they'll come out on top!) and your stay at your parents house with your gf.
Cheers, phrenetiC
(;
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I had a 14 loss streak once, I spent that night outraged at Terran (It was back at release)
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+ Show Spoiler +On May 29 2011 00:10 phrenetiC wrote:I've had the very same feeling recently. I started questioning myself, stopped playing 1v1s for a little while because I was afraid to get demoted (which is a bullshit mindset to have anyways). Luckily I managed to overcome my fears and started playing again, with some success. Think of it as an experience you need(ed) to have. Obviously losing streaks occur to everyone no matter what level of play, and the key is not to put pressure on yourself when they happen. Noone performs at the peak of their capabilities forever, so its necessary to learn how to deal with that fact. You've had a bad day, just like I and everyone else reading this have probably had. It's quite certain, that you'll find yourself in a slump again someday. Sure you may lose one or two ladder-points, but think of it the other way round: You FINALLY get a decent amount of material/replays to learn from, since the best way to improve is to identify and embrace your mistakes. That's kind of the nature of RTS games; sure they are awesome and stuff, but losing some games in a row can turn out to be very frustrating. But do not worry about that now; enjoy tonights match (hope your rooting for barça, as I'm sure they'll come out on top!) and your stay at your parents house with your gf. Cheers, phrenetiC (;
Thanks, I appreciate it! I will enjoy my weekend!
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I got demoted from masters last season. went 2-9, 3 game win streak, then an 11 game losing streak. I also made the mistake of playing during hours I shouldn't have. It was a busy few weeks at school and I had barely gotten any sleep so I was exhausted. Also I played from 11 pm to 1 am during the losing streak, telling myself I'd play till I won one and yea, it didn't happen. I was also really pissed, which made it even worse. Basically I played terribly, it was late at night, I was exhausted, and I was frustrated, so no surprise that I lost so many games. Gotta make sure you're at a decent condition if you want to ladder seriously. Also, accept that losing is part of the game and try to improve from your losses. I can tell you from experience that getting frustrated at your losses is very counter productive .
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Although many people will look down on you for this, trash talking players you've beaten who have used a strat that has destroyed you in the past can make the game very worthwhile. This helps especially after a losing streak, because you need a way to build up that self-confidence and keep that momentum going strong.
At least that's what I do personally. I mean I'm not particularly nasty about it, but it does really help me boost my confidence after a bunch of losses, and of course I only throw out that silly BM AFTER I win the game. Lately all I say is "RAPED SON" or "YOU DUN GOT RAPED SON" after the match and my opponent can simply pay no mind to it, put me on ignore and move on with their lives. I do feel bad for the players respond back in the same manner, but I have no remorse for those who cheese me or do an all-in type of strategy.
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Even though I'm a gamer through and through, I still think people take this game too seriously.
Seriously, (if you're not making money from the game then...) it's just a game.
Cheer up bro
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EPT
