Why this blog: The Purpose of this is simply to write down some mental notes to myself. Next blog in 2 weeks will be evaluating my progress, and setting new goals. After each day of practice i will also update this blog entry with short conclusions and statistics.
This blog entry is mostly aimed towards myself, in a struggle to break from platinum into diamond league.

Ladder status: rank 5 platinum Race: Protoss

The Problem? Ladder lock has gone into effect.

Option 1: Cheese my way into diamond.
Option 2: Play 1v1 melee custom games to improve my general play.

Conclusion: Besides a shiny new league icon, my improvement in league will carry no long term benefits. Thus opting for Option 2.


Macro orientated builds:

PvT:

1gate FE (9,13,14)

PvZ:

1gate FE (9,14,16)

34 pylon at ramp -> Nexus -> Gateway, Gateway, Gateway

(tech: Robo or Stargate into mothership play? (pros robo: has warp prisms and observers!)

UPDATE 10/13:

(ALL CHRONOES ON PROBES UNTILL WARP RES AND BLINK)

FFE -> Gateway, Twilight, Gateway x 4, blink and +1, Gateway x2 -> DT -> HT

Following this build i should have my first +1 blink stalkers coming out before 10min.

IF roach/hydra -> Weapon upgrades
IF Mutaling -> Armor upgrades -> CANNONS, CANNONS, CANNONS -> HT

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IF zerg is mass expanding + super aggresive -> Play super passive + Focus lategame army comp

PvP:

2gate robo

FOCUS FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS: Holding off early pressure.

PvZ: 1/2 base all-ins (try adding cannons as static defence?)
PvT: Early 1 base pressure (faster robo tech/MOAR SENTRIES?)
PvP: MEMORISE 3 STALKER ROBO BO

additional focus: Utilise Warp Prism

(notes: Warp Prism + sentries + a army that is out of position = free wins)

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Cheese builds i know i can execute well with above 75% winrate:

PvP: Korean 4gate

10: Pylon
10: Gateway
13: Gas
14/15: Cybcore
MAKE PROBES MAKE PROBES
around 20 supply = probe cut

-> try to ninja in pylons, else spam the ramp with pylons and hope for the best.

PvP/PvT: Warp Prism Rush 8 zealot drop

9: Pylon
12: Gateway
14: Gas
16: Pylon
16: CybCore
18: Zealot
21: Stalker
23: Zealot

26/26 -> RoBo
26/26 -> 2xGateways
26/26 -> 2xPylons

Chrono Warp Prism x1

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Mechanics:

FOCUS NEXT 2 WEEKS:

-Base tapping, to ensure efficient saturation during mid-late game.

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intresting topics:

PvZ: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=274243
Positive mindset: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=244816
PvZ + archon toilet: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=271126
Mouse accuracy practice: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=234243

http://blip.tv/day9tv/day-9-daily-360-p1-mental-checklist-exercises-5635566



NOTES:

10/13

PvZ:

Bad:

A few issues deciding when to push, when to safely take my third, and how to punish a double expanding zerg. Also when making trade-offs between armies, often forgetting that zerg units are alot cheaper then protoss units.

Good:

I now know how to safely take my natural, and untill now i had no issues with early pressure.

I also did a 3 pylon block, and it turned out great. (transitioned in a fast expand, into 7gate blink stalker)

PvT:

Bad:

I got 1 base double starport banshee harrased, i had 1 observer in his base, and one in my own, resulting that he simply split his banshees (solution? -> make buildings around nexus (he was random?))

A few other games where i lost to big pushes, i managed to get a big immortal count in most of those game, and more bases then the terran, but often the terran would switch to pure marine. Even one case where the terran just gathered all his scv's and units to push late in the game, while he was on 1 base and i on 3. (and i lost!)

Mental note: MUST TECH COLOSUS ONCE NATURAL BEGINS SATURATING



Summary: I did very bad today, lost alot of games because of not responding or teching fast enough. Must remember that whenever i feel unfocused or become frustrated due to losses i know i should have won easly, i should just do some custom games where i can simply laugh at my mistakes.

16/10

Been sick for a few days, laddering + headache/fever = BAD IDEA!!!!!!