Hello and welcome everyone to climbing up the ladder, Idra style! I am a silver level Terran player in SC2, my first RTS game. Over this break I'd like to improve my SC2 ability and decision making in order to climb the ranks and be a more informed watcher of GSL/MLG as well as be a part of the conversation on TeamLiquid forums as well.
You may have noticed that I want to climb the ladder Idra style as a Terran. I'd like to elaborate. I really like terran mechanics and would rather not switch to zerg as I can hardly hold terran simplistic macro mechanics as it stands. In the same vein of Idra (minus raging over cheese), I'd like to be able to just crush the enemy with a massive amount of units mid-late game and use map control to keep myself ahead in expos (even in case of zerg). How will I try to do this? First, I will be attempting to 1raxFE on all matchups except on Xel'Naga (in which I'll opt for faster factory vsT/Z or added rax vP) and then focus on being ahead in upgrades, expansions, and unit producing facilities. I prefer bio play at this time so it will be reflected that you'll see me opt for 12 rax late game with 2 reactor port for medivacs and run my marines through a meat grinder while taking several expansions.
I know I am silver and have high expectations but I really would like to bring my story to the community whether it is in failure or success. In failure, you guys can know how to help fledgling players get their mechanics and 'style' down better because of what failed for me and my feedback to things like “macro better” or “scout more”. In success you can celebrate my new skills with me and be a part of the community.
Goals (short-term): -Play three games a day, look at each replay from all perspective and then mine. Used to find TIMINGS and PATTERN RECOGNITION.
-Learn to change unit composition slightly when facing difficulty. (IE, add a second factory for tanks if lots of banes vZ)
-Be able to hold any cheese opener with 1rax while continuing to make workers and throw down an expo.
-Find a good reaction to 4-gate from protoss.
Goals (long term): - Find a good 'team' or practice partners and learn to practice well off of ladder -learn to micro early units to apply pressure to Z while maintaining safety at my expo. -Be able to take a BO5 from similar level players -Stream for anyone who may want to watch this lulzworthy performance.
Currently: Online, trying to fix games.
Current Trends in-Game: Able to hold out, but early 'cheesy but not really' pressure hurts me but I can hold. Recently hit by 3-reaper, then 9 reaper harassment. I should have just pushed but I held and had 3 to 1 expos. Game lasted forever, he transitioned to BCs and I got ~30 vikings and ups to push FTW. Game lasted way to long, though.
Games lasting forever and letting opponents catch up in upgrades.
No one can kill me due to upgrades/added production once I get to 10 minute...But I can't kill them.
As any newer player I'd love extra support, coaching, and criticism. I have a long way to go but the more involved I am with the community the easier it is for me to stick to my goals.
I do enjoy biocentric play. I want to eventually get to very good marine control so I can drop more effectively vs Z and pressure with smaller amounts of marines than, say, 70. Which eat everything when up 2 armor and 2 weapon upgrades.
I wish you luck! However I feel that only playing 3 games a day will make the improvement take really really long. 3 games is about an hour or a little less of actual gametime. You could easily play 6-10 games in 2-3hours tops, and it would help just as much as taking the time to analyze your mistakes. Basically, you want to give youself as many chances as you can to correct the mistakes you are currently doing, and only playing 3 games a day gives you 3 chances to get things right, before noticing more mistakes etc. The more games you play, the more opportunities you have to correct the mistakes you noticed prior to that gaming session. If you are short on time, then its understandable, but I would highly suggest doubling it to *at least* 6 games a day.
I understand you notion, eXigent and I really appreciate the advice. But the majorit of my games run 25-35 minutes game clock, a longer game being 45 minutes. (and I know that runs faster).
As my avg game time lowers and my free time goes up the games per day will increase. If I know I can play a game in 10 minutes as opposed to 45 then I'd feel better starting another game
Onto game 2 today,
Game 1 vT, won with upgraded marines around 20 minutes clocktime supported by 2 fac tanks. Enemy had made thors (?) in response. Tanked the tanks hard but my marine count and upgrades ate the enemy alive. At one point lost all my marines but 8 reactor rax replenished quickly.
Game 4 had usual problem. Bio center play held off mech expansion long enough. I eventually had 9 expos to his two and just waited for him to quit after drop harassing with my marines. Took out important tech first (fusion core) and killed lots of workers.
That looks like SC1 gameplay and I am relatively new (got game over summer, on again and off again. Now watching GSL/MLG to look for improving DECISION MAKING (not build orders)
Currently 7-2 on the day. Had a shaky start but my unit control is getting stronger, though my expo timings are getting weaker. Also starting to face gold opponents.
P.S. is zerg metagame changing? I'm seeing a lot of early lings (like 20) that are map controlling vs me. I am not having an issue since I'm pulling even/ahead in econ vs early zerg because of it but I was reading them as all-inning until I saw semi-delayed 4 gasses and knew spiretech was coming.
Games ARE getting shorter, now. But enemies are trying to engage/get map control once my tanks push out a little farther on the map to secure 3rd and losing everything. Drop play is also helping. Won me my last game (vZ, attacked 7 and 9 o clock mineral lines and completely cleared as ling/bling.muta was moving across map to make a kill shot).
10-5. Measily 66% winrate but got stronger through the end of the day. Switched to very drop heavy play and abused a few zergs (85 drone kills in one particular match). Started seeing platinum opponents too, which were good games instead of 2 minute delayed 4gates.
I end up floating lots of resources, so I need to hammer out how to use excess minerals once my worker count beefs up in the mid game. Until tomorrow, TL. bye!
Played 4 games so far, 3-1. Lost to an early immortal timing vs toss and didn't produce very well. Starting to get some neuance to the opener I've been using for a fast drop and focus on barracks units.
Several zergs raged when their flock of mutas couldn't kill 8 2-2 marines being healed by a medivac. And that I could 'outproduce' them. I laughed when I was ahead in bases.
Issues with my mechanics: -Still getting supply blocked. Not used to having so much so fast. -Running low on one resource or the other. Not sure if I've overmade production or not made enough workers. Usually lasts 1-2 minutes then eases up AFTER adding a rax or two. -microing marines in larger numbers to force cost ineffective banes against ~20-30 banelings rolling into my 'ball'. - getting upgrades later than I like. I need to map my gas useage to see if I can get +1 starting as my expo begins to mine.
Something that helped me with macro, specifically, missing supply depots and floating money is working on my 200 supply build on XNC. Don't play against an opponent and have the game timer on. Pick a style: bio, mech, bio-mech, etc. And build that composition til you hit 200 supply. Now the important part.
YOU MUST DO THIS
Watch the replay. I repeat...watch the replay.
Hover over your CCs and see how many times you aren't training scvs. See how often you aren't training units. Did you miss the 54th supply depot again? (all terrans do).
Be a complete hater. Note all the things you could have done better to get a quicker max.
Then.
Do it again. Watch replay. Keep trying to beat your best Max time score.
After a while. Make a banshee and control it as you macro. That will help with multitasking while macroing.
You're brain needs you to do this over and over so it's like driving. You do 50 things every minute while you drive and its all second nature.
The thing is you can't do a 200 build exactly the same, but as you practice this over and over you'll develop a rhythm. All of a sudden you're get the urge to build supply depots on time. You'll just sense its time to Maynard workers to an unsaturated base.
I've been getting a lot of flack on my blog about this build. But here are a couple that I did on the ladder. My main account is Plat. My "smurf" is somehow better at Diamond. and my Korean account is Plat.
To give you some benchmarks. I'm a diamondish level player. My 200 max bio build is 15:39 in game. http://drop.sc/71854
Losira did a max build around 12:50 at MLG prov. He's obviously GM Korean Pro zerg.
I kind of just go SlayerSGanzi style and don't scout. I know, I'm out producing my opponent so no matter when he attacks I'm have a better army. (at least on my Plat account). Eventually I'll be in a league where everyone is macroing as well.
But for you, if you could get a 17minute max in Silver, I think you'll have the mechanics to play Idra style.
BTW. I'm not saying turtle up, max out and attack every game...though that actually is a terran tactic. It's just an abilty you should have as you play normal games. You still have to scout and harrass.
Hope this helps. I know its frustrating to hear "macro harder" without an actual method to do so.
Also try Darglein Multitasker trainer and Macro or Die maps on custom games. pHershey signing out.
Will check it out phershey! Been implementing a lot of these ideas when watching replays. Sometimes I cut slack when I can't support my production structures. (which I note to not make as many).
Drop play will still be the center of the gameplan, stressing out the opponent, stressing out my own micro capability (while macroing), and keeping map control while keeping probe/drone/SCV counts in check. Ideally, I want to be able to cripple production via killing tech, facilities, and not having resources to support remaxing. I want to force them to try and "base trade" but never engage full strength armies.
Will do! Any other players that you recommend for drop/bio play vAll? I know Bomber has amazing early marine pressure but prefers not to drop (afaik) and I believe MMA drops a TON when the airspace is clear.
Been working on marine micro vs mass bane balls via micro trainer as well as 8 marine kiting lings for max damage. Both, I feel, are probably good for keeping myself cost effective vZ.
On December 12 2011 11:56 TG Manny wrote: Will do! Any other players that you recommend for drop/bio play vAll? I know Bomber has amazing early marine pressure but prefers not to drop (afaik) and I believe MMA drops a TON when the airspace is clear.
Been working on marine micro vs mass bane balls via micro trainer as well as 8 marine kiting lings for max damage. Both, I feel, are probably good for keeping myself cost effective vZ.
Something to keep in mind is not to waste too much time on marine micro. At Silver you're much better off by focusing on how to macro up an extra Tank instead. I didn't bother learning to split Marines until high diamond. And even then it didnt make that big of a difference on my overall play. Stuff like solid macro, spotting expansions, and making correct decisions are *much* more important. Theres no need to learn how to micro against a gigantic Baneling ball with Marines if you learn how to macro up better units instead. Also, if you learn how to kill the Z while he's droning, you'll never let the Zerg get gigantic Baneling ball in the first place.
On December 12 2011 11:56 TG Manny wrote: Will do! Any other players that you recommend for drop/bio play vAll? I know Bomber has amazing early marine pressure but prefers not to drop (afaik) and I believe MMA drops a TON when the airspace is clear.
Been working on marine micro vs mass bane balls via micro trainer as well as 8 marine kiting lings for max damage. Both, I feel, are probably good for keeping myself cost effective vZ.
Something to keep in mind is not to waste too much time on marine micro. At Silver you're much better off by focusing on how to macro up an extra Tank instead. I didn't bother learning to split Marines until high diamond. And even then it didnt make that big of a difference on my overall play. Stuff like solid macro, spotting expansions, and making correct decisions are *much* more important. Theres no need to learn how to micro against a gigantic Baneling ball with Marines if you learn how to macro up better units instead. Also, if you learn how to kill the Z while he's droning, you'll never let the Zerg get gigantic Baneling ball in the first place.
I really appreciate your posts, I hope you check back soon!!
Currently facing off on Plat opponents, maybe I'm up to gold once my activity kicks in?
As an update to my current style: I am learning to play bio+viking/medi play only. A coach that I was seeing said this is probably going to be the most taxing to my multitasking (currently one of my goals) as well as make sure I stay agressive (which is why my games ran long). Macroing out of the factory will be easy. Playing drops forces me to scout weakspots in the base/know there is a 3rd up/new tech coming out. He said expect to lose against late-game toss if you can't micro ghosts (and I can't) and to get pretty high winrates vZ. vT I've won almost every game because of superior macro (upgrades, more medivacs, and more marines) and being able to expand out the wazoo and wait for him to starve himself out in some cases.
As far as my micro/macro approach...well I would only stutter step (poorly) before I learned about patrol moving to spread when I know a bane ball is coming at me. (which is usually the last resort against a bigger drop or a knock on the front door).
EPT
I like class too much and SC2 not enough (atm lol). Plus I'd like my girlfriend to not break up with me. 
