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The Masters division of the North American ladder is a weird sort of place. Particularly in the mid-masters area, where players haven't got their play tuned up to be able to compete at the top with GM players, but yet still a good step up from Diamond, where have a non-retarded strategy, an acceptable build order and solid macro will win all your games.
For here in this place that I, a mid-masters Terran player reside, most games are normal. The meta-game is fully present, watch as legions of Terran players follow in Demuslim's footsteps going reaper-expand into mass marine and quick medivacs. Typically, one player is paying slightly more attention at a crucial time is enough to win a game. A slightly mis-placed evo chamber. Flying two full medivacs into turrets. Sending five zealots to defend against a non-existent drop. Stimming the marines before siegeing the tanks - all of these have won or lost me games.
But there are exceptions. Sometimes you watch in horror as you realize that those ghosts your opponents rushed actually hard-counter your banshee. When your finely tuned TvZ build can't kill any of your opponents queens until that final moment when he destroys you with relentlessly transfused Ultralisks (Or perhaps your just playing a Dimaga smurf). I have lost to these things too.
In is in the course in the ebb and flo of games that typically mimic pro level Starcraft, but can't emulate it effectively you can find many weird and wonderful things. They seem out of place among the relentless drive for points. But these shenanigans exist all the same.
Exhibit A: You transitioned into what now? :
This was a game from early this morning, on Arid Plateau a TvP. Normally a match-up I tended to struggle with, I had a somewhat dreary outlook starting into the game. My first in this match-up since I started doing a one barracks expand into quick medivacs. And of course it was much to late to change my build when I realized that I would need three bunkers to hold off even mild stalker pressure without taking significant damage.
A scout revealed to me that he was going for two gas - always suspicious. After my scout was chased away I threw down my three bunkers and went up to three barracks, with two very quick reactors. A choice that would benefit me greatly, as my opponent showed up with a three-gate Void Ray. Unfortunately for my opponent, bunkers full of marines are really hard to break with void rays, so when the dust settled, I had two bases and a small army, whereas he did not.
I have learned through my games, that it is very easy to think you are more ahead than you really are, and hastily counter-attacking an opponent all the way across the map is a good way to lose games. So I teched up to medivacs, with a large marines army slightly sprinkled with marauders, and moved out with my first two medivacs.
I decided against using orbital energy to scan - if I had I probably could have ended the game two minutes faster.
I walked into his natural and found exactly three zealots and two phoenix.
"Phoenix?" I thought "Interesting choice, glad I caught them here. STIM!"
And that is when the mothership floated into view. Newly minted without energy for a vortex or recall (not that either would really effect the outcome of the battle.) Now previous to this engagement I had never really seen a marine vs mothership battle before. Even in 4v4s there are usually stalkers or something to buffer. So I was really unsure of how precisely the battle would turn out. Motherships aren't known for their dps, but I've found some nasty surprises before.
But in this case, the closest any of my units came to dying was the 6HP medivac. No marines or marauders died to the 1, 2, 3 army of my opponent. So it turns out that 3 Gate Void Ray into Mothership is not the most effective transition.
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Well it looks like someone thought he was Kiwikaki.
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Or HongUn when he wanted to throw that game vs NaDa.
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Guy was probably just messing around. I played you today btw, Icekommander 
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arid plateau isnt a great map for 3g VR imo...
it is true that you could hide the VR proxy pretty easily, the fact that after you brust down the wall, there is noway for you to move in is undeniable. Better map for VR all in normally are metal or antiga where the VR could reach the mineral line pretty easy. If i gota cheese on arid plateau, i prefer DT drop into double expand PvT. The map has some interesting structure which make prism play generally stronger than the rest of ladder map pool. You could simply have your DT attack their main and nature at the same time. Overall that map is really hard for P bc middle is a huge are which ultimately weaken colossi/storm splash. Not even counting that medivac could alternate drop between main and 3rd which generally force you to go blink but there is no way to counter harass using blink obs on that map.
The problem with mid master overall is each person is missing a different pieces in their game play and often their pieces are not the same. Some doesnt know how to macro, the other mess up in build order. Its really hard to identify your flaw at that level unless you break down everything to the very basic and willing to try out new things. I have been top 25 master for the past 4 season simply bc i didnt pay attention on how to 'improve' but to 'win' instead. The different mind set help me a lot in getting into top 8 this season  ...
Hope my comment helps.
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@IMoperator: I do recall you . You're probably right, but a mothership transition? Sheer shenanigans.
@NB: I think with the split opening into the natural, an Immortal push off three-gate Robo or else a four gate is very strong. On one hand your concave will be smaller, but the Terran will be forced to split up his bunkers, or else just let you run your army up the ramp, or straight into the mineral line.
And I fully agree with the missing different pieces. Part of what makes for these very odd, but often entertaining games.
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On January 21 2012 12:16 NB wrote:arid plateau isnt a great map for 3g VR imo... it is true that you could hide the VR proxy pretty easily, the fact that after you brust down the wall, there is noway for you to move in is undeniable. Better map for VR all in normally are metal or antiga where the VR could reach the mineral line pretty easy. If i gota cheese on arid plateau, i prefer DT drop into double expand PvT. The map has some interesting structure which make prism play generally stronger than the rest of ladder map pool. You could simply have your DT attack their main and nature at the same time. Overall that map is really hard for P bc middle is a huge are which ultimately weaken colossi/storm splash. Not even counting that medivac could alternate drop between main and 3rd which generally force you to go blink but there is no way to counter harass using blink obs on that map. The problem with mid master overall is each person is missing a different pieces in their game play and often their pieces are not the same. Some doesnt know how to macro, the other mess up in build order. Its really hard to identify your flaw at that level unless you break down everything to the very basic and willing to try out new things. I have been top 25 master for the past 4 season simply bc i didnt pay attention on how to 'improve' but to 'win' instead. The different mind set help me a lot in getting into top 8 this season ... Hope my comment helps.
Haha same here NB, Its Derek (EzZzZz) xD. Instead of thinking what build I should go, timing etc, I think about the basic steps of just concentrating on beating my opponent. Its awesome being top 8 , makes you feel that you actually have a status importance in the ladder system now.
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EPT
