These last two weeks has been my practice on Macro, checking myself via the SQ Calculator and chart. I noticed many things before that I was doing wrong, and tightened my timings and play up by alot.
During my first week, I noticed my SQ's were all over the place, some getting as low as 30, others getting as high as 70, it was around this time, I noticed a flaw in my expansion timings, and my oversacturation of drones. Though I am glad, I very rarely don't make enough drones, but was suprised when I was making too many drones. During a "Macro Test" against a computer, I realized that though I was able to get maxed around the 13 minute mark, I had 115 drones on 3 bases, a 4th on the way. and because of that, my army was extremely small. After doing some research, I found a how many drones are preferable for each expansion, and found a very easy way to check if I'm over sacurated at an expansion.
I have always enjoyed watching pro games, but i did something differant with a couple games I was able to watch via Day 9's archives. While watching these games, I took VERY detailed notes on timings of building, upgrades, attacks, on top of what the pro saw in that particular game, amongst other things. This alone has probably been the biggest help towards getting better that I have found so far.
Another big help to tighten up my own plays, was instead of jumping straight into the ladder or practice games with friends, I instead played 2-3 custom games vs a "Very Easy" computer, and just tried to get max as fast as possible while still getting upgrades and such. Without having the stress of attacks from the opponant let me calm down and focus on what I can build when. This also helped me calm down during ladder games, and really focus on building rather than fearing attacks.
I'm very happy with the improvments I've made over these last few weeks, and am still excited when I can visually see my own improvments! Thank you for the continued support and critisim! A couple things if anyone is interested, I am starting to stream every Wednesday at 8pm PST, if you're interested please come have some fun with me then,
starcraft is a fulfilling game. As better you get and more you understand about the game, you will start noticing what makes the good players good, and then it become very discouraging as you realize how hard you have to work to get to where they are. Just enjoy the game, and don't aim too high, let becoming pro be a by-product of you having fun with sc2.
On January 25 2012 01:12 TheBobackwards wrote: These last two weeks has been my practice on Macro, checking myself via the SQ Calculator and chart. I noticed many things before that I was doing wrong, and tightened my timings and play up by alot.
..... if you notice your minerals are high spend them better ..... why would you need a calculator/chart to tell you that.... seems like a big waste of time to me.
in a good way of course, you guys are a huge threat now, should have signed him before nasl team league qualifier, you guys would have made it in with 2 aces.
LoL, how I check my saturation is I box my drones around my mineral patch, there should be around 3 rows of drones, if I saw more than that, I would send to another expanion, or use those extra dones for defencive buildings +D
3 rows of workers is a little too much. After 16 workers, the amount of extra economy you get is minimal. Early on in the game, 16 workers (2 rows) on minerals per base is ideal and will optimize your economy! xD
On January 25 2012 01:12 TheBobackwards wrote: These last two weeks has been my practice on Macro, checking myself via the SQ Calculator and chart. I noticed many things before that I was doing wrong, and tightened my timings and play up by alot.
..... if you notice your minerals are high spend them better ..... why would you need a calculator/chart to tell you that.... seems like a big waste of time to me.
It keeps things interesting for him Kawaii. Unlike the OP you're already a very high level player so you probably have a lot trouble to relate to a player who is actively trying to work his way up from the bottom of the tiers in skill we have today. Maybe you may remember back in your BW or w/e days where you were just starting out how interesting it was to see your APM for the first time. From hindsight sure it's a waste of time but its fun and interesting to look at.
Taking notes of timings and build orders of pro players is a really really effective way of improving. I do it myself all the time whenever I get a chance because chances are your average player only has a portion of a proper build order set out and acted upon. When Nestea streamed I took very very diligent notes of his build order, copied, and practiced it 3 times to make sure that I had it engrained in my mind. Next thing you know all the damn standard timing attacks I had so much trouble with were not a problem anymore, it's that simple to improve your game sometimes. If there are still problems review your replays and adjust, you're using a template from a pro who has used the same thing over and over against opponents far superior to your opponents with success so there must be a way to make it work for an opponent of lower skill.
On January 27 2012 06:10 HickleStine wrote: 3 rows of workers is a little too much. After 16 workers, the amount of extra economy you get is minimal. Early on in the game, 16 workers (2 rows) on minerals per base is ideal and will optimize your economy! xD
lol that's what I ment, was 2 rowns, not 3 =P thanks for pointing that out =D
EPT
