• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 03:26
CET 09:26
KST 17:26
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
RSL Season 3 - Playoffs Preview0RSL Season 3 - RO16 Groups C & D Preview0RSL Season 3 - RO16 Groups A & B Preview2TL.net Map Contest #21: Winners12Intel X Team Liquid Seoul event: Showmatches and Meet the Pros10
Community News
RSL Season 3: RO16 results & RO8 bracket13Weekly Cups (Nov 10-16): Reynor, Solar lead Zerg surge1[TLMC] Fall/Winter 2025 Ladder Map Rotation14Weekly Cups (Nov 3-9): Clem Conquers in Canada4SC: Evo Complete - Ranked Ladder OPEN ALPHA14
StarCraft 2
General
SC: Evo Complete - Ranked Ladder OPEN ALPHA RSL Season 3: RO16 results & RO8 bracket RSL Season 3 - Playoffs Preview Mech is the composition that needs teleportation t GM / Master map hacker and general hacking and cheating thread
Tourneys
RSL Revival: Season 3 $5,000+ WardiTV 2025 Championship StarCraft Evolution League (SC Evo Biweekly) Constellation Cup - Main Event - Stellar Fest 2025 RSL Offline Finals Dates + Ticket Sales!
Strategy
Custom Maps
Map Editor closed ?
External Content
Mutation # 500 Fright night Mutation # 499 Chilling Adaptation Mutation # 498 Wheel of Misfortune|Cradle of Death Mutation # 497 Battle Haredened
Brood War
General
2v2 maps which are SC2 style with teams together? Data analysis on 70 million replays soO on: FanTaSy's Potential Return to StarCraft BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ A cwal.gg Extension - Easily keep track of anyone
Tourneys
[BSL21] RO16 Tie Breaker - Group B - Sun 21:00 CET [BSL21] RO16 Tie Breaker - Group A - Sat 21:00 CET [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Small VOD Thread 2.0
Strategy
Current Meta Game Theory for Starcraft How to stay on top of macro? PvZ map balance
Other Games
General Games
Clair Obscur - Expedition 33 Path of Exile Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread EVE Corporation [Game] Osu!
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread The Games Industry And ATVI Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine About SC2SEA.COM
Fan Clubs
White-Ra Fan Club The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Movie Discussion! Anime Discussion Thread Korean Music Discussion
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion NBA General Discussion MLB/Baseball 2023 TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
The Health Impact of Joining…
TrAiDoS
Dyadica Evangelium — Chapt…
Hildegard
Saturation point
Uldridge
DnB/metal remix FFO Mick Go…
ImbaTosS
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1917 users

Ways to play TvP

Blogs > UpATree
Post a Reply
UpATree
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
Canada38 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-05-05 02:30:48
May 05 2012 02:09 GMT
#1
I really have just been laddering and haven't learned much, just grinding my way up the ladder.

TvP

I used to QQ a lot about protoss, but lately I've adopted the mindset that good play can always mitigate imbalance. That's just me though, I'd like to know more about what the community thinks about the state of TvP. So I have a few questions:

Poll: Is bio really the only way to (viably) play?

No? (16)
 
64%

Yes? (9)
 
36%

25 total votes

Your vote: Is bio really the only way to (viably) play?

(Vote): Yes?
(Vote): No?



Poll: Is drop play truly necessary?

Yes? (13)
 
59%

No? (9)
 
41%

22 total votes

Your vote: Is drop play truly necessary?

(Vote): Yes?
(Vote): No?



Poll: Can one successfully turtle with bio play?

No? (16)
 
73%

Yes? (6)
 
27%

22 total votes

Your vote: Can one successfully turtle with bio play?

(Vote): Yes?
(Vote): No?



I really wanna know what Terrans or Protoss, think of these points.

What I think

For anyone that actually cares about my opinion, I thought I'd give it. I've watched sc2 since release, and I've seen so many styles be successful. I always was under the impression, that with strong mechanics and a solid thought process a player could make almost any strategy good. Recently a post by blizzard changed my mind, I won't cite it because I'm sure everyones read it. They basically state that Terran has an advantage in the midgame, and Protoss an advantage in the late game if gone unhindered.

This actually surprised the crap out of me, because I was under the impression that games weren't supposed to be played out in a linear fashion. You may ask, "I don't see how blizzard's statement says anything about linearity". Well that takes a little theory crafting, and I'll do my best.

If the Terran has a midgame advantage, and are prone to losing if they don't capitalize on their advantage. Well how must they capitalize? Lets think of ways: A push up the ramp, usually fails due to forcefields. A turtle 2-base push? Well protoss can chrono upgrades, and then do their own 2 base push, stop yours then enter the midgame. Many other strategies are usually countered just by solid macro and a good defense by protoss, prior to entering the late game.

IMBA! No, not really. Drops are the most obvious way to get around this, and that's why almost every Terran build revolves around fast medvacs. Almost anyone who plays this matchup in a higher level, knows that fast medvac builds are "standard play". If blizzard themselves say that this is true, do Terran players really have a choice? If they try any other tactic that doesn't involve a midgame capitalization, can they not win? Isn't this poor game design? Shouldn't a player be able to viably execute a straight up fight, and at least trade evenly?

Note: In what I think, I'm excluding 3 things. Mech play, because I don't consider that a viable midgame tacitic. Maybe I'm wrong, but from what I've seen and heard people just generally discredit it. I exclude cheese, because these are often coin flips that are good mostly when not scouted, they also don't capitalize on the early game. I'm also excluding the recent 3 tank, bio timing. I don't know how long it's been used, but I haven't seen much of it (Maybe mostly Korean Ladder?). Until I've seen more, I don't think I can judge how viable it is for capitalizing in the midgame.

Anyway, I was just posting because it's the "hot topic", and as a Terran player I actually have an opinion.

- UpATree

Edit, I believe I messed up the poll, lol. Gotta fix that.

Edit, Fixed.

****
You learn only by losing to players better than yourself.
Jumbled
Profile Joined September 2010
1543 Posts
May 05 2012 02:19 GMT
#2
On May 05 2012 11:09 UpATree wrote:
Can one successfully turtle with bio play, or must one be aggressive?

This is not a yes/no question.

My feeling is that siege mode definitely becomes useless once charge is researched, but there's probably still a place for thors, at least, and sky terran can be downright scary at times. So the idea of tanklines in lategame TvP is probably a non-starter, but I don't think Terran needs to stick to just barracks plus medivacs either.
UpATree
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
Canada38 Posts
May 05 2012 02:23 GMT
#3
On May 05 2012 11:19 Jumbled wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 05 2012 11:09 UpATree wrote:
Can one successfully turtle with bio play, or must one be aggressive?

This is not a yes/no question.

My feeling is that siege mode definitely becomes useless once charge is researched, but there's probably still a place for thors, at least, and sky terran can be downright scary at times. So the idea of tanklines in lategame TvP is probably a non-starter, but I don't think Terran needs to stick to just barracks plus medivacs either.


I realized that, but it was too late! The question for anyone who care is: Can you turtle. I thought it was implied that if you aren't turtling your being aggressive on the map.
You learn only by losing to players better than yourself.
Jumbled
Profile Joined September 2010
1543 Posts
May 05 2012 02:26 GMT
#4
On May 05 2012 11:23 UpATree wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 05 2012 11:19 Jumbled wrote:
On May 05 2012 11:09 UpATree wrote:
Can one successfully turtle with bio play, or must one be aggressive?

This is not a yes/no question.

My feeling is that siege mode definitely becomes useless once charge is researched, but there's probably still a place for thors, at least, and sky terran can be downright scary at times. So the idea of tanklines in lategame TvP is probably a non-starter, but I don't think Terran needs to stick to just barracks plus medivacs either.


I realized that, but it was too late! The question for anyone who care is: Can you turtle. I thought it was implied that if you aren't turtling your being aggressive on the map.

You can just create a new poll and edit it into your post.
Pokebunny
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States10654 Posts
May 05 2012 02:28 GMT
#5
You can turtle up to a fast 3rd, but then you need to start using your economic advantage to kick ass.
Semipro Terran player | Pokebunny#1710 | twitter.com/Pokebunny | twitch.tv/Pokebunny | facebook.com/PokebunnySC
UpATree
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
Canada38 Posts
May 05 2012 02:31 GMT
#6
On May 05 2012 11:26 Jumbled wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 05 2012 11:23 UpATree wrote:
On May 05 2012 11:19 Jumbled wrote:
On May 05 2012 11:09 UpATree wrote:
Can one successfully turtle with bio play, or must one be aggressive?

This is not a yes/no question.

My feeling is that siege mode definitely becomes useless once charge is researched, but there's probably still a place for thors, at least, and sky terran can be downright scary at times. So the idea of tanklines in lategame TvP is probably a non-starter, but I don't think Terran needs to stick to just barracks plus medivacs either.


I realized that, but it was too late! The question for anyone who care is: Can you turtle. I thought it was implied that if you aren't turtling your being aggressive on the map.

You can just create a new poll and edit it into your post.


Alright, Alright! I fixed it
You learn only by losing to players better than yourself.
UpATree
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
Canada38 Posts
May 05 2012 02:32 GMT
#7
On May 05 2012 11:28 Pokebunny wrote:
You can turtle up to a fast 3rd, but then you need to start using your economic advantage to kick ass.


I hate to sound like an over eager fan, but you're the first player I recognize to comment on something I've done. I think that's pretty damn awesome.
You learn only by losing to players better than yourself.
LuckyFool
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States9015 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-05-05 02:37:11
May 05 2012 02:34 GMT
#8
Terran has to do stuff to get ahead in TvP or you will just die.

I've been doing super greedy stuff like super fast double ebay upgrades or fast 3rd cc, depending on the map/positions you can get away with a ninja 3rd too which is really amazing.

also for some crazy mech play Illusion recently used it at IPL4, he beat oz with mech and kiwikaki, the replays are in the IPL replay pack. pretty interesting builds. in general everyone is going bio though. mech seems easy to counter if P plays properly, I feel like some of the mech wins rely simply on lack of experience playing against it by most P's.
Coramoor
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Canada455 Posts
May 05 2012 02:39 GMT
#9
There is a player named hangene who has a very interesting mech heavy approach, if you can find some of his replays, i'd recommend checking it out
UpATree
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
Canada38 Posts
May 05 2012 02:43 GMT
#10
On May 05 2012 11:39 Coramoor wrote:
There is a player named hangene who has a very interesting mech heavy approach, if you can find some of his replays, i'd recommend checking it out


I'll look into that, thanks!
You learn only by losing to players better than yourself.
Cycle
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
United States300 Posts
May 05 2012 03:24 GMT
#11
Pure Air
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=283935

Mech
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=323003

Two guides made from high master terran players on alternative TvP styles. I personally do mostly mech, with some bio and some pure air.

In my opinion, mech armies are stronger deathballs than protoss armies. Just keep up on upgrades and watch for carrier/void ray switches (yes, that is the proper response to seeing a ton of tanks) and your army can roll his.
| chKCycle.551 | NA | Master League Random | Checkmate Gaming |
Pokebunny
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
United States10654 Posts
May 05 2012 11:32 GMT
#12
On May 05 2012 11:32 UpATree wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 05 2012 11:28 Pokebunny wrote:
You can turtle up to a fast 3rd, but then you need to start using your economic advantage to kick ass.


I hate to sound like an over eager fan, but you're the first player I recognize to comment on something I've done. I think that's pretty damn awesome.

Hehe :p you're welcome!
Semipro Terran player | Pokebunny#1710 | twitter.com/Pokebunny | twitch.tv/Pokebunny | facebook.com/PokebunnySC
Br3ezy
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States720 Posts
May 05 2012 14:43 GMT
#13
there is not enough context in any of the situations. Therefore an argument can be made for either of the answers you have there
Check out my guide to mechanics http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=319876
Kraznaya
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States3711 Posts
May 05 2012 15:26 GMT
#14
The best way to play TvP is to proxy 2 rax, pull half your scvs, and bunker rush. Anything else will get you killed.

Proof: GSL Ro8 :p
do you have enough resolve, hero of justice?
Masq
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
Canada1792 Posts
May 05 2012 16:05 GMT
#15
I used to do a lot of biomech 2-3 base timings with a 2fact siege tank opener, and honestly you'll win a lot because people are unexperienced with siege tank play. Once people are accustomed to the build, you will die horribly.

Aside from doing some gimmick builds and stim rushing up ramps or going pure marine/marine+ghost timing before protoss has AoE, dropplay is pretty much a requirement.

Mech probably has a future, just not in WoL.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
RSL Revival
07:30
Playoffs
Classic vs SHINLIVE!
Maru vs TBD
herO vs TBD
Crank 1041
Tasteless912
IndyStarCraft 133
CranKy Ducklings104
Rex82
3DClanTV 78
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Crank 1041
Tasteless 912
IndyStarCraft 133
Rex 82
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 47227
Sea 2867
Horang2 1116
Larva 663
PianO 186
Killer 149
Leta 82
Dewaltoss 67
soO 66
ToSsGirL 66
[ Show more ]
Sharp 63
Noble 41
yabsab 40
Bale 25
Sacsri 19
Hm[arnc] 17
Stork 12
NotJumperer 6
Purpose 6
Dota 2
monkeys_forever582
NeuroSwarm128
Other Games
summit1g13165
WinterStarcraft517
fl0m383
ViBE132
Organizations
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream1184
StarCraft: Brood War
lovetv 12
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 12 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• LUISG 5
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Stunt861
Upcoming Events
Wardi Open
5h 34m
IPSL
11h 34m
StRyKeR vs OldBoy
Sziky vs Tarson
BSL 21
11h 34m
StRyKeR vs Artosis
OyAji vs KameZerg
OSC
14h 34m
OSC
1d
Wardi Open
1d 3h
Monday Night Weeklies
1d 8h
OSC
1d 14h
Wardi Open
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
[ Show More ]
Wardi Open
3 days
Tenacious Turtle Tussle
3 days
The PondCast
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
LAN Event
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2025-11-21
Stellar Fest: Constellation Cup
Eternal Conflict S1

Ongoing

C-Race Season 1
IPSL Winter 2025-26
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 4
SOOP Univ League 2025
YSL S2
BSL Season 21
CSCL: Masked Kings S3
SLON Tour Season 2
RSL Revival: Season 3
META Madness #9
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
CS Asia Championships 2025
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2

Upcoming

BSL 21 Non-Korean Championship
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
HSC XXVIII
RSL Offline Finals
WardiTV 2025
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026: Closed Qualifier
eXTREMESLAND 2025
ESL Impact League Season 8
SL Budapest Major 2025
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.