EPTThe breakdown: In PvZ I FFE to +1 3 zeal poke at 3rd to DT warp-in to stargate and safe 3rd of my own, at around 10 minutes usually. Zerg can't advance on my 3rd due to cannons and VRs/DT. VR/DT is flimsy; a hydra or infestor supplement to a roach army will destroy both VR and DT/archon, so the answer to this problem is a mothership, and of course, carriers + air ups/shield ups. I believe DT/Air (yes, I want to be just like Bisu in BW) is strong for about 4 minutes, in fact with cannons it's untouchable, but Zerg can answer soon after when either hydra numbers are up or infestor numbers + energy is up. The VRs still hold their own, and a fast mothership definitely helps, but the problem comes with the lack of range that my units have. Yes, I have built a dark shrine so I do have fast access to high templar, but since I went stargate HT will thin my air numbers, and they are in themselves a high investment, and not a good answer to the base Zerg unit, the roach. All of these units, therefore, are at the mercy of hydra range or fungal range.
This is then the carriers role here: High range, high hitpoint unit that can hold it's own when supported by the main force. Fungals are less effective, and hydras can't range the carrier. The carrier can outrange neural and can easily strike (without pathing difficulties, similar to colossus) any infestor that manages to get a high-value neural parasite (mothership, stray carrier, archon). It can also handle hydra quite well given upgrades are continued for air and shields. Good micro can eliminate hydra numbers that, without the carrier support, would have completely rendered VRs useless, and having the hydras shoot interceptors from time to time instead of my ground units is a bonus as well; it's damage mitigation. The carrier saves other units as well in this fight; once units that can handle air are gone, the rest of the Zerg force has to leave too, else the trade will become extremely lopsided and Protoss air will just push into enemy base. If the mship is still alive, lookout Zerg; you are being put on notice with a fleet in their base AND recall. If that happens, the old tagline will ring true: "the roaches will check in, but they won't check out."
The carrier in this scenario comes out in time as well. It comes right when that Zerg support unit comes into its own and Zerg is ready to tackle the DT/VR composition. The best thing about the carrier in this case is that it isn't exactly a hard counter either. It's a strong counter, but you don't feel abusive using it and the ensuing confrontation still comes down to micro on both sides, caster/DPS/Overseer vs cloaker(Mship)/DPS/high range. And why not get air earlier? Zerg ultimately wants broodlord infestor, and Protoss needs air to beat it reliably; why not get the jump on Zerg while being able to handle vast amounts of roaches?
Caution: I am a NA Masters player but am inconsistent. Therefore if watching the replays try to pay attention more on the idea behind what's going on over something like a non-critical supply block; I'm working on getting better!
Disclaimer: This is only for FFEs in response to fast 3rd from Zerg. If that doesn't happen I play robo build.
Also, as I am a fan of the carrier and the Tempest seems like a dumbed down version of the BW carrier, I encourage everyone else so inclined to start their own carrier blog with replays! Why not, right?
-->Daybreak, my forward pylon gets destroyed and my zeals are wiped out, so 3rd is taken and 2 defensive DTs are warped in. Stargate follows as I go on to win a major engagement against Roach/Infestor:
http://drop.sc/226707
-->Daybreak, NO CARRIERS HERE... I snipe his 3rd with DT after my zeals are wiped out (hate donations), and take 3rd while he takes his 4th and retakes 3rd. Careless with DT, I go colossus and robo and trade poorly a couple of times, and transition to VRs to counter BLs is too late as I go on to lose against BL/Infestor:
http://drop.sc/226268
Imagine if I had gone stargate how different it would have been. Even a player at my level would have done well, instead I hit a wall of broodlings and my army was rendered ineffective.
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