EPTThe last time I took 1v1's seriously (and by that I mean, trying to improve) I'd do pretty well in my TvT's, and used the 2 rax 2x marauders with concussion shells with reactored marines "poke" into 10 minute all in to win more that 50% of my TvPs. Any TvP that went late game I just felt I had no chance in. My use of ghosts is poor and as soon as someone shuts down my drop play I stop enjoying the game. TvZ had been a real thorn in my side. I would normally just 11-11 rax and bunker rush. This was working less and less and I was never winning any game where my bunker rush didn't knock down the expo. Since it seems like half the damn ladder are playing Z now, my enjoyment of sc2 waned.
If I was going to grind something that I wasn't really enjoying I decided that I may as well play poker again. So I have been. With mixed results.
Today I decided that have the day off from poker and dive back into sc2. I'd come across Scail's (aka GreedyMarine, aka One Base Hero) "Bronze to Masters - ALLIN post here the TL forums and decided to try out his Plat strat for my Z and P matchups.
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=394901
I played 17 games today, winning 12 of them.
#1 TvT on Akilon Flats
Villain opened double techlab rax reapers, which is pretty much an auto win for my 12-14 rax opening. I proxy the 2nd rax and walk up his ramp with 4 marines and 2 scvs. I kill his 2 front depots while dropping a bunker in my mineral line. He pulls scvs, I kill lots. He finally cleans it up but when he sends his reapers across the map he sees I've already expo'd and am way ahead and quits.
#2 TvZ on Ohana
My first chance to try the 4 tanks out of 1 factory + marines from 2 reactor'dd and 1 techlab'd rax push from Scail's Plat One Base All In thread. I changed it up a little though, opting to engy block his expo. He makes roaches and fails by attacking up my ramp into a bunker. I push across the map and squash him easily. Success!
#3 TvT on Day Break
My early harass does a bit of damage, I expo and feel ahead. Take a quick 3rd and tank up. Get him out of position with a drop in his main and take out his middle base. Game drags out into thor and BC battles. I eek out a win.
#4 TvR on Ohana (LOSS)
Villain rolls T. I 1 base tank and attack as his expo is finishing, can't quite get it done. Fall back and double expo behind a drop which gets a heap of scv kills. I set up a contain, which he moves his army around. I lose a base race. Oops. Lesson learned: rather than contain, more drops.
#5 TvZ on Akilon Flats
Engy block and he says "spoiled gg". Still no expo by 9 mins so I expect a huge all in. Finally get bored and push out and hit him at 11mins. Crush him and he says "gg" but doesn't quit. Spend next 10 mins dicking around with him until he finally tells me that if he wasn't rusty he'd have owned me and leaves.
#6 TvP on Newkirk District
Push out and run into his army at the front of my base, win with a few tanks and marines left over. Get to his base and see an expo, lose the fight with out getting much damage done. Rebuild another army and push again, this time get a good engagement and crush him.
#7 TvZ on Daybreak LE (LOSS)
Engy bay block but fail to cancel in time. Ooops. Push and find he's put down 4 spines. Keep throwing my dudes at him but he holds. He goes muta and I can't force my way in. Lesson learned: scan as going up ramp, siege up and fight the ling wave, then push in hard. Scail mentioned that you've just got to bust into naturals and can't take your time, but this game proves that if someone is well prepared I've got to take it slow. Probably drop an expo when I notice this.
#8 TvZ on Entombed Valley
This time it all goes to plan. He goes muta, I crush up into his natural and take an easy win.
More later.
