I will then mimic repeatedly vs computers with in-game clocks/watching replays checking on worker count at many time intervals and income per minute to make sure I can sync with the pros as close as possible.
The reason I am doing all of this is mostly because I have wanted to improve in BW but have neglected the process of achieving this improvement due to the activity for the past while in the BW scene. (Yeah there are were some weekly tours and such but it seems rather lonely and dead to log in every 2 days to see nobody you know or having no games on iccup after C). With the return of TLS, hopefully after season 1, the community should strengthen and increase in activity so I am going to finally try to reach my goal.
I will save replay packs and break down some per match-up to note what areas exactly I am trying to improve and compare my mistakes to the pro tendencies. Also, I will try to save some FPVods while I am explaining some of the thought processes I will derive from improving my mechanics and apply this to new and creative builds. (I used to have a notepad folder with about 10 varying PvZ BOs, I happen to reformat last November and haven't been as active so I completely forgot most of them since they were very specifically timed).
In short: I posted this to reserve my 3K post, more information to follow.
1: PvZ GW Expand vs Overpool Expand
+ Show Spoiler +
I won't go into every single supply at which you build something as there can be many variations so this is just to note at what timings that you should be at with your tech vs theirs.
8/9 Pylon @ Natural *Note you should only do this at locations where lings can only enter single file after wall completed
Probe scouts your closest non natural third (this is because overlords should scout the closest enemy natural, i.e in this scout path)
10/17 same probe returns -> Gateway
12/17 in base pylon
In-game time:
2:01 ->First Zealot starts @ 100% Gateway
2:06 -> Spawning pool has finished
Queue up a 2nd zealot until you scout your opponent (if they 12hatch you can cancel this and go 17nexus, use first zealot to harass while you complete wall and build 2nd zlot)
2:27 First Zealot and first 2 lings finish -> At this time Tosses Resource per minute is 680~ Zerg is 592~ (You have more income because they went overpool, making lings instead of drones)
IF* They make 6lings, they will be finished by 2:35
14-15 Supply for Zerg (2:50) takes their geyser
21/25 (2:53) Nexus begins
Resources Per minute: Toss = 744 | Zerg=600 (This is 6lings vs 2 zealots, protoss didn't cut any probes)
*Note here, if zerg makes more than 6lings, you must cut probes @ 21 supply to finish wall + add zealots. Else, you can continue probes, cut zealots: 2 total, if lost 1 make another, add tech and complete wall (no cannons required)
22/25 Pylon
3:16 - > Zerg around 16-17 supply (Geyser completes)
Resources Per minute: Toss = 816 | Zerg = 584 [8lings] *note: ofc RPM will change but this is just a rough estimate over 10replays based on reactions from the zerg, Toss normally unaffected my income with this build
23/25 Assimilator
26/33 Cybernetics Core (100% Gas completion)
3:45 Zerg Lair Starts -->> Supplies : Protoss 26/33 RPM: 864 / 19~probes 2~zealots | Zerg 17/18 RPM: 582 13~drones 8zerglings
30/33 (4:05) Nexus Finishes (21 total probes) so: You have 3 on gas, 18remain with 9 minerals in the main and 1 scouting. Optimal mining is close to 1.5 probes per mineral so you want to transfer no more than 5 probes and after you continue to saturate your main, start transferring probes to your natural from your main as they're being produced. (i.e: You transfer 4-5probes to the natural, leaving 17-4/5 (12 or 13) in the main as you get to say 18probes in the main, which is double probes per mineral, you can start sending some to the natural so your probe per mineral will be at an even ratio among the expansions.
(4:05) Zergling speed (@100 extra gas after lair)
4:27 -> core completes -> get stargate RPM: Toss = 824 | Zerg = 600
4:32 3rd Hatchery finishes
Now the following depends on your (2nd) gas timing so the rest is also relative but we can use it to continue to compare.
4:50 ~ 35/42 citadel
5:01
8/9 Pylon @ Natural *Note you should only do this at locations where lings can only enter single file after wall completed
Probe scouts your closest non natural third (this is because overlords should scout the closest enemy natural, i.e in this scout path)
10/17 same probe returns -> Gateway
12/17 in base pylon
In-game time:
2:01 ->First Zealot starts @ 100% Gateway
2:06 -> Spawning pool has finished
Queue up a 2nd zealot until you scout your opponent (if they 12hatch you can cancel this and go 17nexus, use first zealot to harass while you complete wall and build 2nd zlot)
2:27 First Zealot and first 2 lings finish -> At this time Tosses Resource per minute is 680~ Zerg is 592~ (You have more income because they went overpool, making lings instead of drones)
IF* They make 6lings, they will be finished by 2:35
14-15 Supply for Zerg (2:50) takes their geyser
21/25 (2:53) Nexus begins
Resources Per minute: Toss = 744 | Zerg=600 (This is 6lings vs 2 zealots, protoss didn't cut any probes)
*Note here, if zerg makes more than 6lings, you must cut probes @ 21 supply to finish wall + add zealots. Else, you can continue probes, cut zealots: 2 total, if lost 1 make another, add tech and complete wall (no cannons required)
22/25 Pylon
3:16 - > Zerg around 16-17 supply (Geyser completes)
Resources Per minute: Toss = 816 | Zerg = 584 [8lings] *note: ofc RPM will change but this is just a rough estimate over 10replays based on reactions from the zerg, Toss normally unaffected my income with this build
23/25 Assimilator
26/33 Cybernetics Core (100% Gas completion)
3:45 Zerg Lair Starts -->> Supplies : Protoss 26/33 RPM: 864 / 19~probes 2~zealots | Zerg 17/18 RPM: 582 13~drones 8zerglings
30/33 (4:05) Nexus Finishes (21 total probes) so: You have 3 on gas, 18remain with 9 minerals in the main and 1 scouting. Optimal mining is close to 1.5 probes per mineral so you want to transfer no more than 5 probes and after you continue to saturate your main, start transferring probes to your natural from your main as they're being produced. (i.e: You transfer 4-5probes to the natural, leaving 17-4/5 (12 or 13) in the main as you get to say 18probes in the main, which is double probes per mineral, you can start sending some to the natural so your probe per mineral will be at an even ratio among the expansions.
(4:05) Zergling speed (@100 extra gas after lair)
4:27 -> core completes -> get stargate RPM: Toss = 824 | Zerg = 600
4:32 3rd Hatchery finishes
Now the following depends on your (2nd) gas timing so the rest is also relative but we can use it to continue to compare.
4:50 ~ 35/42 citadel
5:01
TBC