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Rediscovering bw

Blogs > ggrrg
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ggrrg
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
Bulgaria2716 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-05-21 01:55:58
May 21 2013 00:30 GMT
#1
After staying away from bw for 3 years now, today I got the sudden and unexpected urge to play on iCCup again. So I set up everything: dl bw (installing takes too long), launcher, anti-hack and the current mappool. In my first game I started out slowly and joined a D- 1v1, which went pretty well. I reaver dropped succesully and utterly dominated my terran opponent in under 20 minutes (although as it turned out, it might have been due to my opponent playing on a laptop with mouse pad only...). Having gained quite a bit of (unfounded) confidence I chose a D+/C- game against zerg on a map I've never heard of before (Grand Line SE 2.2) as my second challenge. Well, 5 minutes later this happened:
+ Show Spoiler +

That's right! I had TWO holes in my wall!
[image loading]

But as the old saying goes: Third time's the charm. The game was supposed to be challenging but still winable. So I joined a D/low D+ game on "Wind and Cloud 0.99" (which I had previously played against the computer) and got a terran opponent. (In the good old days PvT used to be my favorite matchup)
+ Show Spoiler [irrelevant backstory for whoever cares] +

I started playing bw around 2001 mainly "fastest possible map" with a few friends of mine. About an year later I decided to make the move to normal maps and began laddering on WGT, playing protoss only. I managed to enthuse one of my friends to start playing normal maps, too. Over the course of a week we played through the whole WGT mappack: me - protoss, he - every race (no random though). It was tons of fun discovering all the different maps, especially after playing a single map (fastest) for over an year. Added enjoyment came from the fact that I was easily winning 90% of the games. After we finished the mappack, we continued to play only on a selected few maps (6-7) and he picked protoss as his only race. For about two weeks I dominated him completely (close to 100% win ratio made PvP my favorite matchup), but he didn't give up. Besides our games he played 10-15 more games a day (although half of them on fastest) and at some point he started not only taking PvPs from me, but fully destroying him to the point where I could only win by sheer luck. Being the kind guy he is he switched to play his off-races... and still dominated me with zerg. However, in PvT it was an even 50/50 situation so at some point he sticked to terran. BW became extremely exciting and interesting. Every game was nail-biting and very close. My "skill" increased: I had a variety of strategies, I started doing zealot bombs and playing with stargate units, and my apm increase from meager 100 to over 130. This way PvT became by far my favorite matchup.
...but all good things come to an end... while I was playing 4-5 games a day, he was churning out 15-20 games and a month later I was no match whatsoever for him. I dropped bw and moved on to wc3:tft. He continued with bw, won a bunch of "fastest" tournaments, joined a team in bwcl division 1 (for normal games), and played against guys from Germany's B-team.


The game starts and I find myself in the lower left corner of the map. Having had great success with the fast reaver drop in my first iCCup match against terran I decided to opt for this build yet again. It should be mentioned, however, that my actual "build" constitutes of pylon at 8 supply and winging it afterwards...

[image loading]

Nailed it! Pylon at 8 and the probe is sent scouting. Why so early? Maybe I really wanted to know where my opponent is. Or maybe I wanted to know on which side my ramp is because I couldn't remember...


I found the terran at the first location I scouted (Yay!) and continue with my build: Gateway->Core->Assimilator
Possessed by sheer ingenuity I make this impactful tactical decision:

[image loading]

A pylon placed in the corner of my base so I can hide my robo tech there! Brilliant!


While still questioning my reaver micro ability against someone who doesn't have the handicap of a mouse pad my core finishes and I notice something odd:

[image loading]
That's not enough gas for a robo!?
By the way, notice that I got supply blocked at 17... and later at 25... and then again and again...


Trying to salvage the situation, I decided to place an expansion instead of going robo. I figured I won't do too much damage with a delayed reaver against a semi-competent opponent. In retrospect, I have to say that I'm actually unsure if the reaver would have been delayed. I actually do not know what the timing should be...

[image loading]
I sent my first dragoon in front of my base and even built a second one before more gates/range in order to prevent the scv (I saw it leaving the base while probe was still alive in his base) from scouting my expo


After setting up the scout prevention measures, I stop unit production in order to get range and two more gates for production in case of him attacking me early.

[image loading]
So much for scout prevention... The scv walks by and scouts the expo and my entire base.


I remembered that when I used to play a lot of bw I always went for a fairly fast robo against terran, but I couldn't quite recall why. And then it hit me! The vultures' mini-nukes are nasty!

[image loading]
I did get to hide my robo! Also, notice the "neat" placement of my gates.


I started churning out goons and added a fourth gate so I don't get overrun by some wacky timing attack. I figured unlike my first terran foe this one might not consent to a "15 min no rush" game.

[image loading]
Attack at 7:00. Apparently, not a peace-loving person.


I had sent out two goons half way to his base as a precaution in case he attacks, so I was able to spot his movement early enough. Luckily I had a lot of goons waiting at my base and even more were in production.

[image loading]
Sandwiched!


Turns out 5 goons don't beat 4 tanks with scvs/marines/vultures...
However, with my reinforcements I managed to push him back. Apparently, he tried to contain me. He even built a few turrets, but I killed those after he turned his tail.

[image loading]
After 3 years without bw, it turns out that my multitasking is somewhat "rusty". After the battle I had banked up 1.3k minerals, so I decided to place a third nexus.


Did you notice the 5 white dots in the screenshot above? Those nasty vultures wanted to swing around and kill innocent probes!

[image loading]
My split-second reaction (and goon massing) prevented any real damage. Only 4 probes died.


In the meantime:

[image loading]
Apparently, my opponent is not a macro monster either. 5 idle scv's and no more in production


Nothing much happens in the next few minutes. He tries to set up a position in between our bases, laying tons of mines. I clear those out with barely any casualties on both sides. He finally sends an scv to build a third CC. I manage to let my macro slip yet again despite 9 gates. And of course, I also manage to get a goon stuck due to bad gateway positioning.

At some point (around 170 supply) I decided to attack into his siege line. I was supply blocked yet again so instead of waiting for my pylons to finish, I figured I can suicide a bunch of units and maybe reduce his tank count.

[image loading]
The trail of tears


Despite being 40 supply ahead before and after the engagement, I not only didn't win, but also allowed him to push further towards my base...
So I decided to set up a flank with a bunch of zealots and try to push him back again.

[image loading]
So much for my flank. Of course I ran my bunched up zealots into 3 mines.


None of the zealots died, but 5 were left with 6 hp and the rest was softened up, too. So I decided to send them into his third, which I had scouted with one of my four observers.
Another observer of mine let me see that he moved a huge chunk of his army after my zealots attacked his third (presumably to defend it). So I took the chance and attacked his position in between our bases with everything else I had.

[image loading]
Like a real progamer - attacking at two positions at once!


I cleared his position inbetween our mains and my harrassement did a decent amount of damage even causing him to lift his CC for a while. However, it turns out that his units, which I saw moving after my zealots reached his third were actually meant to kill my third. Without me noticing he crossed through the middle of the map and sieged up my third.

[image loading]
Surprise!


I immediately sent my whole army to deal with his attack and managed to stop it before acquiring any significant losses at my third. Actually, neither my nexus nor any of my probes there died, since his tanks autotargeted the four cannons I had placed there first.
By the way, did you notice the green dot in the bottom right corner in the past 3 screenshots? That's a probe I sent there in order to build a fourth base. After chilling there for 3 minutes, it finally placed a nexus.

[image loading]
Turns out, I'm not the only one attacking two places at once. While sieging my third, the terran sent 3 vultures to check for a fourth base. Luckily my goons arrived before it died.


After successfully establishing a fourth, I work on reducing my massive bank of 3000 overmins and equally absurd amount of gas. My opponent decides to push towards me again and sieges on the huge ramp in front of my base

[image loading]
Tanks on high ground - something all dragoons dread!


The green line next to the sieged up high ground are units of mine that are going to the middle of the map in order to flank his position. Yet again I have no observer in the middle despite having 6 observers out at this point of the game. However, this time around there are no mines there to cripple my units.

[image loading]
An awesome flank! Sun Tzu would be proud of me!


After a lengthy engagement and second zealot only flank, I regain control of the whole path between our bases. His tanks finally stop me when I reached his natural. However, in the meantime I put down a fifth base.

[image loading]
Things are looking grim for him. I decided to "poke" his third.


My fifth is already running, while his fourth is still under construction.

[image loading]
Those goons had a field day in his third!
He barely manages to clear them out.


I also sent some forces into his natural. They were stopped at the very end, but I had accumulated a new huge army in my bases.

[image loading]
A lone archon striking awe in the terrans' hearts!


After three dragoons destroyed all scv's at his fourth (and 80-ish supply marched into his natural), he finally conceded!

[image loading]
The obligatory question, when losing to a D-rank player with no games played.


Thus I achieved my first "real" win on iCCup after 3 years of bw abstinence. I really missed the thrill and pleasure bw offers

****
CecilSunkure
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States2829 Posts
May 21 2013 00:42 GMT
#2
Wow dude this blog rocked. Enjoyed every bit of it! I might go play some games and post one up myself. What was your best rank anyway?
ggrrg
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
Bulgaria2716 Posts
May 21 2013 01:12 GMT
#3
I was always hovering at the upper border of D+. With the motw point bonuses I could enter C- but would drop instantly down to D+.
Only the last time I played on iCCup I noticed that I wasn't winning any PvZ beyond D opponents, so I made a new account and started playing only PvZ only on Heartbreak Ridge. A month later I was solid C-, but only being able to play a single matchup on C- level more or less only on a single map
fabiano
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Brazil4644 Posts
May 21 2013 03:09 GMT
#4
Awesome BR!

Welcome back
"When the geyser died, a probe came out" - SirJolt
Qwyn
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States2779 Posts
May 21 2013 05:29 GMT
#5
Sick battle report. Congrats on the win .
"Think of the hysteria following the realization that they consciously consume babies and raise the dead people from their graves" - N0
L_Master
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States8017 Posts
May 21 2013 06:03 GMT
#6
Damn. Battle reports are so fucking awesome! ^_^

Thanks for the write-up, and as the guy above me said, grats on the victory!
EffOrt and Soulkey Hwaiting!
Jragon
Profile Joined October 2010
Australia1471 Posts
May 21 2013 07:40 GMT
#7
I always enjoy BRs, nice job and welcome back
"Bisu is just too good." - Jaedong (http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=218995) "Bisu hyung's play is just too good" - Flash (http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=225861)
kerpal
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
United Kingdom2695 Posts
May 21 2013 07:42 GMT
#8
Grats! Well played and well written.
KelsierSC
Profile Blog Joined March 2013
United Kingdom10443 Posts
May 21 2013 11:02 GMT
#9
This is awesome man, I've never played BW but I might download it now and see how it goes?
Zerg for Life
don_kyuhote
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
3006 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-05-21 12:26:19
May 21 2013 12:15 GMT
#10
What a coincidence. After not playing BW for almost a year and a half, I myself just played some games on iccup few days ago and today. Lost 3 games in a row to drop to D- (lost to 12 nex on cross position, crazy zerg, and 1 hat lurker LOL), but bounced back to 1600s now.
One thing I forgot about D rank is how cheesy some of these guys can be.
Anywayz, congrats on your win dude. Hope you plays some more over the summer
5/5 BW battle reports are always a treat
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
kerpal
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
United Kingdom2695 Posts
May 21 2013 12:45 GMT
#11
On May 21 2013 20:02 KelsierSC wrote:
This is awesome man, I've never played BW but I might download it now and see how it goes?

It's the best, but most of us who play have played and watched on and off for years, so you will do a lot of losing to catch up.

But the ones you win are the most rewarding feeling in the world.
Sayle
Profile Joined October 2010
United Kingdom3685 Posts
May 21 2013 12:46 GMT
#12
I can't figure out how you survived the situation in the 8th screenshot where it's like 4 tanks + support vs your 5 goons. When I scrolled down to that point I assumed you lost and was confused why you made a BR of a lost game XD
kerpal
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
United Kingdom2695 Posts
May 21 2013 12:58 GMT
#13
On May 21 2013 21:46 Sayle wrote:
I can't figure out how you survived the situation in the 8th screenshot where it's like 4 tanks + support vs your 5 goons. When I scrolled down to that point I assumed you lost and was confused why you made a BR of a lost game XD

do you see the train of white terran reinforcements?
ggrrg
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
Bulgaria2716 Posts
May 21 2013 13:09 GMT
#14
On May 21 2013 21:46 Sayle wrote:
I can't figure out how you survived the situation in the 8th screenshot where it's like 4 tanks + support vs your 5 goons. When I scrolled down to that point I assumed you lost and was confused why you made a BR of a lost game XD


Well, the three goons on the left auto-attacked one of the tanks and I focused another one with the 3 goons at the bottom. Afterwards, I focused a third tank and after my goons died, he only had a single tank with his force. Also, I have 3 off-screen goons at that point (one on the right, one in the natural and one in the main). Not to mention that he didn't reinforce

On May 21 2013 21:45 kerpal wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 21 2013 20:02 KelsierSC wrote:
This is awesome man, I've never played BW but I might download it now and see how it goes?

It's the best, but most of us who play have played and watched on and off for years, so you will do a lot of losing to catch up.

But the ones you win are the most rewarding feeling in the world.


Yes, they are!
TemujinGK
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
United States483 Posts
May 21 2013 15:38 GMT
#15
Sun Tzu would be beaming, and more generally pretty impressive to have a 3 year hiatus and survive a game like that.
"Pikachu and Protoss are both yellow, Coincidence?" ~apexMorroW
ggrrg
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
Bulgaria2716 Posts
May 21 2013 18:33 GMT
#16
On May 22 2013 00:38 TemujinGK wrote:
Sun Tzu would be beaming, and more generally pretty impressive to have a 3 year hiatus and survive a game like that.


To be perfectly fair, in those 3 years I played once through the campaign and had about 10-15 bgh games against the computer Obviously, I played some sc2, too ^^
ggrrg
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
Bulgaria2716 Posts
May 22 2013 02:11 GMT
#17
I can't believe how incredibly addictive bw is. Just played 4 more games on iccup (going 2:2 against D+ opponents). My mechanincs are shit. I just can't manage to spend my money right and get huge banks, but I feel like my tactical decisions have never been better. I guess all the sc2 streams I watched let me pay more attention to stuff like scouting, appropriate reactions, timings, intermediate goals in the game and so on. I also can't believe that 4 out of 5 opponents I played were pushing 200 apm! On D+! And I even beat 3 of them with my low 120-ish apm...
On a side note:
After hosting all 4 games today and visiting the iccup site I found out that "melee" games don't count towards the ladder ranking... I should have hosted "One vs one"... Whatever, stats don't matter ^^
ghrur
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
United States3786 Posts
May 22 2013 03:23 GMT
#18
Wow, nice battle report, and glad to see you're enjoying this great game again. ^_^
darkness overpowering
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