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Rethroned #1: Back to Brood War! (also a worm)

Blogs > [UoN]Sentinel
Post a Reply
[UoN]Sentinel
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United States11320 Posts
July 04 2013 23:34 GMT
#1
My recent fantastic 2-part ode to the game, combined with me catching up on the TLS2 Ro16, got me a bit misty-eyed about the game that I had played for so long. And after some consideration (somehow my HotS folder disappeared and I have to figure out where the hell it went) I decided that maybe burying my copy of Brood War in a time capsule in the forest wasn't so prudent after all.

So I went with a shovel and found my box containing a single USB drive and a single earthworm.

Took the earthworm home with me. I shall figure out what he eats and adopt him as a pet. His name shall be Horatio. It is only logical that Horatio is his name. He now lives in a bottle until I find more suitable quarters.

Then I played my first game of Brood War in over a year.

Now I'm not new to Brood War in any regard. I played all three races at some point or another, peaked with an iCCup rating of 5100 as Zerg in 2009, and played Protoss consistently throughout 2010-11. I still remember most of the micro tricks I did although as it was my first game in over a year so I wasn't expecting to micro much.

But there's always a day to start your journey back. And today was my day. Since 2010 I have been trying to get back to my 5100 rating to no avail. But this year is different. I will make it. I just know I will. Not anytime soon, but I'll make it eventually.

Here are my handicaps in these early days:
  • Don't know any Protoss builds so I have to do my best at freestyling
  • T/P/Z metagame has evolved, so a lot of my expectation comes from what I watch on TLS
  • Two years of consistent SC2 means I have to relearn the lack of MBS, automine, worker counters, idle workers, retrain my 3a4a5a6a instinct (never have I used 1 and 2 for control groups, I hate twisting my hand like that), and through trial and error figure out what mix of units I should have and how many gateways X bases can support with the various mixes
  • Can't macro too well because all of the above
  • Have to check every 30 minutes or so to make sure Horatio isn't dead


Our battlefield:

[image loading]


+ Show Spoiler [the game, 12 screenshots inside] +
And so it begins. He opens 12 hatch 12 pool, and I... get my prob lost.

[image loading]


Handicap #6: I forgot the exact spawn positions on freaking Python.

[image loading]


After orienting himself properly, my scouting prob sees this. The third hatchery makes me say wut, but otherwise all of my mental faculties are preoccupied with fast expanding. Which I do immediately. So ends any semblance of precision. All I know from here is to get corsairs, harass, and then slam down a fuckton of gateways to make units and outmacro him because I sure as hell can't outmicro or counter him.

I've never seen a hatch go down at 3:00 that wasn't at someone's third. But I digress.

[image loading]


Prob transfer and subsequent macro is okay, although now I have 800 gas. My cybercore is building to just underneath the screen. I have no idea how to spend this much gas so I take 2 off of my gas. Then I realize that I'll probably forget to put them back on, so now I have 3 on gas again. I decide to keep on playing as normal, and if I have spare gas afterwards I'll sink it into more goons or a few extra HT's or something.

Archons. I don't want my forced micro to overtake my macro so I just merge the spare HT's into archons anyway.

Also an ovin shows up but I kill him with my goons. Me: 1. Not Me: 0.

[image loading]


Around this time I plan to go harass with my corsair. As soon as my corsair leaves my base, I promptly forget he exists. My counterpart chuckles to himself, brings his 3 hatch hydra army over, and shoots the sair. I feel a bit bad for him because he has to chuckle to himself. When I have a small triumph over Not Me, I can chuckle to Horatio. Not Me does not have an earthworm to chuckle to and must chuckle to himself instead.

[image loading]


Christ I miss warpgates.

I stay at 6 gates for a while because

1. I saw dRaW do it once
2. 6 goes into 12 so I can figure out how many units I have
3. 30% of my APM is going into ordering my control groups because I am spoiled
4. I don't want 30 to become 50 by having 7 gates and making my ordering even more hectic

This is when I figure out a great asset to my play.

I can keep my money low much more easily but not having any money to start with.

Thus I shall stay on 2 bases until I find somewhere nice to put down more gateways, upon which I may take some more bases.


I believe I am on 9 gates at this point so I go and take a 3rd in preparation to double-expand to the 3-oclock and 2-oclock.

[image loading]


Except the expanding prob is quickly picked off my Not Me's scouting hydralisk force. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I take what army I have and use it to escort the new prob to the 2-oclock.

This is the point where I start forgetting to macro. I'm actually pained by the amount of money I have on 2 bases.

[image loading]


As my prob valiantly tries to expand against the army moving in the opposite direction... why is it doing that? Well as soon as I try to put down a new Nexus, Not Me brings his hydralurk forces over to attack. But I have zealots, goons, archons, 2 obses, everything I need.

My numbers begin to run thin for some reason. I'm contained away from my production, what do I do?

But it's ok! My vanguard can come in and help out! Wait, who did I leave behind to guard my base again?

[image loading]
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU


[image loading]


A fresh supply of goons arrives to save the day and do battle!

[image loading]


Yes! I chuckle to myself Horatio. Opponent gg's and leaves!
+ Show Spoiler [bugged replay says this happened ;)] +

Wait, what the hell is that?

[image loading]


[image loading]
nope.avi


What I learned today is I suck. I suck compared to my olden days, that is. However, this game was closer than it seems.

For about 5 seconds I seriously thought I'd won this game because no matter how bad I was, my macro was still acceptable for D-level. And I'm not embellishing. In the engagement where I fought his hydralurk at my potential third, I had 121 population to his 111, which made him slightly ahead since Zerg is meant to be a bit behind in supply.

So if I did have my observers with me and fought above the ramp instead of meeting him in the natural space, I probably could have pulled off a victory there, continued to macro, and fought off his incoming army with a larger complement. I would have maybe lost my natural due to him getting there early, but I would have had my third, could have taken a fourth and reinforced with cannons, and continued to pump out of 9 gates since I had the money to absorb the loss of the nat.

My first step towards my dusty dominion is going to be spend less time ordering control groups like an OCD victim and more time clicking the gates and pushing the unit buttons.

The good thing about relearning BW is that you already remember everything, just have to warm your fingers up again. My second game was on BGH where off of the same economy, I was throwing complements of 16-24 zealots/goons like wildfire and had 5 patrolling sairs for air support.



But most importantly...

I WILL GET HORATIO OUT OF HIS BOTTLE SO I CAN MAKE PICTURES OF HIM ON HERE, IT WILL BE DONE

****
Нас зовет дух отцов, память старых бойцов, дух Москвы и твердыня Полтавы
AnachronisticAnarchy
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
United States2957 Posts
July 04 2013 23:42 GMT
#2
Horatio is a great name. Many bad jokes will be made.
"How are you?" "I am fine, because it is not normal to scream in pain."
Epishade
Profile Blog Joined November 2011
United States2267 Posts
July 05 2013 00:50 GMT
#3
Lol I like this. This was quite a good battle report. Also I laughed at Horatio.

Did you really bury your BW in a time capsule? Or did you make that up when you found a pet earthworm outside and thought it would be a good addition to the story?
Pinhead Larry in the streets, Dirty Dan in the sheets.
[UoN]Sentinel
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United States11320 Posts
July 05 2013 00:54 GMT
#4
On July 05 2013 09:50 Epishade wrote:
Lol I like this. This was quite a good battle report. Also I laughed at Horatio.

Did you really bury your BW in a time capsule? Or did you make that up when you found a pet earthworm outside and thought it would be a good addition to the story?


I did actually bury my copy of BW after a final campaign run last year. Thought I wouldn't be coming back to it until 2048 or something. I guess the lesson is that you shouldn't make your time capsule out of a cardboard box.
Нас зовет дух отцов, память старых бойцов, дух Москвы и твердыня Полтавы
TylerThaCreator
Profile Blog Joined May 2011
United States906 Posts
July 05 2013 02:25 GMT
#5
haha, i do the same army hotkeys for the same reason...hotkeying units to 1 or 2 is so annoying for my hand
aka SethN
don_kyuhote
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
3006 Posts
July 05 2013 04:32 GMT
#6
Welcome back!
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
ninazerg
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
United States7291 Posts
July 05 2013 06:31 GMT
#7
"If two pregnant women get into a fist fight, it's like a mecha-battle between two unborn babies." - Fyodor Dostoevsky
Bibbit
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
Canada5377 Posts
July 05 2013 06:32 GMT
#8
One of the funnier BRs I've read, really enjoyed.
dRaW
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
Canada5744 Posts
July 05 2013 07:47 GMT
#9
Really
Good
Shit.

I recommend just watching like one-two reps of each m.u, there is a very large database of NEW replays. If you learn simple openings you can improve dramatically.
link: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=310883
I don't need luck, luck is for noobs, good luck to you though
Aerisky
Profile Blog Joined May 2012
United States12129 Posts
July 05 2013 08:28 GMT
#10
Good luck! You'll make it, I believe!

Never fails to amaze me how intelligent, articulate, and talented you are, and you're so young too! Don't know why I brought that up, but you're super gosu. It'll be slow going but I know you'll wreck your old rating
Jim while Johnny had had had had had had had; had had had had the better effect on the teacher.
Targe
Profile Blog Joined February 2012
United Kingdom14103 Posts
July 05 2013 08:48 GMT
#11
Haha great blog, so funny
11/5/14 CATACLYSM | The South West's worst Falco main
FFW_Rude
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
France10201 Posts
July 05 2013 13:11 GMT
#12
Damn i have to stop playing fallen earth and get iCcup launcher back...

I don't know how you do that. I can't play that game because i now suck sooo bad. Good luck into getting your rank back
#1 KT Rolster fanboy. KT BEST KT ! Hail to KT playoffs Zergs ! Unofficial french translator for SlayerS_`Boxer` biography "Crazy as me".
Race is Terran
Profile Blog Joined May 2013
United States382 Posts
July 05 2013 19:03 GMT
#13
regarding Horatio, you could either sell him for profit to help fund your journey back into broodwar, OR, you could release him into any suitable area that has "dirt" or "brown stuff", or even where green stuff like trees and grass and shit grows. WHo knows, maybe one day he will turn into a butterfly and return back to you
[UoN]Sentinel
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United States11320 Posts
July 05 2013 19:14 GMT
#14
On July 06 2013 04:03 Race is Terran wrote:
regarding Horatio, you could either sell him for profit to help fund your journey back into broodwar, OR, you could release him into any suitable area that has "dirt" or "brown stuff", or even where green stuff like trees and grass and shit grows. WHo knows, maybe one day he will turn into a butterfly and return back to you


Horatio will be my pet for the time being.

And I was unaware that earthworms can turn into butterflies O_o
Нас зовет дух отцов, память старых бойцов, дух Москвы и твердыня Полтавы
Bibbit
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
Canada5377 Posts
July 05 2013 19:17 GMT
#15
On July 06 2013 04:14 [UoN]Sentinel wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 06 2013 04:03 Race is Terran wrote:
regarding Horatio, you could either sell him for profit to help fund your journey back into broodwar, OR, you could release him into any suitable area that has "dirt" or "brown stuff", or even where green stuff like trees and grass and shit grows. WHo knows, maybe one day he will turn into a butterfly and return back to you


Horatio will be my pet for the time being.

And I was unaware that earthworms can turn into butterflies O_o

Don't be dumb, worms obviously turn into moths. Jeez.
dRaW
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
Canada5744 Posts
July 05 2013 23:51 GMT
#16
Earthworms turn into heroes...

[image loading]
I don't need luck, luck is for noobs, good luck to you though
[UoN]Sentinel
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United States11320 Posts
July 06 2013 01:00 GMT
#17
On July 06 2013 08:51 dRaW wrote:
Earthworms turn into heroes...

[image loading]


OH SHIT I GOTTA KILL HORATIO BEFORE HE OVERTAKES ME IN LADDER
Нас зовет дух отцов, память старых бойцов, дух Москвы и твердыня Полтавы
N.geNuity
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States5112 Posts
July 06 2013 01:32 GMT
#18
ive been waiting for horatio for a while now . You better deliver some fucking epic worm pic by now, ITS BEEN A WHOLE DAY

put him in a little bit of grass/earth and recreate python with him at the center
iu, seungah, yura, taeyeon, hyosung, lizzy, suji, sojin, jia, ji eun, eunji, soya, younha, jiyeon, fiestar, sinb, jung myung hoon godtier. BW FOREVERR
Hesmyrr
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Canada5776 Posts
July 09 2013 14:40 GMT
#19
Horatio, thou art e'en as just a worm; O Horatio, where art thou?
"If watching the MSL finals makes you a progamer, then anyone in Korea can do it." - Ha Tae Ki
[UoN]Sentinel
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
United States11320 Posts
July 09 2013 16:06 GMT
#20
On July 09 2013 23:40 Hesmyrr wrote:
Horatio, thou art e'en as just a worm; O Horatio, where art thou?


To quit, or not to quit, that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The flame of OP not apt to deliver,
Or to take arms against a worm of troubles,
And by force extricate him: he dies, I sleep
No more: or will I sleep, and know I quelled
His heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks
That worm is heir to? 'Tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished. To die, to sleep...
To sleep, perchance he lives? Aye, there's the rub,
For in my toil, what living worm may come,
One yet to shuffle off this mortal coil,
This gives me pause. There's the respect
That gives Horatio of so long life.
For who would bear the pens and hooks for days,
The master's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of woe and fear, the worm's delay,
The qualms of the impatient, and the spurns
That patient merit of Horatio takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With his own feces? Who would his life bear,
To fight away the probes of desperate men,
But that the dread of something once survived,
The undiscovered country, from whose bourn
No nightcrawler returns, puzzles the mind,
And makes him rather live in tenuous peace
Than fly to fleeting fame that he knows not of.
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the ebon hue of resolution
Is nowhere near, with the pale cast of doubt,
And enterprises of great blogs and ratings,
With this regard their prospects turn awry,
And lose their fortune. Understand you now,
The fair Team Liquid? In this hallowed forum,
Be all my sins remembered.
Нас зовет дух отцов, память старых бойцов, дух Москвы и твердыня Полтавы
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