EPT
(Do I really need to probe scout?)
+ Show Spoiler +
13 scout (~2:40):
standard walloff not complete
no units complete
~50-100 gas mined
(-0 gas for 15 gas)
18 scout (~3:30):
Full walloff
Expand starting
reaper OR marine out
factory/reactor halfway done OR
reactor done, factory starting
~150-200 gas mined
(-50-100 gas for 15 gas)
MsC scout/stalker poke (~5:30-6:00):
Expand finishing or done
tech choice for terran
-CC + 2 rax + addons
-CC + 3 rax + techlab
-reactor factory
-reactor rax + factory + CC
-reactor rax + factory + starport
~400 gas mined
Some other timings:
First widow mine: 5:15-6:00
First reaper: 3:30-3:45
2rax reaper: 4:30-5:00
Hellion runbys: ~6:00
Widow mine drops: 6:30-7:00
Hellbat drops: 7:30-8:00
Non-medivac aggression: 8:30-9:00
Medivac aggression: ~10:00
standard walloff not complete
no units complete
~50-100 gas mined
(-0 gas for 15 gas)
18 scout (~3:30):
Full walloff
Expand starting
reaper OR marine out
factory/reactor halfway done OR
reactor done, factory starting
~150-200 gas mined
(-50-100 gas for 15 gas)
MsC scout/stalker poke (~5:30-6:00):
Expand finishing or done
tech choice for terran
-CC + 2 rax + addons
-CC + 3 rax + techlab
-reactor factory
-reactor rax + factory + CC
-reactor rax + factory + starport
~400 gas mined
Some other timings:
First widow mine: 5:15-6:00
First reaper: 3:30-3:45
2rax reaper: 4:30-5:00
Hellion runbys: ~6:00
Widow mine drops: 6:30-7:00
Hellbat drops: 7:30-8:00
Non-medivac aggression: 8:30-9:00
Medivac aggression: ~10:00
Conclusions:
While an early scout MAY give me some additional information and help me understand exactly what my opponent is doing, it seems that I can get by without a scout until 5:30. This is primarily because:
1) Any early pressure (pre-5:30) can be thwarted by 1-2 early stalkers and photon overcharge. At the worst, I will have to sacrifice my natural nexus. And
2) Scouting at 5:30 only gives me a better picture of what my opponent is doing and narrows down the possible plays by A LOT.
Honestly, I think this makes it easier to defend as well, since I can divide terran aggression into generally 4 stages:
1) Cheese (3:30-5:30)
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a) proxy rax/proxy factory
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b) some kind of SCV pull
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1) 2rax marines
2) 8-8-8
3) proxy widow mines
4) thor rush?
2) 8-8-8
3) proxy widow mines
4) thor rush?
b) some kind of SCV pull
2) Early attacks/drops (6:00-7:30)
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a) hellion runbys
b) marine/widow mine pressure
c) widow mine drops
d) hellbat drops
e) banshees?
b) marine/widow mine pressure
c) widow mine drops
d) hellbat drops
e) banshees?
3) Pre-medivac/stim pressure (7:30-9:00)
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a) mass marine attacks
b) early add-ons -> stim but no medivacs
c) marine/tank attacks
d) possible drop threats -> no stim
b) early add-ons -> stim but no medivacs
c) marine/tank attacks
d) possible drop threats -> no stim
4) medivac pressure (9:30+)
+ Show Spoiler +
a) 3rax medivac + expansion OR
b)5 rax medivac
b)5 rax medivac
Defending 1 is easy with photon overcharge and good stalker micro. The second group requires good positioning and potentially a cannon or two in the mineral lines. Dealing with the 3rd group requires some early warpins, maybe earlier extra gates. The 4th group is standard, but I think it's important to understand exactly what the terran is throwing at you and how early you can get a 3rd.
