EPTPhase 1, as one might imagine, is the starting point for all new players and even some that are experienced. It is all about building a solid foundation following rules that are commonly understood to be the root of good gameplay. There is not much original in Phase 1 that isn't already explored in existing content: spend your resources; don't get supply blocked; keep building workers; etc. This phase is about adhering to standards of performance while becoming comfortable with the most basic of actions and their repetitive use.
It is imperative to note that the end goal of any game in Phase 1 is not to win against your opponent. Instead, players must focus on the benchmarks set for them. In effect, games are one or lost in this phase only in the context of meeting the standards; winning or losing to an opponent is immaterial.
Being Terran, my first and only combat unit is the Marine. The goal is to make as many of them as I can and attack at the 10:00 mark. In support of this goal I have set for myself a list of benchmarks. I won't cover them in detail, but they include the following: spending quotient; use of Command Center energy; first and second base saturation speeds; and time supply blocked. Adhering to this constellation of requirements guarantees the fundamental concepts common to pretty much all gameplay styles are met.
On the question of when to proceed to another phase, I have adopted a sort of revision method to determine how and when progress should occur. I have shamelessly appropriated League of Legends' league advancement system for my own. Every ten games that I successfully meet the benchmarks I test myself with a best-of-five to ensure I can succeed when it counts. If I succeed I revise my plan, increasing the difficulty of the benchmarks to tighten performance. When it is time to move to the next phase I enter a best-of-seven, utilizing the hardest benchmarks or most complex build form.
Taking all of the above into consideration, I am on the first iteration of the first phase. I need to accumulate 10 games played wherein I met all benchmarks successfully.
Sessions 1 and 2
Each session was four games in length and were rather uneventful, as one might imagine. I did get accused of being a smurf in one game, which is flattering in a way and speaks well of the program, such as it is.
8/10
Starting rank: Bronze 54
Ending rank: Bronze 19
