• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 07:09
CEST 13:09
KST 20:09
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO4 & Finals Preview5[ASL21] Ro4 Preview: On Course12Code S Season 1 - RO8 Preview7[ASL21] Ro8 Preview Pt2: Progenitors8Code S Season 1 - RO12 Group A: Rogue, Percival, Solar, Zoun13
Community News
Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO8 Results2Weekly Cups (May 4-10): Clem, MaxPax, herO win1Maestros of The Game 2 announcement and schedule !13Weekly Cups (April 27-May 4): Clem takes triple0RSL Revival: Season 5 - Qualifiers and Main Event12
StarCraft 2
General
Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO4 & Finals Preview Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - The Finalists Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO8 Results Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO12 Results MaNa leaves Team Liquid
Tourneys
Maestros of The Game 2 announcement and schedule ! GSL Code S Season 1 (2026) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament KSL Week 89 2026 GSL Season 2 Qualifiers
Strategy
Custom Maps
[D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3 [A] Nemrods 1/4 players
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 526 Rubber and Glue Mutation # 525 Wheel of Misfortune Mutation # 524 Death and Taxes
Brood War
General
vespene.gg — BW replays in browser BW General Discussion Data needed BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Pros React to: TvT Masterclass in FlaSh vs Light
Tourneys
[ASL21] Semifinals B [BSL22] RO8 Bracket Stage + Another TieBreaker [ASL21] Ro8 Day 4 Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 2
Strategy
Muta micro map competition Fighting Spirit mining rates [G] Hydra ZvZ: An Introduction Simple Questions, Simple Answers
Other Games
General Games
ZeroSpace Megathread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread War of Dots, 2026 minimalst RTS Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Nintendo Switch Thread
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Vanilla Mini Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread US Politics Mega-thread YouTube Thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread UK Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread McBoner: A hockey love story Formula 1 Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
streaming software Strange computer issues (software) [G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Why RTS gamers make better f…
gosubay
How EEG Data Can Predict Gam…
TrAiDoS
ramps on octagon
StaticNine
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1674 users

Protoss Is Unplayable

Blogs > YokoKano
Post a Reply
1 2 3 Next All
YokoKano
Profile Blog Joined July 2012
United States612 Posts
March 30 2015 19:45 GMT
#1
There is no reason to play Starcraft II: Heart. With more than 30,000 hours of RTS play and design experience spanning under 20 years, I will not constrain my games to one race. I have reached the mentor level and have nothing to share as a competitive gamer.

The reality is that Starcraft: Brood War is a study and exercise in choice. Starcraft II on the other hand is a game characterized by simple decision procedures. A smart opponent will surprise you. That means to be a good player requires specific knowledge of certain builds. But suppose you are Protoss and I opt to cannon rush you. You can't drop a few probes to make up for a gap between your general knowledge of cannon rush openings but imperfect responses to variation on the build.

This emphasis on Puritanical counters takes the fundamentally artistic Starcraft genre called Protoss and transforms the experience into a long series of present-value calculations.

Suppose I identify three different win-certain rushes. Win-certain refers to rushes that win with 100% certainty against all defenses except those that mirror an optimal response within a 5% margin (One can think of defenses as trees. Earlier branches receive more weight.) Now suppose the three win-certain rushes in question are: x = Cannon Rush, y = Proxy 2-Gate, z = 4-Gate. Suppose the number of degrees in a circle represents all the reasonably fine responses to some set of attacks. Protoss's position is like a chiliagon. It looks like it should be possible for the interior and exterior vertices of a chiliagon to each fit inside the same circle. In reality this isn't possible.

Veteran players show their strength in the mid and late game with positional play and the ability to make sharp decisions on a general level. When veteran styles are incompatible with an RTS game's capacity for robust, defensive, early game openings, the result is inelegant equilibria.

*
IQ 155.905638752
Ej_
Profile Blog Joined January 2013
47656 Posts
March 30 2015 19:50 GMT
#2
tl;dr OP can't hold off cheese
"Technically the dictionary has zero authority on the meaning or words" - Rodya
Bojas
Profile Joined December 2010
Netherlands2397 Posts
March 30 2015 20:08 GMT
#3
I'm curious, what league is your account if I may ask?
y0su
Profile Blog Joined September 2011
Finland7871 Posts
March 30 2015 20:09 GMT
#4
try scouting?
ZigguratOfUr
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Iraq16955 Posts
March 30 2015 20:19 GMT
#5
For all your fancy words (which add nothing to your argument), you're just not good at holding cheese despite your immoderate opinion of your own skills.
EsportsJohn
Profile Blog Joined June 2012
United States4883 Posts
March 30 2015 20:38 GMT
#6
No, I think he just actually scientifically disproved Protoss's existence.

I mean, other than the fact that it exists.
StrategyAllyssa Grey <3<3
Kommatiazo
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States579 Posts
March 30 2015 20:47 GMT
#7
I wonder if the time it took to write this was dedicated to asking someone who is decent at cannon rushing to practice with you what might have come of it.

you're just not good at holding cheese despite your immoderate opinion of your own skills.


This. Your argument makes me think of a teenager in speech and debate telling the adult world that it shouldn't exist because high school is hard and the girl you like said no to you for prom.
"You must enemy don't know, and very good micro" - Bosstoss #Wet4Ret
ninazerg
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
United States7291 Posts
March 30 2015 21:49 GMT
#8
On March 31 2015 05:47 Kommatiazo wrote:
I wonder if the time it took to write this was dedicated to asking someone who is decent at cannon rushing to practice with you what might have come of it.

Show nested quote +
you're just not good at holding cheese despite your immoderate opinion of your own skills.


This. Your argument makes me think of a teenager in speech and debate telling the adult world that it shouldn't exist because high school is hard and the girl you like said no to you for prom.


Even though I find the original post to be comically obtuse, this is a really poor analogy. I mean REALLY poor.
"If two pregnant women get into a fist fight, it's like a mecha-battle between two unborn babies." - Fyodor Dostoevsky
EatThePath
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
United States3943 Posts
March 30 2015 21:51 GMT
#9
lol at all the people who come in here to bitch about the style and have no response for the message. congrats on being dull.

@op if you're trying to play sc2 through a BW lens it'll never satisfy you. there is a lot of depth to be had out of protoss, even including early game. but it's different. and the parts that are similar, it does in a different way. mostly it's about dictating the game or feinting thereof, with recall / forcefield / storm determining how you can leverage your presentation of threats.
Comprehensive strategic intention: DNE
TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10721 Posts
March 30 2015 22:29 GMT
#10
To disprove your scientific study, I would like to provide my own counter statement.

Protoss.
AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
FlaShFTW
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States10402 Posts
March 30 2015 23:03 GMT
#11
On March 31 2015 07:29 GGzerG wrote:
To disprove your scientific study, I would like to provide my own counter statement.

Protoss.

/thread.

maybe sending a scout out will help you. c:
Writer#1 KT and FlaSh Fanboy || Woo Jung Ho Never Forget || Teamliquid Political Decision Desk
TL+ Member
LuckyFool
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States9015 Posts
March 30 2015 23:31 GMT
#12
this blog reminds me of myself.
ObviousOne
Profile Joined April 2012
United States3704 Posts
March 30 2015 23:40 GMT
#13
THEN WE GET A FUCKING BUILDING. WHICH, HALF THE TIME ISNT ENOUGH: WE HAVE TO PAY MOREE FUCKING MONEY TO GET IT TO DO SOME SHIT LIKE DICK THE GROUND OR SPRAY PISS IN THE AIR

Lol that incontrol quote
Fear is the only darkness. ~Destiny Fan Club operator~
KelsierSC
Profile Blog Joined March 2013
United Kingdom10443 Posts
March 31 2015 00:13 GMT
#14
I don't understand any of this shit
Zerg for Life
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary25998 Posts
March 31 2015 00:26 GMT
#15
So many questions.

1. How did you track these 30,000 hours? For reference, that is 3.5 years of non-stop play. I played a ridiculous amount of Brood War, like 3-8 hours a day for several years, and still barely scratched 10,000 hours.
2. What the hell does "under 20 years"? Is that 2 years? 18 years?
3. Which RTS games have you designed?
Moderator
IMR
Profile Joined May 2013
70 Posts
March 31 2015 00:29 GMT
#16
i agree
IMR
Profile Joined May 2013
70 Posts
March 31 2015 00:35 GMT
#17
oh, and i find it interesting that even protoss players aren't good at vs p as evidenced by vP elo peaks
Chef
Profile Blog Joined August 2005
10810 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-03-31 00:51:45
March 31 2015 00:51 GMT
#18
Most entertaining OP in like 4 years. I feel twice as smart and handsome after reading it. Thank you. 5 stars. 5 stars forever.
LEGEND!! LEGEND!!
Kazahk
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
United States385 Posts
March 31 2015 02:18 GMT
#19
Just saying there are Protosses (wtf what kind of plural is that?) that compete in top level tourneys so... I think they are quite playable.
Rngesus blessed me with a tooth half, then shunned me with a spinach roll.
Djzapz
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Canada10681 Posts
March 31 2015 02:34 GMT
#20
I think OP's analysis failed to account for the everything
"My incompetence with power tools had been increasing exponentially over the course of 20 years spent inhaling experimental oven cleaners"
1 2 3 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Wardi Open
11:00
#87
IntoTheiNu 381
WardiTV161
OGKoka 65
Rex39
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Lowko286
ProTech103
OGKoka 65
Rex 39
sc2solar 3
StarCraft: Brood War
Sea 7650
Bisu 1487
Horang2 941
Jaedong 572
Hyuk 398
EffOrt 376
Larva 268
Light 206
firebathero 192
Soulkey 181
[ Show more ]
Rush 167
Zeus 165
ggaemo 149
ToSsGirL 143
Pusan 137
BeSt 136
ZerO 96
Mong 87
Liquid`Ret 58
hero 54
NaDa 54
Sharp 46
Mini 46
Backho 36
sorry 29
[sc1f]eonzerg 25
soO 24
JulyZerg 19
Barracks 18
GoRush 16
SilentControl 15
910 13
Sacsri 12
Movie 8
Noble 6
Sea.KH 6
Dota 2
Gorgc3339
Counter-Strike
olofmeister2565
shoxiejesuss1346
allub262
markeloff111
Other Games
singsing1683
B2W.Neo376
Pyrionflax264
crisheroes166
monkeys_forever132
ZerO(Twitch)6
Organizations
Counter-Strike
PGL1094
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH249
• StrangeGG 69
• Gemini_19 18
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Nemesis5034
Upcoming Events
Monday Night Weeklies
4h 51m
Replay Cast
12h 51m
The PondCast
22h 51m
Kung Fu Cup
23h 51m
GSL
1d 22h
Cure vs sOs
SHIN vs ByuN
Replay Cast
2 days
GSL
2 days
Classic vs Solar
GuMiho vs Zoun
WardiTV Spring Champion…
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
3 days
[ Show More ]
WardiTV Spring Champion…
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
RSL Revival
4 days
Classic vs SHIN
Rogue vs Bunny
BSL
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Afreeca Starleague
5 days
Flash vs Soma
RSL Revival
5 days
BSL
6 days
Patches Events
6 days
Universe Titan Cup
6 days
Rogue vs Percival
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Escore Tournament S2: W7
2026 GSL S1
Nations Cup 2026

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
ASL Season 21
IPSL Spring 2026
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
Acropolis #4
KK 2v2 League Season 1
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
YSL S3
SCTL 2026 Spring
RSL Revival: Season 5
Heroes Pulsing #1
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S2: W8
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Maestros of the Game 2
WardiTV Spring 2026
2026 GSL S2
Bounty Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.