• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 21:36
CET 03:36
KST 11:36
  • 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
ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT24Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book16Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8
Community News
Weekly Cups (Feb 9-15): herO doubles up2ACS replaced by "ASL Season Open" - Starts 21/0226LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals (Feb 10-16)46Weekly Cups (Feb 2-8): Classic, Solar, MaxPax win2Nexon's StarCraft game could be FPS, led by UMS maker16
StarCraft 2
General
Liquipedia WCS Portal Launched ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT Kaelaris on the futue of SC2 and much more... How do you think the 5.0.15 balance patch (Oct 2025) for StarCraft II has affected the game? Nexon's StarCraft game could be FPS, led by UMS maker
Tourneys
StarCraft Evolution League (SC Evo Biweekly) PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar) How do the "codes" work in GSL? Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals (Feb 10-16)
Strategy
Custom Maps
Map Editor closed ? [A] Starcraft Sound Mod
External Content
Mutation # 513 Attrition Warfare The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 512 Overclocked Mutation # 511 Temple of Rebirth
Brood War
General
Gypsy to Korea BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ A cwal.gg Extension - Easily keep track of anyone A new season just kicks off [ASL21] Potential Map Candidates
Tourneys
Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 1 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Small VOD Thread 2.0 KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Zealot bombing is no longer popular? Fighting Spirit mining rates Current Meta
Other Games
General Games
ZeroSpace Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile Diablo 2 thread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
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 TL Mafia Community Thread Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread Ask and answer stupid questions here! Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
[Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion TL MMA Pick'em Pool 2013
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Inside the Communication of …
TrAiDoS
My 2025 Magic: The Gathering…
DARKING
Life Update and thoughts.
FuDDx
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2088 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 States10691 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 States10315 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
Calgary25993 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
Replay Cast
00:00
HomeStory Cup 28 - Playoffs
CranKy Ducklings155
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
RuFF_SC2 235
NeuroSwarm 176
Nina 78
PiLiPiLi 15
StarCraft: Brood War
Dewaltoss 50
Noble 16
Dota 2
monkeys_forever516
LuMiX1
League of Legends
JimRising 555
Counter-Strike
taco 588
Other Games
summit1g10863
C9.Mang0427
syndereN111
Trikslyr63
ViBE35
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1299
BasetradeTV63
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 17 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• HeavenSC 30
• davetesta14
• Adnapsc2 3
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• sooper7s
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• RayReign 26
• HerbMon 8
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• WagamamaTV544
Other Games
• Scarra816
Upcoming Events
PiG Sty Festival
6h 25m
herO vs NightMare
Reynor vs Cure
CranKy Ducklings
7h 25m
Epic.LAN
9h 25m
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
12h 25m
Replay Cast
21h 25m
PiG Sty Festival
1d 6h
Serral vs YoungYakov
ByuN vs ShoWTimE
Sparkling Tuna Cup
1d 7h
Replay Cast
1d 21h
Replay Cast
2 days
Wardi Open
2 days
[ Show More ]
Monday Night Weeklies
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
WardiTV Winter Champion…
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
WardiTV Winter Champion…
4 days
The PondCast
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Escore Tournament S1: King of Kings
LiuLi Cup: 2025 Grand Finals
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
[S:21] ASL SEASON OPEN 1st Round
[S:21] ASL SEASON OPEN 1st Round Qualifier
WardiTV Winter 2026
PiG Sty Festival 7.0
Nations Cup 2026
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual
eXTREMESLAND 2025
SL Budapest Major 2025

Upcoming

Acropolis #4 - TS5
Jeongseon Sooper Cup
Spring Cup 2026: China & Korea Invitational
[S:21] ASL SEASON OPEN 2nd Round
[S:21] ASL SEASON OPEN 2nd Round Qualifier
Acropolis #4 - TS6
Acropolis #4
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
FISSURE Playground #3
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League Season 23
ESL Pro League Season 23
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.