As is already known, BW is quite the mechanical game. When you hit the late game and are trying to keep track of everything as well as hit your opponent were it hurts to eventually take the game, you are facing a very steep wall that only the very best are able to climb comfortably. By the end of a 40-50 minute back and forth game, you feel like you've just finished a workout, but nothing comes close to feeling the same after you've won too.
This brings me to the main point. I've been embroiled in an argument with a friend for several years now and while it's true that a long game can be physically exhausting, how many here have been unable to sleep or work afterwards (say 10-15 minutes break) after playing a really long back and forth game? Is BW an exhausting enough game to play to the point where you feel you just can't sleep or work right after, even with a short break?
I personally don't have much of a problem since 15 minutes is more than enough time imo. However, everyone is different and this is certainly an interesting question so I'd like to hear your thoughts on it guys. I also added a poll for those lurkers who are too shy to post haha and posted a video of July vs Rock for what is one of the coolest moments in SC history!
It's exhausting, but many of my favorite things in life are. I also consider bw a great 'brainxercise', and that is related to it being mentally draining.
So I don't think it's too exhausting - however, I generally prefer activities that demand something of me rather than ones where I can just.. chill. I get that people who feel differently will also feel the game is too exhausting.
Mentally challenging game, even to the point of exhaustion - I assent. And it is exactly why I adore the game. But physically - not at all. I mean, let's just look at the muscles involved, none of them are large muscle groups, the ones that need much ATP. While brain labour can have some external signs, even sweat, it is not the sweat and strain of actual manual work. It is more akin to stress sweat, the kind that some people show when they are on an exam or in a situation they consider threatening, for example.
I don’t think BW is at all mechanically exhausting, there’s just so, so much knowledge you need to play even competently that that’s tough.
I played a bit casually way back when. Then got really into WC3, then SC2
Then I go back to try and learn BW competitively and, well that’s a learning experience. Even little things like having different FFE layouts for different maps.
The actual mechanical side of it is fine I find it quite rhythmic and relaxing in a weird way.
I'd prefer if you'd change the wording to just "exhausting" and drop the "too", because the word "too" implies that it's undesirable, but that's just the nature of BW and many other challenging and interesting things out there.
In my experience, it's more than just being exhausting, it's like playing an intense (mental) sport, I can't fall asleep 15 minutes after that, my mind will continue running intensely. Naturally, if I were already tired from doing other stuff earlier in the day, it's not something I'd be doing before I sleep.
On November 22 2019 05:01 FlaShFTW wrote: It's exhausting trying to get find a game against Bigfan because he always dodges.
Physically exhausting? Hell no. My HR goes from like 40-45 up to about 55-60 when playing. Equivalent to standing still chatting to someone.
Mentally exhausting though, sure! It's a good stress, but it's high stress and high focus. I could see how a hyper competitive type could find it so stressful they wouldn't be able to sleep or focus for a bit afterwords. I dont bring quite that level of intensity to ladder, so I've never experienced that personally. Heck I slept like a babe after playing 24 hrs straight!
Like all things YMMV. What we can agree on is that its exceedingly fun 🔥😁
The OP topic in question doesn't really have a definite answer from a casual/non-professional perspective, whether BW is physically exhausting or not really depends on your baseline apm, level of competitiveness and fitness level. Im not physically fit and yet i try to maintain a high APM which leaves me particularly exhausted (fingers literally feeling crampy) even after a couple of games. in contrast i can play more passive games like FPS/MOBAs/RPG type of games for an entire day without a sweat.
professionally though, there's hardly any games I can think of that reaches the levels of physical demands that BW requires, fighting/rhythm games osu/DDR maybe? or beat saber ? though never tried that lol
On November 22 2019 23:08 L_Master wrote: Physically exhausting? Hell no. My HR goes from like 40-45 up to about 55-60 when playing. Equivalent to standing still chatting to someone.
Mentally exhausting though, sure! It's a good stress, but it's high stress and high focus. I could see how a hyper competitive type could find it so stressful they wouldn't be able to sleep or focus for a bit afterwords. I dont bring quite that level of intensity to ladder, so I've never experienced that personally. Heck I slept like a babe after playing 24 hrs straight!
Like all things YMMV. What we can agree on is that its exceedingly fun 🔥😁
Please, spare some pussy for the rest of us are frail nerds here
On November 23 2019 15:04 ggsimida wrote: The OP topic in question doesn't really have a definite answer from a casual/non-professional perspective, whether BW is physically exhausting or not really depends on your baseline apm, level of competitiveness and fitness level.
I believe the aim is to have a survey of our personal and subjective experiences, not to get a definite answer.
Most people have their engines running on all kinds of wrong gears all the time. They also put in the sand of absurdly misguided convictions. In quantities so large, they will go aggro on you, if you try to talk them out of it. Most any demanding activity, mental or physical, is exhausting for them.
Then they attribute responsibility to the activity. And other external factors. Not to their misunderstanding, false ideas, lack of study, lack of care, lack of reflection, lack of adequate performance training.
There are exceptions, to a degree. The more of a newbie you are, the more chunks of activity are demanding conscious effort on your part. Playing an entire game can be exhausting but at that level of practice, you should be isolating smaller chunks of skill to master, first. But then again, most people are hopelessly clueless on how to practice, how to train, how to learn and things that matter.
They are busy arguing about even more hopelessly clueless opinions on politics and other subjects they know so little of, and misunderstand so badly, that they know more about all of them than anybody else.
There is no reason it should be exhausting. Demanding and tiring after long hours of practice, let's repeat that, long hours of practice, sure - but not exhausting. You can play many games and with proper, informed preparation, breaks in between, style of practice matching the level you're at and so on - it should feel more like gliding on the ice with selected elements out of your comfort zone that systematically challenge you, the ones you practice refining.
That's not something most people are familiar with. Most people are familiar with bashing their heads against the wall for long enough that the wall falls and then talking about their universe of excuses, complaints and so on - as well as ridiculing, attacking, shaming and trying to bring down approaches that challenge their particular, well-trained style of bashing their head against the wall.
Now, that's just my opinion, anyway. It's probably really inaccurate at some points.
On November 24 2019 22:33 coffeesession wrote: Absolutely not.
Most people have their engines running on all kinds of wrong gears all the time. They also put in the sand of absurdly misguided convictions. In quantities so large, they will go aggro on you, if you try to talk them out of it. Most any demanding activity, mental or physical, is exhausting for them.
Then they attribute responsibility to the activity. And other external factors. Not to their misunderstanding, false ideas, lack of study, lack of care, lack of reflection, lack of adequate performance training.
There are exceptions, to a degree. The more of a newbie you are, the more chunks of activity are demanding conscious effort on your part. Playing an entire game can be exhausting but at that level of practice, you should be isolating smaller chunks of skill to master, first. But then again, most people are hopelessly clueless on how to practice, how to train, how to learn and things that matter.
They are busy arguing about even more hopelessly clueless opinions on politics and other subjects they know so little of, and misunderstand so badly, that they know more about all of them than anybody else.
There is no reason it should be exhausting. Demanding and tiring after long hours of practice, let's repeat that, long hours of practice, sure - but not exhausting. You can play many games and with proper, informed preparation, breaks in between, style of practice matching the level you're at and so on - it should feel more like gliding on the ice with selected elements out of your comfort zone that systematically challenge you, the ones you practice refining.
That's not something most people are familiar with. Most people are familiar with bashing their heads against the wall for long enough that the wall falls and then talking about their universe of excuses, complaints and so on - as well as ridiculing, attacking, shaming and trying to bring down approaches that challenge their particular, well-trained style of bashing their head against the wall.
Now, that's just my opinion, anyway. It's probably really inaccurate at some points.
I agree, in a weird sense I find such games relaxing. Going mano o mano against your own weaknesses in a complex game of an almost infinite ceiling. It’s stimulating, you can always get better and push it out, plus it’s a bloody fun game.
There’s a difficulty but a simplicity to the activity too, that I find relaxing because it’s just about me, the game and not other people’s bullshit, which I find exhausting.
Having to argue politics with people who don’t know the subject that they’re pontificating on but yet won’t concede that is infinitely more exhausting than the beauty of Brood War (or other RTS games I like). Personal taste of course.
On November 22 2019 05:01 FlaShFTW wrote: It's exhausting trying to get find a game against Bigfan because he always dodges.
You don't try hard enough scrub. You need to quit LoL or w/e it is you now play if you are to stand a chance against me
On November 22 2019 20:33 JieXian wrote: Happy Birthday!
I'd prefer if you'd change the wording to just "exhausting" and drop the "too", because the word "too" implies that it's undesirable, but that's just the nature of BW and many other challenging and interesting things out there.
In my experience, it's more than just being exhausting, it's like playing an intense (mental) sport, I can't fall asleep 15 minutes after that, my mind will continue running intensely. Naturally, if I were already tired from doing other stuff earlier in the day, it's not something I'd be doing before I sleep.
Well, I mean, sure, but syntax isn't that big of a deal here imo. It's about whether you're about to concentrate on other tasks after finishing a long BW session if you are given 15 minutes to relax.
I think it's too exhausting to be fun for some people, but I guess that's not really your question. I'd be surprised if it is so physically or psychologically tolling that some people have trouble sleeping or working right after. I'm sure intense games raise your heart rate or blood pressure or something, but once the game is over I feel pretty calm after a minute or two. That said, I'm also terrible at the game, so maybe the better you are the more exhausting it is?
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: I used to get andrenaline shakes after a game of broodwar, but not anymore. Never felt physically exhausted like I was physically exercising though.
I have gotten "the shakes" when I'm playing different games like BW, WC3 or DotA, when I felt like I was about to win someone who was a lot better than me.
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: Also that 40-50 heartrate wtf, do you have a body of Adonis Bisu?
Better, he has the body of LMaster. You would understand if you watch his streams.
On November 25 2019 16:06 BigFan wrote: Well, I mean, sure, but syntax isn't that big of a deal here imo. It's about whether you're about to concentrate on other tasks after finishing a long BW session if you are given 15 minutes to relax.
Because of the word choice, some people seem to think that some of us are whining or something. I'm not sure what your aim is but I think you understand my position on the matter, that I need to wind down after a game and can't go to sleep immediately after, just like how we can't go to sleep immediately after jogging for 30 minutes. Additionally, I don't want to go "jogging" for 30 minutes at the end of a long day.
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: I used to get andrenaline shakes after a game of broodwar, but not anymore. Never felt physically exhausted like I was physically exercising though.
Also that 40-50 heartrate wtf, do you have a body of Adonis Bisu?
Usually like 45 resting or so by Fitbit, mid 30s sleeping. I race bikes and such things so cardio fitness is pretty good. It definitely goes up a little playing BW, towards 60, but that's similar to what I see standing. Little less than I see walking.
Mentally taxing though, that's a whole different ballgame. A few hours of BW can leave me feeling "drained".
^ I think mental drain is understandable but so far, it seems like most people don't seem to think of it as draining enough that you can't sleep in say 15-30 minutes.
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: I used to get andrenaline shakes after a game of broodwar, but not anymore. Never felt physically exhausted like I was physically exercising though.
I have gotten "the shakes" when I'm playing different games like BW, WC3 or DotA, when I felt like I was about to win someone who was a lot better than me.
On November 25 2019 16:06 BigFan wrote: Well, I mean, sure, but syntax isn't that big of a deal here imo. It's about whether you're about to concentrate on other tasks after finishing a long BW session if you are given 15 minutes to relax.
Because of the word choice, some people seem to think that some of us are whining or something. I'm not sure what your aim is but I think you understand my position on the matter, that I need to wind down after a game and can't go to sleep immediately after, just like how we can't go to sleep immediately after jogging for 30 minutes. Additionally, I don't want to go "jogging" for 30 minutes at the end of a long day.
But jogging is physically stimulating too, while BW is more mentally stimulation with a bit of physical. I don't believe you can compare the two that easily.
I've never felt drained in a 'can't sleep' type of way, or well maybe from winning something important twice, but that was 'too exhilarated', not exhausted.
bw is the only game I've ever played where I can sometimes go like 'naw, I'm too tired to feel like playing now' while not being sleepy in any form - and where mostly any other activity is completely fine. Entirely talking mentally now though.
On November 27 2019 04:14 BigFan wrote: ^ I think mental drain is understandable but so far, it seems like most people don't seem to think of it as draining enough that you can't sleep in say 15-30 minutes.
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: I used to get andrenaline shakes after a game of broodwar, but not anymore. Never felt physically exhausted like I was physically exercising though.
I have gotten "the shakes" when I'm playing different games like BW, WC3 or DotA, when I felt like I was about to win someone who was a lot better than me.
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: Also that 40-50 heartrate wtf, do you have a body of Adonis Bisu?
Better, he has the body of LMaster. You would understand if you watch his streams.
On November 25 2019 16:06 BigFan wrote: Well, I mean, sure, but syntax isn't that big of a deal here imo. It's about whether you're about to concentrate on other tasks after finishing a long BW session if you are given 15 minutes to relax.
Because of the word choice, some people seem to think that some of us are whining or something. I'm not sure what your aim is but I think you understand my position on the matter, that I need to wind down after a game and can't go to sleep immediately after, just like how we can't go to sleep immediately after jogging for 30 minutes. Additionally, I don't want to go "jogging" for 30 minutes at the end of a long day.
But jogging is physically stimulating too, while BW is more mentally stimulation with a bit of physical. I don't believe you can compare the two that easily.
I think draining is the wrong word. If you're drained you can usually sleep like a babe.
I'd say stressful/intense/wired/etc. Playing a demanding few games you want to win can leave you so hyped and wired you cant sleep right away.
bw is the only game I've ever played where I can sometimes go like 'naw, I'm too tired to feel like playing now' while not being sleepy in any form - and where mostly any other activity is completely fine. Entirely talking mentally now though.
I feel this. Aside from highly physical activities, BW requires a level of mental engagement and stress that can be over my threshold when I'm particularly low on energy or drained from a longer/stressful day.
On November 27 2019 04:14 BigFan wrote: But jogging is physically stimulating too, while BW is more mentally stimulation with a bit of physical. I don't believe you can compare the two that easily.
Yes I definitely can. Both are a source of "stimulation" as you put it, and both activities require us to exert ourselves. I was not arguing that you/others should feel "exhausted". I was trying to explain what I perceive using an analogy.
On November 27 2019 04:14 BigFan wrote: ^ I think mental drain is understandable but so far, it seems like most people don't seem to think of it as draining enough that you can't sleep in say 15-30 minutes.
I think I could give you another example. I can't sleep immediately after doing other activities that really excite me, for example
1) After doing programming intensely for many hours 2) Working on music/ music production for many hours and trying to get the damn thing to not suck 3) Playing certain games like Quake, WC3 or DotA. Especially Quake. 4) Talking to someone who really excited me
I need to spend some time to wind down due to the "mental intertia" I experience, where my mind will keep running and thinking about the previous task while I'm trying to sleep (eg. I'll be thinking about my code instead of being able to sleep). It's not that I'm drained, the "mental intertia" I feel is more like how a fast moving trailer needs more time before being able to grind to a halt, as opposed to a Hot Wheels car.
Not that I'm saying your brain is a hot wheels car :D
I don't know whether "mental intertia" is a thing but I think that most adequately describes the phenomena in place of imprecise words like "drained" or "exhaustion", or analogies that BigHead can't follow due to his lack of imagination .
On November 27 2019 04:14 BigFan wrote: ^ I think mental drain is understandable but so far, it seems like most people don't seem to think of it as draining enough that you can't sleep in say 15-30 minutes.
On November 27 2019 00:38 JieXian wrote:
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: I used to get andrenaline shakes after a game of broodwar, but not anymore. Never felt physically exhausted like I was physically exercising though.
I have gotten "the shakes" when I'm playing different games like BW, WC3 or DotA, when I felt like I was about to win someone who was a lot better than me.
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: Also that 40-50 heartrate wtf, do you have a body of Adonis Bisu?
Better, he has the body of LMaster. You would understand if you watch his streams.
On November 25 2019 16:06 BigFan wrote: Well, I mean, sure, but syntax isn't that big of a deal here imo. It's about whether you're about to concentrate on other tasks after finishing a long BW session if you are given 15 minutes to relax.
Because of the word choice, some people seem to think that some of us are whining or something. I'm not sure what your aim is but I think you understand my position on the matter, that I need to wind down after a game and can't go to sleep immediately after, just like how we can't go to sleep immediately after jogging for 30 minutes. Additionally, I don't want to go "jogging" for 30 minutes at the end of a long day.
But jogging is physically stimulating too, while BW is more mentally stimulation with a bit of physical. I don't believe you can compare the two that easily.
I think draining is the wrong word. If you're drained you can usually sleep like a babe.
I'd say stressful/intense/wired/etc. Playing a demanding few games you want to win can leave you so hyped and wired you cant sleep right away.
bw is the only game I've ever played where I can sometimes go like 'naw, I'm too tired to feel like playing now' while not being sleepy in any form - and where mostly any other activity is completely fine. Entirely talking mentally now though.
I feel this. Aside from highly physical activities, BW requires a level of mental engagement and stress that can be over my threshold when I'm particularly low on energy or drained from a longer/stressful day.
I haven't played since remastered came out and broke the game for my PC, but before that I was just playing once in awhile with a friend a few matches in a row. When I was a teenager I really liked how hard you could play the game. In those last years it really felt a little difficult to get back into the game after an absence, your muscle memory for the game disappears and your movement is inefficient and hurts your hands a little. I definitely feel bad for the pros who damaged their bodies playing SC into their late twenties.
As far as not being able to concentrate after a game... I guess that's because you're thinking of different things you want to try, and you're not playing with the same opponent again and again so you can't try them right away like you would if you weren't on ladder just playing with a friend. I can't really recall it being a huge problem for me ever. I didn't take myself too seriously in StarCraft games, I knew how much better people were than me at it. I viewed B rank as a kind of godly title beyond my means. I was more interested in trying goofy strategies than getting good, although my mechanics did improve over time and I sometimes specifically tried to improve one or another specific SC skill.
The temperature of my head rises significantly when I focus on Brood War. This happens when I'm working on something mentally challenging for a sustained period of time, as well. I like the feeling because lately I've been scatterbrained from all the social media, news, and phone distractions in my life.
For me its relaxing... lul But this is mb cause i stopped spamming apm so much, now i see the game more clearly and enjoy the little aspects of it more.
^ Indeed. I find BW relaxing, but I also agree that some days where I'm tired, trying to boot up the game can be rough. However, once I get started, I can just keep going haha.
On November 27 2019 04:14 BigFan wrote: ^ I think mental drain is understandable but so far, it seems like most people don't seem to think of it as draining enough that you can't sleep in say 15-30 minutes.
On November 27 2019 00:38 JieXian wrote:
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: I used to get andrenaline shakes after a game of broodwar, but not anymore. Never felt physically exhausted like I was physically exercising though.
I have gotten "the shakes" when I'm playing different games like BW, WC3 or DotA, when I felt like I was about to win someone who was a lot better than me.
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: Also that 40-50 heartrate wtf, do you have a body of Adonis Bisu?
Better, he has the body of LMaster. You would understand if you watch his streams.
On November 25 2019 16:06 BigFan wrote: Well, I mean, sure, but syntax isn't that big of a deal here imo. It's about whether you're about to concentrate on other tasks after finishing a long BW session if you are given 15 minutes to relax.
Because of the word choice, some people seem to think that some of us are whining or something. I'm not sure what your aim is but I think you understand my position on the matter, that I need to wind down after a game and can't go to sleep immediately after, just like how we can't go to sleep immediately after jogging for 30 minutes. Additionally, I don't want to go "jogging" for 30 minutes at the end of a long day.
But jogging is physically stimulating too, while BW is more mentally stimulation with a bit of physical. I don't believe you can compare the two that easily.
I think draining is the wrong word. If you're drained you can usually sleep like a babe.
I'd say stressful/intense/wired/etc. Playing a demanding few games you want to win can leave you so hyped and wired you cant sleep right away.
bw is the only game I've ever played where I can sometimes go like 'naw, I'm too tired to feel like playing now' while not being sleepy in any form - and where mostly any other activity is completely fine. Entirely talking mentally now though.
I feel this. Aside from highly physical activities, BW requires a level of mental engagement and stress that can be over my threshold when I'm particularly low on energy or drained from a longer/stressful day.
Sure, maybe the better phrasing was stimulation. You feel more mentally stimulated, thus more awake.
On November 27 2019 04:14 BigFan wrote: But jogging is physically stimulating too, while BW is more mentally stimulation with a bit of physical. I don't believe you can compare the two that easily.
Yes I definitely can. Both are a source of "stimulation" as you put it, and both activities require us to exert ourselves. I was not arguing that you/others should feel "exhausted". I was trying to explain what I perceive using an analogy.
On November 27 2019 04:14 BigFan wrote: ^ I think mental drain is understandable but so far, it seems like most people don't seem to think of it as draining enough that you can't sleep in say 15-30 minutes.
I think I could give you another example. I can't sleep immediately after doing other activities that really excite me, for example
1) After doing programming intensely for many hours 2) Working on music/ music production for many hours and trying to get the damn thing to not suck 3) Playing certain games like Quake, WC3 or DotA. Especially Quake. 4) Talking to someone who really excited me
I need to spend some time to wind down due to the "mental intertia" I experience, where my mind will keep running and thinking about the previous task while I'm trying to sleep (eg. I'll be thinking about my code instead of being able to sleep). It's not that I'm drained, the "mental intertia" I feel is more like how a fast moving trailer needs more time before being able to grind to a halt, as opposed to a Hot Wheels car.
Not that I'm saying your brain is a hot wheels car :D
I don't know whether "mental intertia" is a thing but I think that most adequately describes the phenomena in place of imprecise words like "drained" or "exhaustion", or analogies that BigHead can't follow due to his lack of imagination .
On November 27 2019 04:14 BigFan wrote: ^ I think mental drain is understandable but so far, it seems like most people don't seem to think of it as draining enough that you can't sleep in say 15-30 minutes.
On November 27 2019 00:38 JieXian wrote:
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: I used to get andrenaline shakes after a game of broodwar, but not anymore. Never felt physically exhausted like I was physically exercising though.
I have gotten "the shakes" when I'm playing different games like BW, WC3 or DotA, when I felt like I was about to win someone who was a lot better than me.
On November 26 2019 09:14 Dangermousecatdog wrote: Also that 40-50 heartrate wtf, do you have a body of Adonis Bisu?
Better, he has the body of LMaster. You would understand if you watch his streams.
On November 25 2019 16:06 BigFan wrote: Well, I mean, sure, but syntax isn't that big of a deal here imo. It's about whether you're about to concentrate on other tasks after finishing a long BW session if you are given 15 minutes to relax.
Because of the word choice, some people seem to think that some of us are whining or something. I'm not sure what your aim is but I think you understand my position on the matter, that I need to wind down after a game and can't go to sleep immediately after, just like how we can't go to sleep immediately after jogging for 30 minutes. Additionally, I don't want to go "jogging" for 30 minutes at the end of a long day.
But jogging is physically stimulating too, while BW is more mentally stimulation with a bit of physical. I don't believe you can compare the two that easily.
I think draining is the wrong word. If you're drained you can usually sleep like a babe.
I'd say stressful/intense/wired/etc. Playing a demanding few games you want to win can leave you so hyped and wired you cant sleep right away.
bw is the only game I've ever played where I can sometimes go like 'naw, I'm too tired to feel like playing now' while not being sleepy in any form - and where mostly any other activity is completely fine. Entirely talking mentally now though.
I feel this. Aside from highly physical activities, BW requires a level of mental engagement and stress that can be over my threshold when I'm particularly low on energy or drained from a longer/stressful day.
Yes, this is what I experience.
I'll have you know that I'm very imaginative which is why you kept losing games in the weirdest fashion ever! haha. If my macro was better, you would've lost in even more bizzare ways! Alas, you keep dodging nowadays XD
As for the rest, I think part of it is that you can't shut things down because you keeping thinking about the activity that just took place. Maybe your friend told you something exciting or you got some nice crazy kills in Quake or lost to a superb opponent in a close BW game () and that's something that you keep thinking about for quite a bit after you finished.
This is such a weird thread. Of course "exhausting" isn't the same when we're talking about StarCraft vs exercising.
I get so fucking shaky and exhausted after playing StarCraft seriously for a 1-2 hours and have to take a 30 minute - 1 hour minimum break. I always have. Laddering has always been rough and stressful for me, and even if I try to dissociate myself from my performance or trying to win, it's incredibly draining on my nerves. I find it unlikely that most people feel completely calm and relaxed when playing competitively.
To what degree an activity is exhausting or not is primarily determined by how harmonious the execution of said activity is, and how it interacts with the inner systems of the person executing it.
Activity and execution of the activity and the person executing the activity and the experience of the person executing the activity - to name a few - these are closely related but very distinct concepts and lumping them together is not desirable.
For example, many people find studying to be rough and exhausting and stressful. In reality, the structure of how they are executing the activity of studying is rough, disorderly, disorganized and discordant. They just kind of try to push stuff into their brain and the process is more or less some kind of a blur to them.
When I was testing my own methods of study, I saw huge differences and improvements when I was making micro-adjustments to make it more ordered and coherent, such as timing repetitions, precisely scoping the chunks to repeat, writing only the general term (hook) so that I force myself to recall entirely from the mind instead of reading, counting number of repetitions needed for successful retention, having a more precise idea about the timings (5 min 10x , 50min 3x, 2 hours 3x, 3 hours 1x , next day 1x per chunk etc.) .
Over time, my association of the process became a much more pleasant one. It was a systemic process, where I knew how I just need to chunk things, and then run my schedule of spaced repetition and recall on them, and how it just gets stuff memorized, without me trying and stressing or tensing up about it.
So that's an example of how there was absolutely nothing (and there isn't) inherently stressful or non-stressful about studying. That was all in my structure of how I was executing that activity, it had little to do with the activity itself.
I mentioned it in one of my previous posts, I think, but this principle, by all means, does apply to starcraft. There are a 1000 and more ways to play starcraft in a way that is very stressful and exhausting. There are also many other ways to play starcraft that produce very different experience of the process and very different results.
EPT
