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Active: 803 users

Starting up BW again after 6 months of inactivity.

Blogs > Falcynn
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Falcynn
Profile Blog Joined June 2005
United States3597 Posts
February 20 2008 18:15 GMT
#1
Well watching all of these korean broadcasts has finally inspired me to start playing BW again. However to get back into even my former noobiness I'm gonna need to start massgaming on iccup (since that seems to be the popular league right?). So...I guess this blog is mostly to track my progress. Also if anyone wants an easy win, feel free to ask.

****
.MistiK
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
Netherlands347 Posts
February 20 2008 18:25 GMT
#2
what was your rank before you stopped playing BW?
Falcynn
Profile Blog Joined June 2005
United States3597 Posts
February 20 2008 18:27 GMT
#3
On PGTour I think i managed a D+ =/
Naib
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Hungary4843 Posts
February 20 2008 18:33 GMT
#4
These Tasteless commentaries also made me finally get my act together and start playing again. Good luck on your quest
Complete the cycle!
SayaSP
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Laos5494 Posts
February 20 2008 18:38 GMT
#5
I'm an ez-er win
[iHs]SSP | I-NO-KI BOM-BA-YE | のヮの http://tinyurl.com/MLIStheCV , MLIS.
ilovezil
Profile Blog Joined August 2006
United States4143 Posts
February 20 2008 19:02 GMT
#6
My advice to you before you even start gaming on Iccup is to go to reps.ru, look under 1:1 games replays for the race you play. I believe it's crucial to understand build orders and your race's mechanics, which is often shown via more experienced players' replays. After training your mind to understand this step, you can finally apply the things you've learned on iccup with better results.

Or, if you don't wanna do all this, 5 pool every game until you get to mid-ranks. Then, you start 4-pooling ;o
micronesia
Profile Blog Joined July 2006
United States24698 Posts
February 20 2008 19:23 GMT
#7
I don't recommend starting with iccup either tbh... If you were d+ish before you went inactive, you want to spend a few dozen games getting back into it.... THEN use iccup to train.
ModeratorThere are animal crackers for people and there are people crackers for animals.
ilovezil
Profile Blog Joined August 2006
United States4143 Posts
February 20 2008 19:25 GMT
#8
On February 21 2008 04:23 micronesia wrote:
I don't recommend starting with iccup either tbh... If you were d+ish before you went inactive, you want to spend a few dozen games getting back into it.... THEN use iccup to train.


Actually, I think Iccup would be good for him. The purpose of ladders is to put you roughly at about the same skill level as others in your rank, so even the lowest of skills can find a place on iccup. I just think it would be more rewarding to take the proper steps before mass gaming to achieve more, that's all ;o
jimminy_kriket
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Canada5509 Posts
February 20 2008 19:44 GMT
#9
Yeah, there's nothing wrong with being D- ;p
life of lively to live to life of full life thx to shield battery
Night[Mare
Profile Blog Joined December 2004
Mexico4793 Posts
February 20 2008 19:50 GMT
#10
im already C-, and took a break from 2 years, only casual gaming.
if you were a good player (B-~C+) you should drop the rust somewhat quickly
Teamliquidian townie
Night[Mare
Profile Blog Joined December 2004
Mexico4793 Posts
February 20 2008 19:51 GMT
#11
On February 21 2008 03:27 Falcynn wrote:
On PGTour I think i managed a D+ =/


how many games tho?
Teamliquidian townie
Falcynn
Profile Blog Joined June 2005
United States3597 Posts
Last Edited: 2008-02-20 19:59:24
February 20 2008 19:58 GMT
#12
Alright, I just got my ass completely kicked after spending 20 minutes trying to find anyone to play a game so...I guess I'll take everyone's advice and start off watching a bunch of replays and I'll probably mix in pubs with iccup to get back into decent shape.

Also back when I was D+ I think I had like...100~ games? Not really sure, back then I played mostly pubs and I found myself about average with random pubbies.
BluzMan
Profile Blog Joined April 2006
Russian Federation4235 Posts
February 20 2008 20:30 GMT
#13
The problem is that iCCup people have "their level" starting from maybe B- and D- exclusively. D - C+ can be everything from newbies who have a luck streak of 4 pooling everyone to korean clan people who just don't play it enough to maintain higher ranks, smurfs of known players etc. Basically, D-C on iCCup is a very bad place to train since people mostly waste your time with DT rushes, 5 pools, proxy gateways/raxes/facts etc and the skill level is jumping grossly from game to game. Not to mention the enormous amount of disconnecters, stats-kickers (in case you're over 60%, you start getting kicked from most games) and plain abusers.
You want 20 good men, but you need a bad pussy.
ilovezil
Profile Blog Joined August 2006
United States4143 Posts
February 20 2008 20:39 GMT
#14
On February 21 2008 05:30 BluzMan wrote:
The problem is that iCCup people have "their level" starting from maybe B- and D- exclusively. D - C+ can be everything from newbies who have a luck streak of 4 pooling everyone to korean clan people who just don't play it enough to maintain higher ranks, smurfs of known players etc. Basically, D-C on iCCup is a very bad place to train since people mostly waste your time with DT rushes, 5 pools, proxy gateways/raxes/facts etc and the skill level is jumping grossly from game to game. Not to mention the enormous amount of disconnecters, stats-kickers (in case you're over 60%, you start getting kicked from most games) and plain abusers.


This much is true, but as far as getting sheer amount of games, I believe Iccup, or any ladder for that matter, is the best place to go. Of course, this is assuming the OP has that proper gaming mentality geared towards getting better. True, you'll find everything including D level players, B level players, disconnecters, abusers, and all sorts of gamers on different ends of the spectrum, but I just find other places such as US east and West to lack as much gaming opportunity as iccup has to offer. I dunno, maybe I just suck at finding games :/
BluzMan
Profile Blog Joined April 2006
Russian Federation4235 Posts
Last Edited: 2008-02-20 20:56:33
February 20 2008 20:52 GMT
#15
Well, low-level iCCup is great if you're looking to polish your builds (like how would this work vs the weirdest of openings), but otherwise, it brings an extreme amount of frustration. When you're looking to improve your play, it's normal to try to focus on something (like getting a drill all-purpose build), but the system of the ladder kinda works against it as there are people who seek to compete at lower levels, not train, and competition means stats abusing and risk builds. Don't get me wrong, I'm nowhere about hating those who occasionally do 5 pool, and those builds are important since they sort of form safe builds (like how to properly FE so it doesn't fall to 5 pool), but this is quite an advanced part of starcraft and training it does nothing to improve the basics, and, therefore, until you reach a certain level, is completely useless. A complete noob that loses to three 5 pools in a row trying to FE won't try to polish his FE, he will switch to forge/gate first regardless of scouting (as it's easier and he needs easier solutions) and will wonder why he gets owned so hard when zerg goes eco builds. Actually, the best way to improve is really getting a partner, play like 100 games in a row with standard builds to get the basics down, and only then go iCCup'ing to learn builds nuances.

Like I've long been using gate zeal pylon zeal core into reaver harass PvT on hamachi and it's quite strong vs standard play, but then again several embarassing losses on iCCup with it made me apply several corrections to it. If I started with this build on iCCup, I would never even learn why it's strong and would most likely abandon it because it has weaknesses versus any non-standard play terran may apply.
You want 20 good men, but you need a bad pussy.
ilovezil
Profile Blog Joined August 2006
United States4143 Posts
Last Edited: 2008-02-20 21:10:09
February 20 2008 21:07 GMT
#16
On February 21 2008 05:52 BluzMan wrote:
Well, low-level iCCup is great if you're looking to polish your builds (like how would this work vs the weirdest of openings), but otherwise, it brings an extreme amount of frustration. When you're looking to improve your play, it's normal to try to focus on something (like getting a drill all-purpose build), but the system of the ladder kinda works against it as there are people who seek to compete at lower levels, not train, and competition means stats abusing and risk builds. Don't get me wrong, I'm nowhere about hating those who occasionally do 5 pool, and those builds are important since they sort of form safe builds (like how to properly FE so it doesn't fall to 5 pool), but this is quite an advanced part of starcraft and training it does nothing to improve the basics, and, therefore, until you reach a certain level, is completely useless. A complete noob that loses to three 5 pools in a row trying to FE won't try to polish his FE, he will switch to forge/gate first regardless of scouting (as it's easier and he needs easier solutions) and will wonder why he gets owned so hard when zerg goes eco builds. Actually, the best way to improve is really getting a partner, play like 100 games in a row with standard builds to get the basics down, and only then go iCCup'ing to learn builds nuances.

Like I've long been using gate zeal pylon zeal core into reaver harass PvT on hamachi and it's quite strong vs standard play, but then again several embarassing losses on iCCup with it made me apply several corrections to it. If I started with this build on iCCup, I would never even learn why it's strong and would most likely abandon it because it has weaknesses versus any non-standard play terran may apply.


I agree much with the latter parts of your statement. As such, I'd recommend to the OP to watch and closely analyze replays, seeking help in parts that are hard to understand. Of course, it's hard as a beginner to understand all these concepts properly and apply them. I personally was able to get better by watching and analyzing replays, but then again, my method probably isn't applicable to everyone else.

I like the idea of getting a training partner to steadily increase skills, but that's somewhat limited imo. One partner will ideally be good for training under one matchup and one particular style, as everyone has a "main style", imo. You pointed out the solution to this limitation by later going on Iccup, which sounds pretty solid. Still, to build skills in other matchups and to adjust to different styles effectively, I believe one would need multiple training partners, which is why I'm so bent on iccup. And of course, you pointed out the obvious errors in training under such a place, so here I am going around in circles ~_~

In the end, I guess there are just too many factors, beginning from the gamer himself: how much he wants to improve, what learning method suits him most.
MiniRoman
Profile Blog Joined September 2003
Canada3953 Posts
February 20 2008 21:10 GMT
#17
I think the best way to improve is to make friends and join a team with people your level and higher. Mass game with the friends you make and play the good people in your team whenever you can to humble. Switch to iccup when you feel your ready. Don't go to iccup to derust, you'll just get raped.
Nak Allstar.
ilovezil
Profile Blog Joined August 2006
United States4143 Posts
February 20 2008 21:12 GMT
#18
On February 21 2008 06:10 MiniRoman wrote:
I think the best way to improve is to make friends and join a team with people your level and higher. Mass game with the friends you make and play the good people in your team whenever you can to humble. Switch to iccup when you feel your ready. Don't go to iccup to derust, you'll just get raped.


This is probably the best method, but I personally have trouble finding people who are willing to game in such a group. It seems no one wants to mass game anymore T_T
Falcynn
Profile Blog Joined June 2005
United States3597 Posts
February 20 2008 21:16 GMT
#19
On February 21 2008 06:12 ilovezil wrote:
Show nested quote +
On February 21 2008 06:10 MiniRoman wrote:
I think the best way to improve is to make friends and join a team with people your level and higher. Mass game with the friends you make and play the good people in your team whenever you can to humble. Switch to iccup when you feel your ready. Don't go to iccup to derust, you'll just get raped.


This is probably the best method, but I personally have trouble finding people who are willing to game in such a group. It seems no one wants to mass game anymore T_T
That's pretty much my main problem too, however I will try to keep my eyes open and try to find a training partner. Any ideas as to good channels to hang around?

In other news, I just won my first game :D
ilovezil
Profile Blog Joined August 2006
United States4143 Posts
February 20 2008 21:32 GMT
#20
Op Tl-west @ west
Clan x17 @ east
Op ToT) @ europe

Those are the only non-korean channels I know of. If you catch me around, you can ask me for help/pointers, I guess. I'm EverLasting_ @ west.
Falcynn
Profile Blog Joined June 2005
United States3597 Posts
February 22 2008 03:20 GMT
#21
Well for anyone who cares I have an update on my quest :D

So far I've been watching a shitload of replays and playing quite a few games on West (on smurfs mostly, I know that the first step to getting better is accepting that you're going to lose alot, but those 0-100 records just stare at me like they're saying "dude...give up...now, wtf?") and I'd like to say I'm improving. My PvZ game is actually better than what it used to be, probably due to the fact that 9 out of 10 people I play against are zergs, I still lose, but now I can at least hold off muta harasses and lurker contains without totally panicking and typing gg right away, and I even won one :D

My PvP game is...ok. The only time I seem to be able to win is if I do a 9/10 gate zeal rush, anything else and my opponent always outmacros me, so that's something I'll have to improve on.

My PvT I'm not really sure of since I've only played 4 PvT's out of all my games (seriously), but judging off of them I'd say that I got the hang of basic BO's and my micro against vults/tanks and zeal bombs seems to be fine. My only problem is the same one I have with PvP which is macro, I have crappy multi-tasking skills so again that's something I really need to improve on.

My apm is improving. I know that most people say that apm doesn't equal skill, but I've also heard pros like nada saying that you need at least 120-150apm to be able to multitask efficiently so that's what my target is. Before I quit my apm was about 120-130, right when I got back it was like 60-70 and now it's about 90-110, and that's without spamming a crapload so I'd say I"m doing good so far.


Oh, and I forgot to say so earlier, but thanks ilovezil for those channels.
Dr.Dragoon
Profile Joined November 2007
United States1241 Posts
February 22 2008 03:31 GMT
#22
I can help you practice if you want, I'm horrible.
~o~ I have returned
Falcynn
Profile Blog Joined June 2005
United States3597 Posts
Last Edited: 2008-02-22 03:37:38
February 22 2008 03:36 GMT
#23
Awesome, I'm gonna try to wean myself away from using smurfs all the time so hopefully you'll see me as Falcynn on USWest msg me if you ever want a game.
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