LOLGAME - Page 4

On March 13 2009 03:55 LosingID8 wrote:

lol wait you think day9 loses regularly to C and B ranks?

On March 13 2009 04:43 Day[9] wrote:
though i'm going into this concept later in an audio recording, i figure i'll respond to Strayline briefly now:

Strong players naturally know how to "hide" their weak points. I remember playing a VERY strong terran player back when I was bad, and I literally could not conceive of a way to beat him. It seemed that he was completely defended at every point in the game, and that his macro/economy allowed him to have x100 more units. I tried my best in a series of 15 or so games to use every play I knew: 9pool, fast lurker, 3hatch lurker/ling, fast defilers, fast ultralisks, mass mutalisks. Nothing worked!

Weak players naturally expose their weak points. For instance, a terran player might early expand and get an academy WAY too late. As a zerg player, I'll immediately notice when I have 30 lings and he has 16 marines and no medics anywhere in sight. Consequently, such a blatant mistake sticks out in my mind and I can immediately abuse this. Other such abuses and timings are blatantly apparent when you're playing against someone who's not particularly good.

In other words, vs good players, you learn what NOT to do, vs bad players you learn what TO do. In terms of practice, its critical to alternate playing between weaker and stronger players. vs the weaker opponents, I can flesh out some timing windows and see where clear deficiencies and strengths lie in my own build. vs better opponents, I tweak my builds and knowledge to account for subtleties and precision.

I cannot tell you how much this has helped me improve over time. I mean, imagine if the MOTW is katrina: gas expansions everywhere, weird counter attack paths, little worry of early game rush etc etc. Consider if you've never played katrina. You begin playing on the map, and over the course of the week develop a comfortable playstyle that brings you all the way to B.

Now, the MOTW changes to python, a map with a totally different dynamic: wide open expansions, a very difficult to secure 3rd gas, a wide open center etc etc. Naturally, your katrina builds don't work, but trying to discover a new playstyle is extremely difficult against the B players who already know python. You'll feel like you're banging your head against the wall in a completely non-constructive fashion. I'm all for playing vs strong people to challenge yourself, but what exactly does playing at B level do for you if there's no underlying build/strategy? You play better players to improve, but its important to know WHAt you're improving. Otherwise, your throwing games away and confusing yourself unnecessarily.

The best builds i've ever developed have been those I thought about and tested from a D level and tweaked all the way up to A. Likewise, I found builds to avoid by theorizing and beginning at D level until I hit a mental wall at the B-/C+ level.

crap post that was longer than i expected

On March 13 2009 05:20 rushz0rz wrote:
I think it's stupid that a good player such as yourself, Day[9], smurfs with a "zillion different accounts." Be a MAN!

D zergs just aren't fun. They haven't learned how to deflect reaver harass yet, and that's the only thing I'm good at, whether it be the 1 base reaver/zealot all in or FE into sair/reaver. I'm surprised I win games with my terrible macro.

On March 13 2009 06:11 Divinek wrote:


He just explained himself...

On March 13 2009 06:35 rushz0rz wrote:


I wasn't being serious.

On March 13 2009 04:43 Archaic wrote:
Make a podcast! I'd love to listen to your lectures on a bus home, way to school, etc.

On April 02 2009 10:07 APurpleCow wrote:
As a D+ player, I can easily emphasize with thegasface. I went 70%ish last season, and then this season I had a 17 game loss streak, with at least 90% of my opponents having over 200apm. It's just insane how many players that aren't D are playing on the D ladder, and it can get very frustrating your, say, I dunno, 17th game in a row against a 400apm korean.