• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 12:55
CET 17:55
KST 01:55
  • 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 ZvT30Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book19Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8
Community News
Weekly Cups (March 9-15): herO, Clem, ByuN win22026 KungFu Cup Announcement6BGE Stara Zagora 2026 cancelled12Blizzard Classic Cup - Tastosis announced as captains18Weekly Cups (March 2-8): ByuN overcomes PvT block5
StarCraft 2
General
Weekly Cups (March 9-15): herO, Clem, ByuN win Weekly Cups (August 25-31): Clem's Last Straw? Blizzard Classic Cup - Tastosis announced as captains Potential Updates Coming to the SC2 CN Server Weekly Cups (March 2-8): ByuN overcomes PvT block
Tourneys
2026 KungFu Cup Announcement [GSL CK] #2: Team Classic vs. Team Solar [GSL CK] #1: Team Maru vs. Team herO RSL Season 4 announced for March-April PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar)
Strategy
Custom Maps
Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026] Map Editor closed ?
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 517 Distant Threat Mutation # 516 Specter of Death Mutation # 515 Together Forever
Brood War
General
ASL21 General Discussion BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Gypsy to Korea BW General Discussion BSL 22 Map Contest — Submissions OPEN to March 10
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [BSL22] Open Qualifiers & Ladder Tours IPSL Spring 2026 is here! ASL Season 21 Qualifiers March 7-8
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2 Fighting Spirit mining rates Zealot bombing is no longer popular?
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread General RTS Discussion Thread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Dawn of War IV Path of Exile
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
FTM 2019 new update 24.2.2
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
Five o'clock TL Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Mexico's Drug War Canadian Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Movie Discussion! [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion Tokyo Olympics 2021 Thread General nutrition recommendations Cricket [SPORT]
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Laptop capable of using Photoshop Lightroom?
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Money Laundering In Video Ga…
TrAiDoS
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
FS++
Kraekkling
Shocked by a laser…
Spydermine0240
Unintentional protectionism…
Uldridge
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2203 users

teaching a complete beginner starcraft?

Blogs > e.soul[gm]
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
e.soul[gm]
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
Sierra Leone254 Posts
May 19 2009 08:46 GMT
#1
seriously, how do i teach someone who's never played an rts before without losing their interest because they'll lose for like 3 months straight?

i've been teaching my friend, and i think hes losing interest because hes getting rolled.

basically i've just been showing him build orders, and replays and playing vs him.

any tips? thanks dudes.

*
http://www.last.fm/user/jesuspopk
iG.Zeep
Profile Joined May 2008
Mexico253 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-05-19 08:48:57
May 19 2009 08:48 GMT
#2
lose on purpose vs him
with ur offraces
life of lively to live to life of full life thx to shield battery
o3.power91
Profile Blog Joined November 2007
Bahrain5288 Posts
May 19 2009 08:51 GMT
#3
campaign is a good place to start although I'm not sure what he would think of that with SC2 coming out so soon. I don't think build orders and replays are the right way to show him now since he isn't used to the game yet. Give him time to understand on his own what each unit does and the pros and cons of each unit and race before showing him how to use them.
Ilikestarcraft
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Korea (South)17733 Posts
May 19 2009 08:51 GMT
#4
ums ums ums
"Nana is a goddess. Or at very least, Nana is my goddess." - KazeHydra
e.soul[gm]
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
Sierra Leone254 Posts
May 19 2009 08:51 GMT
#5
i'd make him play the campaign but he only has the abyss version of starcraft, the ripped iccup version hehe.
http://www.last.fm/user/jesuspopk
jkillashark
Profile Blog Joined November 2005
United States5262 Posts
May 19 2009 08:52 GMT
#6
Try to dumb the basics down for him. I'm trying to teach my chobo friends, who all seem to pick Protoss cause it's the attack click race. I just tell them: probes, pylons, units. Too much money? More gateways. Running out of money? Expand. Then I start teaching them about timing and scouting and stuff.

Baby steps.
Do your best, God will do the rest.
Thug[ro]
Profile Joined October 2005
Romania340 Posts
May 19 2009 08:55 GMT
#7
let him play the missions from scratch to really understand the story/rivalry between races
after that go mass LAN games and eventually into BNET
omninmo
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
2349 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-05-19 09:15:07
May 19 2009 09:03 GMT
#8
people will only play/learn SC if they want to.
people who play for a few months and constantly fail to win and then lose interest dont understand the game and why it is amazing. they shouldnt be encouraged. show your buddy korean matches and if he is not naturally drawn to it and hooked like most of us... then why spend time training him. good students seek out teachers, not the other way around. when you guys get together does he ask questions or are you always lecturing? does he show any progress? why does he play SC?

when your buddy watches replays of himself getting rolled does he say things like "oh man, my micro sucks. im just too slow, lol" or rather "oh wow, i should just move away the marine that the zerglings are chasing while attacking with the others" the latter is a sign of learning and the former is a sign of frustration and.

we need to know more about your pal's motives before giving better advice on his instruction.

if he gets frustrated and wants to quit after losing to you (his teacher) then he probably only wants to play something he wins. that is counter to spirit of rts where it is the case that defeats are always more instructional than victories.

try to find some other fresh meat for him to practice with in addition to training sessions with you. it is best that noobs have a steady practice regimen with players of worse, same, and greater skill.
Gliche
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
United States811 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-05-19 09:14:02
May 19 2009 09:13 GMT
#9
Best way imo is the natural way SC progressed over the years. Play 1 base vs 1 base only first.

PvP is how I taught my friends. PvP is actually really easy to teach the fundamentals of RTS with: flanking, high ground, chokepoints, tech vs tech(reaver vs storm), mobility and feints(shuttle+speed, zeal+speed, arbiter), unit composition, timings(detection in time for DTs). And all the units are easy to see and control. When they get familiar with the tech patterns and what units do, there will be some point where they will naturally want to expand because toss units cost so much. Teach them how to take expos and macro at this point. Then try different races. Now they know how SC works and they can pick a race to get good at.
KT fighting~!! | Designing things is fun!
kOre
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
Canada3642 Posts
May 19 2009 09:15 GMT
#10
Best way to not keep him from losing interest is to play UMS games inbetween. Ones that would help with the "understanding" of what units are for and what not. Same with the micro tourny UMS maps, those are always fun and he'll get control practice.
http://www.starcraftmecca.net - Founder
ReCharge
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Philippines505 Posts
May 19 2009 09:33 GMT
#11
On May 19 2009 17:51 e.soul[gm] wrote:
i'd make him play the campaign but he only has the abyss version of starcraft, the ripped iccup version hehe.


There is a file in iccup, the 7x patcher, it can change the patch (obviously not needed) but, it can make the campaign into map, even if you dont have it ^^
David Kim for Bonjwa!
o3.power91
Profile Blog Joined November 2007
Bahrain5288 Posts
May 19 2009 09:41 GMT
#12
On May 19 2009 17:51 e.soul[gm] wrote:
i'd make him play the campaign but he only has the abyss version of starcraft, the ripped iccup version hehe.

DL SC+BW installation from Blizzard then let him use your CD Key.
Mastermind
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
Canada7096 Posts
May 19 2009 09:41 GMT
#13
On May 19 2009 18:15 kOre wrote:
Best way to not keep him from losing interest is to play UMS games inbetween. Ones that would help with the "understanding" of what units are for and what not. Same with the micro tourny UMS maps, those are always fun and he'll get control practice.

actually a game like micro tourney can be even less fun if he just gets dominated every time. it sucks when you lose with both sides in those battles. To have that happen every time would really suck.
kOre
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
Canada3642 Posts
May 19 2009 09:51 GMT
#14
On May 19 2009 18:41 o3.power91 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 19 2009 17:51 e.soul[gm] wrote:
i'd make him play the campaign but he only has the abyss version of starcraft, the ripped iccup version hehe.

DL SC+BW installation from Blizzard then let him use your CD Key.

He can practice on West while you play on iCCup!
http://www.starcraftmecca.net - Founder
aznmathfreak
Profile Joined March 2009
United States148 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-05-19 16:02:47
May 19 2009 09:59 GMT
#15
On May 19 2009 17:51 e.soul[gm] wrote:
i'd make him play the campaign but he only has the abyss version of starcraft, the ripped iccup version hehe.


The most common advice are ums's. From my experience though, ums tends to lead down a bad path with new players. Most new players I play with that do ums mainly end up playing really dumb ones, ie turret defense, that don't really help you improve in the game. On the other hand, the ones that do help tend to be difficult and most of them get bored.

So first, the player needs the motivation. I don't think learning build orders and such are good for new players because let's admit it, it's boring as hell to redo a build over and over again. New players tend to look at battles because they like to see the bloodshed, the action. I would watch a few highlight videos for inspiration and to draw him in. Then I would do campaign mode. If he doesn't like the game, there's no point in getting him to play. With sc2 coming out, I think it might actually be a good thing to play through sc, especially if he's actually interested in the lore behind the game. Anyways, campaign will help improve mechanics and unit familiarity, it's less frustrating than losing to some guy on bnet, and there's an interesting storyline to go along with it.

The alternative would be to play some 3v3 bgh or something. I would stay away from fastest since it starts to lose any resemblance to a real sc map. Anyways, it's a good way to start because:
-It's fun to see masses of battles everywhere
-You don't have to manage your build as well if you have two good teammates helping you out
-He can also ask you for help while you guys are playing.
-The general skill level of BGH players tend to be lower, so it's also good practice.
-A win would also help boost his confidence and maybe interest.

Anyways, good games.

Edit: Didn't realize that was part of the rules, sorry.
e.soul[gm]
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
Sierra Leone254 Posts
May 19 2009 10:38 GMT
#16
alright, thanks for the sweeet replies dudes!
http://www.last.fm/user/jesuspopk
TheFoReveRwaR
Profile Blog Joined May 2006
United States10657 Posts
May 19 2009 10:44 GMT
#17
I tried this before. It ended it up driving me so crazy I had to stop.

I would watch them play and it would eat away at my sanity slowly. Watching them moving their mouse over things, selecting things, without them actually doing anything was worse than fingers against a chalk board.

Watching them lose an entire forge of units with no gains because they were on move instead of attack move even though I specifically told them to never use move at this point was the last draw

Hope you're an extremely patient man.
Being healthy, it has been said, really consists of having the same disease as everybody else.
fanatacist
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
10319 Posts
May 19 2009 11:03 GMT
#18
On May 19 2009 17:52 jkillashark wrote:
Try to dumb the basics down for him. I'm trying to teach my chobo friends, who all seem to pick Protoss cause it's the attack click race. I just tell them: probes, pylons, units. Too much money? More gateways. Running out of money? Expand. Then I start teaching them about timing and scouting and stuff.

Baby steps.

Exactly.
Peace~
Patriot.dlk
Profile Blog Joined October 2004
Sweden5462 Posts
May 19 2009 11:22 GMT
#19
Yes have him play protoss. Explain the fundamentals (eye to eye if possible). Tell him why the game is so great and show a few kick as moves you can make in starcraft (vods, highlight).

With this new motivation have him do 14 nexus into 1+ zealot attack. You will play with a fixed amount of drones against him. Against a complete newbie i'd go with no rush + max 8 drones.

He should know about the restriction you have on yourself. Raise the drone bar two drones at the time..

Never let him put less focus in his two nexuses and messure his wins after how much money he mined. When you can't win against him with only-lings-out-of-two-hatch he's ready to play a bunch of normal games.

Then he should play 1v1 medusa or w/e until he's bored with public games and is ready for iccup
Geo.Rion
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
7377 Posts
May 19 2009 11:59 GMT
#20
play with him 2v6 agaist computers...
oh and dont let him choose zerg
try to teach him to sue the most basic hotkeys
"Protoss is a joke" Liquid`Jinro Okt.1. 2011
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 7h 5m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
elazer 259
RushiSC 159
Trikslyr128
ProTech121
TKL 115
UpATreeSC 93
JuggernautJason79
BRAT_OK 47
MindelVK 9
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 24429
Calm 4892
Jaedong 1426
Soma 768
EffOrt 683
Mini 520
Light 300
Shuttle 221
Snow 200
Rush 189
[ Show more ]
actioN 176
Zeus 119
Dewaltoss 99
hero 89
Backho 58
Bonyth 49
sorry 46
Hyun 43
yabsab 27
zelot 25
Hm[arnc] 21
sSak 19
IntoTheRainbow 18
Rock 18
GoRush 17
soO 15
Noble 11
Terrorterran 11
ajuk12(nOOB) 9
NaDa 9
SilentControl 6
eros_byul 1
Barracks 0
Dota 2
Gorgc3932
qojqva3058
BananaSlamJamma238
canceldota56
League of Legends
JimRising 417
Counter-Strike
fl0m3374
pashabiceps1748
byalli266
adren_tv38
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King64
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor126
Other Games
singsing1879
FrodaN1119
B2W.Neo849
ceh9260
Hui .155
Liquid`VortiX152
Fuzer 142
XaKoH 87
KnowMe85
ArmadaUGS72
QueenE62
Organizations
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream127
Other Games
BasetradeTV76
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 15 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• blackmanpl 3
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• lizZardDota259
League of Legends
• Jankos1717
• Shiphtur277
Other Games
• WagamamaTV232
Upcoming Events
OSC
7h 5m
The PondCast
17h 5m
KCM Race Survival
17h 5m
WardiTV Team League
19h 5m
OSC
20h 5m
Replay Cast
1d 7h
KCM Race Survival
1d 17h
WardiTV Team League
1d 19h
Korean StarCraft League
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
Maru vs Zoun
Cure vs ByuN
[ Show More ]
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
2 days
BSL
3 days
RSL Revival
3 days
herO vs MaxPax
Rogue vs TriGGeR
BSL
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Afreeca Starleague
4 days
Sharp vs Scan
Rain vs Mong
Wardi Open
4 days
Monday Night Weeklies
5 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
Afreeca Starleague
5 days
Soulkey vs Ample
JyJ vs sSak
Afreeca Starleague
6 days
hero vs YSC
Larva vs Shine
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-03-16
WardiTV Winter 2026
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Jeongseon Sooper Cup
BSL Season 22
CSL Elite League 2026
RSL Revival: Season 4
Nations Cup 2026
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual

Upcoming

ASL Season 21
Acropolis #4 - TS6
2026 Changsha Offline CUP
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
NationLESS Cup
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
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.