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Introducing SC to a total newb

Blogs > TheAntZ
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TheAntZ
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Israel6248 Posts
July 26 2009 14:29 GMT
#1
I have a friend who might be kinda interested in playing SC, but the problem is this, she only wants to play against me until she gets at least somewhat familiar with the game, she does not want to practice against comp. Now when i say shes new, I mean shes completely new. She played some C&C games and Empire Earth 2 and 3, but thats the extent of her RTS knowledge. How do i go about getting her to D level? If anyone has some advice about this, please post. Thanks in advance :D

***
43084 | Honeybadger: "So july, you're in the GSL finals. How do you feel?!" ~ July: "HUNGRY."
AoN.DimSum
Profile Blog Joined September 2008
United States2983 Posts
July 26 2009 14:34 GMT
#2
*looks at liquidpedia*
by my idol krokkis : "U better hope Finland wont have WCG next year and that I wont gain shitloads of skill, cause then I will wash ur mouth with soap, little man."
Hyde
Profile Blog Joined November 2007
Australia14568 Posts
July 26 2009 14:41 GMT
#3
Tell her to play through the campaign, if she's as new as you say she is, she probably doesn't even know what race to pick. Once she's gone through the campaign and familiar with units/race then she can move onto Liquipedia to read up on builds and practice.
Because when you left, Brood War was all spotlights and titans. Now, with the death of the big leagues, Brood War has moved to the basements and carparks. Now, Brood War is unlicensed brawls, lost teeth, and bloody fights for fistfulls of money - SirJolt
ghermination
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
United States2851 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-07-26 14:48:57
July 26 2009 14:46 GMT
#4
Obviously you should destroy her in 20 or 30 games in a row. That will definitely make her want to play.

But srsly, I guess just let her play through the campaign to get a feel for the game, and then show her how to play once she gets good enough to at least understand what you are showing her.

Also if she doesn't want to learn then you won't be able to force her.
U Gotta Skate.
GHOSTCLAW
Profile Blog Joined February 2008
United States17042 Posts
July 26 2009 14:50 GMT
#5
On July 26 2009 23:34 AoN.DimSum wrote:
*looks at liquidpedia*


maybe he wants more advice. Liquipedia has some good build orders, and great general reading material. It's not so good at helping someone at 15 apm get up to 60/70 though. It's supposed to help people get from 40-60 apm up to like 180, and get up to C/C-.

Umm. Since it's a friend, just try to see if you have any other friends that are interested, and have lan/battle.net nights. just play for fun, and make sure that your friend can get a feel for how every unit interacts/counters eachother (fastest is good for this). from there, if they want to get better, and they still seem interested after a few (10-20) hours of playing, introduce them to iccup.
PhotographerLiquipedia. Drop me a pm if you've got questions/need help.
thedeadhaji *
Profile Blog Joined January 2006
39489 Posts
July 26 2009 14:57 GMT
#6
play vs you but while you tell her exactly what to do,,, or smth liek that idk.
konadora *
Profile Blog Joined February 2009
Singapore66364 Posts
July 26 2009 15:00 GMT
#7
Honestly speaking, tell her to start with the campaign. The normal Starcraft campaign. Followed by the Brood War. It's the simplest way to get her to familiarize herself with the interface and the game. Teaching her by playing against her would only make her confused.
POGGERS
TheAntZ
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Israel6248 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-07-26 15:06:10
July 26 2009 15:01 GMT
#8

On July 26 2009 23:34 AoN.DimSum wrote:
*looks at liquidpedia*


Really? Come on. Liquipedia is a bit advanced for someone who JUST started playing the game.

On July 26 2009 23:41 hyde wrote:
Tell her to play through the campaign, if she's as new as you say she is, she probably doesn't even know what race to pick. Once she's gone through the campaign and familiar with units/race then she can move onto Liquipedia to read up on builds and practice.


She said she doesn't wanna play against computer, wants to go straight to playing against me. Yes, i know, its annoying, but I'd rather have another friend playing SC then avoid a tiny bit of annoyance. Shes watched me play and decided she wants to learn protoss (I see the jokes already)

On July 26 2009 23:46 ghermination wrote:
Obviously you should destroy her in 20 or 30 games in a row. That will definitely make her want to play.

But srsly, I guess just let her play through the campaign to get a feel for the game, and then show her how to play once she gets good enough to at least understand what you are showing her.

Also if she doesn't want to learn then you won't be able to force her.


She does want to play, she just really doesnt wanna paly against comp for some reason -_-

On July 26 2009 23:50 GHOSTCLAW wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 26 2009 23:34 AoN.DimSum wrote:
*looks at liquidpedia*


maybe he wants more advice. Liquipedia has some good build orders, and great general reading material. It's not so good at helping someone at 15 apm get up to 60/70 though. It's supposed to help people get from 40-60 apm up to like 180, and get up to C/C-.


This is the problem im having, she has like 20 apm, so i cant quite teach her BOs yet


On July 26 2009 23:50 GHOSTCLAW wrote:
Umm. Since it's a friend, just try to see if you have any other friends that are interested, and have lan/battle.net nights. just play for fun, and make sure that your friend can get a feel for how every unit interacts/counters eachother (fastest is good for this). from there, if they want to get better, and they still seem interested after a few (10-20) hours of playing, introduce them to iccup.


The thing is we live in bangladesh, the net is shit, so me and my friends never play against each other online, we meet up and LAN. I think i'll try the fastest idea though, thanks!

On July 27 2009 00:00 konadora wrote:
Honestly speaking, tell her to start with the campaign. The normal Starcraft campaign. Followed by the Brood War. It's the simplest way to get her to familiarize herself with the interface and the game. Teaching her by playing against her would only make her confused.


I told her to...but she gets pissed if i tell her to play against comp...she just flat out refuses to learn by playing against comp and wants me to teach her.

Thanks to everyone for the input! :D
43084 | Honeybadger: "So july, you're in the GSL finals. How do you feel?!" ~ July: "HUNGRY."
FirstBorn
Profile Blog Joined March 2007
Romania3955 Posts
July 26 2009 15:02 GMT
#9
Bigh game hunters or fastest are real hits on newbs because they're fascinated over how much money they'll get and how much stuff they can build with that money. It also makes them feel less newb.
SonuvBob: Yes, the majority of TL is college-aged, and thus clearly stupid.
Duke
Profile Blog Joined May 2006
United States1106 Posts
July 26 2009 15:08 GMT
#10
for fastest, make sure she constantly makes workers through the game, this can help start her off learning apm :D
Zoler
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Sweden6339 Posts
July 26 2009 15:17 GMT
#11
First you must start off learning her fun stuff like storm drop / vulture drop / etc things that are fun to do. Then it's on to the macro phase! Tell her to make workers all game long nonstop and try to keep her minerals below 1000-1500 all the time.

Then add more and more stuff, play some freeforall with friends or UMS with her
Lim Yo Hwan forever!
Scaramanga
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
Australia8093 Posts
July 26 2009 15:19 GMT
#12
Tell her to do the single player and then watch a few vods, thats the best way
i have a friend and i told him to practice against a comp so his first game he got 3 sunks at main it was funny
Loda talked about the fun counter, it's AdmiralBulldog on his natures prophet
stroggos
Profile Joined February 2009
New Zealand1543 Posts
July 26 2009 15:38 GMT
#13
get her to watch replays or vods, that's what drew me to sc. When i first saw nal_ra yellow and nada replays i was amazed.
hi
ReCharge
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Philippines505 Posts
July 26 2009 15:39 GMT
#14
If you ask her what race she wants to play and she replies with "What's a race?" or something similar.
You need to either, play with her I donno, 2v1 vs computer and teach her. Or make her play campaign
David Kim for Bonjwa!
GHOSTCLAW
Profile Blog Joined February 2008
United States17042 Posts
July 26 2009 15:44 GMT
#15
oh, and pimpest plays. They make for good watching, and can show the basics of micro. The problem with that is that then they focus on micro instead of macro, but that's why you play fastest.
PhotographerLiquipedia. Drop me a pm if you've got questions/need help.
genryou
Profile Blog Joined February 2009
Malaysia390 Posts
July 26 2009 16:20 GMT
#16
Go easy on her. Use some weird build, such as you, T, pure MnM against her, Protoss. The goal is not to win, but to spark her interest. If you play 20-30 games and just bullied her all the way, no matter how intrested she is in SC, she will quit sooner or later.

To make it simple, go easy, let her take her time in game, even if you can harass her, just leave it be, let her think on his own how each unit work. Let her brain work. Give one or two praise if nesccesary.

I, Challenge Everything
Athos
Profile Blog Joined February 2008
United States2484 Posts
July 26 2009 16:25 GMT
#17
Boxer replays are the fastest way to get interested in starcraft.



They did it for me, they can do it for her.
Batibot
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
Philippines348 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-07-26 16:26:34
July 26 2009 16:26 GMT
#18
Try playing team melee with her against a comp/s.
Jaedong has to be a Bonjwa. Tired of of rooting for July.
Liquid`Jinro
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
Sweden33719 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-07-26 16:46:14
July 26 2009 16:44 GMT
#19
Play mass 3v3s, I think that's a good way to get someone new to SC to get better reasonably quickly and without the pain of losing your first 100 games (assuming you are good enough to carry the team in public 3v3 hunters).

EDIT: Oh, 20 APM.. hm ;P Maybe team melee as some others mentioned.
Moderatortell the guy that interplanatar interaction is pivotal to terrans variety of optionitudals in the pre-midgame preperatories as well as the protosstinal deterriggation of elite zergling strikes - Stimey n | Formerly FrozenArbiter
exalted
Profile Blog Joined March 2004
United States3612 Posts
July 26 2009 16:51 GMT
#20
the most important thing is the basics, like

don't queue up units in production facilities
nonstop worker production
using basic hotkeys
binds and other things for efficiency
too easy
Kage
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
India788 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-07-26 16:55:20
July 26 2009 16:53 GMT
#21
Ah from Bangaldesh! Welcome neighbour. Seriously though, the best way to get people interested is to make them see the cinematics, understand the lore and MOST IMPORTANT -- GET THEM TO WIN.

If she's going to lose 40 games without learning anything then she's hitting aoe 3 faster than you can say zerg. I'd suggest you play a game with her as toss or whatever, then sit with her and show her mistakes and tell her what she could have done and throw in some games here and there when she's no longer a virgin (no pun intended) gamer. That way she has some fun in it and doesn't think she totally sucks to leave it.

Team games would definitely help her, you playing with her shows you have confidence as well and that as a team you guys can do stuff together (again no pun intended).
krazymunky
Profile Joined June 2008
United States727 Posts
July 26 2009 18:10 GMT
#22
somehow changer her ethnicity to korean
life of lively to live to life of full life thx to shield battery
Kerotan
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
England2111 Posts
July 26 2009 18:26 GMT
#23
On July 27 2009 01:53 Kage wrote:
Ah from Bangaldesh! Welcome neighbour. Seriously though, the best way to get people interested is to make them see the cinematics, understand the lore and MOST IMPORTANT -- GET THEM TO WIN.

If she's going to lose 40 games without learning anything then she's hitting aoe 3 faster than you can say zerg. I'd suggest you play a game with her as toss or whatever, then sit with her and show her mistakes and tell her what she could have done and throw in some games here and there when she's no longer a virgin (no pun intended) gamer. That way she has some fun in it and doesn't think she totally sucks to leave it.

Team games would definitely help her, you playing with her shows you have confidence as well and that as a team you guys can do stuff together (again no pun intended).


Yeah this is perhaps the best advice if you can't get her to do single player, if you can get 2 other friends and have a 2v2 on fastest, and tell the other team to go easy on her, even if you lose make sure its close, and then she might be hooked on trying to win.

You've got to make sure that she thinks she can win, crushing her one on one will get you no where.

If you can't get any teamplay games going, my advice is to play her one on one, first on fastest, and then on regular maps, while having you biggest empathy hat on, trying to remember what it was like when you first started, all the time giving her good advice about when to tech, and the basic gameplay mechanics.

Also watch some good games together.
Nerdette // External revolution - Internal revolution // Fabulous // I raise my hands to heaven of curiosity // I don't know what to ask for // What has it got for me? // Kerribear
Ronald_McD
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
Canada807 Posts
July 26 2009 18:47 GMT
#24
When you play her, try to handicap yourself at first
Like, you could try playing with one hand.
Or just purposely micro sloppy or miss units

Just until she starts playing on a decent level

Get her familiar with hotkeys, unit costs, damage, hp, things like that

Have her try all three races and see which interests her the most
FUCKING GAY LAGS
KurtistheTurtle
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
United States1966 Posts
July 26 2009 22:04 GMT
#25
The best way to get somebody into starcraft is to make it fun, and make it matter. When you play, be loud and show you're having a good time. Make fun of her for being awful (lightly.."your zealots are so cute")

When you're playing sc, bring it up now and then. Relate her exploits to friends and exaggerate the battles. ("I had this MASSIVE army outside her base and somehow she got her army to do super-crazy awesome backflips and ninja moves across my mine-field. She murdered every last one of my men, even when they tried to surrender. You know, why am I even friends with you?")

If she thinks its fun and you create an experience for her, she'll want to learn to get better on her own. Then you can start introducing her to stuff. (stuff in parenthesis is what I'd say/have said to my friends)
“Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears."
mcJ
Profile Joined May 2009
Denmark322 Posts
July 26 2009 22:15 GMT
#26
Best way to get people into starcraft is by showing them some gomtv matches - atleast thats my experience
TheAntZ
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Israel6248 Posts
July 27 2009 09:37 GMT
#27
Thanks to everyone for the great advice, so far I've tried playing terran bio against her protoss, and just other weird builds in general, while telling her which units to get, which units are countered by what, etc etc. She seems to be enjoying it so far :D Gonna try team melee next, and no, I havent beaten her in a single match so far, mostly i just focus on telling her how she could be doing better. Again, thanks to everyone who took their time to reply!
43084 | Honeybadger: "So july, you're in the GSL finals. How do you feel?!" ~ July: "HUNGRY."
Kgosi
Profile Joined July 2009
Iceland79 Posts
July 27 2009 15:55 GMT
#28
On July 26 2009 23:50 GHOSTCLAW wrote:

from there, if they want to get better, and they still seem interested after a few (10-20) hours of playing, introduce them to iccup.


Really ? That short of a time. Me and a friend of mine kinda fell in on StarCraft a few weeks ago. We are mainly practicing against each other. We have about 125 apm and go with very basic BO´s but we taught we still had a long way to go.

Sorry about derailing the thread but what most people seems the right thing to do Campaign.
50bani
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Romania480 Posts
July 27 2009 17:26 GMT
#29
Yes, campaign is the way to go if you want to introduce yourself to the game but half of them are TvT and as we all know, the main difficulty with single player in Blizzard games is boredom...
So show her how bad she is if she really has 20 apm: play terran, max out in 13 minutes, rush, win, show replay.
Tell her to watch some progaming, and to learn touch typing
I'm posting on twoplustwo because I have always been amazed at the level of talent that populates this site --- it's almost unparalleled on the Internet.
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