EPTIt is not actually the new year yet, but I have a few days off work, so I am starting my annual reboot early. I have lots of changes planned for my real life, but I would like to talk about a few of the exciting updates in my SC2 life.
A New Account
When I was out shopping for Christmas presents, I bought myself an SC2 box (originally had the digital version only). Now I have two accounts. My main account is a gold zerg. I have been playing SC2 since about two weeks after retail release and, other than random team games, and a bit of playing protoss on my bro's account, I have stuck with zerg. I love zerg. I like all the matchups -- even zvz.
A New Race
But I have
For the past couple of months, however, I have been contemplating a change. After steady improvement, I have plateau'ed somewhat in skill. I have needed to take more breaks between games due to frustration at mistakes I make in game. However, two things more than anything led to this decision. First, a seemingly small thing -- I saw a post on TL that demonstrated that Terrans are disappearing from the ladder. I looked at my division, and it is true -- less than 1/5 of the top 50 in my division (i.e. the people that play more than 5-10 games a season) are Terran. I believe this is because so many players focused for so long on one or two base play directed toward all-in style play rather than macro-centered play. Once, all-ins stop working, I believe it becomes very frustrating for players who used to win quick games to see themselves lose longer games. I wanted to become a member of this new minority group (the vanishing Terran, not the frustrated all-inner).
Second, and much more importantly, watching the pros I have become increasingly excited by the way people are playing Terran. Recently (as in, the last six months) the one-base all-in and never-ending tank-viking slow crawl styles have given way to some amazingly dynamic play styles. I watch Bomber, and I want to play super greedy macro style. I watch MMA and Majorkittyprincessnongebritney and I want to try to drop three places at once. In short, I am inspired.
A New Approach
I have always loved Zerg because it is like judo -- you use what the opponent is doing against him. As much as I love this as an idea, however, I do not believe it comes naturally to me. If Zerg is judo, Protoss is bareknuckle boxing (it wants to fight you face to face, army to army), and Terran is a medium sized first-timer at an underground fight club. You have no idea what he's going to do to you. I like that terran can dictate the flow of the game to some extent.
What I want to do is play a macro-centric Terran style that focuses on a safe early expand in all match-ups. I will be copying the top pro's builds and techniques -- no matter how difficult they may be. In so doing I will improve.
So How's It Going So Far?
Better than I thought it would...I tried to lose all placement matches to start in bronze and work my way up, but two of my placement opponents left and I got placed in Silver. That night I was promoted to Gold. Later that night I made it to first in my division. I have since fallen to around 12th, but I feel pretty good -- I basically got to where I worked my way with Zerg for over a year in one day.
In my games so far, I have been very successful at TvT, not very successful at TvZ, and completely lost at TvP. I am optimistic, that I can improve quickly with Terran. (Please note that I do not think that T is easier to play than Z, rather that T fits my skill-set nicely)
I Need Some Help
I am having success with TvT and I have a plan for TvZ, but I need some guidance on TvP. I want to learn a macro-oriented TvP style that I can use on the ladder. Can anyone suggest a build that can get me a safe expand pretty early? As much as I like watching Puma own fools with the 1 1 1, I am trying to avoid all-ins on the ladder.
Also, I would like to hear some opinions on who I should try to emulate in each matchup -- who is the best at TvT, TvZ and TvP?
Finally, I'd like some feedback on my plans -- right now, in TvT I'm going gasless 1 rax expand into marine, tank, medivac (then ghost, viking as needed). In TvZ, I'm going reactor hellion expand into marine, tank (into full mech if they stay on MASS muta, ghost if infestor/hive). In TvP I've been going one rax gasless expo, but I've been dying a lot, even with bunkers/repair. When I don't die, I go MMM. I don't think I've gotten to the ghost/viking phase. If anyone has some better FE builds for any matchup, I'd like to hear some opinions.
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you on the ladder.
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