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The Importance of Coaching and Why ACE is Winning - Page 2

Forum Index > BW General
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baubo
Profile Joined September 2008
China3370 Posts
November 28 2011 06:16 GMT
#21
I'm leery about the coaching aspect, especially because if the Ace coach is so good, one of the other teams like SKT1 or KT would've hired that guy. Just a guess from a free market standpoint.

I think more than coaching, it's the lack of pressure that has allowed these players to succeed. We're talking about B level level players living breathing BW but rarely gets a chance to shine. And even when they're sent out, they must feel they're on a short leash with all the other guys fighting for that PL lineup spot. We have veteran former top players who had to face the constant pressure of having to win time after time. A lot of players in BW don't succeed more due to mental issues than physical issues. It's these players who sometimes succeed in Ace.
Meh
Ideas
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
United States8174 Posts
November 28 2011 07:21 GMT
#22
On November 28 2011 15:16 baubo wrote:
I'm leery about the coaching aspect, especially because if the Ace coach is so good, one of the other teams like SKT1 or KT would've hired that guy. Just a guess from a free market standpoint.

I think more than coaching, it's the lack of pressure that has allowed these players to succeed. We're talking about B level level players living breathing BW but rarely gets a chance to shine. And even when they're sent out, they must feel they're on a short leash with all the other guys fighting for that PL lineup spot. We have veteran former top players who had to face the constant pressure of having to win time after time. A lot of players in BW don't succeed more due to mental issues than physical issues. It's these players who sometimes succeed in Ace.


i second this post
Free Palestine
Grettin
Profile Joined April 2010
42412 Posts
November 28 2011 07:21 GMT
#23
Great write-up and nice insight! ACE fighting!
"If I had force-fields in Brood War, I'd never lose." -Bisu
Caladbolg
Profile Joined March 2011
2855 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-28 07:47:40
November 28 2011 07:46 GMT
#24
The coaches likely study/have classes on military strategy. I'm not saying there's causation, but more likely than not, there's correlation. Strategy and tactics are a staple in any military force, whether the Airforce, Army, or Navy. Principles in real life apply to RTS as well (at the very least by analogy).

I've always thought ACE had the best cheeses, more so than even SKT/CJ (the two best proleague coaching staffs)
"I don't like the word prodigy at all. To me prodigy sounds like a person who was 'gifted' all these things rather than a person who earned all these talents by hard training... I must train harder to reach my goal." - Flash
tedster
Profile Joined May 2009
984 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-28 19:39:23
November 28 2011 19:35 GMT
#25
Of course coaching isn't solely responsible for ACE's recent solid play, but I'm taking a bold stance on this subject, having watched every ACE game in the last few years and seeing the drastic shift in strategy and results (+70% team win rate is extremely significant), the coaching must be responsible to a large degree. For the first time, ACE has actual racial coaches and players functioning exclusively in a support/coaching role, and for the first time they are actively confounding opposing lineups with clever metagaming.

I am also not saying the ACE coaches understand the game better or are better at preparing players for specific matchups. However, Coach Song and his team clearly understand the limitations of ACE and have worked hard to play to their strengths, to much greater success in recent times, and could perhaps herald an important new trend in the team-based metagame now that ACE matches are gone. ACE's strategy works best against "above average" to "A-tier" players, who normally have great incentive to player super-standard, but often falls against the top of A-tier and S-tier opponents, who have the skills and game sense to play through most scenarios. Now that S-tier players cannot play twice per match, confounding strategies designed to attack the 2-5th best players on a team are more valuable by comparison.

I am in no way basing my evaluation of ACE's prospects/skill level on the win over KT. In fact, it is not actually surprising at all that KT, a relatively shallow team with a few very good players, would fall to ACE, a team that uses its entire depth, top-to-bottom, in a clever and unique way.
the last wcs commissioner
Hesmyrr
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Canada5776 Posts
November 28 2011 19:42 GMT
#26
On November 28 2011 13:22 ]343[ wrote:
[However, what's worrying is that... if ACE doesn't finish last, what will the sponsor of the last-place team feel...? D: ]

Easy. Nobody will be unhappy about ACE beating them if they make it off to play-offs, not merely end up as 7th.
"If watching the MSL finals makes you a progamer, then anyone in Korea can do it." - Ha Tae Ki
Erasme
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
Bahamas15899 Posts
November 28 2011 19:43 GMT
#27
On November 28 2011 15:16 baubo wrote:
I'm leery about the coaching aspect, especially because if the Ace coach is so good, one of the other teams like SKT1 or KT would've hired that guy. Just a guess from a free market standpoint.

I think more than coaching, it's the lack of pressure that has allowed these players to succeed. We're talking about B level level players living breathing BW but rarely gets a chance to shine. And even when they're sent out, they must feel they're on a short leash with all the other guys fighting for that PL lineup spot. We have veteran former top players who had to face the constant pressure of having to win time after time. A lot of players in BW don't succeed more due to mental issues than physical issues. It's these players who sometimes succeed in Ace.

But why would it be more true now than before ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7lxwFEB6FI “‘Drain the swamp’? Stupid saying, means nothing, but you guys loved it so I kept saying it.”
tedster
Profile Joined May 2009
984 Posts
November 28 2011 20:37 GMT
#28
On November 28 2011 15:16 baubo wrote:
I'm leery about the coaching aspect, especially because if the Ace coach is so good, one of the other teams like SKT1 or KT would've hired that guy. Just a guess from a free market standpoint.


Not if he's in the Air Force and hasn't coached before. It's not like there's an enormous college sports network for coaches to develop and come to the forefront like in US sports. Furthermore, many of the teams out there aren't operating at a profit, and the BW market itself is shrinking, so applying the free market argument doesn't necessarily work as there might not be any serious financial incentive to developing top coaching talent.

What is significant is that the Air Force coach is running his team in a different manner to other coaches in the league. Map/roster selections are less predictable and players with enormous, known holes in their game are able to play around them because they are dictating the pace. (T)PianO, for example, absolutely falls to pieces in lategame macro play and has no real multitask - but by playing unconventionally and mixing in early-game cheese, as well as playing on wildly varying maps with map-specific strategies, Piano almost never has to play a conventional lategame.
the last wcs commissioner
Skeggaba
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
Korea (South)1556 Posts
November 28 2011 21:26 GMT
#29
Military-dong, i love that name.
Good write - up!
Bisu[about JD]=I was scared (laughs). The force emanating from his facial expression was so manly that I was even a little jealous.
samaNo4
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Spain245 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-28 21:49:14
November 28 2011 21:47 GMT
#30
Awesome write-up! I enjoyed it all along.

So sad that I have no emotional connection with BW players, it makes me not want to watch BW. But bit by bit I'm starting to get in, apart from the known Flash, Bisu and Jaedong I'm starting to get more with Firebathero, Sea, etc, and if I see that they are playing, I stay there to watch.

Why did I say that? Well, because I watched the entire ACE series (with Sayle's commentary of course) and I know nothing about BW. But these people, going to military and playing professionally at the same time..so awesome. There's a story, something to root for.
And then do you know what happens all of a sudden? Trumpets!!
oldfartz
Profile Joined October 2011
Philippines117 Posts
November 30 2011 09:14 GMT
#31
lol no.
tedster
Profile Joined May 2009
984 Posts
November 30 2011 21:10 GMT
#32
On November 30 2011 18:14 oldfartz wrote:
lol no.

Hey good analysis man
the last wcs commissioner
iSometric
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
2221 Posts
November 30 2011 23:53 GMT
#33
+ Show Spoiler +
Didn't expect them to get stomped 3-0, even if it is CJ.
Is Kal on the team now?
strava.com/athletes/zhaodynasty
Elroi
Profile Joined August 2009
Sweden5617 Posts
December 01 2011 00:16 GMT
#34
Very good read!
"To all eSports fans, I want to be remembered as a progamer who can make something out of nothing, and someone who always does his best. I think that is the right way of living, and I'm always doing my best to follow that." - Jaedong. /watch?v=jfghAzJqAp0
maximuspita
Profile Joined April 2010
1093 Posts
December 01 2011 01:57 GMT
#35
What is the name really lovable and smily coach that rejoiced every time his players won a game last season? He is a big reason why I became kept being a fan after the veterans left. Watching him grin like a child in Christmas when he new his coaching paid off was uniquely gratifying.

Thanks for the write up. I wanted to write something like this and from a similar point of view because I knew that the coaching staff was responsible for the stronger ACE players but I didn't have your knowledge. I hope the staff can do the same wonders to Kal and Great!
Korean Air, please save Fox.
amazingxkcd
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
GRAND OLD AMERICA16375 Posts
December 01 2011 02:08 GMT
#36
Hey, I always have said that ACE can actually do it, if there was no ACE match. There is not anymore, so really ACE should be expected to Top 4 this season.
The world is burning and you rather be on this terrible website discussing video games and your shallow feelings
Ideas
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
United States8174 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-12-01 02:32:43
December 01 2011 02:31 GMT
#37
On December 01 2011 08:53 iSometric wrote:
+ Show Spoiler +
Didn't expect them to get stomped 3-0, even if it is CJ.
Is Kal on the team now?


not yet. he's still in basic training i think. he hasn't been seen on the bench at either match (at least i dont remember anyone saying they saw him). I thought I saw at the first match, but it was actually someone else lol. damn bald asians
Free Palestine
bubblegumbo
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Taiwan1296 Posts
December 01 2011 02:40 GMT
#38
I love these kind of articles, who would've thought FBH is now good at TvP, of all matchups?
"I honestly think that whoever invented toilet paper is a genius. For man to survive, they need toilet paper!"- Nal_rA
subV
Profile Joined June 2011
United States93 Posts
December 01 2011 02:45 GMT
#39
On November 28 2011 11:32 tedster wrote:

For the most part, other than training and preparing the players, his part involves setting lineups and creating mismatches for the opponent based on racial and map compositions.


>Firebathero: We each picked our favourite maps, then did a random draw. The entry does not reflect our internal rankings. In the next game, you may not see me or the other two beside me, but you can expect the same ferocity and power.


Welp...
Agent Smith
Profile Joined August 2011
71 Posts
December 01 2011 02:54 GMT
#40
KT is the team that's gonna hurt most with the new format. I think they can improve it though. What if, instead of having a complete list of 5 players before the game, each team sends only the first two, and rest are submitted immediately after each game. That way teams have a chance to adjust depending on the outcome of the first two games. Fair enough I think.
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