Wanted to make everyone aware here of the tutorial series I'm making. Going to be covering a variety of StarCraft basics. I realize to a large portion of the TL crowd this is going to be stuff you know like the back of your hand.
Some of these may eventually feature guests and cover more in-depth topics, but these will primarily focus on newer players and how to handle basic situations that arise in game, and clear up some of the frustration over BW basics.
I'll be using this thread to update and announce new videos, as well as solict feedback and take requests about what people would like to see.
As always kudos for the time and effort put into s.th. to help out new players, and in such a straightforward fashion that caters the addressees.
I find the approach interesting to tailor the episodes around frequent in-game situations - and not start by principles and branch out into an explanation that is oftentimes too complex to grasp for a newbie, even though you sacrifice some comeprehensiveness that way. What I mean is: one could also explain what ctrl-click does in principle and then give dozens of examples of it's application but that'd branch out very quickly and might not be as ready-to-go-advice like yours. Or one could attempt to explain all the methods of re-rallying in one video - but that'd be a long one and maybe confuse s.o. who just looks for a quick solution for now.
One suggestions: As this is still a new but growing compilation of vids, maybe you want to sort out a systematic list in the near future and group the videos accordingly, additionally to the chronological list. Like a list that puts the vids into categories like TvZ, ZvT, general advice, and so on.
Sometimes (especially at rally points, where alike units often tend to clump up in the same spot, using the good old drag select can help you getting the units to move in the desired direction much smoother as you avoid having so many unselected ones in the way. This is particularly true if you are not using hotkey at all but, the most common example, just want to move a big group of Zerglings around. The best way to do it is to start drag-selecting groups of 12 starting from the direction in which you want them to move, so they get away cleanly while you select the next group. On the other hand, if you want to have multiple groups of unhotkeyed lings to arrive at the same destination at the same time its best to start with some already separated groups and send them starting with the one furthest away from the target.
What I would be interested in is: What methods do players use to regroup their units once their composition changes, or to replenish existing control groups with new units?
What I would be interested in is: What methods do players use to regroup their units once their composition changes, or to replenish existing control groups with new units?
Everyone should know that if you hold shift you can add units to your current selection by clicking on them or boxing them, then you can make a control group out of them all.
You probably know this, too, but one important technique would be to use the shift+number command to add the units you have selected to an existing control group. + Show Spoiler +
Let's say you start out with control groups 1 and 2, both full of vultures.
You fight a battle, you lose half your vultures in each group.
Now you can just press 2 to select your units from the 2nd group, press shift+1 to add those units to the first group, done. Now you can override the group nr 2 (which will still have the original vultures from group 2, they'll be assigned to both 1 and 2 until you put something else on 2) with something else.
With that method, you could also for example just manually select a couple of siegetanks from your natural and add them to an existing group of siegetanks that has some spots left.
In the same way you can fuse any number of control groups you want or units that you select, as long as you don't go over 12 units total because then some units won't be added. But you do that often, go over 12, if you just quickly want to fill up a group. One or two vultures or marines for example left behind in the natural won't be that big of a deal oftentimes.
In said example with the two groups of vultures, if you have them all closely together, you can of course just ctrl+click to select them all and press ctrl+1 to form the group anew, or you can just box all the vultures and do the same if there are no other units that could accidentally be selected. But pressing shift+1 should be the fastest way and works no matter where the units are.
Do this for a while and it will the most natural thing, you fuse stuff and make new groups in a jiffy until you have your original groups back, or as much as you need of them or whatever you want in a situation, there are countless applications.
Another principle for regrouping if you lose units in the field: If your reinforcements have to travel very far and might be intercepted, then it's better to see them as a separate army until they arrive and have them on separate hotkeys, and it's better to have mixed control-groups than to not hotkey an army at all. + Show Spoiler +
So for example after a battle where I started with 5 control groups of units and lost a bunch of stuff, I start with control group 1 and put my units that are out in the field on 1,2,3, and then box reinforcements in my natural and put them on 4,5. If the reinforcements have caught up and I have some time, I might put the groups back in order quickly, for example only vultures on groups 1 and 2, only tanks on 3, and so on. Of course, there are exceptions to these rules if you're pretty sure that you won't have to move/micro an army much, then it can go un-hotkeyed or you can put the units into existing groups immediatelly via shift or shift+number.
Then there is detailed knowledge, like knowing that if you ctrl+click or double-click on a sieged tank you will select only the sieged tanks on your screen, not unsieged tanks, and vice versa. Very important technique, for example when you do a push and you want to leave some sieged tanks somewhere to guard a position and quickly reassign the unsieged ones to a fresh group. Dunno if it's the same for burrowed/unburrowed lurkers for example.
On December 21 2018 18:50 Highgamer wrote: I find the approach interesting to tailor the episodes around frequent in-game situations - and not start by principles and branch out into an explanation that is oftentimes too complex to grasp for a newbie, even though you sacrifice some comeprehensiveness that way. What I mean is: one could also explain what ctrl-click does in principle and then give dozens of examples of it's application but that'd branch out very quickly and might not be as ready-to-go-advice like yours. Or one could attempt to explain all the methods of re-rallying in one video - but that'd be a long one and maybe confuse s.o. who just looks for a quick solution for now.
You hit the nail on the head. I might eventually go back and make more comprehensive videos, but often times newer players need answers to simple questions, this should hold all of those answers in quick, digestible format. As you also mentioned, longer videos are great for more experienced players.
A guy who is C or B can easily go to a 15' video about how to use cntrl and the minimap effectively and get a ton out of it. A new player is likely to be overwhelmed, struggle to follow some of it, and not pick up much in his 15' of watching.
The other major issue was attention span, my feedback was that while longer, in depth videos are great, most people are looking for simple answers to specific questions and don't want to hunt through 20' of video to find the one answer they want. Add to that the lack of attention span these days and that's why I settled on the short format for these videos.
This series won't address anything groundbreaking, nor new. All of this information IS out there. It's just not all out there in an easy to follow, bite size visual format. I have other things I want to work on, but I need to continue to talk with high levels players and work on my own gameplay to provide that content the way I would like.
On December 21 2018 18:50 Highgamer wrote: One suggestions: As this is still a new but growing compilation of vids, maybe you want to sort out a systematic list in the near future and group the videos accordingly, additionally to the chronological list. Like a list that puts the vids into categories like TvZ, ZvT, general advice, and so on.
This is a really good idea to be honest. I could definitely have race/MU specic playlists. I guess I need to decide at what level I want these playlists, as too many playlists could result in that system also being too cluttered. Love the though, I'll be thinking of a good organizational system.
On December 22 2018 04:21 [Fin]Vittu wrote: l_master you look like a calvin klein underwear model.
Haha thanks man! I'm genuinely surprised how often people comment on my looks though. I always knew I looked fine, but didn't expect quite as many comments as I got until I had a webcam and started streaming with decent lighting.
On December 21 2018 19:13 Freakling wrote: Sometimes (especially at rally points, where alike units often tend to clump up in the same spot, using the good old drag select can help you getting the units to move in the desired direction much smoother as you avoid having so many unselected ones in the way. This is particularly true if you are not using hotkey at all but, the most common example, just want to move a big group of Zerglings around. The best way to do it is to start drag-selecting groups of 12 starting from the direction in which you want them to move, so they get away cleanly while you select the next group. On the other hand, if you want to have multiple groups of unhotkeyed lings to arrive at the same destination at the same time its best to start with some already separated groups and send them starting with the one furthest away from the target.
All true. I actually talked about this in the comments/description. I want to avoid the videos providing too much information and resultant oversaturation, but I try to add relevant information to the description for those that want/need more.
On December 21 2018 19:13 Freakling wrote: What I would be interested in is: What methods do players use to regroup their units once their composition changes, or to replenish existing control groups with new units?
This is very individual and very situation. Sometimes you can just add to current hotkeys, sometimes it might make the most sense to mix hotkeys, sometimes you might hotkey reinforcements separately, etc. It's one of those questions you could probably right a short guide to the decision making about the best way to hotkey things depending on the current situation at hand.
For me this is the best platform to learn, I am new here and actually, I like to play a video game but I used to play on the console. I have no problem with the situation.
L_Master, reading your "D+ at last" blog in 2011 was what motivated me push for D+ and write BW blogs. It's really good to see you continue making BW contents. This kind of content aimed at beginners really reminds me of The Adventure of Kaspra by Sayle and NoOne back in 2011. I loved that stuff.
On December 22 2018 17:38 don_kyuhote wrote: L_Master, reading your "D+ at last" blog in 2011 was what motivated me push for D+ and write BW blogs. It's really good to see you continue making BW contents. This kind of content aimed at beginners really reminds me of The Adventure of Kaspra by Sayle and NoOne back in 2011. I loved that stuff.
Dude! Sick memories! Those were fun shows to watch.
I think you have started with a little bit too advanced stuff.
I recommend making videos on these topics:
Spending resources Amount of workers for every race Not getting supply capped under 200 Surviving a rush/cheese for every race Worker transfer amount for every race
You would THINK that EVERYBODY knows those things but it is far from the case for newer players. And YES there ARE new players in Remastered, Ive seen them. Ever people who know these things forget them at some point in the game.
On January 27 2019 20:59 bovienchien wrote: I think you should copy red sentences on the screen into describe part or comment part. So everyone can learn easier. Thank you so much.
I believe I have done this. If I haven't, I don't think I understand the suggestion.
One suggestion I would make is to place your text not directly over the command area but at the top of the screen, it feels a little jumbled in with the background at times. People focus from top to bottom, so your eye looks at the action and ignores the text.
On February 04 2019 18:15 Greth wrote: One suggestion I would make is to place your text not directly over the command area but at the top of the screen, it feels a little jumbled in with the background at times. People focus from top to bottom, so your eye looks at the action and ignores the text.
Something I might consider. Had a few suggestions to do it this way, and see the value in each.
Hey L_Master, you might want to check the link to the last video. It directs me to yt, but to the standard sign-in-page or something, not the video, had to click my way there via your profile. Your other links work.
edit: thx Jealous, but just to inform you, I knew how to find the vid by myself via his channel ^^
Good build-order/strategy-guide, well rounded, all the necessary basics and some detailed infos. Soon we'll have more macro-toss crushing Terran TT
On February 14 2019 18:59 Highgamer wrote: Hey L_Master, you might want to check the link to the last video. It directs me to yt, but to the standard sign-in-page or something, not the video, had to click my way there via your profile. Your other links work.
EPT![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/bQvH5m4.png)
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/nQDpU2p.png)
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/Swc6BJv.png)
