• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 12:21
CEST 18:21
KST 01:21
  • 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
Code S Season 1 - RO12 Group A: Rogue, Percival, Solar, Zoun9[ASL21] Ro8 Preview Pt1: Inheritors16[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt2: All Star10Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - The Finalists21[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt1: Fresh Flow9
Community News
2026 GSL Season 1 Qualifiers25Maestros of the Game 2 announced92026 GSL Tour plans announced15Weekly Cups (April 6-12): herO doubles, "Villains" prevail1MaNa leaves Team Liquid25
StarCraft 2
General
Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - The Finalists Code S Season 1 - RO12 Group A: Rogue, Percival, Solar, Zoun Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool MaNa leaves Team Liquid Maestros of the Game 2 announced
Tourneys
SC2 INu's Battles#15 <BO.9 2Matches> GSL Code S Season 1 (2026) WardiTV Spring Cup RSL Revival: Season 5 - Qualifiers and Main Event SEL Masters #6 - Solar vs Classic (SC: Evo)
Strategy
Custom Maps
[D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3 [A] Nemrods 1/4 players [M] (2) Frigid Storage
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 523 Firewall Mutation # 522 Flip My Base Mutation # 521 Memorable Boss
Brood War
General
ASL21 General Discussion [TOOL] Starcraft Chat Translator JaeDong's ASL S21 Ro16 Post-Review Missed out on ASL tickets - what are my options? BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/
Tourneys
Small VOD Thread 2.0 [ASL21] Ro8 Day 2 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Korean KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
Strategy
Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers What's the deal with APM & what's its true value Any training maps people recommend?
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Daigo vs Menard Best of 10 Nintendo Switch Thread Dawn of War IV Diablo IV
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
G2 just beat GenG in First stand
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
Vanilla Mini Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread 3D technology/software discussion Canadian Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Movie Discussion!
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion McBoner: A hockey love story
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
streaming software Strange computer issues (software) [G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Sexual Health Of Gamers
TrAiDoS
lurker extra damage testi…
StaticNine
Broowar part 2
qwaykee
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2237 users

Pro and cons of acceleration

Forum Index > BW General
Post a Reply
1 2 3 4 Next All
tomson
Profile Joined November 2002
Poland641 Posts
September 12 2003 13:26 GMT
#1
At first glance mouse acceleration seems to be great for starcraft. There are moments where you need decent accuracy (for example shift-clicking on a running speedling), there are also those in which insane speed is required (running through gateways etc.). There are even ones where you need both simultaneously (cloning overlords to spread them over the map). Without acceleration it's hard to find a compromise in your sensitivity settings to be equally efficient in all of them.However I can think of only one notable player that uses it (blackman). The only flaw of it that comes to my mind is that if you miscalculate your move you make a tripled/quadrupled error, but it's not that big of a disadvantage to restrain you from using it.

What are your thoughts ? Share your views and try to justify them.

__
tomsOn
smartcat
Profile Joined May 2003
Russian Federation172 Posts
Last Edited: 2003-09-12 13:54:16
September 12 2003 13:32 GMT
#2
["What are your thoughts ? Share your views and try to justify them."]
AutumnLight
Profile Joined July 2003
Ukraine2488 Posts
Last Edited: 2003-09-12 13:54:40
September 12 2003 13:33 GMT
#3
[Don't be an idiot.]
Pray for War.
tomson
Profile Joined November 2002
Poland641 Posts
September 12 2003 13:40 GMT
#4
?...

__
tomsOn
bi11y
Profile Joined December 2002
United States169 Posts
Last Edited: 2003-09-12 13:53:44
September 12 2003 13:46 GMT
#5
[post something usefull or don't post]
play me online u know that ill beat u, if i ever meet u, ill control - alt- delete - u
mensrea
Profile Joined September 2002
Canada5062 Posts
September 12 2003 13:51 GMT
#6
Interesting post tomson.

I prefer acceleration on for all the reasons you stated.

I heard that HeMan (the War3 champion who's now playing in Korea) lost one of his recent matches partly because he couldn't turn off the acceleration under Korean XP prior to the game. If this is true, it suggests that he prefers to play without acceleration. In fact, it suggests that he finds acceleration bothersome enough to seriously affect his game play. Not sure about the reasons tho. I'll ask.

Or maybe he can comment on this himself...
actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea.
Ymar
Profile Joined July 2003
65 Posts
September 12 2003 13:59 GMT
#7
Not that my experience would be worth much, but recently turned acceleration off, and now I find micro a lot easier...
Jar_Ly
Profile Joined March 2003
Cuba133 Posts
September 12 2003 14:14 GMT
#8
I don't use aceleration, i'm much less precise with it. I've also reduced the mouse speed since i'm playing. Look at it in this way: when u use slow mouse pointer u can move faster your hand if u need and u have an acceptable accuracy, but if u have a fast pointer u have to slow down too much to get a nice accuracy.

I think that the best combination is no acceleration with a medium+ pointer speed.

I think that blizzard should put in the game options something like what ID Software did to Quake 3: a mouse speed measured in numbers and Windows independent, not the Windows confusing bar. Everytime i reinstall windows i have to spend several minutes tunning up my mouse speed again cause i never remember were in the goddam bar i putted it last time!
Bill307
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
Canada9103 Posts
September 12 2003 14:31 GMT
#9
I imagine that it would be a lot easier to play without acceleration, because it would be easier to know how far to move the mouse in order to move the cursor a desired distance on the screen (without having to think about it). With no acceleration, the relationship is linear, something that our brains are very good at perceiving and calculating independent of our conscious thought. With acceleration turned on, however, the relationship becomes exponential (or similarly curved), something that our brains are not good at perceiving or calculating in an instant.

On the other hand, I suppose that eventually, given enough practice, your brain will start to remember how far to move the mouse in order to move the cursor x distance on the screen anyway, so once you "get used" to acceleration you should have few problems with it.

The benefits of acceleration seem trivial to me, though. I mean, how hard is it really to move the cursor quickly from one gateway to another without acceleration (given that your speed isn't too low, of course)? Similarly, is it really that hard to move your mouse just a tiny bit to move the cursor only a tad in any direction? I have to admit that I don't know whether my mouse uses acceleration or not (probably some low accel.), and I don't have a setting for it, either . But I can't see how this (imperceptible because it's exponential, mind you) variability of speed/accuracy would give you any real advantage, since these mouse movements aren't exactly physically demanding tasks (please correct me if I'm wrong, though). If anything, it increases the extent to which speed and accuracy are mutually exclusive.

In short, we have some possible benefits that don't actually seem to be beneficial at all, at the expense of being able to calculate mentally how far to move your mouse in order to move your cursor a desired distance (without knowing from a great deal of experience and trial+error). Given that all of this is sound, I just don't see how acceleration would be a good idea =/.
Casper...
Profile Joined October 2002
Liberia4948 Posts
September 12 2003 14:38 GMT
#10
i find the double threshold of low accel to be much too low.
noaccel is thx.

some players do use accel and dominate with it. q3 pro cooller is the guy that immediately comes to mind.
JAM THE FUCKER!
XaI)CyRiC
Profile Joined October 2002
United States4471 Posts
September 12 2003 14:45 GMT
#11
This may be obvoius, but for most people it's probably just a matter of what you're used to. The linear movement speed comment is one to note, but if you're used to acceleration it doesn't really matter.
Moderator
Liquid`Nazgul
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
22427 Posts
September 12 2003 14:45 GMT
#12
On September 12 2003 22:51 mensrea wrote:
Interesting post tomson.

I prefer acceleration on for all the reasons you stated.

I heard that HeMan (the War3 champion who's now playing in Korea) lost one of his recent matches partly because he couldn't turn off the acceleration under Korean XP prior to the game. If this is true, it suggests that he prefers to play without acceleration. In fact, it suggests that he finds acceleration bothersome enough to seriously affect his game play. Not sure about the reasons tho. I'll ask.

Or maybe he can comment on this himself...

it merely means you can't just switch from no-accel to accel like that
Administrator
tomson
Profile Joined November 2002
Poland641 Posts
September 12 2003 14:54 GMT
#13
Bill307, this is the kind of post I was looking forward to. I've also heard that argument about linear relationships, but I don't think it's something you can't overcome. After a few weeks all moves should be done on a subliminal level. There might be more to it thought, like some boundaries coded in us which we are uncapable to surmount. However it is also worth pointing out that, afaik acceleration is quite common among FPP players (i'm pretty sure fatal1ty used it), where precision is crucial.

No matter how trivial it might look, a benefit is a benefit. And of course there's no problem in clicking on gateways, yet it would be helpful if you could increase the speed and precision of doing such things. It's the small things that count.

__
tomsOn
BlackJack
Profile Blog Joined June 2003
United States10574 Posts
September 12 2003 14:57 GMT
#14
What is acceleration?
Iron[NM]
Profile Joined August 2003
United States57 Posts
Last Edited: 2003-09-12 15:08:51
September 12 2003 15:01 GMT
#15
[banned]
hmmm
Profile Joined May 2003
China299 Posts
September 12 2003 15:14 GMT
#16
Accerleration is great if you're used to it, otherwise its counter productive, personally I don't like it =/.
Roman
Profile Joined November 2002
United States2595 Posts
September 12 2003 15:45 GMT
#17
In my opinion acceleration isnt worth the effort to get used to it. If you want faster speed, move ur mouse speed settings higher and move ur hands slower. Otherwise, if u have fast hands, might as well use normal speed. I can see many scenarios where you need to click somethng next to ur cursor right away, but your mouse acceleration will move your mouse across the screen.
Nevera
Profile Joined May 2003
Finland677 Posts
September 12 2003 15:55 GMT
#18
I was allways under the assumption that nobody who plays seriously uses it. Surprising that there are people as good as Blackman who use it... Obviously I don't use it, haven't even tried to get used to it, hated the thing from the start. I can't hit anything with it.
Moo i say
FroZZoR
Profile Joined October 2002
China925 Posts
September 12 2003 16:00 GMT
#19
I use full mouse speed no accel, used to use accel, but it was a little harder to be accurate. But if u can, by all means go for it? Btw i don't even move my hand when playing, only wrist
There can be only one
Mynock
Profile Joined September 2002
4492 Posts
September 12 2003 16:03 GMT
#20
On September 12 2003 23:54 tomson wrote:
Bill307, this is the kind of post I was looking forward to. I've also heard that argument about linear relationships, but I don't think it's something you can't overcome. After a few weeks all moves should be done on a subliminal level. There might be more to it thought, like some boundaries coded in us which we are uncapable to surmount. However it is also worth pointing out that, afaik acceleration is quite common among FPP players (i'm pretty sure fatal1ty used it), where precision is crucial.

No matter how trivial it might look, a benefit is a benefit. And of course there's no problem in clicking on gateways, yet it would be helpful if you could increase the speed and precision of doing such things. It's the small things that count.

__
tomsOn


I'm no good at either (FPS/RTS) but even I use acc. in Q3, whereas ofcourse none in BW. Exactly coz of the obvious benefits I think.

-Mynock
1 2 3 4 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 16h 39m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
LamboSC2 210
TKL 153
UpATreeSC 43
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 5379
Calm 4233
Sea 2517
HiyA 489
Larva 349
actioN 271
Hyuk 230
Zeus 123
firebathero 115
Rush 110
[ Show more ]
Backho 110
ToSsGirL 77
Sexy 76
Pusan 53
Sharp 52
Bale 35
yabsab 28
Sacsri 27
soO 25
Rock 24
Shine 21
Movie 21
IntoTheRainbow 14
GoRush 9
Dota 2
syndereN349
Counter-Strike
fl0m4149
byalli377
adren_tv60
Other Games
singsing2118
FrodaN810
hiko701
B2W.Neo668
crisheroes216
XaKoH 114
KnowMe86
QueenE77
Fuzer 52
Trikslyr43
NightEnD38
Organizations
Other Games
BasetradeTV272
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream85
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 19 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• musti20045 210
• StrangeGG 92
• Kozan
• Migwel
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• sooper7s
• intothetv
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
StarCraft: Brood War
• HerbMon 24
• blackmanpl 20
• Michael_bg 2
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
League of Legends
• Nemesis1489
• TFBlade1058
Counter-Strike
• Shiphtur148
Other Games
• WagamamaTV367
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
16h 39m
Escore
17h 39m
INu's Battles
18h 39m
Classic vs ByuN
SHIN vs ByuN
OSC
20h 39m
Big Brain Bouts
23h 39m
Replay Cast
1d 7h
Replay Cast
1d 16h
RSL Revival
1d 17h
Classic vs GgMaChine
Rogue vs Maru
WardiTV Invitational
1d 18h
IPSL
1d 23h
Ret vs Art_Of_Turtle
Radley vs TBD
[ Show More ]
BSL
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
herO vs TriGGeR
NightMare vs Solar
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
2 days
BSL
3 days
IPSL
3 days
eOnzErG vs TBD
G5 vs Nesh
Patches Events
3 days
Replay Cast
3 days
Wardi Open
3 days
Afreeca Starleague
3 days
Jaedong vs Light
Monday Night Weeklies
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
4 days
Afreeca Starleague
4 days
Snow vs Flash
WardiTV Invitational
4 days
GSL
5 days
Classic vs Cure
Maru vs Rogue
GSL
6 days
SHIN vs Zoun
ByuN vs herO
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-04-29
WardiTV TLMC #16
Nations Cup 2026

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
ASL Season 21
CSL 2026 SPRING (S20)
IPSL Spring 2026
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
StarCraft2 Community Team League 2026 Spring
2026 GSL S1
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S2: W5
KK 2v2 League Season 1
Acropolis #4
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Maestros of the Game 2
2026 GSL S2
RSL Revival: Season 5
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
PGL Astana 2026
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.