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What pool do you prefer?

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
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ToKoreaWithLove
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
Norway10161 Posts
February 04 2004 08:26 GMT
#1
Well of course the spawning type.

Im a bit unsure about when I should pool. Basicly I'm no big fan of 9 pools either way, dosnt seem to be worth the sac in econ.

12 pool on the other hand, is a clear favorite. Im thinking 12 pool 12 hatch build. The part I am unsure about is really vs toss, because I fear that a strong zealot rusher can kill my low ling numbers if I do pool first.

Thoughs on this? Preferably from good players.
ModeratorFather of bunnies
PPV_Jimmy
Profile Joined January 2003
United States641 Posts
February 04 2004 10:35 GMT
#2
Hmm sorry for hijack TKWL, but could somebody also mention some pooling tips for 2v2 games as well. I partner up with a Terran if it matters. Thanks!
FakeSteve[TPR]
Profile Blog Joined July 2003
Valhalla18444 Posts
February 04 2004 11:20 GMT
#3
TKWL I open ZvP msot of the time with an 11hatch 10pool build. I find it gives me the time to fight off a 9/10gate with a little bit of micro.

If they proxy their gates, or its close positions like 12/3 on LT, or you're too slow/bad with lings, you'll die to 9/10gate

basically you go..

9/9 overlord -> Ovie hatches, make 2 drones and send one off your minerals to make a hatchery

So 11/17 hatchery

10/17 pool

When your 2nd hatch is at around... 1000 hp or so send 2 drones and make sunkens, and make sure you have 6 lings or so asap after your pool finishes.

I dunno how great anyone else feels this build is, but with some work on the timing I've made it impervious to 9/10 gate unless they proxy (ZERIUS?!?!)
Moderatormy tatsu loops r fuckin nice
DevAzTaYtA
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
Oman2005 Posts
February 04 2004 11:43 GMT
#4
what if your opponent is teching?
you just spent 250 + whatever your drones would have mined for nothing!
FakeSteve[TPR]
Profile Blog Joined July 2003
Valhalla18444 Posts
February 04 2004 12:34 GMT
#5
Well, Devaz, the way I play ZvP the sunkens are part of the plan anyway, so its really a good idea for my style of zvp.

Good point though, Someone who doesn't play like me (And I don't mean "bad"! ) would just be wasting money
Moderatormy tatsu loops r fuckin nice
STIMEY d okgm fish
Profile Joined August 2003
Canada6140 Posts
Last Edited: 2004-02-04 12:52:52
February 04 2004 12:51 GMT
#6
you have to decide what you are going to let your opponent get away with (and hope they dont do exactly that), and that depends on how you judge your opponent. are you going to try to power over him (more drones) because you expect XXXX or do you think you should try to undercut him (hurt him early because you think he's going to be too unsafe). you can try to have it both ways but you'll probably just get neither. if you really think you just outskill them, you can play it safe, middle of the road, but then you might be better going more towards the rush end anyways.

so i dont think u should only have one build. you should keep them guessing, to some extent, and play the odds. sometimes you need to screw them up, make them think twice about trying to do some stupid stuff easily killable by a rush. and the same way, sometimes you need to do something to make them think twice about not rushing you. you're guessing blind early on.

the basic decision is: do you want to play to beat a given rush (beat meaning, you end up ahead, if they do it), or do you want to play to beat something different and be vulnerable (or worse) to that rush? you know what the worst rushes they might do will be, and now you decide what to do. and again, it goes back to you sizing up your opponent: what kind of player are they?

so i would just 9 pool every game. you can switch back to drones and get a hatch or a fast lair or whatever you like, but you can also rush the countless fuckers who try to cheese you or early expo or tech too slowly etc. etc.
ToKoreaWithLove
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
Norway10161 Posts
February 04 2004 13:58 GMT
#7
On February 04 2004 21:34 FakeSteve)307 wrote:
Well, Devaz, the way I play ZvP the sunkens are part of the plan anyway, so its really a good idea for my style of zvp.

Good point though, Someone who doesn't play like me (And I don't mean "bad"! ) would just be wasting money


Build one instead untill you see what he makes:o!
ModeratorFather of bunnies
ToKoreaWithLove
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
Norway10161 Posts
February 04 2004 14:01 GMT
#8
On February 04 2004 21:51 stimey d okgm fish wrote:
so i would just 9 pool every game. you can switch back to drones and get a hatch or a fast lair or whatever you like, but you can also rush the countless fuckers who try to cheese you or early expo or tech too slowly etc. etc.


Which is why I would 12 pool instead, fast pool for the greedy. Gives you a much quicker 3rd hatch if needed.

Still wondering tho. Not like I can't do 9 pool, I just don't like it ..
ModeratorFather of bunnies
ToKoreaWithLove
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
Norway10161 Posts
February 04 2004 14:03 GMT
#9
On February 04 2004 20:20 FakeSteve)307 wrote:
I dunno how great anyone else feels this build is, but with some work on the timing I've made it impervious to 9/10 gate unless they proxy (ZERIUS?!?!)


This build should be good, its pretty standard It's what I've always done also, but I just like the option of a fast pool now and then, if for nothing else to put toss on defensive. But Im not really sure if I sac too much econ / lings with pool first..
ModeratorFather of bunnies
STIMEY d okgm fish
Profile Joined August 2003
Canada6140 Posts
Last Edited: 2004-02-04 14:14:39
February 04 2004 14:10 GMT
#10
lots of ppl will 12 hatch 11 pool most of the time, and maybe 9 pool or 9 lord 9 pool, or 12 pool etc. some of the time. 12 hatch 11 pool is nice as long as they aren't 100% sure you will do it

so if ur looking for 1 build to always do, it depends on where ur getting ur players from, will they know you? will they all be good, or will some be worse than you? will they know they are worse than you (i.e. will they try desperate shit?) this is how you decide when to pool, unless you strictly want to go safety rush and try to outskill them (the ilnp way)
SoMuchBetter
Profile Blog Joined April 2003
Australia10606 Posts
February 04 2004 15:00 GMT
#11
i like 9pool in zvz and zvp.
9pool speedlings is my favourite zvz strat and i like microing lings against protoss if i can get up their ramp :O
AUSSIESCUM
TeamLiquid eSTROgeneral #1 • RIP
GroT
Profile Blog Joined January 2004
Belgium3003 Posts
February 04 2004 15:22 GMT
#12
this kind of thing is about gambling, I think whatever you choose, maybe you could have two or three different "builds" when you join a tournament or something so people can't just figure out the counter just because they know you already

it's never fun to lose in 5 mins right?
DANCE ALL DAY
pheered.user
Profile Joined March 2003
United States2603 Posts
February 04 2004 23:37 GMT
#13
9pool is the coolest build when i "play" zerg i go 9pool every game and than put 2nd hatch at a safe expo defense place than i expo like
art[s.r] did i have no idea why but it seems like you actually get units faster this way =\
Looking for Skilled players to join an Active, Involved clan. PM Me for Details.
STIMEY d okgm fish
Profile Joined August 2003
Canada6140 Posts
February 05 2004 01:31 GMT
#14
well, theoretically, if you only wanted drones (one extreme), the fastest way to get them is with 1 hatch, unless u want 20 or more drones (for fastest route to 20 drones it's probably 9 hatch 8 lord). the problem with this extreme is that obviously u need more lavas -- for zerglings. but how many zerglings, and when? again, it depends on what you want to be "safe" against, what you want to be "strong" against, and what you want to basically risk dying to. its ur choice. and u want more minerals further, for a lair, or a third hatch, and u also want gas, etc. etc.

on the other extreme, if all you want is fast, many zerglings early, you might want to hatch as early as 7 or 8 (pool probably on 9, replace drone, then 1-3 lords depending on how long term u want lings), obviously hurting your economy but you'll sure get to 12+ zerglings faster than he expects, whatever that is worth. so somewhere in between, i dunno. how long term are you looking, and what short term strats of your opponent do you want to "take your chances" with?

so zvp, the worst you expect him to do is 9/10 gate right? the fastest zeals he could do, if he was suicidal, would be like dual gate at 6, proxied, so if ur at 9, or at 6 and you send lord to 9, you can hatch a little later and be okay, provided he didn't proxy (drone scout), but if you're at 12 or 3, you send lord to 12 or 3, and you wait until you see if he's there or not, right? if you see him you build pool i think? or do you just always do an earlier hatch from that spot (like 7 8 or 9)? you could 9 lord and then 9 pool from there, too. if he's not there then he has to attack from 6, or worse, 9.

and i dont know the answer i just said stuff u already know :/
FroZZoR
Profile Joined October 2002
China925 Posts
February 05 2004 01:35 GMT
#15
i prefer 10/9 hatch/pool with extractor trick
it's really good against any build except for 10 12 gate, but who does that anyway nowadays o-o
There can be only one
pheered.user
Profile Joined March 2003
United States2603 Posts
February 05 2004 01:39 GMT
#16
not that im good but i always 10/12 pvz unless i tech
Looking for Skilled players to join an Active, Involved clan. PM Me for Details.
STIMEY d okgm fish
Profile Joined August 2003
Canada6140 Posts
February 05 2004 01:42 GMT
#17
again it depends who ur playing. plenty of ppl will 10/12 on temple in wgtour, at least they were doing it as recent as wsl4. i think i would rather be a little bit weak against 10/12 than probably hurt badly against 9/10 anyways
ToKoreaWithLove
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
Norway10161 Posts
February 05 2004 03:37 GMT
#18
On February 05 2004 10:35 FroZZoR wrote:
i prefer 10/9 hatch/pool with extractor trick
it's really good against any build except for 10 12 gate, but who does that anyway nowadays o-o


Against all races? Or only against toss?

What do you think about 12 pool 12 exp vs terran?
ModeratorFather of bunnies
Commander{+}
Profile Joined December 2002
United States2878 Posts
February 05 2004 08:26 GMT
#19
pvz: 12 hatch, 11 pool

tvz: 12 hatch, 11 pool

zvz: 12 hatch 11 pool or 12 pool 13 hatch
4 cheers for Ryan307
AutumnLight
Profile Joined July 2003
Ukraine2488 Posts
February 05 2004 10:52 GMT
#20
a swimming pool...
Pray for War.
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