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Active: 17606 users

Increasing APM/EAPM

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
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Birdie
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
New Zealand4438 Posts
April 24 2013 09:47 GMT
#1
Hi,

I've been playing a lot of ZvP recently and have been told that the ceiling preventing me from getting any better is lack of APM. Now, Bakuryu only has around 160 APM over a game but it's mostly EAPM; I'm at about 150 APM and it's, well, not mostly EAPM. It's usually around 90-100 EAPM according to bwrepinfo. How can I increase my EAPM and overall APM? I haven't had any APM increases in about 6 months. Obviously I don't want to learn to spam, I want to be doing useful things with the increased APM.
Red classic | A butterfly dreamed he was Zhuangzi | 4.5k, heading to 5k as support!
evilfatsh1t
Profile Joined October 2010
Australia8627 Posts
April 24 2013 12:50 GMT
#2
it doesnt work for everyone, but consciously trying to increase your apm in game, not by spamming but by "looking" for things to do, will in the long run increase your apm a little. for example, at lower lvls a lot of people spend time looking at their armies and walking back and forth, therefore forgetting to do little things such as check larva. when you find that youre not particularly doing anything, look for something to do, whether it be checking up on upgrades, checking larva, making sure drones arent idle, scouting etc etc.
it sounds obvious, but it doesnt actually happen a lot. anyways this will increase your apm if you focus on it for a reasonable amount of time. eapm however, will only increase when all this stuff becomes routine for you and your game sense is heightened.
iFU.pauline
Profile Joined September 2009
France1529 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-24 13:56:37
April 24 2013 13:50 GMT
#3
Just to share my experience with you, before i had between 180/200 apm (zerg), I am now 200/250 and what really made me increase my apm is the habit of having proper controls, you need to find a way to clean up your game-style in order to do things much faster and that means you need to use as much as possible your keyboard in order to make your life easier. This way you will repeat the same patterns over and over again and will do things much faster overtime. The time that you don't spend looking for "this or that" with your mouse is the time you can use to do something else. Don't forget that Micro is most of your apm, so the less time you spend on your macro the more time you can spend on your micro, this way you will improve drastically your lvl in a short period of time. Just check pro zerg fpvod and copy them, it's the best advice that i can give you. In my opinion one of the best zerg that runs with a "low apm" while being extremely good is sAviOr. around 240apm. I think he is a good example on how to maximize efficiency.
No coward soul is mine, No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere, I see Heaven's glories shine, And Faith shines equal arming me from Fear
L_Master
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States8017 Posts
April 24 2013 16:30 GMT
#4
"How can I increase my EAPM and overall APM? "

1) know your own gameplan solidly, and what you are trying to do

2)Practice doing things quickly and preciesly. Some people are kind lazy with their mouse and placing things. You want to move very quickly to do something, but also preciesly so you don't miss and have to try again

3)Watch FPVoDs to see how the good multitasking zergs do it. How long do they focus on macro? How long on army? When generally in battles do they glance away? How have they organized hatches for macro? Which actions are prioritized? etc. etc. Study and understand those and then try to match that rhythmn.

4)Practice playing overly fast vs CPU. Try to jump screens like mad. Army. Hatches. Army. Drone Mine. Army. 3rd Base. OL repoistion. Army. Macro.

You get the idea, go so fast your almost out of control and your play is on the brink of getting sloppy. This can kinda jumpstart your brain into the habit/though process of thinking at a faster, more multitask heavy rate.

5) Precision - This is like music style. If your trying to get used to going through hatches first, start off very slow making sure each click is perfect. Then get faster once you're good at it. Keep getting faster and faster once you master the previously speed until you've got that blazing precision and speed.
EffOrt and Soulkey Hwaiting!
traceurling
Profile Joined December 2012
United States1240 Posts
April 24 2013 17:01 GMT
#5
I was talking with Bakuryu about this and I hope I recall it correctly, but it was something along the lines of just know your build andwhat you're doing, and your APM will just increase to match what you need...idk if I said that properly. :\
"Appreciate the things you have before they become the things you had."
greenelve
Profile Joined April 2011
Germany1392 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-24 17:22:03
April 24 2013 17:20 GMT
#6
Well...advice from me...everytime you have done anything, go through your macro keys (hatches for example). Build units if possible or look for units who are done building and ready for service and even if you cant/have no units, just go trough it for the sake of doing it. This way you will get used to it while microing units.....


..and it increases your apm..


also there are practice maps, where you do your build order while microing a worker in the middle of a map, on a small area, against a choboling. Then you need to have to increase you apm to keep your worker alive and do your build order.
z0r.de for your daily madness /// Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of men? The Shadow knows!
Golgotha
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Korea (South)8418 Posts
April 25 2013 00:49 GMT
#7
what helped me increase my apm is to constantly be moving my army and scouting all the time with lings and ovies. ALso very important is to control group everything you can. use all the the ctrl groups as much as possible. even 0. you will hate it at first but once you get used to it you will never go back! and since you are in bw for the long run, why not learn this new skill
sluggaslamoo
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
Australia4494 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-25 05:23:50
April 25 2013 05:22 GMT
#8
On April 24 2013 18:47 Birdie wrote:
Hi,

I've been playing a lot of ZvP recently and have been told that the ceiling preventing me from getting any better is lack of APM. Now, Bakuryu only has around 160 APM over a game but it's mostly EAPM; I'm at about 150 APM and it's, well, not mostly EAPM. It's usually around 90-100 EAPM according to bwrepinfo. How can I increase my EAPM and overall APM? I haven't had any APM increases in about 6 months. Obviously I don't want to learn to spam, I want to be doing useful things with the increased APM.


Its unnecessary, and I doubt that is what is preventing you from getting better.

When you get better, your mechanics will naturally increase. I used to have 250 apm, now I have 150 and I am twice as good as I used to be, I have better macro, micro, multitask even though I've "lost" 100 apm.
Come play Android Netrunner - http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=409008
HungrySC2
Profile Blog Joined September 2011
United States191 Posts
April 25 2013 08:37 GMT
#9
I'm a sc2 nerd, but I think the same things apply.

1. Know your build inside and out. Don't focus on anything until you can macro out your build for at least 10 minutes without any mistakes.

2. Use hotkeys. Make sure you are hotkeying everything. I know hotkeys for production are different between the two games, but make sure armies and locations are getting hotkeyed and being used constantly.

3. Watch your minimap and money. If you glance at your minimap and your money and don't instantly need to do 2 or more things. You're doing something wrong.

4. Find patterns. Something I'm trying to learn is to move my army away from the enemy when I go macro. Then move forward when I'm done. It's not neccesarily the example itself that I'm trying to point out, but the idea that "because my army is moving away I have time to do something else" This type of planning can be used in all aspects of the game. For example I know in my build order that I don't have to add production or make supply depots after I start the next building so for 10 seconds afterwards I can focus on doing something else.

5. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Because you're willing to make mistakes you can play games with yourself. Force yourself to move all your army hotkeys at least one time between every macro cycle. Add all the new units to hotkeys between every macro cycle. Scout somewhere on the map between every macro cycle. etc etc.

The more things you realize you could be doing. And the more you practice doing them. The more likely you are to be able to fit them into your game and naturally improve your APM. Focus on the basics and then slowly add things in.

6. Play against people worse than you (or against noone/computer). To improve on things you haven't done before. So you can try to add them into your game.

7. Play against people better than you. To force yourself to become faster at doing the things you need to do.

"First say to yourself what you would be; And then do what you have to do. (Epictetus)
RednBlack
Profile Joined March 2013
Canada24 Posts
April 26 2013 04:31 GMT
#10
I remember there was a map where you have to play a 1v1 or just do your build, while microing a marine in the middle to avoid the firebat. If your marine died, it was game over. I just played this map nonstop and my eapm went up to 160 from my usual 80 with hotkeys. Too bad I lost the map and I don't know how to transfer the skills to a real game
What is this "sc2" you speak of?
idegelchik
Profile Joined September 2012
Russian Federation382 Posts
April 26 2013 07:57 GMT
#11
im 170-180apm(100-120eapm) protoss user, dont know how guys make 250-300apm... TT
vanatir
Profile Joined May 2008
Germany355 Posts
April 26 2013 08:39 GMT
#12
i suggest to focus more on strats and play a lot to get more experience. as mentioned apm is overrated. your apm will increase with the amount of games u play
aka EnjoYmE - streaming on http://www.twitch.tv/myprobe
sabas123
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Netherlands3122 Posts
April 26 2013 12:57 GMT
#13
On April 26 2013 16:57 idegelchik wrote:
im 170-180apm(100-120eapm) protoss user, dont know how guys make 250-300apm... TT

by playing ALOT

also force your self to constatly have some amount of apm in the game, like have apm alert for 300 or something.
The harder it becomes, the more you should focus on the basics.
therockmanxx
Profile Joined July 2010
Peru1174 Posts
April 26 2013 13:47 GMT
#14
150-160 its actually a good apm for not competitive games !
But I guess you can try your multitasking. This is usually what make EAPM very strong
Practice along very repetitive thing and go for cycles of production.
Move army Then scout some other place then Macro Some Units Then build Supply Then Reinforce Army Then Tech up
And Repeat
Even if you are in battle you should never try to stop doing this. Look for the right moments to do this during battles.
Repetion is the Key
Tekken ProGamer
GoShox
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
United States1835 Posts
April 28 2013 06:02 GMT
#15
On April 26 2013 16:57 idegelchik wrote:
im 170-180apm(100-120eapm) protoss user, dont know how guys make 250-300apm... TT


When I started playing, I shift clicked my scouting Probe around cause I thought it was impossible for anyone to keep it alive with multitasking lol. I never used any certain tricks or anything.. I just played the game and got faster over time. I took a lot of long breaks from a few weeks to months and oddly enough, every time I came back, my APM jumped a bit. Probably just differs from person to person.
Thor.Rush
Profile Joined April 2011
Sweden702 Posts
April 28 2013 12:05 GMT
#16
As a high master terran (or gm when im more active), my apm for sc2 is usually around 200 using my laptop. My epm is almost the same as my apm. When I switch to a mechanical keyboard my average apm is 250 or more, but I don't think I play better; it's just easier to hit the keys more often. Also the sound of the keys just makes me spam a bit more unconsciously.
| SaSe | Naniwa |Stephano | LucifroN | Mvp | MarineKing | ByuN | Polt | MC | Parting |
t0ssboy
Profile Joined August 2011
Bulgaria681 Posts
April 28 2013 13:00 GMT
#17
On April 28 2013 21:05 Thor.Rush wrote:
As a high master terran (or gm when im more active), my apm for sc2 is usually around 200 using my laptop. My epm is almost the same as my apm. When I switch to a mechanical keyboard my average apm is 250 or more, but I don't think I play better; it's just easier to hit the keys more often. Also the sound of the keys just makes me spam a bit more unconsciously.

And how does this help him or any other user looking at the topic?
Courage is doing what you are afraid to do.There can be no courage if there is no fear.
KadaverBB
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Germany25657 Posts
April 28 2013 15:47 GMT
#18
I think you are in the wrong thread dude maybe :D
AdministratorLaws change depending on who's making them, but justice is justice
Crimson)S(hadow
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
Philippines526 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-04-29 07:26:05
April 29 2013 07:24 GMT
#19
stop fucking worrying about it so much. just watch a fpvod of a pro korean, and watch closely at the efficient uses of hotkeys and shortcuts.

and this whole apm/eapm thing drives me fucking insane, especially as a zerg. so i spam move click to keep my mutas stacked, smoothen out flight path, and keep them at maximum flying speed, and some silly algorithm decides that those actions should be considered spam? i spam 5sm6sm7sm because as a zerg, i cannot see the progress of larvae production while i'm away from my hatches and muta microing, and that is considered spam? the usefulness/uselessness of some "spam" actions are very debatable.
"It's the end of the BW era which i devoted everything to for 10 years. I tried playing sc2, but my BW memories run too deep; I felt like I was playing an entirely different game" -ToSsGirL
popzags
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Poland604 Posts
April 29 2013 11:03 GMT
#20
The key is of course playing a lot. That way, your hands learn to perform many recurring tasks in an automatic pattern-like way, thus making your moves faster and leaving more time to do all that non-standard actions like micro in concrete situtations (although if you check top players, their micro also is performed in semi-automatic way just because their brains already collected so much micro data from previous games that it allows them to react more automatically).

Have your hotkeys mapped optimally and learn to eyeroll fluently between main screen, resource counter and minimap. Also, for many people spamming high APM early on is very important, as it allows them to maintain the proper tempo of playing right from the word go, so they don't have to go on a high gear when things heaten up. If the game ends and you feel pushed to your limits and exhausted and if your hands feel a little tight from the workload they did, you're on a right track.
What what the the fuck fuck? That blew my mind so much, I doubled every word in the phrase 'What the fuck' to get: 'What what the the fuck fuck my what the the fuck fucking what did the drop dropship medivac where in the what in the hell?' - Day[9]
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