So far today, I've been manner pylonned 3 times, and it's been incredibly annoying. My economy and build orders get completely screwed up. What's the best way to react after being manner pylonned? What weaknesses are exposed when someone manner pylons?

thedeadhaji

39489 Posts

February 18 2007 09:06 GMT

1) you could place your own pylons so that they cant manner you.
2) you can kind of tell from his probe movement, so take one probe and block the position if you feel that it is worth it.

teh leet newb

United States1999 Posts

February 18 2007 09:11 GMT

Okay, but how do I counter after I've already been manner pylonned?

rpf

United States2705 Posts

February 18 2007 09:25 GMT

Whatever probes are stuck, either use the various tricks to get them out, and waypoint whatever probes you can't free to attack the pylon and then return to mining.

Blind

United States2529 Posts

February 18 2007 09:29 GMT

On February 18 2007 18:11 teh leet newb wrote:
Okay, but how do I counter after I've already been manner pylonned?

I'd get the probes stuck to attack the pylon and all the other probes to just resume mining. Not much else you can do, so you should avoid it being manner pyloned at all costs.

il0seonpurpose

Korea (South)5638 Posts

February 18 2007 09:30 GMT

u have to make the stuck probes mine the same mineral patch and click stop and click them out of it, it works well.

rpf

United States2705 Posts

February 18 2007 09:52 GMT

So, I get manner pyloned:

If there's more than one probe stuck, I stack them, then force all but one out. Wow, you spent 100 minerals to trap one probe. Good thinking, asswipe.

I take the last probe that's stuck and waypoint it to attack the pylon, then return to mining. That way I don't have to worry about it later.

Think about it this way: when they manner pylon you, they're spending 100 minerals to screw up your mining. You're losing potential income, whereas they're losing actual income. I think it evens out, frankly.

BalloonFight

United States2007 Posts

February 18 2007 10:03 GMT

On February 18 2007 18:52 rpf wrote:
So, I get manner pyloned:

If there's more than one probe stuck, I stack them, then force all but one out. Wow, you spent 100 minerals to trap one probe. Good thinking, asswipe.

I take the last probe that's stuck and waypoint it to attack the pylon, then return to mining. That way I don't have to worry about it later.

Think about it this way: when they manner pylon you, they're spending 100 minerals to screw up your mining. You're losing potential income, whereas they're losing actual income. I think it evens out, frankly.

Manner pylon also is psychological. It can disrupt 1-2 mining paths, trap some probes (even though you can escape all but 1), and cause a little stress on the player and can disrupt their play.

Yogurt

United States4258 Posts

February 18 2007 10:12 GMT

more importantly, how do you manner pylon

Commentator

United States43 Posts

February 18 2007 10:23 GMT

#10

It's really depressing that you guys are repeating "you can escape all but one".

I guess I'll give some additional advice anyway.

Assuming that no probes get trapped (or that the victim is competent enough to get any trapped probes out), there are still situations where manner pylon is worth it. Keep in mind there are factors that vary the effectiveness (mineral formation, probe count).

1.) It's almost always worth it when the pylon is cancelled at the last second. The build time is long enough so that in virtually any situation, the trade-off is at least equal, but the attacker usually has the advantage.

2.) It's worth it whenever it takes at least 10 seconds for a zealot to begin attacking after the pylon has completed. 20 seconds (build time) + 10 seconds (pause time) + 36 seconds (kill time) = worth it.

If probes do remain trapped, it's almost guaranteed to be worth it.

If it's going to be even in raw mineral counts, it might be worth it anyway for the distraction-factor that has already been mentioned. For example, a manner pylon is a great way to force an opponent to choose between blocking his ramp and attacking a pylon.

NokCha

Korea (South)410 Posts

February 18 2007 10:28 GMT

#11

:3 just build a pylon to prevent it~ it saves u the trouble from even worrying about it and it doesn't even put u behind~

fusionsdf

Canada15390 Posts

February 18 2007 10:32 GMT

#12

On February 18 2007 19:12 Yogurt wrote:
more importantly, how do you manner pylon

practctice on certain patches to figure out the positions. They should become easily recognizable.

Then try it in game. You just time your probe against the mining scvs/probes so that he arrives and builds the pylon. You want to keep the pretense of normal scouting until you find a hole.

Commentator

United States43 Posts

February 18 2007 10:41 GMT

#13

On February 18 2007 19:32 fusionsdf wrote:

Show nested quote +

The real trick is to keep the probe moving so that it isn't slowed down by acceleration/deceleration. When looking for an opportunity to manner pylon, keep your probe close but moving back and forth. When you see an opportunity, tell your probe to gather minerals at a patch beyond your target spot. Hit BP so that you're ready to place the pylon, and when your probe goes in range of your target, click it down.

Also, about preventing manner pylons with your own pylons-- Yes, that is an ideal remedy. However sometimes there are 2 or even 3 spots to be manner pyloned so they can't all be covered in time. Additionally, there might be a reason to build your first pylon in another place. In other words, sometimes it just can't be prevented so it is useful to know everything about the situation in case it does happen.

PS: Here is a video showing how to get the "last trapped probe" out of a manner pylon. Probe Jump I don't know how posters missed it.

NokCha

Korea (South)410 Posts

February 18 2007 10:47 GMT

#14