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[G] How to get started on ladder as a new Z player

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
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iopq
Profile Joined March 2009
United States571 Posts
May 10 2018 10:17 GMT
#1
Very new players shouldn't try to learn complicated builds, but instead they should have fun. Here I will present the simplest builds that even new players can execute.

4 pool


Good against Protoss and Terran





    Pool at 4 supply (without making a drone). You can cancel a drone if you already made one, you won't need that larva

    4/9 scout exactly at 128 minerals (when you have 120 minerals and the drone is bringing 8 more)

    zerglings after that

    make an extractor at 9/9 and 100 minerals, make a pair of lings and cancel the extractor (called extractor trick)

    10/9 overlord


This build is viable even at the highest level. It's a hard counter to proxy 8 barracks. Sometimes you'll need to play a macro game after this, especially if the Protoss knows to abandon the forge and pylon and cannon inside the base.

5 pool


Can be good against every race



    5/9 pool

    6/9 scout with the last drone you make

    zerglings from now on 9/9 extractor and a pair of zerglings, cancel extractor (this is called extractor trick)

    10/9 overlord

    if the opponent is Zerg, make a sunken in his base, but don't make it too obvious or too early


More economy oriented build, the only hard counter to 12 hatch in base. If you do it against Protoss with the intention to macro behind it, you can make a drone instead of a 4th pair of lings.

With these two builds, I was able to get around 1800 MMR, mostly losing to Zerg 9 pools. Of course, a new player wouldn't be able to macro out of a failed 4 pool, so a new player would have a lower MMR doing this build. But a new player still gains a lot by doing these builds - learning how to scout, micro, multi-task, follow a build. I will follow up with a more interesting build for the second part of the guide.

kogeT
Profile Joined September 2013
Poland1954 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-05-10 10:23:11
May 10 2018 10:23 GMT
#2
Im not sure, is the point of ladder to win few games and never win again? Or is to understand your current level and slowly build your skill? Playing 4/5 pools is a quick way to get bored of a game..
https://www.twitch.tv/kogetbw
iopq
Profile Joined March 2009
United States571 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-05-10 10:34:39
May 10 2018 10:33 GMT
#3
One hatch mutalisk


Best against Zerg, can be fun against Protoss and Terran. You need to first practice Mutalisk stacking to be effective with it.

(Wiki)Mutalisk Harassment
(Wiki)Mutalisk vs. Scourge Control



    9/9 pool

    9/9 gas

    8/9 overlord

    scout with drone if it's a 4 player map

    9/9 save larva and money for zerlings

    100 gas speed take one larva off gas

    100 gas lair

    put larva back on gas when you can afford it


This 9 pool speedling build is the most common ZvZ build. It can be used to deny scouting to do weird all-ins vs. Terran and Protoss. Even while playing I kept running into the issue that I'm not that good at catching scouting workers! By playing this build I learned how to properly fan out my zerglings and catch scouting workers. It's very important they don't see the timing of your expansion, or your strategy is basically toast.
iopq
Profile Joined March 2009
United States571 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-05-10 10:51:36
May 10 2018 10:48 GMT
#4
One hatch lurker drop


Can be effective vs. Terran and Protoss. Starts off with the same basic 9 pool speedling build to deny scouting. This is key, do not rush into the Protoss's perfectly timed cannons with your first 6 zerglings. Kill the probe and then pretend you're doing a run-by to force probes to block holes.



    9/9 pool

    9/9 gas

    8/9 overlord

    scout with drone if it's a 4 player map

    9/9 save larva and money for zerlings

    100 gas speed take one larva off gas

    100 gas lair

    put larva back on gas quickly, you need more gas than the muta build since you're not getting a second hatchery

    drone to 16/17

    hydralisk den (doesn't have to complete at lair)

    overlord

    ventral sacs (overlord drop upgrade)

    lurker aspect

    5 hydralisks

    make 4 lurkers, leave one hydralisk to defend against a corsair

    continue droning, you are only trying to do economic damage with your slow drop


Both the 1 hatch lurker and 1 hatch muta builds are countered by cannons in the back, but the Protoss cannot know it's coming instead of a zergling or hydra all-in. If you can kill one nexus, you can transition to macro and fan zerglings out to find ninja expansions.

With these two builds I was able to achieve around 1900 MMR. The better success rate of these builds is due to the fact that I was playing a more standard ZvZ instead of instantly losing to 9 pool builds.
iopq
Profile Joined March 2009
United States571 Posts
May 10 2018 11:02 GMT
#5
On May 10 2018 19:23 kogeT wrote:
Im not sure, is the point of ladder to win few games and never win again? Or is to understand your current level and slowly build your skill? Playing 4/5 pools is a quick way to get bored of a game..

of course, it would be boring to just do 4/5 pools

so that's why I started another account to do other 1 hatch all-ins - I didn't do speedling all-in, that's a bit too boring

I will cover 2 hatch play later - but to get started with the game, doing 1 hatch builds is enough, I think.
LUCKY_NOOB
Profile Blog Joined June 2013
Bulgaria813 Posts
May 10 2018 11:51 GMT
#6
YES ladder IS a terrible place for a new player. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT IS A MUST
If you have all ins in your bag of builds you WILL WIN a few of them.
Nobody should expect a new player to start with macro intensive builds.

Learn the easy then the hard. Not try to learn the hard and give up like so many before you!

AND EVEN if you lose with your 4 pool against a Probe ALL IN for example then you STILL learn a valuable lesson.
Which is EXECUTION is always king.
Join the No Hunters Free For All Discord: https://discord.gg/kWNQvnd
Ty2
Profile Blog Joined March 2013
United States1423 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-05-10 12:11:03
May 10 2018 12:09 GMT
#7
5 pool is a good build that builds a lot of elementary skills. Things like scouting mattering a lot, controlling units, doing a build order properly, and even macro/multitask on a minimal scale are all tested. It's also good to test a player's improvisational skill in how they followup.
WriterI feel weird.
ninazerg
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
United States7289 Posts
May 10 2018 13:02 GMT
#8
I don't think this is very good advice. I do think players should have fun, and not grind their face against a cheese grater trying to immediately ladder. I don't think they should 4pool every game.

I think new players should watch a lot of streams and VODs, play a bunch of different stuff like 1v1, 2v2, BGH, fastest map possible, zero clutter, hunters, bloodbath, etc., and play all three races for awhile. Like, play a whole bunch of games as Protoss, then play a bunch of games as Zerg, then play a bunch of games as Terran.

Also, 3v5 comp stomps. Or, if they're feeling bold, 2v6. All of these things will provide variety while teaching new players various things about the game, such as:

- Your teammates are cruel when you're new
- Your teammates hate you even if you're good
- How to mute your teammates
- Find rare "nice" teammates
- Make friends on StarCraft
- Max out one's army on Fastest quickly by making a lot of production buildings and controlling them
- How to win on Bloodbath without ever leaving your base
- That computers are bulli
- That competitive games are taken way too seriously

but most importantly:

- How to play the game and find out what they like. Maybe they'll like custom games best. Maybe they'll go "Hey, I like playing Terran" but then change their mind and go "I think I like Zerg best". Stuff like that.
"If two pregnant women get into a fist fight, it's like a mecha-battle between two unborn babies." - Fyodor Dostoevsky
iopq
Profile Joined March 2009
United States571 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-05-10 13:50:44
May 10 2018 13:45 GMT
#9
On May 10 2018 22:02 ninazerg wrote:
I don't think this is very good advice. I do think players should have fun, and not grind their face against a cheese grater trying to immediately ladder. I don't think they should 4pool every game.

No, sometimes they should 5 pool.

But to be serious, I think you should learn one race at a time. There's too much to learn at once.

One race, one build, one map, one opponent. This is probably the ideal practice scenario.

People who ladder would probably have a little bit of practice from the campaign or against the computer first, obviously. But that's why I'm giving 9 pool speed variants that work against every race (including random).
radley
Profile Joined August 2008
Poland554 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-05-10 20:30:24
May 10 2018 20:26 GMT
#10
Don't mind Koget please, he clearly has no understanding what ladder is implemented for. Nor has Ninazerg.

Those sophistically selected builds are great for beginners, keep it up buddy. Good work so far.
TL+ Member
heyitsMiro
Profile Blog Joined November 2016
83 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-05-10 21:54:31
May 10 2018 21:54 GMT
#11
I think you should learn one race at a time

When exactly are you done learning a race?
Ty2
Profile Blog Joined March 2013
United States1423 Posts
May 10 2018 22:03 GMT
#12
Playing the campaign is a fun way to learn all 3 races.
WriterI feel weird.
niteReloaded
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Croatia5273 Posts
May 10 2018 23:41 GMT
#13
I wouldn't recommend anyone to pick up SC now.
The game is too frustrating to play, too hard to learn enough to be able to find equal opponents on ladder.

I love the time I've spent with it, but..... life is easier than SC.

Better pick up pickup and bang chicks instead of being pwned by nerds.
TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10569 Posts
May 11 2018 00:34 GMT
#14
On May 11 2018 08:41 niteReloaded wrote:
I wouldn't recommend anyone to pick up SC now.
The game is too frustrating to play, too hard to learn enough to be able to find equal opponents on ladder.

I love the time I've spent with it, but..... life is easier than SC.

Better pick up pickup and bang chicks instead of being pwned by nerds.

Yea or maybe you can always bang chicks and own nerds.
AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
iopq
Profile Joined March 2009
United States571 Posts
May 11 2018 01:32 GMT
#15
On May 11 2018 08:41 niteReloaded wrote:
I wouldn't recommend anyone to pick up SC now.
The game is too frustrating to play, too hard to learn enough to be able to find equal opponents on ladder.

I love the time I've spent with it, but..... life is easier than SC.

Better pick up pickup and bang chicks instead of being pwned by nerds.


There's 24 hours in the day, what are you going to do with the other 22-23 hours?

On May 11 2018 06:54 Carnations wrote:
Show nested quote +
I think you should learn one race at a time

When exactly are you done learning a race?


Whenever you feel like switching

I will test out more aggressive builds on ladder - if my rating is higher being aggressive, then I will transition to turtle Zerg style and learn how to macro defending all game until I get a high rating with that too, but that's like step 10

I will first try 2 hatch all-ins
TheSkilfulQuail
Profile Joined March 2018
35 Posts
May 11 2018 15:12 GMT
#16
On May 11 2018 08:41 niteReloaded wrote:
I wouldn't recommend anyone to pick up SC now.
The game is too frustrating to play, too hard to learn enough to be able to find equal opponents on ladder.

I love the time I've spent with it, but..... life is easier than SC.

Better pick up pickup and bang chicks instead of being pwned by nerds.



Come on. The game isn't that frustrating. You learn a build. Practice it alone on a macro map. Eventually get it right. Practice it in multi, realise things are so much harder against a person. Lose lots of games. Watch lots of replays. Learn and get better.

Then, when you get those wins they feel amazing. And you earnt every bit of that.

In terms of finding equal opponents. Be social. Join a clan or make friends and get as much advice and practice as you can. You will learn and get better whoever you play against and it's a lot more fun than random people on ladder.

New players please don't be discouraged. I'm on day 18 of really trying to get into bw. I have improved and actually won a few games now. You just need to have the right mindset to take the losses and learn from your mistakes. I can't see myself giving up anytime soon
ruypture
Profile Joined May 2014
United States314 Posts
May 11 2018 16:00 GMT
#17
Honestly I think iopq is on the right track. The game is too fast and complex for a lower end (D+ and lower) player to be trying to learn macro intensive builds for laddering.

Granted, it all depends on how you find fun. I came from SC2 first and I didn't care for all-ins or cheese so I went straight to macro builds, but I also had to sit down and grind out 300 PvT's in a row to learn how to make gateway units halfway decently. 90% of people aren't going to do that.

I think one thing to take away is that people should not downplay the viability of all-ins or cheese. They're a great way to learn certain fundamentals and everyone should be able to do a cheese or an all-in on command. They can especially help someone learn when to go for a kill.
어윤수|이신형|이재동|이승형
niteReloaded
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Croatia5273 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-05-11 20:15:35
May 11 2018 20:13 GMT
#18
On May 11 2018 09:34 GGzerG wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 11 2018 08:41 niteReloaded wrote:
I wouldn't recommend anyone to pick up SC now.
The game is too frustrating to play, too hard to learn enough to be able to find equal opponents on ladder.

I love the time I've spent with it, but..... life is easier than SC.

Better pick up pickup and bang chicks instead of being pwned by nerds.

Yea or maybe you can always bang chicks and own nerds.

One would have to play a lottt to own nerds if he/she picks up BW now, wouldn't you say?

I know what you're saying, but it comes down to whether the person has the passion for BW. If they do, by all means, play.

I think the fact that RTSs are being made less and less (and easier mechanically) shows that BW wasn't ideal when it comes to catering to gamers' needs.

Games are supposed to be fun. And winning is fun. And the fastest way to winning in BW is grinding out mechanics, which only a small percentage of people will actually find fun imo.
Somehow now the MMA analogy comes to my mind.. it's fun to watch UFC fights, but I don't wanna go in the streets asking people for 1v1 as I didn't practice my kicks a thousand times this week, and my jiu jitsu sucks.

heh. I realize I don't have a concise point.. maybe I should keep my opinion to myself if it's in a place like this where SC lovers gather.
WGT-Baal
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
France2703 Posts
May 11 2018 22:43 GMT
#19
Just do whatever you find fun.
I think ladder is not the best way to start, as opposed to custom games or even 2v2 (3v3, 4v4 FFA, w/e floats your boat)
Finding friends to play with is good when you begin because it ll motivate you to keep playing.

But if you do want to ladder right off the bat, then this thread is a good summary of some of the strategies you can do.
Learn the maps first by playing vs the computer on each of them once at least (so you know where the bases are). May be 5 pool the computer too and see how it goes.

As long as you re having fun everything is fine, but ladder is a competitive place (duh!) so may be not the best to meet ppl.
Former WCG ref, WGTour.com and Fra-A admin. Current Clan ash Bwcl-E leader, TDR NW Team NEU captain. BWCL Head Admin
ninazerg
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
United States7289 Posts
May 12 2018 23:44 GMT
#20
On May 12 2018 01:00 ruypture wrote:
Honestly I think iopq is on the right track. The game is too fast and complex for a lower end (D+ and lower) player to be trying to learn macro intensive builds for laddering.

Granted, it all depends on how you find fun. I came from SC2 first and I didn't care for all-ins or cheese so I went straight to macro builds, but I also had to sit down and grind out 300 PvT's in a row to learn how to make gateway units halfway decently. 90% of people aren't going to do that.

I think one thing to take away is that people should not downplay the viability of all-ins or cheese. They're a great way to learn certain fundamentals and everyone should be able to do a cheese or an all-in on command. They can especially help someone learn when to go for a kill.


You learn through practice, and if you don't practice something, you can't learn it.
"If two pregnant women get into a fist fight, it's like a mecha-battle between two unborn babies." - Fyodor Dostoevsky
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