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[G] Self-Improvement - Page 3

Forum Index > Brood War Strategy
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skyglow1
Profile Blog Joined April 2005
New Zealand3962 Posts
February 07 2008 09:23 GMT
#41
I actually pay attention for a game and I realized I used space bar without realising it xD It was when I was too lazy to use the minimap to move my view to across a large distance. Waypoints are used in everything like repairing, loading dropships, getting scvs to mine after they're done building, etc etc.
Ilikestarcraft
Profile Blog Joined November 2004
Korea (South)17743 Posts
February 07 2008 12:16 GMT
#42
thanks im d and want to get to c and was wondering specific ways for me to improve faster
ils
"Nana is a goddess. Or at very least, Nana is my goddess." - KazeHydra
grobo
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Japan6199 Posts
February 07 2008 12:45 GMT
#43
On February 07 2008 17:00 Shado. wrote:
Also... does anyone use the spacebar?


I use it all the time.
We make signature, then defense it.
JensOfSweden
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Cameroon1767 Posts
February 07 2008 12:55 GMT
#44
Good guide Chill, although I found the mechanics section a bit lacking. Maybe you could add a more practical approach on stuff like using F-keys, how good players/pros hotkey etc

Also if you by spamming mean spamming away the first minutes of the game I hardly think that's "beyond stupid". Every pro does it and it's obviously a way to warm up and get your speed going.
I have no idea what people mean anymore when they talk about spamming to be honest.
I am 250-300 apm, with the highest in TvZ/TvP and lowest in TvT (obviously) and I think this is almost the perfect apm-zone to be in for Terran anyways.
Well 300 would be optimal I think since there is so much shit that Terran needs to do and 200 apm won't usually cut it at better levels.

Anywho, I liked your article and the discussion about mindsets.
<3 Nada [On and off TL.net since 2002
Jayson X
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
Switzerland2431 Posts
Last Edited: 2008-02-07 13:59:16
February 07 2008 13:58 GMT
#45
On February 06 2008 03:55 grobo wrote:
Indeed a very good read, hopefully i can finally learn something.

The two problems i know that i have are the following:

1) I have a habit of trying to do everything as fast as possible even though i don't want to and i KNOW that it's keeping me from playing properly, but it's damn near impossible to "slow" down now that i have been playing like this for so long. I get so caught up in microing my units that i completely forget about my base which results in me having zero units once the others die.

2) I'm braindead and can not for the life of me learn simple build orders, I've been watching replays and VODs since forever but trying to memorize a build seems useless for me, the second i start playing my mind goes blank and i automatically build some other shit that has NOTHING to do with the build order i was supposed to do.


1) is something people usualy do because they are afraid of loosing units and thus stare at the screen even tough they don't acctualy do something that benefits the outcome of the fight. There is usualy the pre-setup (tank formation, mines) and the correction (classic marine attack lurkers and a part of the team moves aside) and that's basicaly it. Like with every habit you want to break you have to accept the possibility of fucking up. What you might loose is a few units or games, but you'll understand the big picture, the "what happens over time".

2) I think here's where chill's improvement guide has some great information. Winning is a path of trial and error. There is no need to learn a buildorder if you don't know what's it for. When your mind goes blank and you realise you do something that you don't benefit from watch the replay and do some reverse psychology on yourself. There was a reason why you did something you did, just because it was wrong, doesn't mean you had no reason. And with the power of replays you can point out those flaws and next time you're about to do the same mistake, you're able to remind yourself that this isn't as efficient as you think. Starcraft is a fast game were you not only have to learn what's right, but more so what's wrong.
Liquid`Ret
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
Netherlands4523 Posts
February 07 2008 14:49 GMT
#46
This thread helped me reach rank B+ on Iccup. I owe this solely to you, Chill. Thank you.
Team Liquid
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary26003 Posts
February 07 2008 16:07 GMT
#47
No problem, maybe you won't afk for a year this time when you hit A.
Moderator
Liquid`Ret
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
Netherlands4523 Posts
Last Edited: 2008-02-07 17:15:52
February 07 2008 17:15 GMT
#48
I feel so inspired I think I will stay and I believe I was afk for 2 years x.x
Team Liquid
grobo
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
Japan6199 Posts
February 07 2008 17:27 GMT
#49
On February 08 2008 02:15 ret wrote:
I feel so inspired I think I will stay and I believe I was afk for 2 years x.x


Make sure your reps gets saved this time, we want a ret-pack!
We make signature, then defense it.
infinity21 *
Profile Blog Joined October 2006
Canada6683 Posts
March 19 2008 11:25 GMT
#50
So what DID we talk about? haha
I do remember the bit about mechanics and how it's a mindset and such but I feel like we talked about so many things that everything's blurry now.
Nevertheless, I agree with everything you say
Official Entusman #21
Kage
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
India788 Posts
March 19 2008 13:50 GMT
#51
Always wanted something like this can't wait to get it read (took a printout!)
Thanks Chill.
Koldblooded
Profile Joined July 2006
United States661 Posts
March 19 2008 15:08 GMT
#52
Good guide, thanks for writing it Chill.
By.Flash fighting
MoOnrai
Profile Joined February 2008
United States52 Posts
March 19 2008 16:22 GMT
#53
very good article
Been runnin for to long its time to give me mine.
SS[1]
Profile Joined January 2008
United States13 Posts
March 19 2008 19:00 GMT
#54
nice
Triggas know my Nometry
Lord_of_Chaos
Profile Joined June 2007
Sweden372 Posts
Last Edited: 2008-03-19 21:19:29
March 19 2008 21:17 GMT
#55
I also divide learning in two phases: strategical (call it mind, analytical or whatever.. you get the point) and mechanical.

You seem to view it like first you increase your strategical skill, which creates a demand for mechanical skill ("I know what to do, now I need to learn how to do it!"). You don't really adress what happens when you've filled this demand.

The way I see it this is what is going to happen, wether you start with learning mechanics or strategy is imo irrelevant:
Let's just assume we start with strategical learning, first you will increase your strategic understanding, creating a demand for mechanical skill. Basicly, you are losing games, and you know why. You just need to learn how to do what you already know.
So you increase your mechanical skill (wether this is by mass gaming, conscious speed practise or micro UMS).
Eventually you will increase it so that you create a demand for strategic skill. You are now playing vs better opponents and you start losing again, but now you don't know why, you need to find that out.
So you increase your strategical skill (be it by self-analysing, a tutor or watching reps).
Once again you're new strategical knowledge will create a demand for mechanical skill.
You increase mechanical skill.
You find yourself with a demand for strategical skill.

and so it goes on.. Naturally it could as well have started with mechanical learning. It's a never ending cycle. And ofc it's not impossible to learn both at once either, but I find that rare. Almost always you practise one harder than the other, be it consciously or subconscously.
Niji-z
Profile Blog Joined January 2007
United States208 Posts
March 19 2008 22:00 GMT
#56
Thanks Chill. I love your articles, and this one especially. I've been trying for years to figure out why I never seem to improve no matter how hard I try. I see that I have been focusing too much on mass gaming while not having any strategical understanding at all. It just seems that I have a bit of trouble understanding the "whys" of progamer replays and vods, so I never get much out of them.. But that might be because I never really watch them much. I get bored of just watching replays and I felt it was a waste of time when I could be gaming, but I am definitely going to try your method and really concentrate on the strategical aspect of zerg matchups.

Again, thanks a lot. <3
Rawr.
DevAzTaYtA
Profile Blog Joined October 2002
Oman2005 Posts
March 19 2008 23:26 GMT
#57
wow, great article. sometimes i'd wonder why i'm so much worse at this game than i used to be in comparison to the top competition, but now i realize i have never really tried to get better - i just play. i'd say i have probably only watched about 1 of every hundred games i've ever played and only really watched replays/VODs if my /f list was watching them (aside from WCG finals). i guess getting good at bw was simply a side-effect of playing so much - one that wears off VERY rapidly after even a short break.
Retsukage
Profile Blog Joined February 2008
United States1002 Posts
March 20 2008 00:29 GMT
#58
thanks, good article
To change is to improve, to change often is to be perfect - Winston Chruchill
DustFerret
Profile Blog Joined March 2008
United States60 Posts
March 20 2008 01:25 GMT
#59
Thanks. Very helpful article.

phase
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States399 Posts
March 20 2008 02:24 GMT
#60
Man good guide and read. Now you just need to break these categories down into smaller sections, and make guides on them too
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