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[D] Why is protoss doing so bad in the GSL? - Page 105

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CaptainFwiffo
Profile Joined August 2010
United States576 Posts
November 16 2010 22:23 GMT
#2081
On November 17 2010 07:18 drewbie.root wrote:
are you guys kidding observers are imbalanced, make it so they need an observatory before they can be built from the robo like in brood war pls

Alright, so long as you have to build a Airwolf Sanctuary before you can build Banshees!
"Even though they don't drink milk, milk comes out of their nose, disturbingly." - Tasteless
DoubleReed
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States4130 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-11-16 22:28:28
November 16 2010 22:26 GMT
#2082
4. Yeah, Genius won Blizzcon. Who else was a finalist in Blizzcon? Loner. Who didn't even qualify for this GSL. Who lost in the Round of 8? Genius, the Blizzcon champion. Who was eliminated in R32 in GSL 1 and R16 in GSL 2? IdrA, who easily wins plenty of NA tournaments. Who was a former MLG champion who didn't even qualify for GSL 3? HuK, that's who. The GSL is clearly THE tournament to look at if you want to see players of the utmost highest caliber play against each other, and I believe the consistently weak performances of Protoss do indicate problems at the very top level - if you don't think the game should be balanced around the tip-top level, then you clearly have no idea about the actual concept of game balance.


Uhm... so because players win some tournaments and lose others, that means the GSL is the only thing that matters??? I mean, this argument is literally saying that the only tournament anyone should ever look at is the GSL. Nothing else matters. This is absurd.

Look, I'm not saying protoss isn't underpowered. But sheesh, could people please bring some real argument or discussion to the table? This claims are too hyperbolic to have a reasonable discussion.

I do think the game needs to settle a bit after terran was hit the supply depot thing. That last patch was pretty dramatic honestly. Perhaps protoss players are playing like terran players can still 10rax?
TheRealPaciFist
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States1049 Posts
November 16 2010 22:26 GMT
#2083
On November 17 2010 06:48 ZerOfy wrote:
Why not have the observer be built from the cybo core?


I'm not even protoss main (I random now) but I would love this change! It would mean I could scout well without having to feel like I have to get robo tech
Second favorite strategy game of all time: Starcraft. First: Go (aka Wei Qi, Paduk, or Igo)
DoubleReed
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States4130 Posts
November 16 2010 22:29 GMT
#2084
On November 17 2010 07:26 TheRealPaciFist wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 17 2010 06:48 ZerOfy wrote:
Why not have the observer be built from the cybo core?


I'm not even protoss main (I random now) but I would love this change! It would mean I could scout well without having to feel like I have to get robo tech


Hallucination? Phoenixes? Probes??

You can scout without an observer...
escobari
Profile Joined July 2010
Finland192 Posts
November 16 2010 22:31 GMT
#2085
For scouting it would be much better to give hallucination some ability to see invis, like hallu observer or "psi burst" that would reveal invis on small area around the sentry.
HolyArrow
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States7116 Posts
November 16 2010 22:32 GMT
#2086
On November 17 2010 07:26 DoubleReed wrote:
Show nested quote +
4. Yeah, Genius won Blizzcon. Who else was a finalist in Blizzcon? Loner. Who didn't even qualify for this GSL. Who lost in the Round of 8? Genius, the Blizzcon champion. Who was eliminated in R32 in GSL 1 and R16 in GSL 2? IdrA, who easily wins plenty of NA tournaments. Who was a former MLG champion who didn't even qualify for GSL 3? HuK, that's who. The GSL is clearly THE tournament to look at if you want to see players of the utmost highest caliber play against each other, and I believe the consistently weak performances of Protoss do indicate problems at the very top level - if you don't think the game should be balanced around the tip-top level, then you clearly have no idea about the actual concept of game balance.


Uhm... so because players win some tournaments and lose others, that means the GSL is the only thing that matters??? I mean, this argument is literally saying that the only tournament anyone should ever look at is the GSL. Nothing else matters. This is absurd.

Look, I'm not saying protoss isn't underpowered. But sheesh, could people please bring some real argument or discussion to the table? This claims are too hyperbolic to have a reasonable discussion.

I do think the game needs to settle a bit after terran was hit the supply depot thing. That last patch was pretty dramatic honestly. Perhaps protoss players are playing like terran players can still 10rax?


I don't think it's hyperbolic at all. I admit that I'd have to also see the results for smaller Korean tournaments between top teams (I heard Tester has been doing well in some of those, but he also beat Sang-Ho using TERRAN in the intra-clan tournament...) , but as things stand now, my main point was that I sometimes see people cite MLG/Blizzcon as indicators of Protoss being fine, and those tournaments are totally moot points, seeing how the champions of those tournaments fare in the GSL.
OneOther
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
United States10774 Posts
November 16 2010 22:33 GMT
#2087
On November 17 2010 07:19 HolyArrow wrote:
I love hearing the responses, 1: "Just wait, the game is still young", 2: "Protoss players just need to try different things, their race has the most unexplored potential", 3: "The GSL performances mean nothing, it's a tiny sample pool", or 4: "Protoss does well in other tournaments, can't just look at the GSL".

People have been saying this since GSL 1, and I honestly think anyone still saying such things at this point are obviously non-Protoss players who want easy wins for as long as possible by throwing up a thin veil of phony balance caution.

1. How long should we have to wait? Another GSL has passed, and the third is about to start, with Protoss looking weaker than ever. At what point will you actually go, "Ok, I guess Protoss really does have some big problems, and they need a buff"? GSL 4? 5? 6? You can keep up with the "Game is young" excuse for an arbitrarily long time, since it's so relative and ambiguous as to what point a game is no longer "young".

2. This one is just insulting to pro Protoss players everywhere. You think you know their race better than they do? You think they haven't tried different things? They're not stubborn idiots going Gateway/Robo every game and then QQ-ing about Protoss UP. I'd like to think that they'd be good enough to practice a ton and experiment with their race, and it's clearly not producing anything fruitful.

3. Well, it's been 2 GSL performances so far, and a third is just beginning, with a mere 12 Protoss players out of 64. A tiny sample pool, yes, but it's a pool of easily the very BEST players in the world. I think at this point that means something.

4. Yeah, Genius won Blizzcon. Who else was a finalist in Blizzcon? Loner. Who didn't even qualify for this GSL. Who lost in the Round of 8? Genius, the Blizzcon champion. Who was eliminated in R32 in GSL 1 and R16 in GSL 2? IdrA, who easily wins plenty of NA tournaments. Who was a former MLG champion who didn't even qualify for GSL 3? HuK, that's who. The GSL is clearly THE tournament to look at if you want to see players of the utmost highest caliber play against each other, and I believe the consistently weak performances of Protoss do indicate problems at the very top level - if you don't think the game should be balanced around the tip-top level, then you clearly have no idea about the actual concept of game balance.

very good post
Moragon
Profile Joined October 2010
United States355 Posts
November 16 2010 22:34 GMT
#2088
Why not have the observer be built from the cybo core?


That would be completely awesome, all of a sudden all of the tech paths would be open with protoss being able to tech to counter. See spire/tech lab rax/factory? Tech stargate. See reactor rax/hydra/roach? Tech robo. See early expo/drop play/no detection? Tech twilight. With observer at cybernetics you would finally be able to see the creativity from protoss players that you've been imploring them to use.
TedJustice
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Canada1324 Posts
November 16 2010 22:35 GMT
#2089
If you could hallucinate Observers (that didn't actually detect, but were still invisible), that'd be pretty cool.

But rather than just suggesting something random, I'll contribute I suppose. It feels like a lot of the drama's been resting with Terran and Zerg at the moment, with protoss being swept aside as "those other guys". I really think it's a shame.
VenerableSpace
Profile Joined May 2010
United States463 Posts
November 16 2010 22:36 GMT
#2090
On November 17 2010 07:26 DoubleReed wrote:
Show nested quote +
4. Yeah, Genius won Blizzcon. Who else was a finalist in Blizzcon? Loner. Who didn't even qualify for this GSL. Who lost in the Round of 8? Genius, the Blizzcon champion. Who was eliminated in R32 in GSL 1 and R16 in GSL 2? IdrA, who easily wins plenty of NA tournaments. Who was a former MLG champion who didn't even qualify for GSL 3? HuK, that's who. The GSL is clearly THE tournament to look at if you want to see players of the utmost highest caliber play against each other, and I believe the consistently weak performances of Protoss do indicate problems at the very top level - if you don't think the game should be balanced around the tip-top level, then you clearly have no idea about the actual concept of game balance.


Uhm... so because players win some tournaments and lose others, that means the GSL is the only thing that matters??? I mean, this argument is literally saying that the only tournament anyone should ever look at is the GSL. Nothing else matters. This is absurd.

Look, I'm not saying protoss isn't underpowered. But sheesh, could people please bring some real argument or discussion to the table? This claims are too hyperbolic to have a reasonable discussion.



I think the "nothing else matters" is extreme but he's hitting a good point.

If there are issues arising at the peak of the game, then there MAY be something wrong and it needs to be looked at. and as far as esports is concerned that is more significant data then the entire ladder statistics combined.

When FIFA/NBA alters rules or adds additional officials, they dont take into consideration high school rules or college rules, they use data from the HIGHEST skill level in the sport.

Blizzard needs to focus on using weighted data from MLG, dreamhack, GSL, etc. in opposition to ladder statistics.

they should contact MLG and GOMTV, get their internal statistics and release the tournament statistics WITH the ladder ones and then make analysis points.

TheRealPaciFist
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States1049 Posts
November 16 2010 22:37 GMT
#2091
On November 17 2010 07:29 DoubleReed wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 17 2010 07:26 TheRealPaciFist wrote:
On November 17 2010 06:48 ZerOfy wrote:
Why not have the observer be built from the cybo core?


I'm not even protoss main (I random now) but I would love this change! It would mean I could scout well without having to feel like I have to get robo tech


Hallucination? Phoenixes? Probes??

You can scout without an observer...


Phoenixes take more of an investment (like... a stargate) and probes can't fly, but holy crap I forgot about hallucinations.

*noob exiting conversation, will go back to lurking*
Second favorite strategy game of all time: Starcraft. First: Go (aka Wei Qi, Paduk, or Igo)
Durp
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Canada3117 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-11-16 22:42:51
November 16 2010 22:42 GMT
#2092
On November 17 2010 07:18 DoubleReed wrote:
Show nested quote +
Just look at the history of patches in beta and post-release. Protoss has consistently received nerf after nerf after nerf. The only real buff we've ever had was stalker buff and phoenix buff; but those two units are still rather underwhelming in comparison to other race's core and air units. They really only shine in very specific situations (pure muta v. phoenix) or in specific timings (blink stalker attacks). The only real timings that Protoss can really take advantage of and/or is in their favor is 4gate attacks if the opponent doesn't scout defend against it properly, which is pretty easy to do, and late game with warp-in storms and 2-3+ bases. Every other time during a match, Protoss has a pretty hard time coping.


The fact of protoss being nerfed in every patch has nothing to do with protoss being underpowered or overpowered right now. Bringing this up only makes you sound like a whiney "Buff my race!!!" person like you find on the Bnet Forums.

Honestly, not qualifying two times is not a streak. And really, I had no idea that Phoenixes were only good at fighting mutas. I could have sworn they could do other things as well... /sarcasm

There may be legitimate reasons why protoss is underpowered, so why is everyone giving such vague (or weird) answers here? Can anyone say why, specifically, they think protoss is underpowered?


Specifically, I believe Protoss to be underpowered due to the flow of the game.

In vT, the cost-ineffective nature of gateway units vs barracks units requires a Protoss player to scout with an obs before choosing tech path. The sheer reactionary nature that is required, combined with Terran mobility and the ability to amass a viable late game army from early tech forces Protoss predictability. If only a couple defined, reliable builds can consistently keep you safe, then you are almost automatically forced into them. When these builds are seen across the board of the Protoss race, that is the problem. When Protoss only have so many options, it makes creating strategies to trounce those few safe Protoss builds very easy.

In vZ, the slower zealot nerf, in combination with the voidray nerf (by nerf, I solely mean the ability to auto-win games if unscouted), took away Protoss unpredictability. Before these patches, zerg needed to scout for 2 gateways/double early gas/gateway cybercore to have an idea of which opening Protoss would go- because they were so powerful. Zerg then Q.Qs, and these are nerfed. Were they OP? Maybe. But now, those two strategies are essentially null and void (unless your opponents fails at scouting). That, in combination with the roach range upgrade, forced Protoss to also require a robotics facility (unless going for some all-in blink stalker play TY Nazgul). Again, the predictability of Protoss is an obvious weakness. Mutalisks are so powerful against Protoss that a good zerg will contain the Protoss without the P following a safe response (HT usually). This allows zerg to both control the early-mid game, and also to know the end game tech-path of the Protoss.

PvP is a coinflip. I blame the colossus.

The problem is that Protoss has noticeably less varied early game, due to the natural short-handedness against the other races (Barracks units > Gateway units. early roaches > gateway units). With the early to mid game almost always predetermined due to required defense tech paths, the opportunity to vary your early game is gone.

Protoss USED to have multiple early game choices. 4gate, 2gate zealots (V zerg), void ray rushes, forge FE, etc. All of those early strats have received some sort of nerf since release except the 4gate (arguable also), and at the high levels, 4gating is just not viable.

The problem isn't the UP of Protoss, or the OP of other races. It's the fact that Protoss has an innate advantage over the other races in army potency (almost all Protoss units are more powerful than their late game alternatives for T and Z), and so all strategies that have abused this fact have been nerfed. The other races, now not behind from this, are showing that it was this overpowering nature of Protoss that kept the game balanced- the fact that a solid Protoss could end game in 7 is multiple ways kept other races on their toes.

The key, in my opinion, is to stop nerfing Protoss every time someone finds a new powerful opener that "can't be handled"
SOOOOOooooOOOOooooOOOOoo Many BANELINGS!!
PuercoPop
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
Peru277 Posts
November 16 2010 22:42 GMT
#2093
On November 17 2010 06:37 GoldenH wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 17 2010 06:25 PuercoPop wrote:
How do people feel about giving Sentries detector status? Or maybe hallucinated obs detector status? I think hallucinated obs detectors would provide a good middle ground vs Banshee. Sentries are weak enough to be sniped if the opponent wants to eliminate detection. And Hallucination is a 100/100 research so its not cheap. It would free up Protoss Tech Choices in the Terran match-up

Although from my perspective, on of the fundamental problems Protoss have is the stalker's bang per buck. It really should have higher damage. As a Protoss (not even a very good one, just platinum) I have a really tough time putting on pressure à la Stork. So I feel relegated to a passive style. When I go with 1 Zealot and 1-2 Stalkers to try to pressure T or Z have very little trouble defending from it.


I don't think it's unreasonable for cloaked units to force a Protoss player to build a robo fac soley for detectors.

I do think that observers shouldn't be the only form of scouting however. You should only be forced to get an observer if he's actually getting cloaked units. The hallucinated phoenix is enough to scout, the problem is that it is too expensive. I like the suggestion of swapping forcefield and hallucination best (eg, forcefield has to be researched, not hallucination). But reducing the hallucination research cost & energy cost would be fine. You could also do something funky, like have it require a twilight council instead of a research item.


I agree with you that there is nothing wrong to force a Protoss player to build a robo fac to fight against cloaked units, but with a hallucinated obs we could prevent any massive damage while we build a robo fact. One of the cons of not going robo is not have the best scouting tool, the observer.
The Proof of the Pudding is in the eating!
Darksoldierr
Profile Joined May 2010
Hungary2012 Posts
November 16 2010 22:43 GMT
#2094
On November 17 2010 07:26 DoubleReed wrote:
Show nested quote +
4. Yeah, Genius won Blizzcon. Who else was a finalist in Blizzcon? Loner. Who didn't even qualify for this GSL. Who lost in the Round of 8? Genius, the Blizzcon champion. Who was eliminated in R32 in GSL 1 and R16 in GSL 2? IdrA, who easily wins plenty of NA tournaments. Who was a former MLG champion who didn't even qualify for GSL 3? HuK, that's who. The GSL is clearly THE tournament to look at if you want to see players of the utmost highest caliber play against each other, and I believe the consistently weak performances of Protoss do indicate problems at the very top level - if you don't think the game should be balanced around the tip-top level, then you clearly have no idea about the actual concept of game balance.


Uhm... so because players win some tournaments and lose others, that means the GSL is the only thing that matters??? I mean, this argument is literally saying that the only tournament anyone should ever look at is the GSL. Nothing else matters. This is absurd.

Look, I'm not saying protoss isn't underpowered. But sheesh, could people please bring some real argument or discussion to the table? This claims are too hyperbolic to have a reasonable discussion.

I do think the game needs to settle a bit after terran was hit the supply depot thing. That last patch was pretty dramatic honestly. Perhaps protoss players are playing like terran players can still 10rax?


He says, GSL is the highest level based on players skill base. And he is right. If just half of the GSL players would play at MLG, the results would be different.
What do humans know of our pain? We have sung songs of lament since before your ancestors crawled on their bellies from the sea.
susySquark
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States1692 Posts
November 16 2010 22:43 GMT
#2095
If I were in charge of designing Protoss (not balancing), I'd make hallucination available from sentries from the start, no research, and make forcefield researchable. To compensate for the worse early game, I would buff zealot/stalker/sentry in some way (zealot speed, stalker or sentry damage). This would allow scouting as soon as your first sentry hits enough energy, allowing you to tech more intelligently instead of blindly going robo. Also, it would give toss more leeway early game instead of having to rely solely on perfect ff's to survive.
positron.
Profile Joined May 2010
634 Posts
November 16 2010 22:44 GMT
#2096
On November 17 2010 07:34 Moragon wrote:
Show nested quote +
Why not have the observer be built from the cybo core?


That would be completely awesome, all of a sudden all of the tech paths would be open with protoss being able to tech to counter. See spire/tech lab rax/factory? Tech stargate. See reactor rax/hydra/roach? Tech robo. See early expo/drop play/no detection? Tech twilight. With observer at cybernetics you would finally be able to see the creativity from protoss players that you've been imploring them to use.


How about having a maphack for all Protoss to use? Terran needs to spend scan Zerg need to sac overlord and Protoss get 100/100 unlimited map hack? Whatever balance change you need is certainly not this. I am glad neither of you is on the balance team.
FabledIntegral
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States9232 Posts
November 16 2010 22:47 GMT
#2097
On November 17 2010 07:19 HolyArrow wrote:
I love hearing the responses, 1: "Just wait, the game is still young", 2: "Protoss players just need to try different things, their race has the most unexplored potential", 3: "The GSL performances mean nothing, it's a tiny sample pool", or 4: "Protoss does well in other tournaments, can't just look at the GSL".

People have been saying this since GSL 1, and I honestly think anyone still saying such things at this point are obviously non-Protoss players who want easy wins for as long as possible by throwing up a thin veil of phony balance caution.


No, right around the time the GSL 1 was starting many people were saying that they believed Protoss to be the strongest race.
EliteReplay
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Dominican Republic913 Posts
November 16 2010 22:48 GMT
#2098
On November 17 2010 07:42 Durp wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 17 2010 07:18 DoubleReed wrote:
Just look at the history of patches in beta and post-release. Protoss has consistently received nerf after nerf after nerf. The only real buff we've ever had was stalker buff and phoenix buff; but those two units are still rather underwhelming in comparison to other race's core and air units. They really only shine in very specific situations (pure muta v. phoenix) or in specific timings (blink stalker attacks). The only real timings that Protoss can really take advantage of and/or is in their favor is 4gate attacks if the opponent doesn't scout defend against it properly, which is pretty easy to do, and late game with warp-in storms and 2-3+ bases. Every other time during a match, Protoss has a pretty hard time coping.


The fact of protoss being nerfed in every patch has nothing to do with protoss being underpowered or overpowered right now. Bringing this up only makes you sound like a whiney "Buff my race!!!" person like you find on the Bnet Forums.

Honestly, not qualifying two times is not a streak. And really, I had no idea that Phoenixes were only good at fighting mutas. I could have sworn they could do other things as well... /sarcasm

There may be legitimate reasons why protoss is underpowered, so why is everyone giving such vague (or weird) answers here? Can anyone say why, specifically, they think protoss is underpowered?


Specifically, I believe Protoss to be underpowered due to the flow of the game.

In vT, the cost-ineffective nature of gateway units vs barracks units requires a Protoss player to scout with an obs before choosing tech path. The sheer reactionary nature that is required, combined with Terran mobility and the ability to amass a viable late game army from early tech forces Protoss predictability. If only a couple defined, reliable builds can consistently keep you safe, then you are almost automatically forced into them. When these builds are seen across the board of the Protoss race, that is the problem. When Protoss only have so many options, it makes creating strategies to trounce those few safe Protoss builds very easy.

In vZ, the slower zealot nerf, in combination with the voidray nerf (by nerf, I solely mean the ability to auto-win games if unscouted), took away Protoss unpredictability. Before these patches, zerg needed to scout for 2 gateways/double early gas/gateway cybercore to have an idea of which opening Protoss would go- because they were so powerful. Zerg then Q.Qs, and these are nerfed. Were they OP? Maybe. But now, those two strategies are essentially null and void (unless your opponents fails at scouting). That, in combination with the roach range upgrade, forced Protoss to also require a robotics facility (unless going for some all-in blink stalker play TY Nazgul). Again, the predictability of Protoss is an obvious weakness. Mutalisks are so powerful against Protoss that a good zerg will contain the Protoss without the P following a safe response (HT usually). This allows zerg to both control the early-mid game, and also to know the end game tech-path of the Protoss.

PvP is a coinflip. I blame the colossus.

The problem is that Protoss has noticeably less varied early game, due to the natural short-handedness against the other races (Barracks units > Gateway units. early roaches > gateway units). With the early to mid game almost always predetermined due to required defense tech paths, the opportunity to vary your early game is gone.

Protoss USED to have multiple early game choices. 4gate, 2gate zealots (V zerg), void ray rushes, forge FE, etc. All of those early strats have received some sort of nerf since release except the 4gate (arguable also), and at the high levels, 4gating is just not viable.

The problem isn't the UP of Protoss, or the OP of other races. It's the fact that Protoss has an innate advantage over the other races in army potency (almost all Protoss units are more powerful than their late game alternatives for T and Z), and so all strategies that have abused this fact have been nerfed. The other races, now not behind from this, are showing that it was this overpowering nature of Protoss that kept the game balanced- the fact that a solid Protoss could end game in 7 is multiple ways kept other races on their toes.

The key, in my opinion, is to stop nerfing Protoss every time someone finds a new powerful opener that "can't be handled"


very good post man, i take my word from my mouth
if play random i can't call any race imba?
HolyArrow
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States7116 Posts
November 16 2010 22:49 GMT
#2099
On November 17 2010 07:47 FabledIntegral wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 17 2010 07:19 HolyArrow wrote:
I love hearing the responses, 1: "Just wait, the game is still young", 2: "Protoss players just need to try different things, their race has the most unexplored potential", 3: "The GSL performances mean nothing, it's a tiny sample pool", or 4: "Protoss does well in other tournaments, can't just look at the GSL".

People have been saying this since GSL 1, and I honestly think anyone still saying such things at this point are obviously non-Protoss players who want easy wins for as long as possible by throwing up a thin veil of phony balance caution.


No, right around the time the GSL 1 was starting many people were saying that they believed Protoss to be the strongest race.


Sorry, I meant when the QQ-ing began during the Semi-finals of GSL 1. Not the start of GSL 1. "Since GSL 1" was ambiguous.
Bleb
Profile Joined August 2010
Croatia278 Posts
November 16 2010 22:55 GMT
#2100
do you know why randoms are doing so bad in all gsls?
+ Show Spoiler +
there's 33% chance they'll end up protoss
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