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How do you macro?

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Djeez
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
543 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-25 21:25:37
February 25 2011 21:24 GMT
#1
I was watching the 2 dde vs IdrA replays from NrG vs EG (thread: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=196156 replays: http://www.gosugamers.net/starcraft2/replays) and was impressed to see that dde was macroing BW style. No macro scale, no multiple building selection, just good ol' clicking all your production facilities as fast as you can. Add to this the fact that he scrolls around the map 90% of the time (i think with middle mouse button scrolling) and you end up with a pretty high APM playstyle.

I don't really see the point of not using the multiple selection that is available in SC2, but it got me curious. How many of you macro in a similar way? Is there any advantage, besides making the mechanics of the game a bit more of a challenge?

Poll: How do you macro

Multiple building selection (53)
 
91%

Mix of #2 and #3 (3)
 
5%

Clicking production buildings as fast as possible (2)
 
3%

Macro scales (0)
 
0%

58 total votes

Your vote: How do you macro

(Vote): Multiple building selection
(Vote): Macro scales
(Vote): Clicking production buildings as fast as possible
(Vote): Mix of #2 and #3



PS: for those not familiar with macro scales, they look a bit like this: 4a5a6a6d7d8d (3 marines and 3 marauders, each hotkey being a different barrack for example).
''Watching steppes of war in the gsl would be like watching the dreamhack 1.6 finals start out on fy_iceworld. '' -red_b
Rotodyne
Profile Blog Joined July 2005
United States2263 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-25 21:30:39
February 25 2011 21:30 GMT
#2
i just press w sometimes its a tough when i have to micro at the same time!
I can only play starcraft when I am shit canned. IPXZERG is a god.
Lobotomist
Profile Joined May 2010
United States1541 Posts
February 25 2011 21:30 GMT
#3
Why...would you not use MBS? Doesn't make sense...
Teching to hive too quickly isn't just a risk: it's an ultrarisk
Healingproof
Profile Joined November 2010
Sweden81 Posts
February 25 2011 21:31 GMT
#4
wtf is macro?
Djagulingu
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Germany3605 Posts
February 25 2011 21:32 GMT
#5
Lol that's what I call "keepin' it real"
"windows bash is a steaming heap of shit" tofucake
Djeez
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
543 Posts
February 25 2011 21:33 GMT
#6
On February 26 2011 06:30 Lobotomist wrote:
Why...would you not use MBS? Doesn't make sense...


That is the point of the thread. I'm trying to find if more people do it like dde, and want some reasons to do so.

Personally I love good mechanics and those replays inspired me to start using MBS less.
''Watching steppes of war in the gsl would be like watching the dreamhack 1.6 finals start out on fy_iceworld. '' -red_b
mardi
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States1164 Posts
February 25 2011 21:34 GMT
#7
I use what you call "macro scales" with a mix of mbs since I'm a zerg player so I voted for the 4th choice. I don't really click on anything except for queens for injecting and even those are hotkeyed. Early to Midgame I macro out of individual hatcheries, but once i have 3+ hatcheries I'll just hotkey them together to make my life easier.
ExPresident
Profile Joined January 2010
United States215 Posts
February 25 2011 21:35 GMT
#8
I don't understand the point of going and individually selecting all your production buildings when SC2 offers a faster, better way of doing it. It would be one thing if you had a clear or arguable benefit to doing it his way but if just to increase APM then no, increase it using the MBS and microing your units during the battle.

Sometimes improvements are good, MBS is one of them.
Saechiis
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Netherlands4989 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-25 21:38:31
February 25 2011 21:37 GMT
#9
I see a lot of old BW's players still clicking on buildings in their replays, old habits I guess.
I think esports is pretty nice.
ishboh
Profile Joined October 2010
United States954 Posts
February 25 2011 21:38 GMT
#10
i imagine that most players use purely MBS, except maybe Terran players that put barracks under one hotkey, and factories on another etc.

tosses that have stargates and robos might do the same...

this topic seems a bit obvious
KillerPlague
Profile Joined June 2010
United States1386 Posts
February 25 2011 21:39 GMT
#11
On February 26 2011 06:31 Healingproof wrote:
wtf is macro?


these posts make me sad =[

pretty much just use 'W' then manually check stargates or robotics. if i'm zerg ill have everything hotkeyed to 2, and same for terran.
Side 1: Why no dominant players with 90% win ratio Side 2: Nerf Side 1
Lemure
Profile Joined March 2010
189 Posts
February 25 2011 21:41 GMT
#12
I use multiple building selection but I have a different hotkey for barracks, factory, starport and CC.
TryThis
Profile Joined February 2007
Canada1522 Posts
February 25 2011 21:45 GMT
#13
On February 26 2011 06:41 Lemure wrote:
I use multiple building selection but I have a different hotkey for barracks, factory, starport and CC.


thats what i do too!
i was used to going 4sd5sd6sd7sd8sd9sd all day long from brood war so having them all on separate keys feels more natural too me
Dwell
akalarry
Profile Joined January 2011
United States1978 Posts
February 25 2011 21:46 GMT
#14
old habits are ridiculously hard to change

i have to use and hold alt to show hp bars because of my wc3/dota past.

i know it would be a little more advantageous for me to use the show hp forever option, but im so used to holding alt, that it will not show hp when i hold alt if i did that. i tried to bind alt to something else so i can hold alt that doesnt affect anything but i dont think u can do it with the current sc2 hotkey layout.
Mr. Wiggles
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
Canada5894 Posts
February 25 2011 21:47 GMT
#15
I hit 5, then s, then some other button. Or... if it's on screen, I'll click my hatch.

So I guess I use MBS or manually clicking. I'm trying to get into the habit of using different hotkeys for each hatch, so does that make it macro scale?

This seems like it most applies to Terran... -.-
you gotta dance
sob3k
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
United States7572 Posts
February 25 2011 21:47 GMT
#16
For terran it can sometimes be more efficient to BW style macro if you have alot of rax because it allows you to que up the exact right amount of marines and marauders in the reactor/techlab.

if you are just using mbs its easy to que up one too many marines which then goes into the techlab rax and blocks a marauder, or to only que up one rine in a reactor rax because its hard to tell from the wireframe.

I actually miss BW macro, IMO it was more satisfying and you could really feel how many units you were making.
In Hungry Hungry Hippos there are no such constraints—one can constantly attempt to collect marbles with one’s hippo, limited only by one’s hippo-levering capabilities.
AJMcSpiffy
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States1154 Posts
February 25 2011 21:47 GMT
#17
I feel like trying to go through individual buildings is just a habit that BW players are just hanging on to. I think that if these players would use all of the tools available to them in SC2, they would be able to focus their attention/time on other parts of the game and we'd see amazing play more often.
If the quarter was in your right hand, that would've been micro
Baby_Seal
Profile Joined August 2010
United States360 Posts
February 25 2011 21:47 GMT
#18
As a Protoss player, I couldn't do it Brood War style even if I wanted to. Warpgates would be extremely difficult to build out of.
ROOTheognis
Profile Blog Joined January 2006
United States4482 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-25 21:53:03
February 25 2011 21:52 GMT
#19
On February 26 2011 06:47 Baby_Seal wrote:
As a Protoss player, I couldn't do it Brood War style even if I wanted to. Warpgates would be extremely difficult to build out of.



+1... u'd have to scroll/move ur screen way too much. defintiely not worth it the most out of all 3 races.
If you avoid your weakness, it will remain your weakness. www.twitter.com/#!/rootheognis Follow me!
CidO
Profile Joined June 2010
United States695 Posts
February 25 2011 21:54 GMT
#20
I'm guessing MBS? I put my hatcheries on 5, the only time i go above 5 is for upgrade buildings and/or hidden expos.

For terran it can sometimes be more efficient to BW style macro if you have alot of rax because it allows you to que up the exact right amount of marines and marauders in the reactor/techlab.

if you are just using mbs its easy to que up one too many marines which then goes into the techlab rax and blocks a marauder, or to only que up one rine in a reactor rax because its hard to tell from the wireframe.

I actually miss BW macro, IMO it was more satisfying and you could really feel how many units you were making.


I believe they changed this now and the game chooses what is faster for you. There is no more confusion and having to decide, computer does it for you now.
:P
sob3k
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
United States7572 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-25 22:00:04
February 25 2011 21:57 GMT
#21
On February 26 2011 06:54 CidO wrote:
I'm guessing MBS? I put my hatcheries on 5, the only time i go above 5 is for upgrade buildings and/or hidden expos.

Show nested quote +
For terran it can sometimes be more efficient to BW style macro if you have alot of rax because it allows you to que up the exact right amount of marines and marauders in the reactor/techlab.

if you are just using mbs its easy to que up one too many marines which then goes into the techlab rax and blocks a marauder, or to only que up one rine in a reactor rax because its hard to tell from the wireframe.

I actually miss BW macro, IMO it was more satisfying and you could really feel how many units you were making.


I believe they changed this now and the game chooses what is faster for you. There is no more confusion and having to decide, computer does it for you now.


sure, a marine defaults to reactor and marauder to techlab, but if you que 8 marines and only have 3 reactors two will go into the techlabs and block potential marauders
In Hungry Hungry Hippos there are no such constraints—one can constantly attempt to collect marbles with one’s hippo, limited only by one’s hippo-levering capabilities.
Chill
Profile Blog Joined January 2005
Calgary26003 Posts
February 25 2011 22:01 GMT
#22
I don't see the value of this thread. You found one person who successfully plays with a bad style - I don't see that as threadworthy.
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