Ok so I got a friend kinda into bw and of course hes a noob hes never played really much RTS nevermind pc games before.

So even though im not good I know quite a lot just dont put it into practice, so like can anyone make up a list of what I should perhaps teach him, and in what kinda order. I mean tonight i was speaking to him explaining how the supply count works etc...

He's coming round tomorrow I'm gonna show him about hotkeys n' stuff.

I was thinking like basic keyboard use n' stuff (like using shift, ctrl, hotkey etc...) then perhaps some build orders for toss.

What you guys think? I need some helpz.

ty

zulu_nation8

China26351 Posts

February 23 2009 23:52 GMT

ask him if he likes the game, then ask him how good does he want to be. I think a pretty good way would be to just have him watch you play.

micronesia

United States24777 Posts

February 23 2009 23:53 GMT

If he's a complete noob then start with what all the units are, what all the basic controls are, and then a very basic overview of what you should be trying to do during the game...

Most importantly he needs time to practice and get used to the interface before you can teach him much of anything significant.

Chef

10810 Posts

February 23 2009 23:56 GMT

Just let him experiment on his own. Control groups will be way too much at this point, considering he doesn't even know the units, or probably even how to move them efficiently. Teach him stuff like Attack Click and "b" for build basic if you must teach him anything. What he really needs is someone his own level to play games with him. You'll go bored out of your skull if you play with him.

Pholon

Netherlands6142 Posts

February 23 2009 23:56 GMT

yer, just the basic rtfm stuff first. hotkeys can come later

Dgtl

Canada889 Posts

February 23 2009 23:57 GMT

Teach him how to make 12+ gateways and turtle off of 3 base and then push out with 200/200 supply and win. This can only be used in Pvp and pvt. So tell him if he plays a zerg just to leave.

minus_human

4784 Posts

February 24 2009 00:01 GMT

Basically I think the only way he could keep his interest is if you would be as noob as him, so he would have a chance of winning. Since that's not the case,. I'm almost sure, no matter how much effort you put into it, he'll entirely give up MONTHS before becoming even the equivalent of a D-

sadly, Starcraft has gotten so IMBA for any potential new players

minus_human

4784 Posts

February 24 2009 00:02 GMT

Your plan seems good so far, however the most important thing is that he practices the mechanics on his own, while your duty is to keep him interested (read - frustration free)

3clipse

Canada2555 Posts

February 24 2009 00:05 GMT

The very first thing I would teach, before even build orders, unit counters, scouting, basic strategy, etc is macro. As obvious as it is, new players just don't seem to "get" that you should always be pushing to the absolute extreme of your means- pumping workers constantly, keeping a decent infrastructure/supply count and keeping minerals low. In fact, when I was a complete and total noob many years ago, I remember thinking that I should actually be spending as few minerals as possible. My rationale was that, since resources are finite (at least minerals are) on low money maps, I should be making the most efficient setup possible- minimum army I need to stay alive, only a couple gates, so I wouldn't be the first to run out of resources. Maybe not all noobs are THIS deluded, but macro makes all the difference in the world when you're starting out.

Nytefish

United Kingdom4282 Posts

February 24 2009 00:06 GMT

#10

You can't throw someone into competitive gaming straight away. Let him play the campaign, play UMS, play fastest - generally just muck around. If he's never played the game before don't even think about build orders, hotkeys and apm.

Definitely show him how competitive 1v1 works by demonstrating, don't make him plays lots of 1v1 though, he'll just suck for a long time and get bored. After a while, when he's played quite a bit, you can start showing him vods/replays and explaining what's going on. If he likes what he sees he'll be motivated to improve.

minus_human

4784 Posts

February 24 2009 00:08 GMT

#11

On February 24 2009 09:05 3clipse wrote:
The very first thing I would teach, before even build orders, unit counters, scouting, basic strategy, etc is macro. As obvious as it is, new players just don't seem to "get" that you should always be pushing to the absolute extreme of your means- pumping workers constantly, keeping a decent infrastructure/supply count and keeping minerals low. In fact, when I was a complete and total noob many years ago, I remember thinking that I should actually be spending as few minerals as possible. My rationale was that, since resources are finite (at least minerals are) on low money maps, I should be making the most efficient setup possible- minimum army I need to stay alive, only a couple gates, so I wouldn't be the first to run out of resources. Maybe not all noobs are THIS deluded, but macro makes all the difference in the world when you're starting out.

this is really valid

noobs never understand that you're in a race from second one to mine and produce as much as possible, as QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

Then you'll explain you need certain amounts of worker saturation to obtain the best infrastructure ,depending on how the game evolves and what type of timing you're aiming for

pyrogenetix

China5098 Posts

February 24 2009 00:11 GMT

#12

tell him hes gona get raped for 2 years straight despite practicing like a mad cunt every single day.

i just don't think it's possible for people to get into sc now, the pubbie level is just so high already he will lose interest and would have just wasted his time.

its harsh but you know it's true.

TechniQ.UK

United Kingdom391 Posts

February 24 2009 00:20 GMT

#13

lol we're all wasting in our time in the end. He may as well play a good game with me instead of 360 with himself.

Anyway hmm dunno i mean i could play terran vs him without using my keyboard or something

Thanks for all the advice, I agree about keeping his interest in the game, like any suggestions on how to do that?

Nytefish

United Kingdom4282 Posts

February 24 2009 00:21 GMT

#14

What's wrong with playing a game for fun?

I say ignore all those people telling you what part of competitive broodwar to teach him, just let him play the game and enjoy it.

Interest in bw develops naturally, just do what most casual gamers do, UMS, bgh, etc.

Duke

United States1106 Posts

February 24 2009 00:26 GMT

#15

its worth getting into it and learning it even if only to be able to follow pro games

i dont think letting him watch you play is a great idea since him playing would be so much better, both for improvement and learning. i suppose to inspire him or something it could be ok, but I think you should let him play around with patrol vultures and mines. and nukes. maybe guiding him through some campaign and teaching the basics

micro is more fun at first imo you should work on that and maybe play ums if he gets frustrated

Centric

United States1989 Posts

February 24 2009 00:27 GMT

#16

He's only going to stick with it if he actually likes the game...if he can't even appreciate a progamer level match, I doubt he'll want to stick with it.

ahole-surprise

United States813 Posts

February 24 2009 00:37 GMT

#17

Based on experience, I can tell you noobs will not want to play the game unless they are intrinsically driven to win at everything and/or they really like the game to start with. If you force it on them, it will look like a fucking chore with all the build orders and hotkeys.

Also, do not force protoss on him even if it is the most noob friendly race. A pure noob is crap regardless of race, only once they get to some level of competency does the protoss noob advantage play out.

RekY

United States4 Posts

February 24 2009 00:38 GMT

#18

I agree with everyone else. Just let him play for a while, and especially practice macro. Keep reminding him to make probes, pylons, expansions, etc. Play in single player ums map and have him see what it's like to control units, cast spells, understanding usage of minerals/gas, things like understanding whether to engage or retreat and hotkeys can come later. Basically, show me the money 5 times and have him rally to different points and kill off his own units without dropping production off a few gates, add more gates as he gets better for a macro guy.

dhe95

United States1213 Posts

February 24 2009 00:39 GMT

#19

Make him play the 1st 2-3 levels of the terran campaign. The part where they teach you the basics.

Tehinf

United States192 Posts

February 24 2009 00:55 GMT

#20

I would just hold off on the build orders, he needs to learn the basics about starcraft.