Hey guys =) Ive seen a lot of topics asking for the best Build Order Testers or ways to improve your game while Beta is down so I thought I would make a collective post (my first) on different ways to improve your game. I will try to keep this thread as updated as possible.
Build Order Testers
Qxc's Build Order Tester This is the Build Order Tester created by Qxc, Day [9] showed it off on his Daily on Improving Timing. Its the one I have the most experience with however Qxc has stoped working on this Build Order Tester Lucky tho it has been picked up by other Map Makers. Its a little outdated but still a very good (basic) Build Order Tester.
Isbunk Build Order Tester Isbunk picked up Qxc's Build Order Tester and added a lot of sweet new features, this Build Order Tester also allows you to try out your builds on actual maps and even records your past builds time, minerals, supply, etc. Its a improvement to an already great Build Order Tester.
Skeldark/Jeeks Build Order Tester (BOTV2) I haven't had a chance to personally try out this Build Order Tester but just like Isbunk's Build Order Tester this is an improvement to Qxc's. This one allows for many of the same features as Isbunk's however they are working on timing attacks to implement and if I am not mistaken have already added some zerg time attacks to test your build against. This Build Order Tester also sports a viewable history and a list of your Build Order. Some pretty cool stuff.
On June 09 2010 22:22 skeldark wrote: Nice list! qxc make this cewl idea and isbunk improved it but both dont work on it anymore. We take isbunks version and rewrite it.
so the diffrence between our and yabot: YABOT they focus more on atacks and train build orders of other people with a freerun option BOTV2 we focus more on make your own buildorder so we show many stats and make it run on ANY map but our atack funktion is nothing against yabot i think i will not improve it or take it out because why make something whats allready there. so i focus more on stats and remind funktions and savepoint system later
Yet Another Build Order Tester (YABOT) This is a pretty cool Build Order Tester, you pick your race and your build order at the start of the map. Youll then be given a list of what to build at which supply and the computer will send 3 waves of attacks at you. After 7 minutes the game ends and your given a score based on your performance. You can choose to create your own Build Order and even choose which Build Order the Computer will preform. Its a really fun tool to play with that I suggest everyone tryout.
1)The comment you added from skeldark is not entirely accurate. We actually show the same stats as his and we are highly geared toward custom build orders, especially with our new online tool: www.xorpwnz.com/YABOT Using this tool people can easily design build orders, and then play them in the map
2) Also YABOT has been mentioned on the Day[9] dailies twice now (once on 6/9 and once on 6/10), so would it be possible to add something about it also being mentioned by Day[9]?
Stet_Tcl's Multitask Trainer This is a awesome tool to greatly improve your Multitasking ability. You must defeat a Terran base while you control a probe that is constantly being chased by a zergling as you defend against drops and timing pushes oh and you have to rescue some dude to. You must do all of this without reaching a predetermined resource cap, without your probe dieing a certain amount of times, and before time expires. Lucky there are multiple difficulty settings. This is a lot of fun and should keep everyone busy for awhile =P
XGDragon's Unit Tester I cant believe I forgot this map in the original list I use this map all the time. Using XGDragon's unit tester you can create any combination of units and make the battle against each other 6 zergling vs 4 marines 2 Hydralisk vs 3 marines with stem whatever you want I used this map ALOT when I was working on my Baneling bust build to figure out exactly how many Banelings it took to kill a Supply Depot this is a great map with an even better interface you can learn a lot and even take bets with your friends on which comp is going to win
Riley's Micro Olympics This is a pretty cool map with four Micro challenges which you earn medals based on how well you perform. The challenges are Stalker Skirmish you control 8 Stalkers vs 13 Roaches, Baneling Breakout 4 Marines must survive waves of Banelings, Force Field Frenzy you control 1 Colossus and a handful on sentries to try and fend off waves of Hydralisk, and Sniper School 3 ghost's are tasked with picking of important protoss units as they run by.
Qxc's So You Think You Can Micro A cool looking map made by Qxc I haven't messed around with it but a Qxc Map cant be bad =P This map is made to work on Terran Micro but the skills youll learn can obviously be applied to any race. Some of the challenges youll face are Banshee vs. marine, Hellion vs. speedling, marauder vs. roach, marauder vs. hydra, marauder vs. early protoss units, marine/marauder vs. baneling, reaper vs. early tier, and practice tank range by using a viking to spot. Another awesome map by Qxc I suggest all Terran players give this map a try.
This is just some of the maps I have been using over the last few weeks, like I said above I will keep this post up to date with any helpful new maps I come across also if anyone knows any maps that weren't listed please feel free to add them to the comments section bellow. Thanks for your time everyone, Enjoy!
AI Maps (Computer Controlled Opponents)
Behemoth AI This is a very interesting AI map that is trying to play at the Diamond level. However this is a VERY early Alpha version of the map it is still pretty good. Currently it seems to be just Protoss vs Zerg with you playing as the Zerg player. The AI does the same build every game but besides a few annoying bugs like the Computers Phoenixs not attacking Mutas and the computer knowing where your at. This map is decently difficult youll probaly win the majority or your games but its still good training for in game practice.
Mimic AI [Thanks:Spyridon] A pretty cool map that takes a different approach on the whole AI thing. Basically on you first play of the map the computer does nothing you build up normally with your selected race and once you defeat the computer the AI will remember your build and save it in its memory. Mimic can save up to 30 builds and you can choose the build you want to play against. This is a great map for people that are a little more experienced and are having trouble with builds they can perform a quick example would be Terran Mech vs Zerg you can pick Terran do a basic Mech buid then work on defeating it as Zerg or for people that have roommates/friends and want to play against there builds. I really like this map and think it has a lot potential especially once your able to trade builds to one another. Cool map check it out!
Maverck's Reflex This is a pretty cool map you control a high templar with unlimited feedback. Your goal is to feedback the suv's as they spawn miss to many and the game ends. Of course the suv spawn rate increases as the game progress. This is a nice mouse precision game which will help getting your mouse set at that perfect sensitivity.
I have already started playing Qxc's "So You Think You Can Micro". It is actually very simple, really fun, and gives good practice for small skrimishes. My highest Hellion vs Zergling is 68!
Riley's Micro Olympics with the Stalker micro thing, how the fuck are you supposed to win? I'm doing seemingly perfect blink micro by blinking the dying ones away and doing concentrated fire but it still seems like there's no way to beat it. What am I doing wrong?
That being said, awesome collection. Will definitely check a few of these out Thanks for putting the time together to get all of these into one place -- I know I've seen their respective threads here on TL, but had forgotten quite a few myself.
These kind of maps will be very helpful for beginners( like me :D) after the game launches too as they allow you to practice certain skills at a time. I for one will be abusing Stet_Tcl's Multitask Trainer in my study breaks. GL HF!
On June 09 2010 05:01 Puosu wrote: Great compilation, thanks.
Riley's Micro Olympics with the Stalker micro thing, how the fuck are you supposed to win? I'm doing seemingly perfect blink micro by blinking the dying ones away and doing concentrated fire but it still seems like there's no way to beat it. What am I doing wrong?
Blinking hurt ones away isn't enough, you have to use the fact that Stalkers out-range Roaches, and continually kite them, as well as blinking hurt ones.
Qxc's maruader maps don't include concussive shells, which bother me not in the sense that it's harder to kite but it's hard to imagine a scenario where I'd get that many marauders but not get concussive shells with them.
Overall, good maps though. The sniper level in Riley's Micro Olympics is a lot of fun. And I learned that if you press "f" right before you start sniping to hold fire, queing snipes and getting the ghost to snipe is a lot faster.
I failed like 10 times on Faster, never getting below 5 roaches. Then suddenly, I beat them all with 6 remaining stalkers, without ever using blink. The trick is to move around them in a circular manner so that your weak stalkers are never directly in front. I didn’t even blink them back, I just moved well. I didn’t have to click to focus down specific roaches either.
How do you do the multitask map? Its like my bloody probe always dies.
Do I keep my mouse clicking move on the probe. Or maybe, hot key the probe and then move it in the minimap. Buts, its annoying. My hand can't move that fast. My macro sucsks. I suck at this game and should quite it.
i haven't been able to keep the probe alive either. i tried setting a million straight lines across the middle but he ends up getting hit on the corners anyway.
@ multitask map: Waypoints slow the probe down. As do sharp turns. The best way i kept my probe alive was to focus mainly on it and do smooth turns most of the time. Smooth turns let you stay ahead of the zergling and regen shields if you took a hit. When i needed to build something or micro in my main, put a waypoint or two.
Hey guys thanks for the great feedback! I found a couple new maps I am looking over before I add them, if any of you come across some helpful maps please feel free to link them so I can add them to the list. Thanks again!
Nice list! qxc make this cewl idea and isbunk improved it but both dont work on it anymore. We take isbunks version and rewrite it.
so the diffrence between our and yabot: YABOT they focus more on atacks and train build orders of other people with a freerun option BOTV2 we focus more on make your own buildorder so we show many stats and make it run on ANY map but our atack funktion is nothing against yabot i think i will not improve it or take it out because why make something whats allready there. so i focus more on stats and remind funktions and savepoint system later
Hey Skeldark if you dont mind I am going to quote your post under your map so people can get a better idea of what your maps about. Thanks for the input if you want to write a little more detailed description for me to quote feel free. Thanks!
im not sure what way im going with the map in future just asking the people in my thread. i can write a little text if im sure if i should go more with the TEST or the LEARN idea but i think i like the Test idea more. its just that i think copy bos dont help you to improve. oh and i found a name for my triggers BOTV2 . triggers and not map because i try to write all code the way that you can copy the triggers to any melee map.
You should add Mimic AI to this list. I posted on the Mimic AI page as well, saying that we should get some AI banks from players skilled in each division. It would be AWESOME to be able to choose from Diamond, Plat, or Gold AI banks.
Yea man like I said in my post I haven't had a chance to test your Build Order Tester out but I am a little worried even if it is a little unlikely that Build Order Testers will move towards nothing but timing attacks being thrown at you at predetermined times which don't get me wrong is great. But theres times that I like to just throw on some music and test some builds without worrying about 4 reapers flying into my base so I am all for the Test route. Anyway keep up the great work and thanks for the feedback!
Would you mind posting a link I have been looking over the Behemoth Fledgling AI map which is currently in Alpha is this the same one your talking about? If not throw me a link so I can look over it Thanks for your suggestion!
skeldark copying build orders definately does help you improve... thats like saying don't watch and learn from a pros golf swing - just invent your own.
If YABOT can get a huge library of builds from pro players it will be the shizzle. If you can learn to open like a pro you'll be in good shape for the medium/late game. What copying BO's won't do is make u a pro - for that u need experience and ability to adapt whilst u can probably win some games copying a BO it is very rarely that games go exactly as you expect from the outset.
for example you are never going to be able to follow a BO that lasts 20-30 minutes telling you when to attack etc as so much depends on your opponent... YABOT is just the first 7 minutes of a game.
Never the less opening builds copied from pro's and performed in the same time it takes them to do it is always going to improve the intermediate to beginner player.
I love your BO Tester though and with more timing attacks from pro players it is definately something to benefit the community, certainly intermediate + players. I think what we crave is just a massive library as I said of BO from pros and timing attacks from pros...
Your right to copy the first minutes can help players. But my plan was that it should help ANY player . Beginners and Pros. Pros can test if there get e.g the factory out 2 sek faster when they change a littlebit and beginners can just test a bo and get a own feeling of it. And i use my triggers not only for bos and first minutes i allso check e.g. how many produktion buildings i will need when i get 3 base or focus on dont forget important stuff only because you are in mid-lategame. For this im working on a save option but i dont think a good savepoint can make with the current version of the mapeditor.
Timingatacks. i dont really try to add them with good ai so that you can Play against it. i was thinking of it as a remember funktion. units a not important the message : "bannling bust incomming" does everything. AI cant micro so you have to think of your own: can i hold a bannling bust in this moment? The problem is to make a database. its hard to find the timmings. i was thinking over a thread that only gets timings because not only my map many people and projekt can use it.
On June 10 2010 00:18 skeldark wrote: Your right to copy the first minutes can help players. But my plan was that it should help ANY player . Beginners and Pros. Pros can test if there get e.g the factory out 2 sek faster when they change a littlebit and beginners can just test a bo and get a own feeling of it. And i use my triggers not only for bos and first minutes i allso check e.g. how many produktion buildings i will need when i get 3 base or focus on dont forget important stuff only because you are in mid-lategame. For this im working on a save option but i dont think a good savepoint can make with the current version of the mapeditor.
Timingatacks. i dont really try to add them with good ai so that you can Play against it. i was thinking of it as a remember funktion. units a not important the message : "bannling bust incomming" does everything. AI cant micro so you have to think of your own: can i hold a bannling bust in this moment? The problem is to make a database. its hard to find the timmings. i was thinking over a thread that only gets timings because not only my map many people and projekt can use it.
Why dont you just let the user set their own amount of attacks, time of attacks, and what units included in each attack?
Would save all the trouble of having to implement all the timings yourself, and give users more freedom.
because the user dont know the timmings ^^ but sure i can do it. its alot of work and i thought its not so important. if you know the timing your afraid of you dont need to set it in the map! like i said i think over it as remember funktion. if i a user add 4 zeloat 2 sent and a stalker at 5 min where is the point that they really come atacking you. The ai cant micro. The important think is to KNOW that you must be secure from it at 5 min so if you allready know why add it in and than see what you added 1 min ago?
------ something diffrent: there was a really good units test map. where you could fight (atack move ) 2 diffrent armys and looks who win. i cant find it anymore someone know the map?
I kind of see what Skeldark is saying, I use Qxc's Build Order Tester to come up with timings for Reaper Rushes, 9 pools, zealot rushes, etc. write there timings in a little notebook and while I work on a build I just check the time and go alright well around this time 2 reapers could be in my base and just judge from that if my build would survive the rush.
On the other hand it is nice to have those units actually appear in your base, but like skeldark said there not going to micro as well as a real player would, so it may not be as effective as you may think. In my opinion (YABOT) has this type of Build Order Tester well under control, I think Skeldark should focus on the other side of the coin, but again this is just that my opinion.
yep. i dont want to try getting a bedder atack as yabot. i dont sell my map i code for fun. i would take the atack code of yambot but they dont make his projekt free. they say all rights reserved on licence. so i focus on things that are new. at moment remind options, would be nice if someone joins and write a good atack but i dont think i will do it.
So to make it easy: Do you want learn a bo of other guys or fight against a ai download YAMBOT. If you want to improve your bo or try a totaly new one download BOTV2
I love the purpose and direction of the original post of this thread. Please continue to update it!
For everyone else, I'd ask that you guys please stay on topic. Also, feel free to help this guy out, post some maps for him to add to the list. This could be invaluable for players during the SC2 Beta Downtime.
If you want to build on it you could add for what patch it was last tested and if it is localized for both the US and EU versions (and if not, for what version is it made).
Thanks Abyss I will definitely be keeping this post up to date I am actually in the process of adding a few maps right now which should be up fairly soon.
However everyone has (so far) stayed on topic and have been very supportive of the post I really appreciate it guys
like Abyss said please feel free to list your favorites!
On June 10 2010 02:54 humblegar wrote: Thank you for a nice OP!
If you want to build on it you could add for what patch it was last tested and if it is localized for both the US and EU versions (and if not, for what version is it made).
Humblegar
Thanks I am actually in the process of doing the current version of each map and listing the last date each map was updated I also want to let everyone know when a map is recently updated. I am not sure how to do the versions tho I havent really looked into it, but that is something I will definitely do in the future.
skeldark your right, however you might think yeah i can handle it... however actually doing it even though they dont micro gives you a much better impression it also adds a bit of fun to build order plus it tests ur mechanics as while your holding of the ai attack are u continuing to manage your base?
I understand your point - and please don't see my post as anything negative to your system I can see the work that has gone into it and it really is good.
oh you totaly missunderstand me! i dont saw it negative and dont want to sound negative too. sorry if you think i am, my english isnt the best.
i totaly see the point of a atack funktions and sure its bedder with them than without them because its optional and who wants it can activate it. just want to explain why i personal dont want to code on it. if i find one who have fun on making it and put it in im glad
I heard that in one of the Day[9] Daily's, Sean talks about playing to a metronome. I'm not sure what episode it was from though, can anyone clarify what he meant? Like, what tempo should we play at, and what exactly counts as "one action" ?
On June 10 2010 17:04 streamofhonour wrote: if im correct they dont let your medivac/warp prism or any flying unit to boot to evne reach there, it just disappears entirely
Your correct any air unit that fly near the probe/zergling area is instantly removed from the game and if the zergling dies in anyway you automatically lose the game
is there any BO testers with a built in APM reader?
like, think the qxc one, but under the timer would be the APM ui as if you were an obs or watching the replay?
big thing i would want to work on right now is keeping my apm up and my money down as long as i can
any ideas or where to find something like that (in game preferably so i can train mechanics without having to review the replays) or how i can add it in myself to qxc's?
@seatzro what qxc ones? original, isbunsk, or my 2.0? apm is a problem we all try it and we all give up there is now way to add it at moment in map editor....
You can play the map you want then once your finished load the replay file into SCGears which will show you a chart of you total APM its an awesome tool to use on any of you replays to really figure out what ya did right/wrong I suggest everyone check it out
No problem guys its my pleasure I added a few new maps also if you still find yourself bored waiting for the beta to come back check out my post on my 10 things to do while the beta is down.
EPT
I use this map all the time. Using XGDragon's unit tester you can create any combination of units and make the battle against each other 6 zergling vs 4 marines 2 Hydralisk vs 3 marines with stem whatever you want I used this map ALOT when I was working on my Baneling bust build to figure out exactly how many Banelings it took to kill a Supply Depot this is a great map with an even better interface you can learn a lot and even take bets with your friends on which comp is going to win 
Thanks for putting the time together to get all of these into one place -- I know I've seen their respective threads here on TL, but had forgotten quite a few myself.
