Ok so I am currently a gold player in 2nd phase of beta and I play random so I'm no expert at protoss. I usually build a pylon at 9 for pretty much every build order which I think is pretty standard (?). My question is when is the most efficient time to chronoboost probes? It seems that my nexus usually reaches 25 energy right before i build my pylon. If i chrono boost my 10th probe then it ends up wasting chronoboost time while my pylon is finishing. Is it more economical to wait until my pylon finishes and chrono twice in a row before my gateway? It sometimes seems like I am wasting time not chronoboosting but Im not sure which is better. I know its a small detail but thats what SC is all about.

aeoliant

Canada361 Posts

July 12 2010 18:18 GMT

I pylon at 8 and chrono 9 and 10 but i almost always 2 gate rush when i get toss (i also play random). The timing is perfect you can build the pylon then build 9 at 50, chrono, and you should have 50 before the 9th probe is done

MoNoNauT

United States74 Posts

July 12 2010 18:19 GMT

there are two main conditions to check for maximum chrono boost efficiency - that your energy is under 100, and the building you cast it on is working for the entire duration.

If you cast it before the pylon finishes, there is a period that you'll not be building a probe, during which your chrono boost is wasted. Waiting until that period is over to cast will not put your energy over 100, so you're not hurting yourself by doing so.

BlueyD

Canada437 Posts

July 12 2010 18:21 GMT

I pylon on 9 and chronoboost right when the pylon finishes. Earliest possible chronoboost without wasting some of it.

FiWiFaKi

Canada9858 Posts

July 12 2010 18:22 GMT

First chrono is one second before 10th probe comes out or right when pylon finishes (with 9 pylon). Then just use then asap after or save some up to chrono immortal, void ray, or collosus. There is no other ways of doing it, this is the right way.

FiWiFaKi

Canada9858 Posts

July 12 2010 18:23 GMT

Edit: Woops, ment to edit no quote.

cHaNg-sTa

United States1058 Posts

July 12 2010 18:23 GMT

I'm pretty sure most people chrono boost as soon as the first pylon finishes at 10.

Zhou

United States832 Posts

July 12 2010 18:25 GMT

I'm an odd one out. I usually save them for my 2 gates and boost whatevers in them, and save the next for warpgate upgrade. Then it goes into producing more probes. I guess it just matters on what you feel is more important at the time.

xDaunt

United States17988 Posts

July 12 2010 18:25 GMT

If you're 10-gating, you can chrono right when the nexus hits 25 energy. If done properly, you'll only have about 1 second of waste. I think that the extra mining time is worth that 1 second.

mOnion

United States5657 Posts

July 12 2010 18:25 GMT

#10

On July 13 2010 03:23 Skillz_Man wrote:

Show nested quote +

dont post then followup with a quote of the post you just posted

you're right but you don't have to be a jerk about it.

sjschmidt93

United States2518 Posts

July 12 2010 18:26 GMT

#11

Pylon 9 against P and Z then CB the 11 and 12 probes. I do 10 pylon 10 gate against T. Still though, CB 11 and 12.

Bibdy

United States3481 Posts

July 12 2010 18:31 GMT

#12

If you go 10Pylon-10Gate, you'll actually get more out of saving Chronoboost for 11 and 12, then 13 and 14 right after. If you Chrono Probes 9 and 10, you get them out a little quicker, but you lose the effectiveness of producing the things in constant Chrono-boost chains.

If your Nexus is (almost) always producing Probes after that first Gateway goes down, then Probes 13 and 14 will come out quicker (than had you spent the first boost on 9 and 10), and that'll let you start on every following Probe that little bit quicker, netting you a bigger and bigger economic boost as time goes on.

ScvReady

United States61 Posts

July 12 2010 18:53 GMT

#13

Ok thanks for all the help guys.

tehemperorer

United States2183 Posts

July 12 2010 19:12 GMT

#14

I go 8 pylon, 8 gate, and then CB twice in a row, building 14 total probes, then I CB my first Zealot and add 2 more probes, then a second zeal that is CB'ed plus a pylon

EnderCN

United States499 Posts

July 12 2010 19:40 GMT

#15

Pylon on 9, chronoboost so that the pylon finishes at same time as your probe. This is usually like 1 second before the pylon is done just depending on how well my split went.

Ventez

Norway107 Posts

July 12 2010 19:57 GMT

#16

Just chrono boost when the Pylon makes a loud noise, then the timing is perfect.

Bibdy

United States3481 Posts

July 12 2010 20:41 GMT

#17

Well, I usually just hit C, hover the cursor over the Nexus and click when my food count changes from 10/10 to 10/18.

stk01001

United States786 Posts

July 12 2010 20:54 GMT

#18

most efficient possible chrono boosts early game (for probes) i've been able to come up with is this:

pylon 9 (DO NOT SCOUT ON 9 OR THIS WON'T WORK)
chrono boost when pylon finishes
continue building probes and do a second chrono boost as soon as the first chrono boost finishes
gateway on 13 (you can now scout with this probe)
probe immidietly after gateway

if you time this right there should be no downtime between your 13th and 14th probe so no chrono boost will be wasted (your second chrono boost will still be going after the 13th probe finishes) From my experience (random diamond player) the timing on this is exact so you can build your 14th probe immidietly as the 13th finishes. However, if you scout on 9 you will be short on minerals therefore wasting some of your 2nd chrono boost, this is why it's important you wait until 13 to scout.

This is of course a 1 gate macro oriented build... if I'm going two gate (love 11 / 12 gate vs zerg) I usually never chrono boost probes... always save the boosts for zealots.

If anyone has a more efficient opening for using the first two chrono boosts I'd love to hear it.

shammythefox

United Kingdom286 Posts

July 12 2010 21:00 GMT

#19

pylon on 9 and chronoboost as soon as the pylon finishes.

By food 14 this is the most economical option

Netherlands12045 Posts

July 12 2010 21:05 GMT

#20

i will try to make this as short as possible: chrono production when ever you are no in the threat of supply blocks. Doing only that can help you jump to plat easily

also if you planing on a cheese/rush, think about how many probes you need to support your production and stop chrono boots right there, put the rest on your army

mid game it kinda situation base, just like how the zerg think how to spend your larva: expand or army? if army: unit or tech!

THE END