The Zerg Help Me Thread - Page 203

On March 04 2012 21:38 Host- wrote:
Do you think ling bling muta is better?

On March 03 2012 16:07 RaiZ wrote:


You're being too extreme there. I know at least 1 europe GM that has 2 account in there by playing this build in ZvT.

On March 05 2012 15:33 Belial88 wrote:
You shoot for a full portrait box, with the 2nd box 0/2/4 drones depending on 0gas/1gas/2gas. You can double click a worker to have all workers selected, or just box over (it's okay if you are 1 or 2 drones off, and you can always +1/-1 for a queen or overlord grabbed in there). This puts 3 workers per hatch, with 3 per gas (when selecting gas drones, 1 will *always* be in the geyser).

Obviously, pressure and the course of a game can change how much you can drone up, but you want to go for a full 30 at each base. If you have a whole box and it 'looks' good, like not too much bouncing, you're good.

it's extremely important you have even worker spread though. Like when going fast third in ZvZ when if you make more than 5 extra drones in that critical time the opponent gets roach speed, or vs FFE like a 7 gate, you are going to have even workers at about 55 drones and won't be allowed to get any more, so you are reling on better saturation to give you better economy, rather than simply more drones. Otherwise FFE would always beat fast third, but by spreading workers out like 16+16+16, even though that's 48 workers, you'll have a much higher income than the 50 probes on 2 base.

If you watch pros, you'll notice they constantly obsess about worker saturation. That isn't them spamming, it's them all game long making sure that their workers are spread evenly among all their bases. No point in having 3 bases if they aren't saturated properly, and you'll lose any advantage if you don't do it right. It's really important, it's like adding free drones to your econ.

I aim to get at least 55 drones in ZvP vs FFE, I get more based on how much gas I scout or if they went SG/DT or not (ie tech heavy). In ZvP vs gateway expands, I leave 1 drone in gas after speed and get 3rd and roach warren ~40 supply. I pretty much focus on units to hold gateway aggression, and making drones before knowing 100% i can hold his push is secondary to making units to make sure I can keep the third alive (since I have no lair). In ZvZ I stop at 50 drones until I can get the army to secure more. I just try to get my third earlier than the opponent, if I see he went third too, then I can drone up a little too. In ZvT it's automatically full 50 drones unless I see he didn't expand. I take the third once the hellions are no longer a problem (be it because he opened 2 rax, reaper expand, he lost them, or it's ~60 supply now and I've fully saturated 2 bases and now making enough lings that his hellions aren't a threat to my third). I add a few drones based on map distance and how confident I am, but I will fully and completely drone it up once I know I can handle his push, make him return due to a counterattack, or he takes a third.

On March 05 2012 15:42 Chinesewonder wrote:


Thought about it really quickly. 8 mineral patches, 3 per patch, 2 for each close patch. There's ~2 close patches, so that's 22 workers for the minerals +6 for gas = 28? full portrait + more = 32+ ?

That seems like an awful amount of workers. with 28 per base, you still have enough for 6 extra if you get 90 drones for gas on your 4th.

Am I missing something?

On March 05 2012 17:23 Belial88 wrote:
^ I don't really agree with that. While yes, it's true that there are diminishing returns, I don't think that really changes how you play. You really want to be pushing up toward 90 drones while on 3 bases. You'll lose some as you make spines and such and the course of the game, and having 90 drones is not an issue when the 200 supply cap is not an issue to you. You want those 30 drones per base at the start.

On March 05 2012 17:50 Belial88 wrote:
^ Well obviously you have to cut drones at certain times to deal with the state of the game. But before the supply cap becomes a limiting factor, there is no reason to stop droning unless you are planning to sacrifice your economy for an attack. There is nothing wrong with going straight to 100 drones at the start if your opponent lets you, and you often will see pro zergs do this. I think that SQ thread stated that the average of GM+ zergs was like 91 drones.

If it's extremely lategame, yea, 90 drones is too much. But provided you can deal with any pushes or pressure, it is perfectly fine to go to 90 drones if your opponent lets you and you would rather not push or can't push (like against a turtle). 90 drones is only an issue when you are reaching the supply cap, but I have absolutely never, ever, heard of a game for zerg where they made too many drones (in regards to supply cap) and lost. They just make 100 drones, when they approiach 200/200, they throw down 20 spines.

It's always better to get more econ as zerg though... only reason you make army in early game in ZvT is to be able to safely drone up your third.

On March 05 2012 22:44 greenknight999 wrote:
Can someone explain the best method mechanically to drop from overlords please.

I just lost a game because of it :|

I tried shift queing up the drops hoping it'd drop one out at each waypoint but it tried to disgorge its entire load at the start of the run. Is it just D+left clicking? How do you spread them out over a long line?

Bit confused