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[R] characteristics of a diamond Zerg - Page 2

Forum Index > StarCraft 2 Strategy
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b_unnies
Profile Blog Joined March 2006
3579 Posts
November 22 2010 14:19 GMT
#21
nothing to do with BO/counters etc. all you need to get to diamond is working purely on macro. dont need to start microing your troops until you reach 1k diamond. macro is by far the most important skill in the game
DImported
Profile Joined October 2010
Australia149 Posts
November 22 2010 14:32 GMT
#22
Knowing when to scout is good. What you find determines whether you drone up or make units. You also need to know what to do with the scouting information you receive. Make units to counter what you see. If you don't have the whole picture, make a spare queen just in case there is air and maybe a spine or two in case of hidden gateways/barracks.

You need overlords positioned around your base and dropping creep at potential expansions. You should have zerglings at each watch tower at all times and a zergling at the base of their entrance.
Deathfairy
Profile Joined August 2010
148 Posts
November 22 2010 16:56 GMT
#23
On November 22 2010 04:01 Antisocialmunky wrote:
You know you are a diamond zerg if you die because you build too many drones.


QFT
RemrafGrez
Profile Joined November 2010
United States180 Posts
November 22 2010 19:42 GMT
#24
On November 22 2010 04:01 Antisocialmunky wrote:
You know you are a diamond zerg if you die because you build too many drones.


This is funny but so often true. I have a theory that sub 2000 point diamond, ZvP you just have to stop making drones around 36-40 drones and only make ling/roach. Maybe baneling. I play a little zerg and haven't lost on ladder yet vs P with this. Obviously scout and prevent any cheese and scout for a stargate later. But mainly get a pool around 14, get ling speed and expand. 2 gas max. That's about it. I've only seen a Protoss keep up, in rare cases, and then you are on two bases and he's on one. Who is going to win that? Eventually I'll get burrow for roach healing. Also crreep spread is critical in case they go blink stalker. See this pro match my boy... SPOILER ALERT.

http://www.gomtv.net/2010gslopens3/vod/1336

Game 3. The Zerg even over droned by making I think 48 drones... which almost cost him vs. a 4/5 gate build. But he was able to pull out of it.

If the Protoss fast expanded then run over him earlier. Roaches beat fast expands. If he starts making more immortals and stalkers just make more lings.
Mythol
Profile Joined October 2010
Sweden24 Posts
December 02 2010 21:15 GMT
#25
climbed to 1950 rating thanks to you guys, also improved my win/loss ratio alot. Love to you guys
"We cant stop here, this is bat-country!"
Blu3
Profile Joined August 2010
United States126 Posts
December 03 2010 00:50 GMT
#26
Top Platinum here, and honestly, diamond is something I've given up on. I end up doing too much cheesy stuff to try and just win games fast and get promoted, when really, a diamond player learns to counter cheese. Although... I'm typing this after losing a to a diamond protoss that just did a void ray rush.... hate those things.

Oh yeah, and scouting... diamond players scout better. Zerg is reactionary. Scout scout scout. Seriously. If you drone and scout, you'll know when you gotta make units and when you can drone.

I tend to go overkill a bit and send in a speedling up the ramp or to the base like every minute, minute and a half, but sometimes, the stuff back in the base really just needs an overlord sac.
Blu3 is the color that wins
vaLentine88
Profile Joined August 2010
United States61 Posts
December 03 2010 01:10 GMT
#27
Like most people have said- you know you are a diamond zerg when you seemingly conjure up an army out of nowhere.

Building drones, pooling larvae when necessary, scouting at the right time.



You know you are a high diamond zerg when you start to dissect each match-up and positions on each map.
Go Celtics!
Nerski
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United States1095 Posts
December 03 2010 01:20 GMT
#28
I'm in the same boat as you being very very high rated platinum and rank 1 in my division. Have been rank 1 for some time now around 1700 with about a 54% w to 46% l ratio.

Needless to say like you I got frustrated, but due to some side jobs I do had some extra scratch and hired the services of a coach. The best peace of advice based on my experince with this that I can give you is have someone else analyze your replays who is 2000
+ diamond. Then let them give you a listing of what they see as your deficencies.

You may find the things you think you're good at and things you think you're bad at may not really be what's holding you back. It could quite possibly be the exact opposite.

I know for myself I thought I had good macro etc. and only build timings and unit comps were holding me back. Turns out mechanically speaking I was a little slow, and my macro was actually pretty sub par. I was spending money previously but teching to quickly it turned out.

So yeah have someone who's up their already look over some of your replays even if you have to pony up a couple bucks to at least get some pointers. Might get the help here if you just post a replay and say 'what am i doing wrong',
Twitter: @GoForNerski /// Youtube: Youtube.com/nerskisc
Nerski
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United States1095 Posts
December 03 2010 01:24 GMT
#29
On December 03 2010 09:50 Blu3 wrote:
Top Platinum here, and honestly, diamond is something I've given up on. I end up doing too much cheesy stuff to try and just win games fast and get promoted, when really, a diamond player learns to counter cheese. Although... I'm typing this after losing a to a diamond protoss that just did a void ray rush.... hate those things.

Oh yeah, and scouting... diamond players scout better. Zerg is reactionary. Scout scout scout. Seriously. If you drone and scout, you'll know when you gotta make units and when you can drone.

I tend to go overkill a bit and send in a speedling up the ramp or to the base like every minute, minute and a half, but sometimes, the stuff back in the base really just needs an overlord sac.



I wouldn't give up hope on diamond, i'd instead try to focus less on unit compositions and look to mechanics. From everything i've gathered the difference between a top tier diamond and everyone else is mechanics. Which all boil down to speed of execution and macro. Unit comp is really small peas in comparrisson and can much more easily be learned.
Twitter: @GoForNerski /// Youtube: Youtube.com/nerskisc
bNy
Profile Joined August 2010
84 Posts
December 03 2010 03:51 GMT
#30
14 hatch, have scout with 2-4 slings, build up, muta contain, steamroll...
#bNy @ quakenet.org || http://starcrafting.wordpress.com/
Mythol
Profile Joined October 2010
Sweden24 Posts
December 05 2010 13:58 GMT
#31
2000+ rating, love you guys! Your posts have helped me alot. Btw, I think day9's signature on my keyboard is helping me to

DROOL

"We cant stop here, this is bat-country!"
aebriol
Profile Joined April 2010
Norway2066 Posts
December 05 2010 16:10 GMT
#32
On November 22 2010 02:44 Mythol wrote:
What difference have you learned from the platinum to the diamond?

The difference between platinum and diamond is the ability to properly execute a thought out plan.
- Never get supply blocked (for long - and 10 seconds is long).
- Never have many minerals.
- Execute your build "perfectly".

I would recommend you simply pick one build, that have a good attack in the 5 - 7 minute period, and practice it untill you got it down perfectly.

Scouting, decision making, all that ... makes the difference between high and medium / low diamond.

Anyone below diamond doesn't know how to execute a build properly.

That's my view, and I am sticking to it
Denorian
Profile Joined November 2010
Sweden2 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-12-05 17:12:10
December 05 2010 17:11 GMT
#33
I would say that good decision making and good fundamentals = Diamond. No need for fancy "optimal builds" and crap like that, just work on basics.

I went diamond as zerg without any build orders and well thought through strats. But then as I improved, those things came naturally. (i'm 2100+ diamond atm).
Hurr durr
jdseemoreglass
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
United States3773 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-12-05 18:29:15
December 05 2010 18:26 GMT
#34
Just a little something I wrote up a few weeks ago to help some friends improve...

Beginner – Macro Fundamentals
1. Are you constantly building workers?
2. Are you preventing supply block all game long?
3. Are you spending all of your resources?
4. Do you correctly position your units and structures?
5. Does your play have a solid macro foundation?
a. Does your plan include expansions or are you committing to unnecessary “all-in” attacks?
b. Do you expand while attacking?
c. Does your plan include a third base?

Intermediate – Strategy
1. Do you practice build orders and choose builds that are appropriate for the particular map and match-up?
a) Do you know how to analyze a map in order to make strategic decisions?
2. Are you constantly scouting and adapting appropriately to your opponents play?
a) Do you have effective scouting techniques and timings?
b) Are you often in the dark about your opponents plan?
c) Do you know how to respond correctly to your opponents plan?
3. Do you take calculated risks and try to do with less in order to get an edge on your opponent?
a) Do you find yourself with too many units after defending an attack?
b) Do you build unnecessary units instead of workers out of fear of an attack?
c) Do you prepare defenses for techs that are unlikely?
4. Do you fight for map control and the watch towers, and can you exploit immobility?
a) Are you aware of the location of your opponents army at all times?
b) Do you have vision of much of the map?
c) Do you make attempts to contain your opponent or control key positions on the map?

Advanced – Mechanics
1. Do you have an effective hotkey setup and maintain a solid APM with it?
a) Do you use the mouse often for things that can be done with the keyboard?
b) Are you constantly active or do you often stare at your base or army?
c) Are your hotkeys set up for ease of use and convenient repetition?
2. Do you properly control, micromanage, and multi-task during engagements?
a) Do you find yourself watching a battle through to its conclusion unnecessarily?
b) Do you find your resources stockpiled after an engagement?
c) Do you find yourself out of position or losing units due to poor control and micro?
d) Can you harass your opponent while managing your base?
3. Do you keep your eyes focused on the mini-map for most of the game?
a) Do you find your focus to be on units and your base most often?
b) Are you often surprised by an attack or drop in your base?
c) Can you consistently snipe scouting units or dropships before they reach your base?

Psychology
1. Do you make excuses for losses or ignore mistakes instead of working on them?
2. Do you avoid laddering or competing out of fear of losing?
"If you want this forum to be full of half-baked philosophy discussions between pompous faggots like yourself forever, stay the course captain vanilla" - FakeSteve[TPR], 2006
Mythol
Profile Joined October 2010
Sweden24 Posts
December 06 2010 21:43 GMT
#35
GUYS. Guess what?!


IM DIAMOND MOTHERF*CKERS!! I love you all. You helped me achieve my goal and i would never be here if it wasent for u guys. LOOOOVE from Mythol
"We cant stop here, this is bat-country!"
Mythol
Profile Joined October 2010
Sweden24 Posts
December 06 2010 21:53 GMT
#36
just have to say it again. i love you guys
"We cant stop here, this is bat-country!"
vix86
Profile Joined November 2010
12 Posts
December 06 2010 22:02 GMT
#37
On November 22 2010 04:25 Dysk wrote:
It may be just personal preference, but I've felt like playing zerg passively is what plays to their strength.


Idra has pretty much said something exactly like this somewhere. He would rather play a macro game and just wait for the enemy to come to him and then deal with it Kyrix (sp?) style. Of course deny expos and the such, but macro, macro, macro.
Manimal_pro
Profile Joined June 2010
Romania991 Posts
December 06 2010 22:11 GMT
#38
On December 03 2010 12:51 bNy wrote:
14 hatch, have scout with 2-4 slings, build up, muta contain, steamroll...


14 hatch, lose to marine scv rush, gulp )
If you like brood war, please go play brood war and stop whining about SC2
Mythol
Profile Joined October 2010
Sweden24 Posts
December 06 2010 22:12 GMT
#39
yea, back when i started this thread i wasnt as focused on my macro and i picked bad fights etc. But lately i have kind of "starved" the other player off minerals and focus on denying hes expos. Until the point hes forced to do a push and i steamroll him since im almost always one / two expos ahead
"We cant stop here, this is bat-country!"
Vaporized
Profile Joined July 2010
United States1471 Posts
December 06 2010 22:14 GMT
#40
On December 07 2010 07:02 vix86 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 22 2010 04:25 Dysk wrote:
It may be just personal preference, but I've felt like playing zerg passively is what plays to their strength.


Idra has pretty much said something exactly like this somewhere. He would rather play a macro game and just wait for the enemy to come to him and then deal with it Kyrix (sp?) style. Of course deny expos and the such, but macro, macro, macro.

my natural tendency is to turtle as zerg. however, there are definetely opportuinities to apply solid pressure, especially against toss. ive found early game zerg has the advantage and pressing it can often give u a lead. you dont have to win but if u kill a number of his probes then u are in a good spot.

what im saying is mix it up. if u feel like u are in the lead test his defenses, if he is tight then pull back, otherwise try to do some damage. if you had a decent army and killed his entire 4 gate force, then make another round of units and go kill his expo or contain him in his base. in this situation u can produce faster then he can and have an advantage.
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