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I'm working on a Zerg-centered weekly webcast on different aspects of the meta-game. This show will, as I said, mostly focus on Zerg play, but tries to cover both sides of an issue (IE, the P side of ZvP, as well as Z). Generally, I analyze other player's styles, including players like LiquidSheth or vVvTitan, among (planned) others.
Only three episodes have been released at the time of this post. The first is just a tutorial of how I play ZvP with early ling aggression. I was more experimenting with XSplit than trying to start a show, but after the feedback from that initial episode, I decided to stick with it.
The second episode aired right after season 03 began, and I and a guest (a different guest is featured every week) took a look at the different maps, and analyzed potential balance issues.
The third episode aired last week and attempts to analyze LiquidSheth's ZvT 2 base roach aggression. I really kind of hope he sees this thread 
Anyway, at this point, I'm beginning to run out of ideas. I can definitely cover ZvZ, and that's in the works (NesTea's new Muta style seems fascinating, but difficult) but beyond that, I'd really like to hear some ideas on what people want to hear about.
You can check out new releases, or the VoDs I've mentioned here, at http://blip.tv/theonlyshaft.
Series Overview:Episode 1 ZvP Ling Pressure Episode 2 Season 3 Maps Episode 3 Sheth's ZvT: 2 Base Roach Aggression Episode 4 >3 Base Macro Play Episode 5 Static Defense Episode 6 Everything He* Knows About ZvZ Episode 7 What is Meta? Episode 8 The Magic of Mutalisks Episode 9 When to Take Your Third Episode 10 Aggression in All Match-Ups (ft. Tang) Episode 11 Early Pool Builds in ZvX Episode 12 Tidying-Up Loose Ends Episode 13 Dealing with FFE -> Gateway Pressure * Chaosvuisjte's TL thread can be located here
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Watching the Sheth episode right now... This seems pretty good  I would be interested in seeing more of this!
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Thanks man let me know what you think, PLEASE
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Aight, finished watching the episode (had to pause abit, laundry day <.<), your analysis is very sharp. Every important thing that Sheth does, as well as his opponent, and the reasoning for those decisions... I'm very impressed considering I have never ever ever heard about you before
Few small (cosmetic) issues; in the VOD archive I could not fast-forward or fast-backward, no matter where I placed the marker the VOD just kept playing from the point I had reached? Also, your voice is slightly muffled from time to time.
Now, i would love to see the following episode themes;
ZvZ - overall rundown of the current metagame. When players feel safe transitioning to lair tech and add infestors, how they deal with big +1 attack roach/ling allin style pushes (they can be a bitch to scout and react in time to, especially if you just made a round of drones just as he moves out), and generally how players micro out mid- to lategame engagements (spreading out roaches, making sure all your infestors dont die to one fungal, etc etc etc.)
ZvP - Scouting and adapting to what the protoss has in store for you. I here specifically think of drones vs adequate defense for whatever is coming without overcomitting. In addition, how to kill a lategame protoss if you somehow dont get the game closed properly before the ~25 to 30 min mark.
ZvT - Properly executing a big ass tech switch vs a terran. Example; the terran opens BFH, I defend with roaches and fail to do damage with my roach push. He now goes BFH/tank/marine/medivac and gradually starts adding a few thors. Going speedling heavy seems like a poor choice vs BFH, going roach heavy seems stupid vs tanks and going air heavy seems stupid vs thor - so what im saying here is, how to set your army composition up for this situation.
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Few small (cosmetic) issues; in the VOD archive I could not fast-forward or fast-backward, no matter where I placed the marker the VOD just kept playing from the point I had reached?
That's blip.tv for you 
Also, your voice is slightly muffled from time to time.
New headset coming soon :D
In addition, how to kill a lategame protoss if you somehow dont get the game closed properly before the ~25 to 30 min mark.
Do you mean like focusing specifically on the >20 minute mark? Maybe even just opening the replay up there? Or something more overarching. I like where you're going with this, but depending on how general we're discussing, I might have already provided this in the first episode.
ZvT - Properly executing a big ass tech switch vs a terran. Example; the terran opens BFH, I defend with roaches and fail to do damage with my roach push. He now goes BFH/tank/marine/medivac and gradually starts adding a few thors. Going speedling heavy seems like a poor choice vs BFH, going roach heavy seems stupid vs tanks and going air heavy seems stupid vs thor - so what im saying here is, how to set your army composition up for this situation.
That's a very good idea, but I'm struggling coming up with ideas on where to get replays that specific. Do you know of a Terran player who is known for doing it a lot, perhaps?
Note: The main reason you haven't heard of me before is I was nervous to post this on TeamLiquid, due to the strict advertisement policies. I'm trying to contribute to the community in the only way I know how -- I've also wrote a book on the Zerg meta-game, as well as providing coaching -- but I don't want to cross any toes getting the information out there. I figure if I do a good enough job, it'll happen naturally.
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On August 18 2011 19:31 theonlyshaft wrote:Show nested quote +In addition, how to kill a lategame protoss if you somehow dont get the game closed properly before the ~25 to 30 min mark. Do you mean like focusing specifically on the >20 minute mark? Maybe even just opening the replay up there? Or something more overarching. I like where you're going with this, but depending on how general we're discussing, I might have already provided this in the first episode.
Thats exactly what I mean. Load up a game at some point in time where it seems natural, but past the 20 or so minute mark. Its likely going to feature some kind of stalemate and some kind of army composition from both sides; it doesnt matter to me how they got there, what matters is how one should proceed from that point onwards.
And alas no, I dont know of any pro terrans who do the build, I've just seen it used a lot against me and I'm quite frankly struggling abit against it...
Anyways keep it up - hard work usually pays off
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I gotcha. I know where I'm going to go with this, as far as the ZvP late game series. I might try to do one for each -- a ZvZ featuring roach/infestor micro, a ZvT discussing that composition, and a ZvP on late-game harass/econ sniping.
Just to help out in the meantime though, try some roach or ling drops vs the Protoss -- even infestor drops work well -- and the same vs the T. It really depends on your style and preference which you use, but don't forget how excellent burrow is as well -- just burrowing 1 ling can cost a T 300 minerals! And burrowing 1-2 roaches for the P can really spread him out when he can't afford to be.
Roach infestor should also help your composition vs Terran. Don't get it too early, but it's kind of your late mid game transition into broods or ultras, and it'll deal with the Thors. Neural is desired
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theonlyshaft, is your book available online? My ZvT needs work..
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Check your inbox chlindell. I sent you a PM.
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Great info in the vid. vVvShaft is a really friendly & knowledgeable player, keep up the good work dude! Zergosity 4 LIFE!
~Spit
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take an early third base when terran is 2 raxing? Is that really legit?
reading the zerg for noobie but I am shocked to see that, I always put spines instead but early hatch for more lings production sounds interesting
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It's what Titan does. And Sheth does something quite similar in his ZvT vs 2 rax as well. The only map I have issues with it on is Shakura's plateau, for obvious reasons, but even then it can be transcended if put in the high ground base -- not so much for hiding as protection for drops / easier ability to flank opponent.
Time the third out so that you start it just after you've deflected the early 2 rax aggression -- that first big push/bunker rush/whatever.
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Going to be doing the show Tuesdays from now on from 8:00 PM til close. I'll post any exceptions -- I have an unpredictable work schedule, but as best I can tell, Tuesdays are the most likely nights I won't be called in.
August 30th, 8:00 PM: http://blip.tv/theonlyshaft
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Tomorrow night's show will be on >3 base tactics, as requested by Thraundil 8 PM EST, be there!
http://twitch.tv/theonlyshaft
or if you miss the live show -- or, more likely, want to take notes on all of the really good information this show will contain -- http://blip.tv/theonlyshaft for VODs (usually posted within 48 hours of broadcast).
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Tonight's Meta-Game Magic will be on the importance and utility of static defense. All of the replays -- more of a casting and entertainment night rather than an educational one, featuring spine crawlers and ilk -- feature this aspect, but otherwise vary quite significantly. Tonight's guest will be Cepteel, a buddy of mine from FraggedNation who co-casts tournaments with me. The show will begin around 8:15 due to scheduling conflicts. 8:15-10:15 EST live at http://twitch.tv/theonlyshaft with VoDs at http://bliptv./theonlyshaft.
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OMG this is so awesome man. Thank you so much. Hope you continue with the series. Swarm fighting!
Btw, I'd love to see a ZvZ Early game centered episode on the early game decision making and stuff. I find I'm always clueless about what to do in a ZvZ
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you're not going to refer to the game a lot while calling it meta game are you? meta game information is things you know prior to the game starting such as Roaches are good vs Protoss gateway units. Game information is just things like build orders and scouting and such.
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Anmois, I've been trying to put together a ZvZ VoD, but the problem is getting comprehensive replays. There are so many nuances to ZvZ that it's hard to follow all of the different divergent paths for one strategy, much less every strategy, so I'd end up teaching my own style. I do my best never to do that, as I'm only a diamond player, and I really don't think anyone gives a shit about my personal play. But it's looking like that's exactly what I'm going to have to do.
Soon however, I'm building to purchasing time with coaches, so we'll see a lot higher-level thoughts about the game.
lcl, the series is about abusing the meta-game, and shifts within it. For example, the meta-game at one point was hellion-centric in TvZ, so I did an episode on roach openings. Sometimes, we'll diverge from a strictly meta-game sense, however, that's to be expected beyond a certain volume of episodes.
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EPT
