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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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Zurich15328 Posts
On September 15 2011 00:44 theonlyshaft wrote:
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.
There, fixed that for you.
You are talking about the game, why don't you just call it the game. There is nothing meta about it.
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That's a very simple definition, and doesn't apply in all senses. In any case, it applies here, as quoted from your very own thread Zatic:
"Example of metagaming: Players all agree that unit A is too strong. Many players are winning games by only making A. To react, opponents have been rushing for unit B, which is a counter to A. Knowing this, a player has developed a build which is weak against everything but a rush to B.
Why is this metagaming? The rules state the statistics of the units; however, they make no comment on which are overpowered or what should be the standard strategy. By taking information from outside the game, this player is affecting the outcome of the game with information from outside of the ruleset."
The TvZ I was referring to then, which you marked out, was indeed meta-game. It helps to know what you're talking about, before randomly posting crap. Had you actually viewed the show before posting, you'd understand why, with the exception of the episode dealing with spine crawlers, every episode has dealt with some aspect of a true meta-game. I could list it for you, but why do your work for you?
My entire series is on thinking outside of the box, and exploiting shifts in popular unit compositions; it's about staying ahead of the learning curve, and doing what you can to make the best of a given situation. It is, by very definition, a discussion of the meta-game. To refer to something as "the game," can be non-specific, seeing as each episode has 4-6 games within. I could be referring to a specific ZvT game, in the ZvT episode, the game as a whole, or a wide variety of other concepts. Words are representational systems representing complex ideas; as long as each member of the communication can understand the systems being represented and comprehend the ideas being passed to them, what do semantics matter? Clarity is far more important to me.
In any case, this is terribly off-topic; if you care to discuss my word choice, do it in a PM, so I can ignore it in peace.
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Great videos but blip.tv sucks, could you upload them on youtube as well? :-)
For example you can't fast forward on blip.tv with many videos.
P.S.: I tried that roach build but he scouted the roach warren and proceeded to kill me with a one base marauder hellion attack which killed my roach/spinecrawler/slowling army. What should I do if my roach warren gets scouted, abandon making roaches then?
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if you are rushing to roaches because helions are popular then you are the one who doesnt know what he is talking about. Surely if you intend to teach others you should teach proper scouting? rushing to roaches doesnt help vs a fast banshee or a marauder marine push. Its not that hard to scout a helion build either. If in fact your build is just scouting a factory and making roaches then that isnt meta game because its based on the scouting information within the game.
Additionally, roaches ARE good against all ground based terran units in the early game so its the same as calling making marines meta gaming because zerg makes mutas rather than because they are just good.
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YouTube has a limit on the length of videos. 10 minutes is the maximum I don't know of many other video sites that will allow hour-2 hour long broadcasts.
I tried that roach build but he scouted the roach warren and proceeded to kill me with a one base marauder hellion attack which killed my roach/spinecrawler/slowling army.
It sounds to me like something happened you didn't think to mention. I'd need to see the replay to be certain (feel free to hijack this thread with replays, as long as they pertain to the show ) but it sounds to me like you didn't attack him with those 6 roaches. It's only 6 roaches, then you go back to droning.
Because you keep some speedlings on the map, you can counter him when he pushes out, to buy time/punish. Marauders do incredibly well against Spines, by the way. I would have made a lot of lings upon seeing the army move out, and use maybe 4-6 roaches to individually fire down hellions. It's kind of micro-intensive, seeing as I'm referring to 1) counter attack lings 2) defense lings and 3) roach micro in addition to macro, but it can be done.
Like I said, I could give you a lot more information with a replay. To be honest, everytime I've ever encountered a marauder hellion composition, I used the counter to punish, and used spines, roaches, and ling reinforcements to hold off until mutalisks were out. I'm pretty sure I took some damage to my natural during these times, but nothing too serious -- mutalisks tear marauder hellion a new one
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lcl, are you still crying about semantics? Please stop trolling. It's obvious at this point you haven't actually watched the show, so hush. It's a freaking title, dude.
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i've watched the first half of the episode w/ sheth, and i've gotta say, i'm pretty impressed so far, i'll definitely keep watching if the rest are like this
thanks a bunch!
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On September 15 2011 00:53 zatic wrote:Show nested quote +On September 15 2011 00:44 theonlyshaft wrote:
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. There, fixed that for you. You are talking about the game, why don't you just call it the game. There is nothing meta about it.
Educate yourself and stop making shitty posts.
http://guildwars.wikia.com/wiki/Metagame
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On September 15 2011 00:44 theonlyshaft wrote:
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.
That makes sense. I watched a couple of the VODs. Your analysis is commendable considering you're starting out and I'm looking forward as you continue with the series.
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Thank anmolsing, and namaste.
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lulz shaft, whatcha doing here? I remember you say you hate me and the whole TL-community, you're such a hypocrite!
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.
I loled at you faking modesty ^^, we all know you like telling people what to do.
What happened to you owning up tournaments and beating masters players? You're not 'just' a diamond player, right? I was pretty certain you made it clear to us that you feel like a bawz.
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Hey Shaft, remember me? ^^
This is playing to your strengths I gotta say compared to back at EAT.
You can talk a lot more about things than execute them.
Why not just use SC2casts to get those replays? There is currently a NesTea vs NosLoki but plenty of other ZvZ's, admitably they are mostly IdrA/Destiny/Nerchio.
The only other ZvZ with NesTea is NesTea vs Promise, shame there aren't many replays from him floating about from ladder. And the GSL is just gonna be NesTea vs Some Random Terran.
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Huh, thanks Clove! Gonna check out SC2casts. The hardest part of finding the replays is looking at them and finding themes. In tournaments, which is what a lot of these replays tend to be from, players intentionally switch things up. I like to find ladder replays of the player doing the same strategy, with different variations based on the situation. That's where you can find the most information.
I loled at you faking modesty ^^, we all know you like telling people what to do.
What happened to you owning up tournaments and beating masters players? You're not 'just' a diamond player, right? I was pretty certain you made it clear to us that you feel like a bawz.
Sorry SMD. I can be arrogant, if you prefer. Yeah, I beat Masters players. Yes, I've beaten a GM player (admittedly, it was 1 out of like 7 games, but still). So what? A coach doesn't have to be able to execute things, as long as he understands the game. If anyone benefits from seeing these VoDs, or my coaching, then I'm happy to help.
It's easy to criticize, bro. Seems like a fairly positive review, however, from the people who watch my stuff. Apparently I can't be doing it all wrong. Trolling is cool, though
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Sorry guys no show tonight. I work. All day
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On September 16 2011 16:05 iamke55 wrote:Show nested quote +On September 15 2011 00:53 zatic wrote:On September 15 2011 00:44 theonlyshaft wrote:
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. There, fixed that for you. You are talking about the game, why don't you just call it the game. There is nothing meta about it. Educate yourself and stop making shitty posts. http://guildwars.wikia.com/wiki/Metagame
Lol did zatic just get utterly destroyed? Ha.
Please dont ban me.....
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I think a video or two about the metagame at different levels of ladder would be good. I have found that more complex tactics and scouting methods don't work until you can stop assuming your opponent is retarded. For instance, I found that two-base ling/hydra agression rolls over bronze league players and when I got to silver league, my strategy stopped working so it changed to just completely out expanding other opponents because they did not know to apply pressure to Zerg until I got to the upper silver league where it stopped working. A guide covering the topic of meta game at different ladder levels would be EXTREMELY helpful to most players hoping to get better, as, like I have said, cool little tricks that you pick up from pros don't work if your opponent is retarded like most lower-league players.
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On September 15 2011 00:53 zatic wrote:+ Show Spoiler +On September 15 2011 00:44 theonlyshaft wrote:
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. There, fixed that for you. You are talking about the game, why don't you just call it the game. There is nothing meta about it.
If you're gonna be a smartass and make a post correcting a quote of something someone said, and then link a post explaining why you're right and they're wrong, at least be right about what you say, and read the post you link.
Third Example:
+ Show Spoiler +
Example of metagaming: Players all agree that unit A is too strong. Many players are winning games by only making A. To react, opponents have been rushing for unit B, which is a counter to A. Knowing this, a player has developed a build which is weak against everything but a rush to B.
Why is this metagaming? The rules state the statistics of the units; however, they make no comment on which are overpowered or what should be the standard strategy. By taking information from outside the game, this player is affecting the outcome of the game with information from outside of the ruleset.
Example of non-metagaming: A player luckily scouts his opponent early and guesses from his buildings that he is making a large amount of X. From this he makes the decision to build only the direct counter to X. This isn't metagaming because all decisions and information were from within the game.
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I would imagine from the way that third example is phrased, using absolutes ("This isn't metagaming because all decisions and information were from within the game") leaving one to freely interpret that even though one scouts (decision/information from within the game), one is also applying outside knowledge (pre-disposition towards "too strong" [loosely stated, I don't want to get into a topic of balance, but it's a quote of a quote of a quote you linked to] blue flame hellions in the present meta) and is thus also a meta-game.
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Sorry about the delay in putting out a show guys, lots of stuff going on in real life, including my step dad getting back surgery. Everything's smooth now, though, so on Thursday at 1 PM EST (8 PM CET) I'll be bringing to you a ZvZ lesson between myself and Chaosvujste, the writer of the ultimate ZvZ guide found on TL @ http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=256461
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New episode up, "What is Meta?" which looks at the present ZvX meta-game overview, discusses what meta is (based on this thread lol), and I also updated the OP to provide a description of each episode.
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Hey guys, beginning at 1:45 AM, you can tune into myself and Shaft doing a late night casting session featuring M+Stephano's replays. Livestream @ twitch.tv/theonlyshaft and VoDs @ blip.tv/theonlyshaft !
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Definitely come and check it out! A lot of good insight and fun! Any feedback is appreciated!
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Bump! Still live right now! Tune in and let us know what you want to see!
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Going to be working with Shaft on an aggressive zerg episode today ^^
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This is a great show Will be tuning in regularly
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ZvZ is really... not worth covering in my opinion.
I recently watched NesTea losing to Catz, so... you know...
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Tomorrow (January 15) at 7 PM EST I will be covering a show on early pools. There is, as of the mooment, no guest speaker scheduled, but this may change between now and then. Looking forward to seeing you guys there!
* Builds covered will be 9 and 10 pool, both pressure-oriented and macro-oriented. There is, afterall, some debate as to whether a 10 pool is only slightly worse than certain other builds (http://i.imgur.com/fc6j0.png; thread: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=202464)
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MVP's BFH opening vs stephano's double upgraded lings(loses a TOOOOOOON of lings), into ghosts, as stephano's trieds to go for infestor into ultras. (where stephano loses during the infestor phase against ghost)
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I've put up a few new episodes of Meta-Game Magic, and updated the table of contents accordingly.
Guys, please feel free to tell your friends about this. Feedback and stuff is also incredibly appreciated
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EPT
