[G] University Lecture: Improving SC2 Mechanics

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=278161

Tang vs Painuser (Game begins at 30min) http://www.justin.tv/ignproleague/b/298791823

Stream Lesson 1: ZvT Early Timing Attacks/Execution: http://www.twitch.tv/tangsc/b/299761662
Stream Lesson 2: ZvT Early Timing Attacks/Transitions: http://www.twitch.tv/tangsc/b/300152278
Stream Lesson 3: ZvP Cheese vs FFE (Proxy Spines/Banelings): http://www.twitch.tv/tangsc/b/300323301
Stream Lesson 4: ZvP Macro vs FFE (3 base Roach/Ling into Spire): http://www.twitch.tv/tangsc/b/301531068
Stream Lesson 5: ZvP Drop-Style vs FFE (Ling/Bane/Hydra): http://www.twitch.tv/tangsc/b/301531068
Stream Lesson 6: ZvX Meta-Game Aggression in All Matchups: http://www.twitch.tv/theonlyshaft/b/303148570

A lot of the time when players adopt a pure-macro style, they get in the habit of doing one thing at a time - first, they'll focus ONLY on macro by building workers and supply, then when they get an army they'll focus ONLY on micro when they push out to attack. But if you're utilizing an aggressive style, then you're likely moving out with an army multiple times during every game. Because of this, you're constantly controlling you units (micro) while building additional units or workers (macro) simultaneously (multitasking). It sounds ridiculous to say that playing aggressively improves your macro faster than playing economical, but it's actually true. In many situations, the ability to manage your production and economy while microing is a far more critical skill than just being able to max out quickly.

Additional Tip for Learning Players: Worker scout every game. If your goal is to improve, give yourself as much to do as possible. If you're watching the scouting drone, you're spending as much time as possible looking away from your base but still building workers and supply. And who knows, you may get some extra information, scout cheese, or even throw your opponent off their timings with worker harass.

We've all heard Day9 talk about the importance of having a mid-game plan - and it's incredibly sound advice because a lot of players are programmed to just drone and drone and drone, to build up their economy as fast as possible without having a clear plan of how to put their resources to efficient use. It's important to ask yourself: "How am I going to win the game?" Since you usually have to attack to win a game of StarCraft II, my argument is your mid-game plan should to be attack often and well. There are a few things to consider when you're structuring your timing attacks...

1) Planning: How can I maximize my timings and economy to give me the strongest possible push?
2) Execution: How can I manage my units more effectively?
3) Foresight: What viable transitions do I have in the event I don't win the game outright? What queues do I have to stop unit production and choose a new tech path?

As you've probably already come to terms with, SC2 is a game of psychology and mindset. The more you throw your opponent off their plan/build order, the more of a psychological advantage you have. Some players argue that being bad mannered is a way to put your opponent on tilt, but I disagree with this - you don't have to disrespect someone to throw them off their game. Playing aggressive is the best way to do this, because as the attacking player you have several advantages...

1) The defensive player is contained, so they can't harass or scout, meaning they don't know whether you're droning or you're planning an all-in.
2) You gain map control and scouting information when you attack.
3) You dictate the flow of the game, giving you the crucial mindset advantage of feeling in control.
Have you ever had that feeling where you executed an attack perfectly, did lots of damage, and knew not only that were ahead and but also exactly how you were going to finish the game with another attack 5-10 minutes later? That's the feeling I want you to have all the time.

A. Build up another timing attack immediately. This is the ideal scenario: If your opponent is crippled, there's no way he can hold another attack. Don't give him the chance to win by letting him tech or expand.

C. Take a risk by expanding, teching, or going all-in. This is the worst scenario and in general, you almost have to take a risk. This is a great time go mutas, DTs, cloak banshee, or drops when they're behind. Or, you can try to REALLY power your economy to catch up

B. This should be how most of your games pan out, and you should always have a next step assuming a fairly equal exchange. An aggressive player will have a planned response at each stage of the game to pressure or kill the opponent.

If you get all questions correct, you're definitely an aggressive player and ready for ladder. If you get two correct, you could afford to turn up the heat a bit. 1 Correct, you're too passive and need to attack more. 0 Correct, did you even watch the lecture?!

Another important point about timing attacks, which I neglected in my lecture, is one of the best exercises for brand new players (silver/bronze) is to perfect a simple timing attack. Things like 7roach rush, 3rax stim push, and 4gate are a great way to practice refining a build order and executing it. Then once you've got the basics of a 1 base build down, you can experiment with executing the one base attack, expanding, executing a 2base attack, expanding, and so on. A very basic example for newer players of each race:
3Rax -> Expo -> 6Rax -> Expo -> 9Rax
7Roach rush -> Expo -> Roach/Speedling attack -> Expo -> Roach/Ling/Baneling attack (Similar to 3 barrel bust)
3-4Gate -> Expo -> 6-7 Gate -> Expo -> 7-10Gate -> Expo