[G] TheCore - Advanced Keyboard Layout - Page 262

Hey Jak and others, I have a small update on my progress with the Core and was looking for a few suggestions with continuing problems.

My APM has finally gotten higher than before switching to Core, and I no longer miss any drone building timings, also I reinforce much quicker now and tend to remember to build units more using the core, but a few new problems have arisen and until I get way more used to using cameras (or decide to bypass them all together) I need a better/ more reliable way to check on injects without taking me out of battle.

During the early game I can get my BO and drone/overlord timings pretty near perfect, but I start missing multiple larva injects mid-late game. One big reason is that I cannot personally afford to switch cams to look at the progress bar is that I throw away too many skirmishes and big battles when looking away, but with the core I am still able to effectively drone or build units and add to one or two control groups while microing in small exchanges so long as I don't go through camera groups, I'd like pointers on adding to this strength by finding a better rhythm for checking injects and upgrades, rather than just getting used to using the cameras more, I simply don't think that's a skill I'm quick enough to effectively add in.

Through earlyish to mid game I can count to three on larva usage (individual larva spawns) but this creates a 5 second delay on each inject, and as battles go I lose track of my internal count of 1 .. 2 .. 3 .. inject. I need something that I can instinctively tap over to see a progress bar for a hatchery like I do with p .. o to check non-injected larva, so that I can check and inject everything once that larva pops. I think I may need to switch back to the base cam inject as well, camera injecting finally works mechancally for me for the first three bases, but I have yet to successfully incorporate cameras 4-6 as part of my pattern, moreover, I'm not getting any useful information from the camera switching over base cams. Aside from K, which I always know is my main base, and which usually allows me to check on some progress bars for upgrades, I still don't identify a specific cam with a specific base, as sometimes I need to move bases from my initial plans for bases or ninja expand if I notice my opponent isn't scouting.

Also, I noticed that double tapping P brings you automatically to the newest created hatch, which is generally the only one I need to drone up on manually, limiting my need to specifically choose which base to go to.

At this point in my game, I'm simply not a good enough player to select the cam I need to get to the base I want to go to and use that button combination of shift + cam key; it's quicker for me (mentally) to click the mini map or cycle base cams. I was thinking of keeping base cam K for the main base, and either making one more base cam L for either my ninja expand or forward base and doing that consistently to build muscle memory and instinct, and using Shift + ; as the new base cam, but wondered if anyone who uses base cams has a more effective combo.

I also need something more effective for my free cams, switching between Shift + key for base cams to Control + key for free cams is certainly useful for creep spreading mechanically, but mentally I can't get past that switch quickly and it's starting to make me create new bad habits, like mainly missing my creep spread.

I finally was able to do better with my upgrades progress by using ] as a CG for my upgrades. I think putting only one hatch on ] would help me to check injects, but then I would probably slip on upgrades again. I also need to do something to check upgrades for one time unilike Roach speed, Hydra speed, etc.) because I'm not putting them in control groups, and when I put them in my ] CG with upgrades there were just way too many taps to get through (I use that for just Evo chambers and Spires).

My most common problems are missing unit upgrades, and not using enough control groups. I make great use of P and Shift P for queens and all hatches, while L is easy for me to hit, and I'm usually able to incorporate ; as well for units, but beyond those two army groups I'm having trouble reaching the other CG keys quickly enough to be effective and have regressed back to using the All army command more often than I'd like. I sometimes use 9 and 0 for air units once I get into muta/corrupter play, but usually screw up when I need to get Brood Lords in there as the - key just doesn't feel as natural. Not sure if this will come to me or not. Sometimes I don't go air and need 9 and 0 for two baneling groups, or two harass groups, which screws me up in the transition to air later, other control groups feel unusual for me to assign which is why I'm not using them often enough yet.

What I would like to do is create a specific pattern to go from my army, to injecting all hatches, to then back to the army. I'm good with Shift + P then O to get ready to inject, maybe with shift + ; as the base cam I can go through those quickly enough along with a Rapid Fire button, and then double tap ;; to get back to that army control group, but I would imagine there is a quicker way to cycle that. I know that if I use U as the rapid fire in this set up, the hand placement is a little weird and makes the double tap on ;; a little more odd, so I'm not sure if there is a better way to work around.

What I would ideally like to do is my shift + p + o for queens and inject followed by pressing and holding two keys for a second (base cam and rapid fire) to quickly inject everything, then have the easiest transition on my hands to go immediately back to the army either as a screen, or as the control group in the fray.

Also, with taking out Base cameras 4-6 which I honestly just do not and probably will never use, will that free up combos that work better for control groups? I'm asking here from anyone that uses the Base cam and found something better to do with the options left in 9 0 and -. Maybe finding a way to incorporate shift + 9, 0, - will allow me to keep air and harass groups in the same area and reinforce muscle memory and instinct.

Thanks for any tips and sorry for the long post.