Note taking is absolutely essential to SC2 improvement. On the topic of taking detailed SC2 notes, QxC stated in an MLG interview that “it's the people who are the best that are winning today, but it's the people who improve the fastest that win tomorrow.” It is my firm belief that any player who does not keep a StarCraft II notebook is at a severe disadvantage compared to those who do.
So often people assume that queuing up more ladder games leads to faster improvement, or as WhiteRa puts it: “More gg, more skill!” While it is true that practicing more will help you get better, it is perhaps more important to ensure that your practice time is as effective as possible. This is why the first thing I do when coaching a new student is advise them to “Open a word file or get a pen and paper...you're going to need it!”
Remember:
you MUST mark your progress if you want to improve the efficiency of your practice! Therefore to learn and perfect Stephano's ZvP style, I encourage you to make a total of eight detailed benchmarks, analyzing every minute between 5:00 and 12:00. This will help you assess your current strengths and pinpoint exactly when and where you're deviating from the build. To analyze your games so close might seem a little excessive at first, however it is the most effective way to pinpoint your mistakes and improve your note taking skills.
For the Stephano-Style, here are benchmarks you can aim for:
Note: These benchmarks are estimations that you can compare to your own timings. The most important benchmark is the 8:00 Mark, where you've reached peak 3 base saturation and can begin producing Roaches and Zerglings.
5 Minutes – 28+ Supply, 18+ Drones, 3 Hatcheries, 2 Queens, 0 Gas Geysers. 0 Tumors Spread
6 Minutes – 40+ Supply, 30+ Drones, 3 Hatcheries, 2 Queens (3rd Building), 2 Gas Geysers, 2 Tumors Spread (Total)
7 Minutes – 60+ Supply, 40+ Drones, 3 Hatcheries, 3 Queens, 2 Gas Geysers, 5 Tumors Spread, Roach/Evo Building
8 Minutes – 72 Supply, 60+ Drones, 3 Hatcheries, 4 Queens, 3 or 4 Gas Geysers, 8+ Tumors Spread, Lair Building
9 Minutes – 94 Supply, 60+ Drones, 3 Hatcheries, 4 Queens, 4 Gas Geysers, 15+ Tumors Spread, +1/Ling Speed Building
10 Minutes – 126 Supply, 60+ Drones, 4 Hatcheries, 4 Queens, 20+ Tumors Spread, Roach Speed Building
11 Minutes – 160 Supply, 60+ Drones, 4 Hatcheries, 4 Queens, 25+ Tumors Spread, +2 Building
12 Minutes – 200/200 Supply, 60+ Drones, 4-5 Hatcheries, 4-5 Queens, 30+ Creep Tumors, +2 Building
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/RxyAW.jpg)