Walling properly - 2017 Season 1 Map pool

Phaenoman

568 Posts

January 29 2017 13:36 GMT

WALLING PROPERLY

2017 Season 1 map pool

@Admins: I wasn't sure if this thread deserves a [G]-tag.

Since the new map pool includes some maps that have "non standard" entrances to the natural, I decided to do a little "tutorial" on how to wall as Protoss, especially because you need a little more preparation than Terran to do it properly. I have seen many pros trying to figure out how to wall off on the fly, but some don't quite do it effectivly. It ends up being a depot/ pylon too many or sometimes even a total mess.
In the following I explain how to wall off on every map, but you don't have to agree with me. If you have a much better way to do it feel free to share your knowledge!

Due to symmetrie I will just demonstrate one side per map.

EDIT: PiG talking about walling in PvZ on his daily: Walling off the New Maps in PvZ - PiG Daily #110

Abyssal Reef LE

This is one of the newer maps in the pool. The natural has 2 entrances. One is tightened by a set of rocks.
Both ramps can be dealt with by using a pylon and 3 3x3-structures (gate, core, forge, etc.). The initial pylon will be placed as shown in the gif.

Position the hologram at the very top left edge of your ramp. Then shift the hologram by 3 to the right. This allows to place a 3x3-structure on its left side without any gap. The other 2 are placed accordingly. The result is a gap leading to the high ground 3rd. The ramp with the rocks is completely walled off. You can destroy the rocks later on if you want to have access to the lower ground bases.

Bel'Shir Vestige

Wide non-ramp entrances are kinda hard to figure out. The biggest issue is to know where the initial pylon has to be placed.

Hold your hologram at the cliff at the top of your screen as shown in the gif. Then move it down until the power field does not touch the cliff anymore. Now move it 4 squares (or 2 pylons) to the left. Place it there. It is really not that hard if you practice it a few times!
Line up your 3x3-structures along the pylon.

Paladino Terminal LE

Another new addition in this season. Just like on Abyssal Reef LE, there are 2 entrances leading to your natural base. That being said, we will use the edge of the main ramp to create a single wall out of 2 pylons and 2 3x3-structures. It's straight forward.

An alternative way of walling is illustrated in the next image.

However, doing it like this limits your flexibility to move out of your base horizontally, since the path is completely blocked by the gateway. Furthermore, only one position of the 1st pylon allows such a spread out wall (see following gif).

I think the lack of flexibility makes this type of walling not preferable and you don't really want to have 1 gap for each entrance.

Useful information for Terran players: The entrances can be walled off with 2 supply depots each!

Proxima Station LE

The natural on Proxima is a "free" base with a standard main ramp, so we will look at walling off the 3rd instead.
The pylon can be position with respect to the base markings/ geyser (if you play on low settings, you might not be able to see the markings. The pylon's distance to the geyser above is 3 squares). Have a look at the gif.

A total of 2 pylons and 2 3x3-structures can secure the 3rd. The 2nd pylon blocks the path behind the geyser (similar to KSS).

Cactus Valley LE

The entrance to the natural only needs 2 3x3-structures to wall off, and of course a powering pylon. You start like this:

Place the pylon roughly at the position where its power field starts hitting the rocks (doodads) at the entrance. No weak pylon at the front!

Honorgrounds LE

In exchange for an inbase expansion, the main ramp is wider than usual (same as Echo's natural ramp), but no challenge to wall at all. With a single pylon and 2 3x3-structures your ramp is safe.

As you can see the pylon will be placed not at the edge of the ramp/ cliff, but 1 square to the side. This way, you create a gap for a unit and also make sure the pylon's power field reaches far enough to cover the whole ramp, so you can place 2 3x3-structures to finish your wall!

Keep in mind: You can do this type of walling on any occasion with the same ramp size!

Newkirk Precinct TE

The natural ramp here is really wide. We will need an initial pylon for powering and 3 3x3-structures and an additional pylon for walling.

Your pylon's position leaves (starting from the edge) 3 squares to the side and 3 squares to the top, just enough space to squeeze in e.g. 2 gateways. This very pylon can also power the 3rd 3x3-structure. The 2nd pylon finishes your wall at the top edge.

Thank you very much in advance! If there are errors or major flaws let me know!

BronzeKnee

United States5225 Posts

January 29 2017 18:49 GMT

Having a Pylon in a wall makes it vulnerable to Baneling busts. While it might be a necessity for getting a wall up early, I like to design my walls so that I can put a Gateway behind the Pylon later (or in some cases just another Pylon) and have it fully seal off the area the Pylon is covering.

Some of these designs don't allow that, like on Honorgrounds LE, but otherwise I like them.

ArtyK

France3144 Posts

January 29 2017 19:05 GMT

I'm too lazy to learn walls on each map every season, so i improvise and it looks like a wall :p it's really not that complicated.
I also try to do like BronzeKnee and avoid pylons in the wall when possible.

This is great though, the use of gifs is nice.

Phaenoman

568 Posts

January 29 2017 20:53 GMT

On January 30 2017 03:49 BronzeKnee wrote:
Having a Pylon in a wall makes it vulnerable to Baneling busts. While it might be a necessity for getting a wall up early, I like to design my walls so that I can put a Gateway behind the Pylon later (or in some cases just another Pylon) and have it fully seal off the area the Pylon is covering.

On January 30 2017 04:05 ArtyK wrote:
I also try to do like BronzeKnee and avoid pylons in the wall when possible.

I totally agree with you guys. But avoiding pylons at the very front while being quick and efficient with your wall can be really hard sometimes. I think in the end it's a matter of compromises.
And yea, having space for a safety structure behind is always nice and recommended. E.g. on Proxima you can throw down a gateway behind the pylon next to the geyser before it gets destroyed. It will totally block the pathing.

Mahanaim

Korea (South)1002 Posts

January 30 2017 20:45 GMT

thank you for this! It's so neat!

-HuShang-

Canada393 Posts

January 30 2017 22:27 GMT

on belshir, put pylon one hex to the right so it can't get hit by banelings at the same time as the adept/zealot in your wall.

Plexa

Aotearoa39261 Posts

January 30 2017 23:44 GMT

Cool post

Saechiis

Netherlands4989 Posts

January 31 2017 18:53 GMT

Nice post! Could you also include how Zerg scum like me can abuse these ramps? :D

Phaenoman

568 Posts

January 31 2017 22:14 GMT

Just watched todays PiG Daily and was suprised :D I will try to include his walls he showed when I have time. Here is the link to the daily for reference: Walling off the New Maps in PvZ - PiG Daily #110

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