Day[9].tv Daily - Page 872

Dear day[9]

In one of your episodes you spoke of streamlining strategies to do them fast as possible, cutting as much away as possible, and being a long-term minded player, and so I have come up with a pvp build that does just that, a build which *can deal* with 4gate and then, if you micro your way out of it the game is basically yours due to that economic and tech advantage.

This build gives (fully warped in at the ramp, in under 6:05 in-game clock): 26 probes(6gas) 3 warp gates, 6 stalkers+4zealots and the ability to take advantage of earlier double gas to micro around the ramp with ranged units and force field.

http://www.gamereplays.org/starcraft2/replays.php?game=33&show=details&id=197732
In this replay I match the timings of 4gate with a defensive 3 gate play where you economy up and have a fully saturated base, allowing you to branch out and tech whatever way you want to to counter the strategy of your opponent, with the safest route always being a robo into chronod immortals if under fire or teching to a timed colossus push otherwise(or so I believe).

And here is the 5:30 4gate rush I like, though I didn't hide the 3 gateways(and thus the timing also looked like crap) since I was up vs an AI that I'm using as a reference. (note the second and third proxy pylons did come 10 seconds late, I'll acknowledge that, but my timing was superior to that of most 4gating NA protoss, along with army count)
http://www.gamereplays.org/starcraft2/replays.php?game=33&show=details&id=197735
it should be 5 zealots 6 stalkers at the enemies base at 6:05//6:10. (my gas came a second late or I'd have gotten 4 stalkers in the first warp cycle, bah fail) Maybe tomorrow when I'm more awake I'll to the builds over again and actually do it in the ladder, though I'd rather not choose to play as a race in ladder ;O

You can, if you so choose, make a sentry instead of one of the early stalkers and get ready to forcefield the bottom of your ramp, which of course stops that key timing where protoss will warp in 4 (of 5 total) zealots at the top of your ramp, or at least delays it and gives you more time to get more of the micro intensive unit, stalker to deal with the incoming zealot/stalker 50/50 spam.

Recently(#272) you streamed some casual yet well thought out and logical arguments and thoughts concerning the timings of the (mainly NA) 4 warpgate and possible counters and just today for the first time I was able to really apply your advice and figure out the timings of quick 4gate (5:15 warp in, without the chronod stalker (one fewer stalker but weaker map presence early) or 5:30ish with the chronod stalker, which also allows you to hide the 4gate because you then plant the gates after the stalker scares, traps or kills the scout and move out across the map and build a second stalker to join the stalker/zealot on the map.

Curious to what people think about this, be it shortcomings or strengths or just arbitrary thoughts. I personally love it because it makes pvp more interesting and at least as micro-intensive as 4gate vs 4gate and also giftwraps you the win when you live through early pressure with your economic and tech advantage. Another random strength of this build is you're better off vs cannon rushes as you don't get as much gas early as you normally would, and it's also good against oh so gold league void ray rushes!!! because of all the gas flowing in slightly later on which ends up as more stalkers.

Thanks for your time reading.

Ps:don't watch beyond 6:30 where i lose an observer to computer cannons and almost fall asleep at my keyboard. I just wanted to point out the magic moment with the timing at 6:05, which is just enough time to focus down units coming up the ramp from 4gate and at least get them in the red with an arc/concave/vision, into what would normally be either pure chrono'd immortals vs pressure or observer/few colossus timing push vs anything else...(you will have more robo units than a poor economy, late gas, late tech failed 4gater)