honestly splitting DOES NOT MATTER.
People in the first 7minutes of the game generally have perfect macro and precise build orders and timings.
The moment some harass comes or some sorta action happens, ALL TIMINGS go out the window.
I watch even pro players like whitera nony tlo and even then at times their minerals get a lil higher than they could be. Sometimes gateways are left out and forgotten to warp into warp gates.
etc etc

So seriously, what matters is your AVERAGE macro THROUGHOUT the game not a simple 0.5second initial fancy split boost.

I mean if you watch Idra, the reason why hes so kickass is because throughout the game you never (unless intended) see his minerals shoot above 400 even with 3 bases and all the harass and everything going on.

Intro Timings and buildorders are heavily over rated, what matters is you being able to keep the macro up.

virgozero

Canada412 Posts

June 02 2010 19:31 GMT

#64

On June 03 2010 04:28 Snowfield wrote:
It never adds up, its going to be .5 forever, since you only do it once .)

sigh no it doesn't, but im too lazy to explain the exponential gain.

Kletus

Canada580 Posts

June 02 2010 19:32 GMT

#65

Interesting. I just did the half split, no split, and f1 split about 10 times each and I've noticed f1 split is the best.

With the no split, you MIGHT be behind a millisecond or so because the AI doesn't always split the workers to the nearest patch. As in, one instance they would split themselves perfectly and i would still make another worker on time but in another instance one would go to a far patch for some reason, thus losing time against cheese!

The same goes for half split although it occurs less frequently because you usually halfsplit to opposite sides.

The f1 split is great, I can consistently make an scv 2-3milliseconds before the first one spawns due to all the scvs being controlled and told where to go.

I used to do half split before this, but now I'll use f1. Thanks!

neohero9

United States595 Posts

June 02 2010 19:33 GMT

#66

On June 03 2010 03:32 woolly wrote:
Your rhetorical question indicates that those precious early milliseconds make the difference in winning which ~~infers~~ implies that you must execute the rest of your game to flawless perfection.

Statements imply.
People infer.

Ballistixz

United States1269 Posts

June 02 2010 19:36 GMT

#67

the game auto splits FOR YOU. of course it doesnt matter -_-. ppl that do split is just trying to separate themselves from the "bad players" when in reality it doesn't mean shit if u split workers at start or not.

BigDatez

Canada434 Posts

June 02 2010 19:37 GMT

#68

I'm sticking with my 6-3 split thank you =) Everyone's hands move at different paces, so there may be differences depending if you reacted slower one time compared to the other

Panoptic

United Kingdom515 Posts

June 02 2010 19:39 GMT

#69

Whilst the economic gain must be totally negligible, I like to think that it's the principle that matters. I think it's fair to say that good starcraft players strive for an almost anal degree of perfection, and you have to have that attitude if you want to get good in the first place, so I think of it as a 'start as you mean to go on' kind of thing.

deth2munkies

United States4051 Posts

June 02 2010 19:41 GMT

#70

Why do people put so much emphasis on splitting? I see this as a streamlining thing if anything. I know that in this community, a lot of people are such fans of BW that any change WHATSOEVER invokes immediate uncontrollable nerdrage, but still: streamlining the split just lets you focus on other things.

nihlon

Sweden5581 Posts

June 02 2010 19:44 GMT

#71

Unless you play at a very high level, then I don't see splitting being much of a factor.

Le BucheRON

Canada619 Posts

June 02 2010 19:47 GMT

#72

I understand the frustration of you experienced BW players, seeing these things you are very good at (after loads of practice) become obsolete, but I'm sure that's how a lot of people feel, outside of Starcraft when the things they are involved in become obsolete (Think Aboriginal bowmen when rifles were introduced.)
I had an acquaintance in grade school who wouldn't shut up about how great a speller she was. I really sucked at spelling, so I felt pretty stupid. Then word processing with spell-check came along and I realized that spelling didn't matter as much as creative thought anymore.
Was she still smarter than me? -arguably, yes
Did she do better in other areas of school than me? -absolutely

Don't worry BW vets, you're still going to be way better than us, Blizzard just doesn't want the element of the game that separates the "boys from the men" to be a mundane click fest, or the constant need to check your SCVs to make sure they aren't taking a nap next to a mineral line.

Kletus

Canada580 Posts

June 02 2010 19:50 GMT

#73

Further testing reveals that I get:
390 @ 1min with f1 CONSISTENTLY.
385 @ 1min with nosplit with optimal AI outcome.
380 @ 1min with halfsplit with optimal AI outcome.

All tests were on the build order tester map with the terran race.

Jalex

United Kingdom35 Posts

June 02 2010 19:51 GMT

#74

I stopped worker splitting a while back, as I suspected it made no real difference. Not because I sucked and often ended up by mis-clicking and costing myself minerals.

Honest.

OrchidSky

United States2 Posts

June 02 2010 19:54 GMT

#75

Aw man. And I felt so cool for splitting workers.

jimminy_kriket

Canada5501 Posts

June 02 2010 19:56 GMT

#76

I think anyone who's tried both can tell you it has no real consequence. Its just nice to have continuous production.

junemermaid

United States981 Posts

June 02 2010 19:56 GMT

#77

You probably need to test this on different maps. Some maps have the minerals more spread out than others (incineration zone), so clicking and auto spreading involves a bit of travel time whereas a 3/3 split minimizes this.

Rkie

United States1278 Posts

June 02 2010 20:03 GMT

#78

and there goes even more APM lost, if this is true

tubs

764 Posts

June 02 2010 20:08 GMT

#79

I go for the perfect 3-3 or 3-2-1 split each time just because there's really nothing else to do in the first few seconds of the game. Can't say I've noticed much of a difference in income rate either versus not splitting at all. Psychologically it feels like the money comes in slightly faster, but these tests seem to prove otherwise.

Whether I goof the split up, or it ends in a 0.5 second advantage - who cares? Not like it'll make any difference in a match anyway.

Grobyc

Canada18410 Posts

June 02 2010 20:09 GMT

#80

What about when you send 6 to one patch, quickly send 3 to separate patches, then separate those 3 as well? It's tricky to do, but surely it has to make some difference.