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Analysis: Which Gas should I get first?

Forum Index > SC2 General
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deViation-
Profile Joined July 2010
Canada85 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-14 19:02:14
August 13 2010 22:53 GMT
#1
Good evening fellow TLers. Today I bring you my findings on the gas collection rates of individual geysers for different starting locations. I invite you to read through this fine research of questionable usefulness and pertinence.

As we know, in StarCraft II, we have 2 gas nodes per expansion contrary to the single we had in BW. The question I asked myself was:

Which Geyser should I get first?
[image loading]
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu. Should I get this one or that one? This is hard. So unbelievably hard.

Should I build my first Refinery on this one? Or that one? And most importantly, does it even matter?

A situation where the first gas matters
+ Show Spoiler +
On a map like Scrap Station, you might want to get the first gas on the node which is farther from your opponent, especially if he is Protoss. The reasoning behind this is that if your enemy chose to go extremely fast Void Rays, he won’t be able to initially charge up on your gas if you chose the one further away from him. He will have to go all the way to the second gas, leaving him more vulnerable to marines or queen defense. Not much more vulnerable, but still, more vulnerable.

Another situation where the first gas matters
+ Show Spoiler +
Now, let’s say your opponent is Zerg and you are Terran. You choose to go proxy Barracks for some Reaper cheese. Don’t ask me why, but you did. Which gas should you get first? Most of us will assume that it doesn’t matter since they are all at the same distance from the Command Center. Guess again.


The Ladder maps I checked out were:
Blistering Sands (2 locations)
Desert Oasis (2 locations)
Scrap Station (2 locations)
Steppes of War (2 locations)
Xel’Naga Caverns (2 locations)
Kulas Ravine (4 locations)
Lost Temple (4 locations)
Metalopolis (4 locations)
Delta Quadrant (4 locations)

Things I looked for :
- Worker Clippage at Refinery
- Worker Waiting at Refinery
- Overall Distance between Refinery and Command Center
- Gas collection per minute

Worker Clippage :
+ Show Spoiler +

Click to Enlarge
[image loading]
Workers Clipping eachother at the refinery on a Geyser at the North location of Blistering Sands.

Clippage is the term I use to define when two workers pass each other at a Geyser. If the Geyser is particularly far away from the Command Center, it is possible that the Worker inside the Refinery will exit it prior to the second worker arriving. You will therefore see 1 worker pass the other right at the entrance to the refinery. That is called Clippage (no you can’t change the name, its Clippage, I said so.)

Worker Waiting:
+ Show Spoiler +

Click to Enlarge
[image loading]
A worker waits for his buddy to exit the refinery before he can enter.

Worker Waiting (or WW) is the opposite of Clippage, where the Geyser is so close to the Command Center that the second worker arrives at the refinery while the first one is still inside collecting the barrel of gas. This is not very efficient either, because that means you have a worker not working at that specific time. It is however more efficient than Clippage, because it will yield you more gas per minute.

Overall Distance between Refinery and Command Center:
+ Show Spoiler +

[image loading]
Lol look this guy thinks it matters which gas he gets first. Classic overthinking.


[image loading]
Wait a minute...

Using a screenshot in paint, I was able to check out the different positions (X,Y) of the Refinery and the deposit spot on the Command Center. I found that several Geysers have a longer distance to the CC than others. On my screen, with my resolution, using the distance between two points equation (distance = SQRT((X1-X2)² + (Y1-Y2)²)), I found that the top Geyser on this particular location on Metalopolis is approximately 10 pixels farther than the bottom Geyser.

Using the gas collection rates below, the top Geyser shown here yields 108 gas per minute as the lower one yields 112 gas per minute. Get the bottom one first.

Gas collection per minute:
+ Show Spoiler +

I checked out the gas collection rates for different geysers on all the starting locations for all the current ladder maps:

My results are:
Long wall of text is long.
+ Show Spoiler +
Map: Blistering Sands

NorthEast:
- Top Geyser: 104 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.2 real seconds between return trips
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 real seconds between return trips
SouthWest:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 108 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.1 seconds

Conclusion:
On Blistering Sands, if you spawn on the top location, get the bottom gas first.
On Blistering Sands, if you spawn on the bottom location, get the top gas first.



Map: Desert Oasis

North:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
South:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds

Conclusion:
On Desert Oasis, it doesn’t matter which gas you get first. They are all equal.

Map: Scrap Station

East:
- Left Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Right Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
West:
- Left Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Right Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds

Conclusion:
On Scrap Station, it doesn’t matter which gas you get first. They are all equal.
 
Map: Steppes of War

South:
- Left Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Right Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
North:
- Left Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Right Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds

Conclusion:
On Steppes of War, it doesn’t matter which gas you get first. They are all equal.


Map: Xel’Naga Caverns

NorthEast:
- Left Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Right Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
SouthWest:
- Left Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Right Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds

Conclusion:
On Xel’Naga Caverns, it doesn’t matter which gas you get first. They are all equal.

 
Map: Kulas Ravine

NorthEast:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 104 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.2 seconds

NorthWest:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 108 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.1 seconds

SouthEast:
- Top Geyser: 108 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.1 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds

SouthWest:
- Top Geyser: 104 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.2 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds

Conclusion:
On Kulas Ravine, if you spawn at the NorthEast Location, get the Top Geyser First.
On Kulas Ravine, if you spawn at the NorthWest Location, get the Top Geyser First.
On Kulas Ravine, if you spawn at the SouthEast Location, get the Bottom Geyser First.
On Kulas Ravine, if you spawn at the SouthWest Location, get the Bottom Geyser First.


 
Map: Lost Temple

North:
- Left Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Right Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
East:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
South:
- Left Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Right Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
West:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds

Conclusion:
On Lost Temple, it doesn’t matter which gas you get first. They are all equal.
 
Map: Metalopolis

North:
- Top Geyser: 108 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.1 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds

East:
- Left Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Right Geyser: 108 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.1 seconds

South:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 108 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.1 seconds

West:
- Left Geyser: 104 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.2 seconds
- Right Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds


Conclusion:
On Metalopolis, if you spawn at the North Location, get the Top Geyser First.
On Metalopolis, if you spawn at the East Location, get the Right Geyser First.
On Metalopolis, if you spawn at the South Location, get the Bottom Geyser First.
On Metalopolis, if you spawn at the West Location, get the Right Geyser First.


 

Map: Delta Quadrant

NorthEast:
- Top Geyser: 108 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.1 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
NorthWest:
- Top Geyser: 108 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.1 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
SouthEast:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
SouthWest:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds

Conclusion:
On Delta Quadrant, if you spawn at the NorthEast Location, get the Bottom Geyser First.
On Delta Quadrant, if you spawn at the NorthWest Location, get the Bottom Geyser First.
On Delta Quadrant, if you spawn at the SouthEast Location, both Geysers are equal.
On Delta Quadrant, if you spawn at the SouthWest Location, both Geysers are equal.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------


Overall conclusions:
-Three workers is the optimal number to harvest gas from a Geyser. (big suprise)

- If you are scared your opponent will Rush you and you plan on only getting 1 Refinery at your main, get the one furthest away form harm.

- If you are cheesing and your build order only needs 1 gas, get the one with the higher gas collection rate.

- If you don't know which gas to get first, get:
+ Show Spoiler +
On Blistering Sands, if you spawn on the top location, get the bottom gas first.
On Blistering Sands, if you spawn on the bottom location, get the top gas first.
On Kulas Ravine, if you spawn at the NorthEast Location, get the Top Geyser First.
On Kulas Ravine, if you spawn at the NorthWest Location, get the Top Geyser First.
On Kulas Ravine, if you spawn at the SouthEast Location, get the Bottom Geyser First.
On Kulas Ravine, if you spawn at the SouthWest Location, get the Bottom Geyser First.
On Metalopolis, if you spawn at the North Location, get the Top Geyser First.
On Metalopolis, if you spawn at the East Location, get the Right Geyser First.
On Metalopolis, if you spawn at the South Location, get the Bottom Geyser First.
On Metalopolis, if you spawn at the West Location, get the Right Geyser First.
On Delta Quadrant, if you spawn at the NorthEast Location, get the Bottom Geyser First.
On Delta Quadrant, if you spawn at the NorthWest Location, get the Bottom Geyser First.
On Delta Quadrant, if you spawn at the SouthEast Location, both Geysers are equal.
On Delta Quadrant, if you spawn at the West Location, both Geysers are equal.
On Steppes of War, Desert Oasis, Scrap Station, Xel'Naga Caverns and Lost Temple, it doesn't matter which gas you get first.

- If you don't care, just get the Geyser you want and it won't really matter in the long run.

- Longer overall distances between Refinery and CC cause Worker Clippage.
- Shorter overall distances between Refinery and CC cause Worker Waiting

Now alot of people won't even bother to care about which gas to get first.
But for me, the question is: Do you want 108 gas per minute or 112 gas per minute?

I'll take the 112.
+ Show Spoiler +
112 gas per minute instead of 108 means you will be getting 4 more gas per minute for maybe 2-3 minutes depending on your build. Do you want 12 more gas or not?


Thank you for reading <3


edit: typos typos typos
"The answers you seek, lie within."
HTS
Profile Joined May 2010
United States63 Posts
August 13 2010 22:59 GMT
#2
mainly ppl get gas in the one further from their ramp because it'll take longer to scout it, but yeah on some maps it does appear one gas is closer than another so 112 gas > 108 gas
PKCarwash
Profile Joined July 2010
United States37 Posts
August 13 2010 23:03 GMT
#3
This is...surprisingly useful, and well written

Thanks for the info =D
TheFinalWord
Profile Joined May 2010
Australia790 Posts
August 13 2010 23:05 GMT
#4
I wondered why tlo gets the bottom gas in that metolopis screenshot, I guess this explains it.
deViation-
Profile Joined July 2010
Canada85 Posts
August 13 2010 23:11 GMT
#5
On August 14 2010 08:05 TheFinalWord wrote:
I wondered why tlo gets the bottom gas in that metolopis screenshot, I guess this explains it.


Ive seen pro gamers get the 108 gas first too though. Just goes to show how TLO is pro.
"The answers you seek, lie within."
deViation-
Profile Joined July 2010
Canada85 Posts
August 14 2010 11:59 GMT
#6
Bumpin my thread
"The answers you seek, lie within."
some_noob
Profile Joined August 2010
160 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-14 12:20:05
August 14 2010 12:16 GMT
#7
You didn't mention that taking the furthest gas from the mineral line will result in more travel time (therefore less mining time) for the workers (the one building it, and the three joining it )

!
Herculix
Profile Joined May 2010
United States946 Posts
August 14 2010 12:21 GMT
#8
i never put much thought into it like this but i always just got the further geyser from my base's entrance and considered the minimal extra gas you'd get from a closer geyser not worth evaluating.

now that i actually have some info about it though, it appears just as meaningless as i expected: the difference between the close and further geysers basically mean that over the course of 1 minute, you have a harvesting inefficiency of 1 harvest's worth if you use the far geyser. in terms of build orders, this makes about a 2-3 second difference in what you can do. you have to have some pretty gosu build order to take advantage of a close geyser, and in the end it's a significantly greater advantage to have your gas not scouted once in a while imo.
nttea
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Sweden4353 Posts
August 14 2010 12:25 GMT
#9
Jesus christ! so much work for so little gas! but it had to be done i guess, see if you can add this to liquipedia if it's not already there.
Ksyper
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Bulgaria665 Posts
August 14 2010 12:25 GMT
#10
Does it really matter?
I don't think it's going to make a difference.
jnay
Profile Joined June 2010
Canada107 Posts
August 14 2010 12:26 GMT
#11
i think you made a typo on lost temple : west, top geiser. i think it's supposed to be 112 gas/min since its all equal
ZomgTossRush
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States1041 Posts
August 14 2010 12:35 GMT
#12
I really doubt any players lose a game due to a 5-10 gas intake per minute. While interesting stuff, i think our time could be better spent practicing builds, macro, micro, multitasking..etc.
Coaching for 1v1 and Team games at Gosucoaching.com
deViation-
Profile Joined July 2010
Canada85 Posts
August 14 2010 12:37 GMT
#13
On August 14 2010 21:26 jnay wrote:
i think you made a typo on lost temple : west, top geiser. i think it's supposed to be 112 gas/min since its all equal


Thanks, corrected that.

As for everyone else's comments, you are right.

Time is better spent analysis builds, micro, macro.
Overall the gas collection rate difference is minimal at best.

But as one guy said: "so much work for so little gas, but I guess it had to be done".

IT HAD TO BE DONE! (was driving me nuts)
"The answers you seek, lie within."
dinmsab
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
Malaysia2246 Posts
August 14 2010 12:40 GMT
#14
On August 14 2010 21:35 zomgtossrush wrote:
I really doubt any players lose a game due to a 5-10 gas intake per minute. While interesting stuff, i think our time could be better spent practicing builds, macro, micro, multitasking..etc.


Come to think of it, by just one simple decision in game and you could get 10 more gas a min...that's 100 gas in 10 mins! and its not like you need to add 100apm to pull it off. I know its not really gamebreaking, but its good to know your mining slightly more than your opponent.
..
ZomgTossRush
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States1041 Posts
August 14 2010 12:44 GMT
#15
On August 14 2010 21:40 dinmsab wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 14 2010 21:35 zomgtossrush wrote:
I really doubt any players lose a game due to a 5-10 gas intake per minute. While interesting stuff, i think our time could be better spent practicing builds, macro, micro, multitasking..etc.


Come to think of it, by just one simple decision in game and you could get 10 more gas a min...that's 100 gas in 10 mins! and its not like you need to add 100apm to pull it off. I know its not really gamebreaking, but its good to know your mining slightly more than your opponent.



yeah thats 100 more gas over 10 minutes. out of how much gas? 5 k gas and your stressing about an extra 100 gas?
Coaching for 1v1 and Team games at Gosucoaching.com
Kratisto
Profile Joined June 2008
United States199 Posts
August 14 2010 12:46 GMT
#16
So THIS is why I've been losing games!
deViation-
Profile Joined July 2010
Canada85 Posts
August 14 2010 12:46 GMT
#17
On August 14 2010 21:44 zomgtossrush wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 14 2010 21:40 dinmsab wrote:
On August 14 2010 21:35 zomgtossrush wrote:
I really doubt any players lose a game due to a 5-10 gas intake per minute. While interesting stuff, i think our time could be better spent practicing builds, macro, micro, multitasking..etc.


Come to think of it, by just one simple decision in game and you could get 10 more gas a min...that's 100 gas in 10 mins! and its not like you need to add 100apm to pull it off. I know its not really gamebreaking, but its good to know your mining slightly more than your opponent.



yeah thats 100 more gas over 10 minutes. out of how much gas? 5 k gas and your stressing about an extra 100 gas?


Keep in mind guys, this is considering if you only stay on 1 gas at your main for 10 minutes. Highly doubtful.

But you might stay at 1 gas at your main for 2-3 minutes if you put out early pressure. One could also fast expand and make sure not to get the less efficient geyser at the main and only get the good one at the main and the 2 at the natural.
"The answers you seek, lie within."
Herculix
Profile Joined May 2010
United States946 Posts
August 14 2010 12:51 GMT
#18
i want to post again just to say that even though i think it's meaningless, it's still a good thing for people to research and identify things like this. you should always check up on some kind of obscure abnormality you notice in the game, because for every 20 times you say "well that was actually pretty useless," you'll find 1 thing where it changes the way you think. you'll also have those 20 tests in the back of your head verifying things that other people just don't know either way.
Sfydjklm
Profile Blog Joined April 2005
United States9218 Posts
August 14 2010 12:58 GMT
#19
thank you, that was rather obvious that they were not equal but takes a real man to put it into numbers!
twitter.com/therealdhalism | "Trying out Z = lots of losses vs inferior players until you figure out how to do it well (if it even works)."- Liquid'Tyler
Sfydjklm
Profile Blog Joined April 2005
United States9218 Posts
August 14 2010 12:59 GMT
#20
On August 14 2010 21:44 zomgtossrush wrote:
Show nested quote +
On August 14 2010 21:40 dinmsab wrote:
On August 14 2010 21:35 zomgtossrush wrote:
I really doubt any players lose a game due to a 5-10 gas intake per minute. While interesting stuff, i think our time could be better spent practicing builds, macro, micro, multitasking..etc.


Come to think of it, by just one simple decision in game and you could get 10 more gas a min...that's 100 gas in 10 mins! and its not like you need to add 100apm to pull it off. I know its not really gamebreaking, but its good to know your mining slightly more than your opponent.



yeah thats 100 more gas over 10 minutes. out of how much gas? 5 k gas and your stressing about an extra 100 gas?

if u dont find 100 gas useful you either dont have ur mins saturated or u play terran!
twitter.com/therealdhalism | "Trying out Z = lots of losses vs inferior players until you figure out how to do it well (if it even works)."- Liquid'Tyler
Lennon
Profile Joined February 2010
United Kingdom2275 Posts
August 14 2010 13:10 GMT
#21
On August 14 2010 21:59 Sfydjklm wrote:
if u dont find 100 gas useful you either dont have ur mins saturated or u play terran!


Because Terran mech isn't gas heavy.
Knee_of_Justice
Profile Joined October 2009
United States388 Posts
August 14 2010 13:45 GMT
#22
In that screenshot, its pretty obvious that one geyser is further away.

Still though, it may be worth mentioning that in that particular case, your worker has to travel more distance to the geyser (from the mineral line) meaning more time/less minerals than if you had chosen the closer one. Its almost negligible, but talk about decisions! lol

(But i guess gas is better than minerals anyway)
Protoss Tactical Guide: http://www.sc2armory.com/forums/topic/7903
dham
Profile Joined August 2010
4 Posts
August 14 2010 13:59 GMT
#23
thank you very much for this analysis.
carwashguy
Profile Joined June 2009
United States175 Posts
August 14 2010 14:11 GMT
#24
On August 14 2010 22:45 Knee_of_Justice wrote:
In that screenshot, its pretty obvious that one geyser is further away.

Yeah, but you never know with this 3D stuff.
kaleidoscope
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
Singapore2887 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-14 14:18:23
August 14 2010 14:17 GMT
#25
i think the main concern shudnt be that difference of 4 gas/min though.. on cases where the gases are on the left and right of the mineral field (rather than on one side only), you can trick zergs in terms of their scouting information acquired by them sacrificing an overlord.. the zergs will need to scout how many refineries have you built inorder to react (banshees or just marauders).. so usually the gas that i will take will be the closest to the edge or direction that is most highly probable that the zerg will scout with their OL, since the first gas is definitely a must to get, and shud try to hide the 2nd gas as much as possible
대지따라 돌린게 시간이다.. 흘러가고 돌아오지도 않고..
peachsncream
Profile Joined April 2010
United States289 Posts
August 14 2010 14:19 GMT
#26
You couldn't tell one was farther apart from just looking at it the first time you played ? Really makes no difference though imo
I Micro I Micro - PLZLEAVEDUCK
Alphaes
Profile Joined April 2010
United States651 Posts
August 14 2010 14:19 GMT
#27
Map: Kulas Ravine

NorthEast:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 104 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.2 seconds

NorthWest:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 108 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.1 seconds

SouthEast:
- Top Geyser: 108 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.1 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds

SouthWest:
- Top Geyser: 104 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.2 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds


This one seemed a bit strange. Three different collection rates?
What this
Tazza
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Korea (South)1678 Posts
August 14 2010 14:24 GMT
#28
Ummm I looked at all of this, but I really don't care in-game about which gas to go first. Maybe I will do that thing on Scrap Station to stop Void Rays though
Slayer91
Profile Joined February 2006
Ireland23335 Posts
August 14 2010 14:28 GMT
#29
Well I often go with 1 geyser for quite a long time so this is helpful, thanks!

Blisting:
spawn top get bottom and reverse
Kulas: North get top south get bottom
Meta: Get the geyser closer to the direction you spawn (NSWE)
Delta: North get bottom, south nobody cares.
Vinnesta
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Singapore285 Posts
August 14 2010 14:38 GMT
#30
While it is obvious that worker "clippage" is inefficient due to lost time in harvesting gas, there is nothing wrong about worker waiting. If a gas source is of the "perfect" distance to a CC/nex/hatch (ie. no waiting or clippage), and another causes some worker waiting, they have the exact same harvesting rate. There is no lost/wasted time or inefficiency, that you seem to imply in your OP.
Same difference is not an oxymoron!
jamesltl
Profile Joined July 2010
Malaysia159 Posts
August 14 2010 16:28 GMT
#31
i been thinking about this during phase 2 and then forgets about it. Thx for the reminder and the cool analysis.
Keep it up!
CellaWerra - "Holy Check"
dotFX
Profile Joined May 2010
United States131 Posts
August 14 2010 16:33 GMT
#32
I just pick whichever closest patch to either geyser has 2 drones.
Democracy is an Illusion
deViation-
Profile Joined July 2010
Canada85 Posts
August 14 2010 17:07 GMT
#33
On August 14 2010 23:38 Vinnesta wrote:
While it is obvious that worker "clippage" is inefficient due to lost time in harvesting gas, there is nothing wrong about worker waiting. If a gas source is of the "perfect" distance to a CC/nex/hatch (ie. no waiting or clippage), and another causes some worker waiting, they have the exact same harvesting rate. There is no lost/wasted time or inefficiency, that you seem to imply in your OP.


It is true that 3 Workers on a gas with Worker Waiting will Yield the exact same amount of gas if the 3 Workers have no Clippage or Worker Waiting.

But, if you look at it objectively, if your worker is waiting, he isn't being used at that particular point in time, meaning he is slightly "wasted". Thats all I meant. But yeah, you are right.
"The answers you seek, lie within."
Protein
Profile Joined August 2010
United States132 Posts
August 14 2010 17:14 GMT
#34
Awesome! Those who think this is meaningless clearly aren't aware of the builds where this becomes useful. In warpgate rush in pvp for example, this could mean an extra stalker or sentry in the early stages of a warp in. Very often in high level play one unit can make all the difference. Great post!
Butterfly-Go
Profile Joined June 2010
United States36 Posts
August 14 2010 17:15 GMT
#35
Awesome thinking Baby cakes
fly like a butterfly sting like a butterfly
deViation-
Profile Joined July 2010
Canada85 Posts
August 14 2010 17:18 GMT
#36
On August 14 2010 23:19 Alphaes wrote:
Show nested quote +
Map: Kulas Ravine

NorthEast:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 104 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.2 seconds

NorthWest:
- Top Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 108 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.1 seconds

SouthEast:
- Top Geyser: 108 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.1 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds

SouthWest:
- Top Geyser: 104 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.2 seconds
- Bottom Geyser: 112 gas/min
- Time Between: 2.0 seconds


This one seemed a bit strange. Three different collection rates?


I also found it strange, but double checked, and thats what it is. I am bamboozled/shellshocked/dumbfounded
"The answers you seek, lie within."
universalwill
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States654 Posts
August 14 2010 17:27 GMT
#37
i pick gas carefully on maps where it really matters like scrap station. but even though this is really interesting, i don't think it's something i will obsess over in game. i doubt i'll ever watch a replay of a game i lost and think "if only i had picked the more efficient geyser then i would have won that game"

still, for the day when my more important mechanics are more solid and i have time to start worrying about the fine details, then i will start memorizing which gas is the best for each position in each map.
SugarBear
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States842 Posts
August 14 2010 17:29 GMT
#38
Wow I feel sorry for anyone spawning on the west location of metalopolis. They should fix that.
Staff vVv Gaming | "So what did you do today?" "Oh not much, mined some minerals, harvested some gas, spawned some zergs, the usual"
Crazyspoon
Profile Joined July 2010
United States50 Posts
August 14 2010 17:35 GMT
#39
You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar. No longer will I lose sleep over my choices in extractor positioning.
ThE.SparkZ
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States381 Posts
August 14 2010 17:35 GMT
#40
Thanks to this guide.. i've finally found the courage to become a pro gas harvester
A battle between gods is just so damn beautiful
-Netput
Profile Joined March 2010
Netherlands16 Posts
August 14 2010 17:45 GMT
#41
thank you very much for looking into this.
Printed the list and will certainly use it.

cheers
heishe
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Germany2284 Posts
August 14 2010 17:49 GMT
#42
honestly I think it's pretty stupid that there are differences in the g/m rates on different maps. especially on metalopolis on the 3 o clock position the right geysir is ridiculously far away from the main. it's pretty retarded imo :p
If you value your soul, never look into the eye of a horse. Your soul will forever be lost in the void of the horse.
Atsjonas
Profile Joined August 2010
Norway2 Posts
August 14 2010 19:20 GMT
#43
4 more gass a minute doesnt seem very much at first glance, but its a little thing that helps. The longer you play (or sit on this forum :p), the more of these "little things" you learn, and boom. You get a bigger army than your opponent because of many small things that adds up to a big advantage!

Thanks OP!
Tiazi
Profile Joined February 2010
Netherlands761 Posts
August 14 2010 19:32 GMT
#44
well written, nice read-up. Thanks!
"A brilliant yet deluded man once said, 'Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos.' Gumiho is that agent of chaos." -monk
spinesheath
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
Germany8679 Posts
August 14 2010 19:39 GMT
#45
I've made a thread about the Gas Issue in SC2 a while ago:

The Gas Issue, second edition
If you have a good reason to disagree with the above, please tell me. Thank you.
deViation-
Profile Joined July 2010
Canada85 Posts
August 14 2010 20:44 GMT
#46
On August 15 2010 04:39 spinesheath wrote:
I've made a thread about the Gas Issue in SC2 a while ago:

The Gas Issue, second edition


awesome, similar to what I did but you have nice graphs to show which orientation is best for geysers.

I searched TL to try and find something similar to what I was doing, but failed.
"The answers you seek, lie within."
Playguuu
Profile Joined April 2010
United States926 Posts
August 14 2010 21:45 GMT
#47
Hmm, interesting and something I never thought of. Usually I just take a gas and don't give it a second thought, but I'm always looking to eek out a little more from my builds.
I used to be just like you, then I took a sweetroll to the knee.
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