• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 00:49
CEST 06:49
KST 13:49
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Team TLMC #5 - Finalists & Open Tournaments2[ASL20] Ro16 Preview Pt2: Turbulence10Classic Games #3: Rogue vs Serral at BlizzCon10[ASL20] Ro16 Preview Pt1: Ascent10Maestros of the Game: Week 1/Play-in Preview12
Community News
StarCraft II 5.0.15 PTR Patch Notes170BSL 2025 Warsaw LAN + Legends Showmatch2Weekly Cups (Sept 8-14): herO & MaxPax split cups4WardiTV TL Team Map Contest #5 Tournaments1SC4ALL $6,000 Open LAN in Philadelphia8
StarCraft 2
General
#1: Maru - Greatest Players of All Time StarCraft II 5.0.15 PTR Patch Notes SC4ALL: A North American StarCraft LAN Team TLMC #5 - Finalists & Open Tournaments Classic Games #3: Rogue vs Serral at BlizzCon
Tourneys
RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series SC2's Safe House 2 - October 18 & 19 Stellar Fest KSL Week 80 StarCraft Evolution League (SC Evo Biweekly)
Strategy
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 491 Night Drive Mutation # 490 Masters of Midnight Mutation # 489 Bannable Offense Mutation # 488 What Goes Around
Brood War
General
ASL ro8 Upper Bracket HYPE VIDEO Starcraft: Destruction expansion pack? StarCraft - Stratospace. Very rare expansion pack StarCraft Stellar Forces had bad maps BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/
Tourneys
[ASL20] Ro16 Group D SC4ALL $1,500 Open Bracket LAN BSL 2025 Warsaw LAN + Legends Showmatch [ASL20] Ro16 Group C
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Muta micro map competition Fighting Spirit mining rates [G] Mineral Boosting
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile Borderlands 3 General RTS Discussion Thread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion LiquidDota to reintegrate into TL.net
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread The Big Programming Thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine UK Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The Happy Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Linksys AE2500 USB WIFI keeps disconnecting Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread High temperatures on bridge(s)
TL Community
BarCraft in Tokyo Japan for ASL Season5 Final The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Too Many LANs? Tournament Ov…
TrAiDoS
i'm really bored guys
Peanutsc
I <=> 9
KrillinFromwales
A very expensive lesson on ma…
Garnet
hello world
radishsoup
Lemme tell you a thing o…
JoinTheRain
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1936 users

Do You Have to be Smart to Play Starcraft? - Page 4

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 Next All
EchOne
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States2906 Posts
September 21 2010 02:02 GMT
#61
As with many strategy games, a lot of the thinking can be done for you, but the game is designed to ultimately become a battle of the wits. Once combatants' mechanics are perfected, a game of Starcraft is a clash of mental tenacity, agility, and perspicacity.

As many have said, though, for the vast majority of players with non-perfect mechanics, brilliance is not a prerequisite to ladder success.

To Sanasante: While NaDa did wield a famous 400 apm and cutting edge mechanics, I think his unquestionable game understanding, in-game quick thinking, and innovation in actually leveraging his mechanics-oriented style warrant him a place among any list of brilliant BW players. His role in pioneering mechanically demanding strategies has left an indelible mark on BW's history.
面白くない世の中, 面白くすればいいさ
DJDemon
Profile Joined June 2010
United States39 Posts
September 21 2010 02:04 GMT
#62
You don't have to be smart to play SC2, just look at BigT.

In order to do well you have to be smart though.
Tanatos
Profile Joined April 2010
United States381 Posts
September 21 2010 02:11 GMT
#63
You don't have to be smart to be top shape, but it will definetly help.
Actually many korean media featured about how progamer's brain is different from others, and they did have some special features, like better prediction and judgement calling.
Reason.SC2
Profile Joined April 2010
Canada1047 Posts
September 21 2010 02:14 GMT
#64
To be answered we gotta consider the semantic question what does it mean to be smart. To answer that we gotta tackle the metaphysical and epistemic issues surrounding intelligence(smartness) and/or knowledge.

Long story short: the question is too vague to lead to a coherent discussion of possible answers.

This said, my 2 cents is that you don't *have* to be smart but it is certainly a huge asset: something akin smartness is to pro starcraft like tallness is to pro basketball.
Spiffeh
Profile Joined May 2010
United States830 Posts
September 21 2010 02:14 GMT
#65
You have to be smart enough to learn how to learn.
EliteAzn
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States661 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-21 02:20:36
September 21 2010 02:17 GMT
#66
All good players are starcraft smart (at least iffy smart irl), but all smart people irl are not all good at this game.
(╯`Д´)╯︵ ┻━┻ High Five! _o /\ o_
Holcan
Profile Joined April 2010
Canada2593 Posts
September 21 2010 02:18 GMT
#67
Naniwa dropped out of school to play games, so no.
Reference The Inadvertant Joey, Strong talented orchastrasted intelligent character.
Sanasante
Profile Joined March 2010
United States321 Posts
September 21 2010 02:18 GMT
#68
"Once combatants' mechanics are perfected"

This is never truly the case. Show me a player that has perfect micro/macro/multitask. On the ground level players may seem to have a perfect ability in one or more of these categories however in general practice this never truly be the case.

While macro and multitasking abilities can technically be completely mastered, micro cannot. There are too many variables and too many positions in which a player can prepare for.

An intelligent or "Smart" player only true key advantage is that he has an ability to think quickly on his feet and react in the best manner he can. Following my train of logic earlier while macro/multitasking abilities can be "technically perfect" or at least by our judge of standard damn close, the more intelligent player can think ahead to create a situation that might be favorable for himself/herself.

While in practice and over time these various seemingly random situations depart bits of information which we remember. Through repetition we can react mentally faster but it does not change the fact it is impossible to experience all the possible situations a player can find himself in. It is due to our ability to simplify these situations into responses that we come up with strategies that say "If my opponent does this... then I must do this".

If you want to take this a step further then you can understand why players become tunnel visioned into play styles.
It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light
Karliath
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States2214 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-21 02:20:20
September 21 2010 02:19 GMT
#69
On September 21 2010 09:43 mOnion wrote:
No. Example?

Gositerran.


I see what you did there.

Edit: Oh just kidding. I thought you said, "go see terran."
KiLL_ORdeR
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
United States1518 Posts
September 21 2010 02:25 GMT
#70
I think at the beginning of any game, when players mechanics aren't very strong relative to what they will be in a few years, players who are smarter and more tactically inclined will always dominate. In Brood War, players like Grrrr... and Boxer dominated early because they were innovative. In the past few years,all levels of Brood War have been dominated by boring Macrobots, except for the very highest level, Like FlaSh and Jaedong right now. Those two can beat everyone else just by better mechanics, but when they play each other, that's where innovation happens.
In order to move forward, we must rid ourselves of that which holds us back. Check out my stream and give me tips! twitch.tv/intotheskyy
GenoZStriker
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States2914 Posts
September 21 2010 02:26 GMT
#71
On September 21 2010 09:48 {88}iNcontroL wrote:
Machine.

eSports Prodigy & Illuminati member.
mOnion
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
United States5657 Posts
September 21 2010 02:27 GMT
#72
On September 21 2010 11:19 Karliath wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 21 2010 09:43 mOnion wrote:
No. Example?

Gositerran.


I see what you did there.

Edit: Oh just kidding. I thought you said, "go see terran."


lol u sc2 kids are cute ^_^
☆★☆ 7486!!! Join the Ban mOnion Anti-Trolling Initiative! - Caller | "on a scale of machine to 10, how bad is that Zerg?" - LZgamer | you are the new tl.net bonjwa monion, congrats - Rekrul | "Cheeseburgers dynamite lilacs" - Chill
Tabbris
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
Bangladesh2839 Posts
September 21 2010 02:28 GMT
#73
On September 21 2010 11:27 mOnion wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 21 2010 11:19 Karliath wrote:
On September 21 2010 09:43 mOnion wrote:
No. Example?

Gositerran.


I see what you did there.

Edit: Oh just kidding. I thought you said, "go see terran."


lol u sc2 kids are cute ^_^

Does he even play sc2 -.-
mOnion
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
United States5657 Posts
September 21 2010 02:29 GMT
#74
On September 21 2010 11:28 Tabbris wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 21 2010 11:27 mOnion wrote:
On September 21 2010 11:19 Karliath wrote:
On September 21 2010 09:43 mOnion wrote:
No. Example?

Gositerran.


I see what you did there.

Edit: Oh just kidding. I thought you said, "go see terran."


lol u sc2 kids are cute ^_^

Does he even play sc2 -.-


idunno i just guess x.x
☆★☆ 7486!!! Join the Ban mOnion Anti-Trolling Initiative! - Caller | "on a scale of machine to 10, how bad is that Zerg?" - LZgamer | you are the new tl.net bonjwa monion, congrats - Rekrul | "Cheeseburgers dynamite lilacs" - Chill
HardcoreBilly
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
United States222 Posts
September 21 2010 02:30 GMT
#75
I'm sorry but to all those who say you need to be intelligent to play the game, I counter by saying you're playing it wrong. There has already been studies in Korea where it shows that casual SC:BW players use logic when making decisions. But the logic is usually pretty simple (for example, my opponent is massing marines? I'll get banelings). Pros on the other hand, do not have time to think. They rely on instincts that have been ingrained in their mind from years of practice.
yomi
Profile Blog Joined June 2004
United States773 Posts
September 21 2010 02:32 GMT
#76
no you absolutely do not have to be smart to play starcraft, even at the professional level. with SC2 how it is now it is rewarding smart players because people don't know what to do in situations and nothing is really standard yet. Once the game is more figured out it will not require any real intelligence to play at even the very highest levels. Is it an advantage? Of course. But it is far from necessary, the game, once it is more solved, is mostly a mechanics challenge.

On the other hand there are different types of intelligence. If you mean critical thinking and problem solving skills which is how most people would interpret the question I would say no like above. However discipline is considered a type of intelligence, handling pressure, multitasking, etc. These are traits that fall under some definitions of intelligence and are very much required.
Tazza
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Korea (South)1678 Posts
September 21 2010 02:33 GMT
#77
You have to smart and fast. You can't be one without the other and be really good. You have to memorize builds, react properly, have game sense, and make quick decisions and do this really fast
KoArtist
Profile Joined September 2010
Colombia23 Posts
September 21 2010 02:34 GMT
#78
It is a matter of what stage you are at.

Take MMA and boxing.
Fitness and constant repetition will make you excellent at executing techniques. Yet, when you get at the upper tier of competition, you will face other excellent fitness and hard work competitors. At this point, two finely tuned athletes require more than just technique execution to defeat the other. They need strategy, tactics, and timing in their decision making. At this point, the smartest competitor will win.

So constant repetition will allow you to master the basics. You will go very far with that type of "hard-work" and strong worth ethic mentality, leaving many in the way. At the top, everybody will have this and it will not be enough. It is thus that once you have perfected the mechanical part, you will be able to enter the elite group of strategists and tacticians of this game.
Pain is just weakness leaving the body
Karliath
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States2214 Posts
September 21 2010 02:35 GMT
#79
On September 21 2010 11:29 mOnion wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 21 2010 11:28 Tabbris wrote:
On September 21 2010 11:27 mOnion wrote:
On September 21 2010 11:19 Karliath wrote:
On September 21 2010 09:43 mOnion wrote:
No. Example?

Gositerran.


I see what you did there.

Edit: Oh just kidding. I thought you said, "go see terran."


lol u sc2 kids are cute ^_^

Does he even play sc2 -.-


idunno i just guess x.x


hehe yes I do.
.Aar
Profile Joined September 2010
2177 Posts
September 21 2010 02:39 GMT
#80
Depends how you define "smart." Everyone's view on it is different.
now run into the setting sun, and suffer, but don't mess up your hair.
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
OSC
21:00
OSC Elite Rising Star #16
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
WinterStarcraft645
Nina 105
StarCraft: Brood War
Movie 915
Icarus 8
League of Legends
JimRising 649
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K576
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox609
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor99
Other Games
summit1g9806
ViBE222
XaKoH 164
NeuroSwarm145
RuFF_SC277
Organizations
Other Games
BasetradeTV18
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH278
• practicex 18
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• RayReign 46
• Diggity8
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Upcoming Events
BSL Open LAN 2025 - War…
3h 12m
RSL Revival
5h 12m
Classic vs TBD
WardiTV Invitational
6h 12m
Online Event
11h 12m
Afreeca Starleague
1d 5h
Barracks vs Mini
Wardi Open
1d 6h
Monday Night Weeklies
1d 11h
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
LiuLi Cup
3 days
The PondCast
4 days
[ Show More ]
CranKy Ducklings
5 days
Maestros of the Game
6 days
Clem vs Reynor
[BSL 2025] Weekly
6 days
[BSL 2025] Weekly
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2025-09-18
Chzzk MurlocKing SC1 vs SC2 Cup #2
HCC Europe

Ongoing

BSL 20 Team Wars
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 3
BSL 21 Points
ASL Season 20
CSL 2025 AUTUMN (S18)
LASL Season 20
2025 Chongqing Offline CUP
BSL World Championship of Poland 2025
RSL Revival: Season 2
Maestros of the Game
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1

Upcoming

IPSL Winter 2025-26
BSL Season 21
SC4ALL: Brood War
BSL 21 Team A
Stellar Fest
SC4ALL: StarCraft II
EC S1
ESL Impact League Season 8
SL Budapest Major 2025
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
Thunderpick World Champ.
CS Asia Championships 2025
ESL Pro League S22
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.