i think its a great addition. you can test yourself against the clock, and have a better idea of when timing attacks might happen if your internal clock gets messed up by harassment, or whatnot.

there was already a nice program to do it, so either way it was available.

deadbutmoving

United States66 Posts

September 21 2010 18:53 GMT

#103

This is a great buff for zerg players as we have to deal with timing pushes and fast tech builds. It will definately help weaker zerg players with their build orders and drone pumps.

This will benefit all three races but it will benefit zerg the most. This is the buff that zerg newbs needed.

As for myself, I can discern alot about what another player is doing just based on his timings so this will help me alot.

At the higher levels, I'm sure protoss and terran players will now try to get creative with their build orders to keep zerg players guessing. Using unusual timings and weird build orders can make the clock work against Zerg. Strategy and Counter Strategy makes starcraft soo fun.

McFoo

United Kingdom180 Posts

September 21 2010 19:00 GMT

#104

On September 22 2010 02:18 MorroW wrote:
it sounds like fun for the casuals and good for the ppl who try to improve

top wont get helped or need this since they have other methods to see timing in the game than a silly clock with numbers on them ^^

Isn't that like saying "Always Health Bars On" is good for casuals but pros can hit 'alt' as fast and as much as they want so it doesn't matter anyway?

I know pros have learnt lots of different ways to know lots of different timings but wouldn't a clock make it MUCH easier for everyone including them?

Chronopolis

Canada1484 Posts

September 21 2010 19:01 GMT

#105

I think this a good move by blizzard, adding the clock therefore giving equal opportunity to all users. Although at LAN's I still wouldn't mind no-timer rules.

Grond

599 Posts

September 21 2010 19:03 GMT

#106

Most RTS games have an ingame clock, it's a good thing. You can easily circumvent not having one by spending $10 on a stopwatch so might as well add it.

Kryptonite

United States155 Posts

September 21 2010 19:03 GMT

#107

how can people say this is not useful? First 10 minutes of the game, there are alot of timing attacks or unit rushes that can be expected at a certain time. This is going to help a lot to know when it's going to come or even when YOU should attack.

Quepp42

United States96 Posts

September 21 2010 19:07 GMT

#108

I feel like this is actually a big buff for zerg. First of all, larvae injects can be done almost perfectly now if you can keep track of when you injected. Secondly, you can balance your droning a lot more efficiently if you can predict when an attack is coming based on what you scouted.

And to the people complaining about how it diminishes pro's skills, get real. The pros use every advantage and trick that they can to do amazing things. If anything, this clock will allow players to do even more spectacular and risky builds because they can now hone their timings down to the second.

Kazang

578 Posts

September 21 2010 19:08 GMT

#109

Useful change.
Saves having to look at my watch to see how long I've been playing for.

Anyone saying this will effect competitive play is total moron, they going to ban players from having watches to stop you doing the exact same less conveniently?
Or maybe playing in windowed mode so you can see the windows clock is illegal?

I really do despair at this community sometimes.

Na_Dann_Ma_GoGo

Germany2959 Posts

September 21 2010 19:10 GMT

#110

I don't see how this helps any at all. It may be a good way to discover little issues while watching a replay.

In order to defend early timing pushes you need to scout them thoroughly and have your build order in charge.
I for example now that about 7 minutes into the game the 4 Warp Gate push arrives at my expansion. Just 7 Minutes, I do know what to do exactly anyways during that period and I have a lot timing indicators such as training units, teching to air, building a hatch etc.

And why the fuck would you need this feature 30mins into the game. To say "oh 30mins he now probably has this and probably perhaps that or maybe just I dunno what is this even?".

I like this feature, it is simple "interesting" to know how long you're playing already and improves replay analyzing. Seems just fine for me.

Alexstrasas

302 Posts

September 21 2010 19:11 GMT

#111

what the fuck are you people talking about?

so before this being implemented people somehow had no ability to tell what time it is ?

ever heard of this?

[image loading]

User was warned for this post

UberThing

Great Britain410 Posts

September 21 2010 19:11 GMT

#112

This is totally awesome!!
I will use

Gudeldar

United States1200 Posts

September 21 2010 19:11 GMT

#113

It probably won't effect either Bronze players or pros but for someone like me who is low diamond and doesn't have all the timings down by heart this will probably help at least a little.

Either way there is no reason NOT to have it, like a lot of other people have pointed out you can just use a stopwatch/phone.

Floophead_III

United States1832 Posts

September 21 2010 19:12 GMT

#114

Good idea. Even if most people don't use it, the few that do benefit while it doesn't hurt anyone.

Chaosvuistje

Netherlands2581 Posts

September 21 2010 19:14 GMT

#115

On September 22 2010 04:07 Quepp42 wrote:
I feel like this is actually a big buff for zerg. First of all, larvae injects can be done almost perfectly now if you can keep track of when you injected. Secondly, you can balance your droning a lot more efficiently if you can predict when an attack is coming based on what you scouted.

And to the people complaining about how it diminishes pro's skills, get real. The pros use every advantage and trick that they can to do amazing things. If anything, this clock will allow players to do even more spectacular and risky builds because they can now hone their timings down to the second.

WOW. I never even thought of the applications on inject + creep tumor timings.

I feel this is like remembering Mega and Big shield timings in Quake live. I like it =).

pieisamazing

United States1234 Posts

September 21 2010 19:15 GMT

#116

I don't think it will influence the competitive scene at all. No reason not to have it in there; some people might like the extra information.

Jimb0v

11 Posts

September 21 2010 19:17 GMT

#117

This will be really useful for endless forcefields with sentry. Sure you could do the timing in your head, but when you just lose the game because you missed the timing, I was reluctant to really try shoestring sentry strategies. If I have a clock to use for timing the forcefields, I may be able to pull these strategies off easier.

latan

740 Posts

September 21 2010 19:18 GMT

#118

it is just a clock. it will be useful for some, ignored by others, skilled players will still have skill, developed sense will still be there, now with aid.

as a tool, it helps EVERYONE the same. clever people will of course take advantage of it better than others.

DOMINOSC

Canada345 Posts

September 21 2010 19:19 GMT

#119

i like the idea although it wll make timing pushes easy to execute it will also make them easy to stop since you will know the time there coming which is going to help alot now timing pushes will have to be constantly changed or delayed which will make more interesting games and change the metagame alot.

RyLZx034

United States1 Post

September 21 2010 19:22 GMT

#120

I flipped through a few pages of arguments here for and against the clock. Both sides make valid points. Personally, I think that some of the arguments for (training, helping newer players) kind of coincide with the arguments of those against (takes away the notion of "game sense") in the sense that learning times by actually seeing the clock will develop game sense in future games. It may not be immediately, but after a couple months it would become something that is developed into game sense. I think it is a nice option to throw out there and since it is optional it really doesn't hurt anyone's playing style. If someone is feels they are good enough to play without a clock, they should feel confident that they can beat someone who does.