• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 02:36
CEST 08:36
KST 15:36
  • 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
[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt2: All Star4Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - The Finalists14[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt1: Fresh Flow9[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt2: News Flash10[ASL21] Ro24 Preview Pt1: New Chaos0
Community News
2026 GSL Season 1 Qualifiers11Maestros of the Game 2 announced32026 GSL Tour plans announced13Weekly Cups (April 6-12): herO doubles, "Villains" prevail1MaNa leaves Team Liquid22
StarCraft 2
General
Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool 2026 GSL Tour plans announced MaNa leaves Team Liquid Team Liquid Map Contest #22 - The Finalists Weekly Cups (April 6-12): herO doubles, "Villains" prevail
Tourneys
Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament GSL CK: More events planned pending crowdfunding 2026 GSL Season 1 Qualifiers Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2) SEL Doubles (SC Evo Bimonthly)
Strategy
Custom Maps
[D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3 [A] Nemrods 1/4 players [M] (2) Frigid Storage
External Content
Mutation # 522 Flip My Base The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 521 Memorable Boss Mutation # 520 Moving Fees
Brood War
General
[ASL21] Ro16 Preview Pt2: All Star Data needed RepMastered™: replay sharing and analyzer site Gypsy to Korea ASL21 General Discussion
Tourneys
[ASL21] Ro16 Group C [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Escore Tournament StarCraft Season 2 [ASL21] Ro16 Group A
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers What's the deal with APM & what's its true value Any training maps people recommend? Fighting Spirit mining rates
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread General RTS Discussion Thread Battle Aces/David Kim RTS Megathread Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Starcraft Tabletop Miniature Game
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
G2 just beat GenG in First stand
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Vanilla Mini Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread YouTube Thread Canadian Politics Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books Movie Discussion!
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread McBoner: A hockey love story Formula 1 Discussion Cricket [SPORT]
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
[G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Reappraising The Situation T…
TrAiDoS
lurker extra damage testi…
StaticNine
Broowar part 2
qwaykee
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2173 users

Hold position workers

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
TheRabidDeer
Profile Blog Joined May 2003
United States3806 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-10-26 07:38:43
October 26 2010 07:33 GMT
#1
So, I havent really seen any kind of discussion about this for anything... but I think there is a fair amount possible in abusing the pathing/targetting AI in the game against melee units by abusing workers on hold position. As long as some ranged unit is hitting the melee target, they ignore workers (as seen by SCV's repairing thors) completely. Pair this up with some kind of concave (see video) or partial wall and they just cant figure out how to get to the units and do nothing until the player forces them to hit the workers.

Anyway, its probably not too viable except for rare circumstances, but I thought I would post anyway.



PS: With about 7 SCV's you can block 4 zealots (maybe more) in an open area (and definitely a lot more on a ramp), and even if they eventually target the SCV's, it may have been worth the free shots/time they bought when the player doesnt immediately realize he has to manually target the worker concave.
bobbob
Profile Joined December 2009
United States368 Posts
October 26 2010 07:35 GMT
#2
I saw SeleCt doing this vs (I think) TT1 on a stream, he was getting 4gated, and he had to pull SCVs to defend his bunker, and he just sat on his ramp and the zealots couldn't get up.
Clane07226
Profile Joined September 2010
United States72 Posts
October 26 2010 07:36 GMT
#3
interesting find. could be useful at an expo, maybe pulling a few workers to early pressure?

but im guessing most decent players will just target them...
NecronNN
Wolf
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Korea (South)3290 Posts
October 26 2010 07:36 GMT
#4
Oh, so they don't figure it out ? I know they will if the workers aren't on hold, but this is certainly interesting. Could easily stop a lot of harassments with this I think, if executed properly.
Commentatorhttp://twitter.com/proxywolf
TL+ Member
TheRabidDeer
Profile Blog Joined May 2003
United States3806 Posts
October 26 2010 07:40 GMT
#5
On October 26 2010 16:36 Wolf wrote:
Oh, so they don't figure it out ? I know they will if the workers aren't on hold, but this is certainly interesting. Could easily stop a lot of harassments with this I think, if executed properly.

Yea, if they are on hold no paths are ever opened at all as the SCV's dont budge even when your own units get near them. I was hoping maybe somebody could like, magic box formation move the SCV's and use them in a battle but I doubt that would work

Also, perhaps the old "float a barracks over your hold position SCV's to block the ramp" trick can come back, which prevents people from targetting your SCV's
mahnini
Profile Blog Joined October 2005
United States6862 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-10-26 07:45:37
October 26 2010 07:44 GMT
#6
a simple solution would be to hold position yourself so your units target the workers

btw nice find, i didn't know that workers could block anymore!
the world's a playground. you know that when you're a kid, but somewhere along the way everyone forgets it.
necmon
Profile Joined September 2010
194 Posts
October 26 2010 07:46 GMT
#7
You can zoom/rotate in the game now (one of the advantages being a 3D game...). The barracks trick won't work. It creates additional effort, but it's not making it impossible to target the units.
TheRabidDeer
Profile Blog Joined May 2003
United States3806 Posts
October 26 2010 07:47 GMT
#8
On October 26 2010 16:46 necmon wrote:
You can zoom/rotate in the game now (one of the advantages being a 3D game...). The barracks trick won't work. It creates additional effort, but it's not making it impossible to target the units.

Ah, thats a good point. Damn you 3d!

Gotta admit though, would be funny to see people rotating cameras in a tournament.
Wolf
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Korea (South)3290 Posts
October 26 2010 07:50 GMT
#9
I'd be so excited if that barracks trick came back, but the 3-D as you said, will prevent it..
Commentatorhttp://twitter.com/proxywolf
TL+ Member
MayorITC
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
Korea (South)798 Posts
October 26 2010 07:56 GMT
#10
On October 26 2010 16:46 necmon wrote:
You can zoom/rotate in the game now (one of the advantages being a 3D game...). The barracks trick won't work. It creates additional effort, but it's not making it impossible to target the units.


Or just put your unit on hold position when its near the SCV and it will attack the un-targetable scv.
dimfish
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States663 Posts
October 26 2010 08:39 GMT
#11
I think this is cool. I experimented a little in the unit tester and found a quick and easy trick that might turn into something useful.

What you do is 1) wedge a couple marines (anything ranged) up against a wall to reduce the amount of surface area they have and then 2) put the ranged units on hold position, so they won't move when workers come over. Then 3) select workers and click a marine, they will walk over and get all snuggy. Last 4) put workers on hold position.

Video illustrating it

With just a few actions and a few units you can make a melee AI-proof barrier. Now someone just has to figure out how to make this useful.
TheBB
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Switzerland5133 Posts
October 26 2010 08:45 GMT
#12
On October 26 2010 16:47 TheRabidDeer wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 26 2010 16:46 necmon wrote:
You can zoom/rotate in the game now (one of the advantages being a 3D game...). The barracks trick won't work. It creates additional effort, but it's not making it impossible to target the units.

Ah, thats a good point. Damn you 3d!

Gotta admit though, would be funny to see people rotating cameras in a tournament.

Now I'm curious.... will the replay first-person view save camera state like this? I'm guessing it does, but I haven't actually seen it.
http://aligulac.com || Barcraft Switzerland! || Zerg best race. || Stats-poster extraordinaire.
Xapti
Profile Joined April 2010
Canada2473 Posts
October 26 2010 08:56 GMT
#13
I do this a bit vs zerglings with roaches or queens, and a bit less so vs zealots. Helps a fair bit I guess, it sorta equates to the way workers were prioritized in SC1, except here they won't attack or move, which makes it a bit worse.
"Then he told me to tell you that he wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire" — "Well, you tell him that I said that I wouldn't piss on him if he was on Jeopardy!"
kojinshugi
Profile Joined August 2010
Estonia2559 Posts
October 26 2010 08:56 GMT
#14
On October 26 2010 17:45 TheBB wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 26 2010 16:47 TheRabidDeer wrote:
On October 26 2010 16:46 necmon wrote:
You can zoom/rotate in the game now (one of the advantages being a 3D game...). The barracks trick won't work. It creates additional effort, but it's not making it impossible to target the units.

Ah, thats a good point. Damn you 3d!

Gotta admit though, would be funny to see people rotating cameras in a tournament.

Now I'm curious.... will the replay first-person view save camera state like this? I'm guessing it does, but I haven't actually seen it.


Yes, it does.

I found this out after playing some guy who zoomed in halfway through the game and then never zoomed back out. I was wondering why he didn't see half my army run around his into the mineral line.
whatsgrackalackin420
kaztal
Profile Joined April 2010
Sweden68 Posts
October 26 2010 08:57 GMT
#15
On October 26 2010 17:39 dimfish wrote:
I think this is cool. I experimented a little in the unit tester and found a quick and easy trick that might turn into something useful.

What you do is 1) wedge a couple marines (anything ranged) up against a wall to reduce the amount of surface area they have and then 2) put the ranged units on hold position, so they won't move when workers come over. Then 3) select workers and click a marine, they will walk over and get all snuggy. Last 4) put workers on hold position.

Video illustrating it

With just a few actions and a few units you can make a melee AI-proof barrier. Now someone just has to figure out how to make this useful.

wow, that looks pretty serious! maybe this'll be a good way to ward of 6pools in the future.
VarmVaffel
Profile Blog Joined June 2008
Norway378 Posts
October 26 2010 09:18 GMT
#16
Haven't seen this too much before, gotta admit.

I think it's bullshit tbh, as it's one race this does not affect. Hopefully Blizzard will fix the pathing in some way that does't allow melee units to suffer alone at least.
Kal_rA
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
United States2925 Posts
October 26 2010 09:26 GMT
#17
same stuff happened in bw... medic walls, scv walls

i think it makes for some interesting/innovative play fun too watch too lol
keep it! haha
Jaedong.
Detectable
Profile Joined October 2010
Norway58 Posts
October 26 2010 10:27 GMT
#18
If the ramp is blocked like that, cant you just run some units up there and hold position yourself? That would pretty much smell the end of the block
"Oh it's easy, just lose your whole fucking base!" -Day[9]
4Servy
Profile Joined August 2008
Netherlands1542 Posts
October 26 2010 10:29 GMT
#19
hold pos scv on the ramp with auto repair is prety effective actualy in some situations.
HuHEN
Profile Joined February 2010
United Kingdom514 Posts
October 26 2010 10:54 GMT
#20
Also useful for surrounding marauders or other kiting units.
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 2h 24m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Nina 177
NeuroSwarm 173
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 4262
Zeus 2355
Hyuk 1531
firebathero 503
Shine 57
ToSsGirL 47
Bale 24
Icarus 10
League of Legends
JimRising 764
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K966
m0e_tv577
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King129
Other Games
summit1g11529
C9.Mang0448
Livibee40
Organizations
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream403
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH211
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Rush972
• Lourlo950
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
2h 24m
Wardi Open
3h 24m
Afreeca Starleague
3h 24m
Bisu vs Ample
Jaedong vs Flash
Monday Night Weeklies
9h 24m
RSL Revival
19h 24m
GSL
1d 1h
Afreeca Starleague
1d 3h
Barracks vs Leta
Royal vs Light
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
1d 4h
RSL Revival
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
[ Show More ]
The PondCast
3 days
KCM Race Survival
3 days
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
3 days
CranKy Ducklings
3 days
Escore
4 days
RSL Revival
4 days
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
5 days
Universe Titan Cup
5 days
Rogue vs Percival
Ladder Legends
5 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
5 days
BSL
5 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6 days
WardiTV Map Contest Tou…
6 days
Ladder Legends
6 days
BSL
6 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Escore Tournament S2: W3
RSL Revival: Season 4
NationLESS Cup

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
ASL Season 21
CSL 2026 SPRING (S20)
IPSL Spring 2026
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
StarCraft2 Community Team League 2026 Spring
WardiTV TLMC #16
Nations Cup 2026
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S2: W4
Acropolis #4
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
2026 GSL S2
RSL Revival: Season 5
2026 GSL S1
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
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 © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.