What a dumb question.
I'm sorry but what do you expect the answer to be?
"No. You don't have to practice to be better! Repetition is pointless."

I think it's VERY (read: painfully) OBVIOUS that if you do something a lot of times you'll get better at it.

Hossinaut

United States453 Posts

August 02 2011 01:18 GMT

#22

mass gaming has always improved my play, but playing against significantly better players than myself has shown that I can play a lot better than I normally do under pressure to perform. But I don't always have the opportunity to play against those friends, and I'm at a point where I'm being placed against people in leagues above me and I'm winning handily, so its frustrating to mass ladder because I keep winning and not being placed with people that I have to try against, so it doesn't feel like I'm getting better apart from getting everything more refined, which makes a big difference, at my level anyway.

Mvz

206 Posts

August 02 2011 01:28 GMT

#23

I mass gamed in BW, I didn't really get better tactical wise more than being able to read more situations that I came up on during my games because I one BO per MU every game but my mechanics sky rocked without me even notice at first but after a while I could clearly see the difference when I looked at my APM and how I was able to be all over the map without struggling or freezing during late game because it was to much ingame for me to handle. It also removed my "feelings" during games. Like the choking feeling you can get when you get counter attacked during your own attack and stuff like that. For me personally it was very usefull.

Sporadic44

United States533 Posts

August 02 2011 01:33 GMT

#24

massing games is absolutely essential to getting better. It allows you to see different situations and how to react to them. You'll never be at the top without massing games at least a litte bit. Its good to play customs to practice specifics. But nothing will make you a more well rounded player than grinding your face into the ladder.

It can be hard to play game after game when you're tilted. But if you keep queueing eventually you will balance out.

Herculix

United States946 Posts

August 02 2011 01:37 GMT

#25

you have to play A LOT of games to increase the breadth of knowledge you have for all your respective match ups. with 100s, even 1000s of games played, and some of the more unorthodox replays watched while the common ones at least have their timings noted, you will actually understand how the game works. until then, you will never be good.

once you reach that point, you still have to play a good amount, but it's mostly about staying sharp, staying up to date, and improving the small things.

Shadrak

United States490 Posts

August 02 2011 01:40 GMT

#26

Follow these steps:

1. Read build guides, tutorials
2. Mass game
3. Go back to step 1

StatX

Canada343 Posts

August 02 2011 01:41 GMT

#27

Mass gaming is the starting point of SC2 if you ask me.

Mass games allow you to instinctively recognize build orders, improve your macro play and overall game efficiency in a general sense. Whareas a specific game match will help you better a single area, be it a matchup (PvP, TvZ...) or perfect a build order.

But mass gaming should defenitely come first to iron out the mechanics and general game sense.

Narcind

Sweden2489 Posts

August 02 2011 01:42 GMT

#28

Unless you're seriously high level, mass gaming's almost always going to be the best way to improve quickly at the game.

tuho12345

4482 Posts

August 02 2011 01:42 GMT

#29

My motorcycle rider teacher said:"Your grandma is the best driver in the world!" Is that true that she has driven for more than your entire life make she the best driver? No. If you don't learn from your mistake, you won't improve, you will crash the same bumper and fail every single.

.Aar

2177 Posts

August 02 2011 01:44 GMT

#30

On August 02 2011 10:42 tuho12345 wrote:
My motorcycle rider teacher said:"Your grandma is the best driver in the world!" Is that true that she has driven for more than your entire life make she the best driver? No. If you don't learn from your mistake, you won't improve, you will crash the same bumper and fail every single.

That said, a newborn infant can't do much stunts either.

userstupidname

Sweden272 Posts

August 02 2011 02:21 GMT

#31

mass gaming allowed me to refine mechanics enough to get top masters, however it wouldn't been possible if I wasn't watching dailys and refined builds against friends.

You think of a lot of stuff when you aren't playing yourself.

Also when a certain problem comes up I try to find replays of pro players dealing with it.

Crying

Bulgaria778 Posts

August 02 2011 09:16 GMT

#32

But guys when u massgame you tend to loose alot too,and i dunno if its a bug this season but i loose and still get opponents that are on a very nice level and thus making me go Negative stats?

b_unnies

3579 Posts

August 02 2011 09:19 GMT

#33

If you're a new player, quality games. If you're pushing towards progamer or at the minimum, grandmasters, mass practice

Philosophy

186 Posts

August 02 2011 11:54 GMT

#34

On August 02 2011 18:16 Crying wrote:
But guys when u massgame you tend to loose alot too,and i dunno if its a bug this season but i loose and still get opponents that are on a very nice level and thus making me go Negative stats?

And you should be happy about it since it helps you improve. Ladder stats mean nothing anyways.
Also, your MMR will not really get affected by winning/losing-streaks, so it'll take a bit until you get opponents your level.

Tegin

United States840 Posts

August 02 2011 12:18 GMT

#35

I prefer playing people I know to be better than myself, then analysing each replay and discussing the games with either an in game observer or the player I just faced. Seems to work much better than mass laddering.