I need to absorb more ZvP goodness, because my understanding and decision-making in that matchup is pretty shocking.
One thing I have noticed is that a LOT more of my losing games have been going long since I started watching these VoDs. Better decision-making is keeping me in the game longer and I'm starting to get some meaningful practice in the late game, which is cool.
The problems I'm having now are:
ZvZ: Can't end long games in my favour. I've watched replays of mine where I win the first big roach/infestor battle but just can't capitalize and end up letting him back into the game. I lost three out of four games of a Bo7 tournament semi-final that way, mainly because my decisions after that point were along the lines of "Well... I guess I'll... um... make mutas now? Try that? No? Shit."
ZvT: Doing SO much better at this now. Won a game yesterday against a HUGE marine/tank/hellion/SCV push that would have flattened me completely not so long ago. I was so surprised that even now I think back on it as a loss and have to correct myself.
ZvP: Clueless. I'm quite simply never right. I'm always so scared of something unexpected turning up that I miss any and all timing opportunities, and I have no grasp of what his transitions can or are likely to be or when they might happen.
Despite all these woes, I'm still enjoying myself so much more than ever before, and I can chat with the guy razing my base with maxed immortal/archon/zealot/colossus about how I should have been teching quicker, rather than saying "Protoss is just stupid" and quitting
Hey guys love these videos. I have some requests from the perspective of a Diamond/Masters zerg who is struggling against certain issues.
Specifically:
ZvT - Dealing with unorthodox HEAVY pressure off one-base (or two-base) and how to identify it if you dont have map vision due to hellions (for two base plays). For one base plays with standard hatch first how to get enough information to prep for an all-in. It seems impossible to get banes out as baneling nest comes with lair so is it just queens and spines?
ZvZ - I watched your Week 8 videos and you did a great job explaining some of the MU. Where I tend to fall apart is when I hatch first and the opponent does heavy all-in zergling baneling pressure (ie: zerglings forever off 1 base). How do I identify and prepare for it (ie: the drones after the hatch and pool are up are critical and I cant figure out the right order of queen at nat, queen at main, spine at nat, etc etc).
ZvZ - Beyond the early game when it seems to stabilize into both parties going roach/hydra/infestor, how do you know when to attack (if at all?) or do you just macro up to to 200. Then how do you maximize the effectiveness of your army for an engagement. Passivity here has let others get fast broods and some play/comments on this would be solid. Just some discussion on how to win a 'straight up' zvz in the mid game/end game.
ZvP - The emergency of a FFE into double stargate is an effective deterrent of mutas vs protoss. What are the right plays here since double stargate doesnt necessarily threaten our third (unless accompanied by a +1 zealot push). If they go double stargate should we be thinking bust them or take 4th and get huge?
Thanks again for all your help you guys are fantastic.
As to the holding the 15 hatch vs a 14/14 the game vs LZ isnt really the standard zergling/baneling as he did some kind of wonky early bane pressure. I'd like to see a stronger 14/14 or even a speedling expand + pumping speedlings off 2 hatch vs your 2 hatch standard to see how to hold it.
On February 24 2012 04:07 AtlasJQ wrote: As to the holding the 15 hatch vs a 14/14 the game vs LZ isnt really the standard zergling/baneling as he did some kind of wonky early bane pressure. I'd like to see a stronger 14/14 or even a speedling expand + pumping speedlings off 2 hatch vs your 2 hatch standard to see how to hold it.
Agreed. I would like to hatch first more but I basically don't feel safe ZvZ unless I open with a standard (or earlier) pool.
On February 24 2012 04:04 AtlasJQ wrote: Hey guys love these videos. I have some requests from the perspective of a Diamond/Masters zerg who is struggling against certain issues.
Specifically:
ZvT - Dealing with unorthodox HEAVY pressure off one-base (or two-base) and how to identify it if you dont have map vision due to hellions (for two base plays). For one base plays with standard hatch first how to get enough information to prep for an all-in. It seems impossible to get banes out as baneling nest comes with lair so is it just queens and spines?
ZvZ - I watched your Week 8 videos and you did a great job explaining some of the MU. Where I tend to fall apart is when I hatch first and the opponent does heavy all-in zergling baneling pressure (ie: zerglings forever off 1 base). How do I identify and prepare for it (ie: the drones after the hatch and pool are up are critical and I cant figure out the right order of queen at nat, queen at main, spine at nat, etc etc).
ZvZ - Beyond the early game when it seems to stabilize into both parties going roach/hydra/infestor, how do you know when to attack (if at all?) or do you just macro up to to 200. Then how do you maximize the effectiveness of your army for an engagement. Passivity here has let others get fast broods and some play/comments on this would be solid. Just some discussion on how to win a 'straight up' zvz in the mid game/end game.
ZvP - The emergency of a FFE into double stargate is an effective deterrent of mutas vs protoss. What are the right plays here since double stargate doesnt necessarily threaten our third (unless accompanied by a +1 zealot push). If they go double stargate should we be thinking bust them or take 4th and get huge?
Thanks again for all your help you guys are fantastic.
These are good questions, but we've talked about it. Next episode we will compile all of the questions from the thread and answer them in a separate, clearly labeled VOD. So ask away gents!
One thing I personally would love to see is a "comprehensive ZvT openers" episode - an episode dedicated to looking at JUST terran openers, how to spot them, and how to respond. You can even cut games short and dont show past the earlygame if that is appropriate.
My ZvT winrate is terrible, and I always, always have problems with helions. Either I build too many defenses and my drone count is really low, or I build the right amount of defenses, but too early, so my drone count is really low; or I build don't build enough defenses and he slaughters all my stuff; or I build the right amount of defenses at the front, at the right time, but then he does a marine helion drop in my main and slaughters all my stuff; or I build the right amount of defense for just a few helions, but he actually got blue flame with a load of hidden helions, charges in and slaughters all my stuff; or he marauder helion all-ins me and slaughters all my....
You get the idea. The games just feel gross. My third is delayed, I feel completely blind, and I either die outright, enter the midgame in a lousy position, or otherwise I literally feel like I somehow "got lucky". HALP!!
Feel free to PM shawn if you have very specific questions! Since we only do 4 videos a week, it is difficult to answer everyone's questions in just 4 videos. However, if you PM us, we would be happy to help you out personally.
Thanks for all the comments. We really appreciate it, you guys have no idea!
If anyone watches a game they are particularly interested in, we could go over the replays of these select games in our future VODS. Just let us know via PM or post here in the thread!
Lol that was exactly what i was thinking just now, while watching Ret vs Sase.
Would be great to get your thoughts on those 3 games. Especially game 1 and 3. I feel like they give a great look at how to lose vs a stubborn camping protoss. I have a lot of problems with the same, as its often hard to punish a protoss that's behind. Game 2 is a great example of how to push out and deny that important 3d base.
Created an account just so I could let you know how much I love this videos. I have told my zerg friends (we are low gold/plat so) about this and they all love it and are getting better.
Hey guys! Thanks for the videos, and i hope you continue to make them! You guys definitely deserve at least 10x the amount of view you currently get on all your vids.
These have been so helpful to me, I played protoss for many seasons and now recently switched to zerg since the start of this season and my biggest problem is the change in mindset and learning to play reactive and exploit the decisions of my opponents. I love how your commentary is all about your decision making and it really helps me get a better understanding of the game, drone/army timing etc!
Keep it up! I'll be sure to spread the word about your vids to all my friends!
Edit: Just had an idea that maybe somehow you guys can get your thread moved to SC2 Strategy? Having it in general (other threads get bumped so much) and you guys dont get the exposure you deserve (not on main sidebar long enough), while in SC2 strat the threads move slower.
On February 24 2012 07:28 smwatkin wrote: These are good questions, but we've talked about it. Next episode we will compile all of the questions from the thread and answer them in a separate, clearly labeled VOD. So ask away gents!
Yeah I figured they might have been discussed previously but didnt want to explore to find them. If you started to compile the major topics and decisions/strategies you have discussed in each VOD it would be tremendously helpful.
On February 26 2012 08:52 joshie0808 wrote: Hey guys! Thanks for the videos, and i hope you continue to make them! You guys definitely deserve at least 10x the amount of view you currently get on all your vids.
These have been so helpful to me, I played protoss for many seasons and now recently switched to zerg since the start of this season and my biggest problem is the change in mindset and learning to play reactive and exploit the decisions of my opponents. I love how your commentary is all about your decision making and it really helps me get a better understanding of the game, drone/army timing etc!
Keep it up! I'll be sure to spread the word about your vids to all my friends!
Edit: Just had an idea that maybe somehow you guys can get your thread moved to SC2 Strategy? Having it in general (other threads get bumped so much) and you guys dont get the exposure you deserve (not on main sidebar long enough), while in SC2 strat the threads move slower.
Strategy section gets a lot less viewers than SC2 General. We used to have it there but nobody really saw it.
I could pm you guys but I'd rather shamelessly bump this thread
The one ZvT on antiga in the ZvT week where you were playing the slow lair/upgrade heavy style. Is that similar to what stephano played in his ZvTs in the AROG tournament this weekend? It felt really really powerful, just pure ling/infestor into ultras lategame with heavy focus on upgrades. How do you feel about it David?
On February 28 2012 02:12 sanctuz wrote: I could pm you guys but I'd rather shamelessly bump this thread
The one ZvT on antiga in the ZvT week where you were playing the slow lair/upgrade heavy style. Is that similar to what stephano played in his ZvTs in the AROG tournament this weekend? It felt really really powerful, just pure ling/infestor into ultras lategame with heavy focus on upgrades. How do you feel about it David?
The late game transition is very similar to what stephano does. However, the opening is more similar to what DRG does. It is really strong if drops do not do too much damage to you in the mid-game.
I believe the biggest problem with ultralisk strategies vs terran is positioning. High tank counts late game make it seem that broodlord tech is much more viable and easier to win with. However, if caught unseiged or out of position, ultralisks are a lot cheaper (in terms of time it takes to build as well) and more straight forward of a tech. Ultralisks vs terran do become exponentially worse if you are not patient and engage incorrectly though.
EPT
