On July 02 2012 21:52 Emix_Squall wrote:
Hey, so this is definitely not thread worthy but I'd love to get a few people's opinion on my situation. Basically I've read a lot of post (and specifically one today) about plat players who have been plat for 2 years and never got any better, never got promoted or anything. That's basically my situation too!+ Show Spoiler +.
Hey, so this is definitely not thread worthy but I'd love to get a few people's opinion on my situation. Basically I've read a lot of post (and specifically one today) about plat players who have been plat for 2 years and never got any better, never got promoted or anything. That's basically my situation too!+ Show Spoiler +
I've been plat the past 5 seasons, only had a quick time in diamond a couple of months ago but I had to stop playing for a couple of weeks right after and got demoted when I came back.
So for most players who are in this situation, what people advice them is to practice more efficiently, trying to focus on specific aspects of their gameplay, and training with partners of a higher level. I guess I should do the same
However I'm playing random, always have and always will. I'm not a cheesy player at all, I prefer straight up macro game 99% of the time. So I was just wondering if as random, there could be specific tips or hints on how to play better (note that focusing on specific builds isn't really relevant for me yet, I'd first like to get to a point of flawless mechanics).
Edit: also note that I always let my opponent know my race within the first 20 seconds of the game ... it can sometime do me wrong since smart players will understand "he tells me his race = he wants straight up play = I'm gonna cheese him easily" but I prefere it this way because not telling my race always ends up in playing a crooked early game (for both me and my opponent, he would have to be ready for anything and I would have to take into account him not doing stuffs like Forge Fast Expand in PvZ ... because he's scared of the Terran possibility of my randomness)
So for most players who are in this situation, what people advice them is to practice more efficiently, trying to focus on specific aspects of their gameplay, and training with partners of a higher level. I guess I should do the same

However I'm playing random, always have and always will. I'm not a cheesy player at all, I prefer straight up macro game 99% of the time. So I was just wondering if as random, there could be specific tips or hints on how to play better (note that focusing on specific builds isn't really relevant for me yet, I'd first like to get to a point of flawless mechanics).
Edit: also note that I always let my opponent know my race within the first 20 seconds of the game ... it can sometime do me wrong since smart players will understand "he tells me his race = he wants straight up play = I'm gonna cheese him easily" but I prefere it this way because not telling my race always ends up in playing a crooked early game (for both me and my opponent, he would have to be ready for anything and I would have to take into account him not doing stuffs like Forge Fast Expand in PvZ ... because he's scared of the Terran possibility of my randomness)
From your post, it seems to me that you're quite comfortable playing in your own style. Taking that as given, it's useless to give advice that you won't take.
(edit) - I understand this seems dismissive of the poster's purported concern. But really.
1. Says he should practice according to particular advice, but admits he doesn't do it and hasn't done it.
2. Says he is "not a cheesy player". If you're good, or are even serious about improving, cheese is a weapon in your arsenal.
3. Says he prefers a straight up macro 99%. Again, this focus on side issues.
4. Says he always randoms, always will. More absolutes. Besides which IMO even random players should take turns focusing on particular races.
5. Says he wants "flawless mechanics" - considering the wording of the post so far, I think this is idealistic and unrealistic, rather than merely a poorly chosen turn of phrase.
6. Advises opponents 20 seconds in - again (again) focus on side issues.
7. Justifies (6) with fear of "crooked early game" - more side issues. Your opponent should well consider the possibility you are lying when you inform of race anyways.
Again and again, there is focus not on improvement, but on all these side issues and semirealistic (at best) expectations.
If you want to play the game for fun, play for fun, and don't worry about "improving" or whatever. If you're so fixated on improvement, you could think that since everyone's improved since release, staying at platinum has meant you've kept up with the increasingly difficult competition. So there you go. You've improved, you're having fun, you don't need to take a lot of advice that apparently intrudes on your comfort level.
If you want to play the game and kick ass and move up in the field, then you'd better be prepared to smash all your side issues and preconceptions in the goal of kicking ass. But again, since it seems clear to me this is not something the poster's at all prepared to do, it seems that advising the poster in that regard is fruitless, thankless, and pointless.