EPTThe Road to Blizzcon - Ch VII - Lilbow
Chapter VII
A Strange Soldier from a Strange Land
by Zealously
Somewhere in a foreign land...
Lilbow's cane tapped against the cobblestones as he walked. Tap, tap– tap, bouncing between the narrow walls, echoes running down the sparsely lit hallway. Hot like in an oven, that place, tortuously hot. He was used to it.
Why do I do this?
It was a question he had asked him
self frequently in the last few weeks, and every time he felt annoyed—very often—he found the same answer.
I have to.
It was an honest answer. He liked honesty. Being true to yourself is important, after all. He knew his strengths, his weaknesses, and understood his motivations. He knew what drove him, and where his road would go, if he followed it.
Or where it should go, at least. Of late, he had found the answer unsatisfying. It rang strangely hollow, as if there was more to it. Victory. Glory. The damn throne, at last.. The campaign was coming to an end, and he was closer to a grand rise to power than he had ever been. Grand in the vein of the venerated Ilyes Satouri, perhaps grander still. He was on the cusp. What else was there that could be more important?
Why do I do this?
He came to a nondescript wooden door at the end of the hallway, swung it inward with the metal tip of his cane. A massive oak table stood inside, ten meters in diameter, a great map sprawled over it, covered in notes and marks, strategic predictions scribbled in a wavy hand across the parchment.
Why do I do this?
”Lilbow,”
He looked up, leaning on his cane. ”Firecake. I can't say it's good to see you, but here you are regardless.”
His jab was promptly ignored. ”How is the leg?”
”It stings, like always.”
”Damn Hydra.” There was a glint in the Zerg's eye, very brief, as if he wasn't quite as enthusiastic about his hatred for the one-eyed pirate as he seemed.
”Yes,” Lilbow agreed, stepping over to the lip of the war table, ”damn Hydra. Where do we stand?”
”Sources say they're fleeing back across the ocean. Something about finding allies. Or maybe it was about finding means to get back at you—” Firecake yawned, stretching his neck slowly, ”I can't remember which.”
”What do I keep you for?” Lilbow muttered, eyeing the maps before him. Glostalea was in turmoil, and his maps reflected it. Where the distant clans had previously been orderly arranged under the command of their respective leaders, they had now suffered a... falling out. An upheaval of significant scale. Open war had been declared between Jin Air and SKT and his reports seemed to indicate that it was only a matter of time until everyone else joined in. He had to admit, he had no idea who was presently doing what, and could fathom no reason for Polt and Hydra's imminent return.
”I do believe you keep me for my cool head and unflinching ability to gain incremental advantages over extremely long periods of time. Need I remind you that your average income has increased by over seven percent these last two years?”
Lilbow sighed, tapping the table absentmindedly with a finger. It stung to admit it, but the Zerg had been invaluable to his campaign. Maintaining a conversation with the man was much like pulling nails, but he possessed a clarity of vision. A sharp mind, if nothing else. ”Yes, yes, seven percent. What can we do to stop them?”
Firecake cocked an eyebrow. ”Stop them?”
”Yes, stop them! We can hardly let them go back across the ocean so freely. What if they bring reinforcements?”
Evidently, Firecake had not considered this. ”Huh.”
”Where are your pets, anyway?”
The Zerg looked suddenly distraught, a gloomy shadow sweeping across his sullen face. He sniffed and walked over to look out over the ocean through the window. ”I don't know what's happened to them, but my, they've become entirely worthless. That Polish fellow has embarrassed us multiple times, embarrassed! Not long ago, we would have made him a joke. Now, the hosts are incapable of doing anything.”
Fitting reflections of your own fighting ability, then. ”Eyes on the prize, Firecake, eyes on the prize. How can we stop them?”
”Eyes on the prize, yes yes, eyes on the prize. The victory, yes yes.” the Zerg dawdled back to the table, producing a pencil from an inner pocket. He very nearly stabbed the table with it, pointing directly at Glostalea's harbor. ”They will disembark here, if they're allowed to proceed unhindered.”
”They are traveling together?”
”Yes.”
That settles it, then.
For months, Lilbow had waged a clandestine war against the two rivaling rulers of Oegugin. He could not deny that it had been a combined effort, or that even Firecake deserved recognition for his aid, but he was the only one standing in the end. Well, he corrected himself, and those two.
Polt and Hydra, the opposing rulers. Polt and Hydra, the eternal rivals. The brutal fight for power over in Metzennala had lasted the better part of a year, ceaseless battling for territory and power. All a sham.
”You expected this?” Firecake asked.
”I suspected. It was hard to know for certain. They're criminals, those two, but they're clever.”
”Very clever!” Dayshi yelped, waking with a start. Where he sat hunched in a corner, half-wrapped in a dirty blanket, he was hardly the image of a great Terran warrior. Then again, Firecake hardly looked the part of a Zerg warlord, either. Lilbow adjusted his suit with a resentful snort. Dayshi had fought both of them in the last year, and put up no fight. None whatsoever. It pained the Protoss greatly that they had to keep him around. Alas, he knows too much to be disposed of.
”Finally woke up, did you? Anything to add?”
The Terran wobbled to his feet, leaned slightly to the right while he dragged himself to the table. He produced a pencil of his own and drew a circle around a spot between the capital Glostalea and the second largest city, Spostalea.
”What's this?” Lilbow demanded.
”The—,” he coughed, then chuckled slightly, ”you know about the scepter, yes? You've heard?”
”Of course,” Lilbow snapped, ”what do you think this meeting is about?” It struck him that Dayshi had been sleeping soundly for twelve hours and probably had no idea.
The Terran continued, ignoring him, ”The scepter bestows great power upon whomever possess it, enough in excess to conquer Oegugin. The clans overseas are content not to—there's nothing they want here,” the Terran chuckled again, as if he had said something funny. ”Well, nothing they want enough to warrant a campaign—”
”We know,” Firecake drawled, ”it's why that Captain Crook came to power in the first place.”
Yes, Lilbow mused, and why his one-eyed friend could so easily make his way here to take what was left.
”Then you know it's what they all fight for over there. There's no consensus on who should lead, and somehow the scepter got lost along the way. No scepter, no ruler,” he marked the empty plain between the two cities with a glaring red cross, ”no peace.”
”How do you know this?”
The newly recruited spy winked. ”I have my sources.”
Rolling waves squelched against the pier, taunted by the cries of fat seagulls circling high above. Lilbow stood on the farthest end and looked out over the ocean. Somewhere out there, the two that had caused him so much pain now flopped across the waves in a mad dash toward their homeland. Somewhere out there, the only two people to have hindered his conquests now edged closer to a permanent victory.
It would not stand.
The Hangover lay anchored before him, a half-dozen crew members milling across the deck with sour faces. The weather had not been particularly pleasant of late, the biting salt-wind wearing and tearing at the harbor stones. But in spite of the wind, in spite of the chill, in spite of the crushing waves, the ship—a gift from the tribe's last great warrior—was unmoved.
One of the crew's members wobbled across the gangplank with a slightly nauseous expression. ”The Hangover is prepared and all ready for departure, sir!”
Lilbow nodded appraisingly. ”Fine work. And the weaponry?”
The sailor's eyes darted briefly to the massive cannons that peeked out through openings in the upper hull, then back to his captain. ”Enough to level a small city.”
Lilbow bared his impeccably white teeth in a mean grin. ”Like, say... Cracow?”
The sailor's eyes went wide. He took an involuntary half-step back, suddenly anxious to be on his way. He giggled, somewhat nervously. News of Lilbow's conquests to the northeast had spread far and wide, and the mere mention now instilled considerable fear. ”Ah, of course. A city just as Cracow, if I may say so. Now, there are some things to...” he turned, scurrying back across the gangplank.
"Why do I do this?" the Protoss muttered, rubbing his aching leg.
Lilbow cast a final pensive glance at the ocean. Somewhere out there, headed for Metzennala, were his two greatest rivals. The only two obstacles between him and what he most desired. Somewhere out there, headed for god knows what. For battle, for victory. Headed for great glory. Glory that should be his, not theirs. On their way to power, if they could only reach it in time.
He strode across the gangplank, the tip of his cane tapping against the wood as he walked. Tap, tap-tap..
He would make sure they wouldn't.
Lilbow's cane tapped against the cobblestones as he walked. Tap, tap– tap, bouncing between the narrow walls, echoes running down the sparsely lit hallway. Hot like in an oven, that place, tortuously hot. He was used to it.
Why do I do this?
It was a question he had asked him
self frequently in the last few weeks, and every time he felt annoyed—very often—he found the same answer.
I have to.
It was an honest answer. He liked honesty. Being true to yourself is important, after all. He knew his strengths, his weaknesses, and understood his motivations. He knew what drove him, and where his road would go, if he followed it.
Or where it should go, at least. Of late, he had found the answer unsatisfying. It rang strangely hollow, as if there was more to it. Victory. Glory. The damn throne, at last.. The campaign was coming to an end, and he was closer to a grand rise to power than he had ever been. Grand in the vein of the venerated Ilyes Satouri, perhaps grander still. He was on the cusp. What else was there that could be more important?
Why do I do this?
He came to a nondescript wooden door at the end of the hallway, swung it inward with the metal tip of his cane. A massive oak table stood inside, ten meters in diameter, a great map sprawled over it, covered in notes and marks, strategic predictions scribbled in a wavy hand across the parchment.
Why do I do this?
”Lilbow,”
He looked up, leaning on his cane. ”Firecake. I can't say it's good to see you, but here you are regardless.”
His jab was promptly ignored. ”How is the leg?”
”It stings, like always.”
”Damn Hydra.” There was a glint in the Zerg's eye, very brief, as if he wasn't quite as enthusiastic about his hatred for the one-eyed pirate as he seemed.
”Yes,” Lilbow agreed, stepping over to the lip of the war table, ”damn Hydra. Where do we stand?”
”Sources say they're fleeing back across the ocean. Something about finding allies. Or maybe it was about finding means to get back at you—” Firecake yawned, stretching his neck slowly, ”I can't remember which.”
”What do I keep you for?” Lilbow muttered, eyeing the maps before him. Glostalea was in turmoil, and his maps reflected it. Where the distant clans had previously been orderly arranged under the command of their respective leaders, they had now suffered a... falling out. An upheaval of significant scale. Open war had been declared between Jin Air and SKT and his reports seemed to indicate that it was only a matter of time until everyone else joined in. He had to admit, he had no idea who was presently doing what, and could fathom no reason for Polt and Hydra's imminent return.
”I do believe you keep me for my cool head and unflinching ability to gain incremental advantages over extremely long periods of time. Need I remind you that your average income has increased by over seven percent these last two years?”
Lilbow sighed, tapping the table absentmindedly with a finger. It stung to admit it, but the Zerg had been invaluable to his campaign. Maintaining a conversation with the man was much like pulling nails, but he possessed a clarity of vision. A sharp mind, if nothing else. ”Yes, yes, seven percent. What can we do to stop them?”
Firecake cocked an eyebrow. ”Stop them?”
”Yes, stop them! We can hardly let them go back across the ocean so freely. What if they bring reinforcements?”
Evidently, Firecake had not considered this. ”Huh.”
”Where are your pets, anyway?”
The Zerg looked suddenly distraught, a gloomy shadow sweeping across his sullen face. He sniffed and walked over to look out over the ocean through the window. ”I don't know what's happened to them, but my, they've become entirely worthless. That Polish fellow has embarrassed us multiple times, embarrassed! Not long ago, we would have made him a joke. Now, the hosts are incapable of doing anything.”
Fitting reflections of your own fighting ability, then. ”Eyes on the prize, Firecake, eyes on the prize. How can we stop them?”
”Eyes on the prize, yes yes, eyes on the prize. The victory, yes yes.” the Zerg dawdled back to the table, producing a pencil from an inner pocket. He very nearly stabbed the table with it, pointing directly at Glostalea's harbor. ”They will disembark here, if they're allowed to proceed unhindered.”
”They are traveling together?”
”Yes.”
That settles it, then.
For months, Lilbow had waged a clandestine war against the two rivaling rulers of Oegugin. He could not deny that it had been a combined effort, or that even Firecake deserved recognition for his aid, but he was the only one standing in the end. Well, he corrected himself, and those two.
Polt and Hydra, the opposing rulers. Polt and Hydra, the eternal rivals. The brutal fight for power over in Metzennala had lasted the better part of a year, ceaseless battling for territory and power. All a sham.
”You expected this?” Firecake asked.
”I suspected. It was hard to know for certain. They're criminals, those two, but they're clever.”
”Very clever!” Dayshi yelped, waking with a start. Where he sat hunched in a corner, half-wrapped in a dirty blanket, he was hardly the image of a great Terran warrior. Then again, Firecake hardly looked the part of a Zerg warlord, either. Lilbow adjusted his suit with a resentful snort. Dayshi had fought both of them in the last year, and put up no fight. None whatsoever. It pained the Protoss greatly that they had to keep him around. Alas, he knows too much to be disposed of.
”Finally woke up, did you? Anything to add?”
The Terran wobbled to his feet, leaned slightly to the right while he dragged himself to the table. He produced a pencil of his own and drew a circle around a spot between the capital Glostalea and the second largest city, Spostalea.
”What's this?” Lilbow demanded.
”The—,” he coughed, then chuckled slightly, ”you know about the scepter, yes? You've heard?”
”Of course,” Lilbow snapped, ”what do you think this meeting is about?” It struck him that Dayshi had been sleeping soundly for twelve hours and probably had no idea.
The Terran continued, ignoring him, ”The scepter bestows great power upon whomever possess it, enough in excess to conquer Oegugin. The clans overseas are content not to—there's nothing they want here,” the Terran chuckled again, as if he had said something funny. ”Well, nothing they want enough to warrant a campaign—”
”We know,” Firecake drawled, ”it's why that Captain Crook came to power in the first place.”
Yes, Lilbow mused, and why his one-eyed friend could so easily make his way here to take what was left.
”Then you know it's what they all fight for over there. There's no consensus on who should lead, and somehow the scepter got lost along the way. No scepter, no ruler,” he marked the empty plain between the two cities with a glaring red cross, ”no peace.”
”How do you know this?”
The newly recruited spy winked. ”I have my sources.”
Rolling waves squelched against the pier, taunted by the cries of fat seagulls circling high above. Lilbow stood on the farthest end and looked out over the ocean. Somewhere out there, the two that had caused him so much pain now flopped across the waves in a mad dash toward their homeland. Somewhere out there, the only two people to have hindered his conquests now edged closer to a permanent victory.
It would not stand.
The Hangover lay anchored before him, a half-dozen crew members milling across the deck with sour faces. The weather had not been particularly pleasant of late, the biting salt-wind wearing and tearing at the harbor stones. But in spite of the wind, in spite of the chill, in spite of the crushing waves, the ship—a gift from the tribe's last great warrior—was unmoved.
One of the crew's members wobbled across the gangplank with a slightly nauseous expression. ”The Hangover is prepared and all ready for departure, sir!”
Lilbow nodded appraisingly. ”Fine work. And the weaponry?”
The sailor's eyes darted briefly to the massive cannons that peeked out through openings in the upper hull, then back to his captain. ”Enough to level a small city.”
Lilbow bared his impeccably white teeth in a mean grin. ”Like, say... Cracow?”
The sailor's eyes went wide. He took an involuntary half-step back, suddenly anxious to be on his way. He giggled, somewhat nervously. News of Lilbow's conquests to the northeast had spread far and wide, and the mere mention now instilled considerable fear. ”Ah, of course. A city just as Cracow, if I may say so. Now, there are some things to...” he turned, scurrying back across the gangplank.
"Why do I do this?" the Protoss muttered, rubbing his aching leg.
Lilbow cast a final pensive glance at the ocean. Somewhere out there, headed for Metzennala, were his two greatest rivals. The only two obstacles between him and what he most desired. Somewhere out there, headed for god knows what. For battle, for victory. Headed for great glory. Glory that should be his, not theirs. On their way to power, if they could only reach it in time.
He strode across the gangplank, the tip of his cane tapping against the wood as he walked. Tap, tap-tap..
He would make sure they wouldn't.
After the dominance of Polt and Hydra in the first two seasons of WCS this year, the only non-Koreans that were planning to book tickets to Blizzcon were expecting to pay for them as well. Lilbow’s stunning rise to the top of the foreign scene has been meteoric, and entirely unexpected given his lack of previous results. 2014 saw him drop out of Premier league at the very first hurdle on all three occasions, while his first foray into the new WCS format in Season 1 was immediately cut short by a 3-1 defeat to ShoWTimE in Challenger. It was in Season 2 that he began his rapid climb to the top. Expectations were immediately raised following his victory over Hydra in the group stages, and he made his way through a somewhat fortunate bracket to become the first foreigner to play in a WCS final since Stephano. Just as in 2013 though, it wasn’t meant to be, and Hydra’s successful reversal of their previous encounter secured another title for Korea.
In the meantime, despite his success in WCS, extended runs in weekend tournaments continued to elude him, as shown by his meagre tally of 325 points (the second lowest of the sixteen Blizzcon attendees). A top 8 finish at HomeStory Cup XI was as good as it got for a player who’s struggled throughout the year when confronted by Koreans outside the WCS system.
We’ve seen all too often the one hit wonder in Starcraft 2—players who burst out of the blocks in a breakout performance, before struggling to match those lofty expectations and the added pressure they bring. So it was a pleasant surprise when Lilbow’s run of form rolled on unimpeded into his Season 3 performances. His revenge match over Hydra in the quarterfinals was certainly a highlight—a comeback performance hinging on his baffling success in clutching victory from the jaws of defeat in a crucial game 3—and in taking the title over MaNa, he joins Sen in becoming the second foreigner to win a Premier tournament since the rejig of the WCS format almost three years ago.
To appreciate just how rapid Lilbow’s ascension from perennial WCS Challenger fodder to WCS Champion has been, here’s a game from May, prior to his first appearance in WCS Premier later that month. All the hallmarks of Lilbow’s play were already there to see—extreme gateway aggression along with oracle pressure—but the final move to push up the ramp was a baffling one. Recently, Lilbow’s become known for his extremely calm play under pressure (see his multiple comebacks in his playoffs championship run in Season 3, for example), but more than anything, it’s his knowledge of when to go for the kill that currently elevates him beyond the rest of his scene.
http://www.twitch.tv/taketv/v/6917738?t=5h11m30s
To have faith in your ability to micro is one thing; to go head to head on LAN in a blink stalker battle with the incumbent GSL Champion is quite another. The rest of his HomeStory Cup campaign was tinged with regret—a tight 2-3 loss to Jaedong in the quarterfinals was perhaps a disappointment—but after his promising debut in WCS, taking home the silver medal after his defeat to Hydra, this victory was evidence that Lilbow was more than a mere flash in the pan.
Bunny’s curious decision to opt for siege tanks, possibly pre-empting the traditional Lilbow blink all-in, is possibly the detail that most stands out in game 2 of their clash at Dreamhack Valencia, but the decisive engagement won by Lilbow is the most impressive move of the game. Drawing Bunny into his natural, Lilbow set up two separate flanks. Then he hit a precise engagement that broke the tank line before it could deal nearly enough damage.
In stark contrast to the majority of games this year featuring Lilbow, this match against Neeb progressed beyond the blink stalker stage all the way to the super late game. Late game colossus wars are often much derided, but what was exciting to watch here were the low supply clashes, warp prism use and careful positional play that left us on tenterhooks before the climactic War of the Worlds laser show.
Here it is then—the game that truly kickstarted the foreigner revolution at WCS Season 3. It was one thing brushing past the underperforming pair of ForGG and Jaedong in the group stages, but to take out the defending champion opened up the bracket to an unprecedented three guaranteed slots for non-Koreans in the Round of 4. Game 5 may have sealed the deal—a smart unscouted double robotics facility ploy—but Lilbow’s crazy hold and counter on Coda was the game which flipped the series’ momentum on its head.
In the meantime, despite his success in WCS, extended runs in weekend tournaments continued to elude him, as shown by his meagre tally of 325 points (the second lowest of the sixteen Blizzcon attendees). A top 8 finish at HomeStory Cup XI was as good as it got for a player who’s struggled throughout the year when confronted by Koreans outside the WCS system.
We’ve seen all too often the one hit wonder in Starcraft 2—players who burst out of the blocks in a breakout performance, before struggling to match those lofty expectations and the added pressure they bring. So it was a pleasant surprise when Lilbow’s run of form rolled on unimpeded into his Season 3 performances. His revenge match over Hydra in the quarterfinals was certainly a highlight—a comeback performance hinging on his baffling success in clutching victory from the jaws of defeat in a crucial game 3—and in taking the title over MaNa, he joins Sen in becoming the second foreigner to win a Premier tournament since the rejig of the WCS format almost three years ago.
WCS Points:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/7FwAHXS.png)
Top 5 Games
1. Lilbow vs MarineKing, Dreamhack Tours 2015 - Iron Fortress
To appreciate just how rapid Lilbow’s ascension from perennial WCS Challenger fodder to WCS Champion has been, here’s a game from May, prior to his first appearance in WCS Premier later that month. All the hallmarks of Lilbow’s play were already there to see—extreme gateway aggression along with oracle pressure—but the final move to push up the ramp was a baffling one. Recently, Lilbow’s become known for his extremely calm play under pressure (see his multiple comebacks in his playoffs championship run in Season 3, for example), but more than anything, it’s his knowledge of when to go for the kill that currently elevates him beyond the rest of his scene.
http://www.twitch.tv/taketv/v/6917738?t=5h11m30s
2. Lilbow vs Rain, HomeStory Cup XI - Coda
To have faith in your ability to micro is one thing; to go head to head on LAN in a blink stalker battle with the incumbent GSL Champion is quite another. The rest of his HomeStory Cup campaign was tinged with regret—a tight 2-3 loss to Jaedong in the quarterfinals was perhaps a disappointment—but after his promising debut in WCS, taking home the silver medal after his defeat to Hydra, this victory was evidence that Lilbow was more than a mere flash in the pan.
3. Lilbow vs Bunny, Dreamhack Valencia 2015 - Coda
Bunny’s curious decision to opt for siege tanks, possibly pre-empting the traditional Lilbow blink all-in, is possibly the detail that most stands out in game 2 of their clash at Dreamhack Valencia, but the decisive engagement won by Lilbow is the most impressive move of the game. Drawing Bunny into his natural, Lilbow set up two separate flanks. Then he hit a precise engagement that broke the tank line before it could deal nearly enough damage.
4. Lilbow vs Neeb, WCS 2015 Season 3 - Coda
In stark contrast to the majority of games this year featuring Lilbow, this match against Neeb progressed beyond the blink stalker stage all the way to the super late game. Late game colossus wars are often much derided, but what was exciting to watch here were the low supply clashes, warp prism use and careful positional play that left us on tenterhooks before the climactic War of the Worlds laser show.
5. Lilbow vs Hydra, WCS 2015 Season 3 - Coda
Here it is then—the game that truly kickstarted the foreigner revolution at WCS Season 3. It was one thing brushing past the underperforming pair of ForGG and Jaedong in the group stages, but to take out the defending champion opened up the bracket to an unprecedented three guaranteed slots for non-Koreans in the Round of 4. Game 5 may have sealed the deal—a smart unscouted double robotics facility ploy—but Lilbow’s crazy hold and counter on Coda was the game which flipped the series’ momentum on its head.
Lilbow vs Hydra
WCS Season 3 Quater Final - Iron Fortress LE
by: litcher
Lilbow is dirty, and I mean that in the best possible way. While there are some players who endeavor to play attractive and stylish games, Lilbow doesn't care. All Lilbow cares about is smashing, crushing, and destroying. As long as he can get a "gg" after bludgeoning his opponent, he's happy.
Perhaps no other game exemplifies that better than Lilbow's historic 3-2 win over Hydra. The Season 2 champ entered the Ro8 as the favorite, but after 4 tight games, it was clearly anyone's series. Lilbow had developed a reputation as a PvZ idiot-savant: a man of preternatural talent that absolutely no one could understand. His attacks didn't make sense, but they worked. His decisions defied common sense, but they worked. His follow-ups were irrational, but they worked. By the end of Season 3, everyone just accepted that Lilbow likely understood PvZ on a different plane and we were just grasping at straws trying to explain how he does it.
Game 5 against Hydra is the quintessential Lilbow PvZ. After 4 games, Hydra had been clued in to his tendencies, and after opening hatch first decided to get early speed. Lilbow had matched him with a gateway expand, and everything appeared normal. Hydra's early speed and quick lings gave him map control, and he took a 5:11 third base and droned to his heart's content. Then, at 5:20, Lilbow warped in his robotics facility, still without a mothership core. That alone meant little, but this was Lilbow: a warp prism began taking shape in his robo, and 6 more gateways balled into being. It was a 7gate.
![[image loading]](/staff/lichter/BlizzCon2015/Strat/lilbow01.jpg)
On the zerg side, Hydra had his safety roach warren done but he had decided to get melee upgrades instead. A big round of lings suggested he was prepared for any Lilbow attack, even though he had not scouted more than the front. Lilbow tried his best to circumvent Hydra's overlords—by sending a hallucinated phoenix to spot their positions—but he was spotted halfway to the zerg third base. With the element of surprise gone, Lilbow was forced to warp in on the high ground 4th, usually a safe place to do it. Unfortunately, Hydra was ready and pounced. The lings demolished Lilbow's forces, and the all in was dead.
![[image loading]](/staff/lichter/BlizzCon2015/Strat/lilbow02.jpg)
For most players, that would have been the death knell. For Lilbow, it was just an inconvenience. He reloaded at home with one more robo and a robotics bay, and the bigger all in was on: double robo colossus. He may have been 30 supply down and behind 10 workers and a base, but it did not matter to him. Lilbow even managed to survive a ling runby that cut his unit count and chopped down an immortal. As long as he had units left, however, the Frenchman had a chance. Hydra tried his best to delay his opponent, even spotting the attack with an overseer, and he canceled his hydralisk den (which would have been somewhat useless) for a spire.
![[image loading]](/staff/lichter/BlizzCon2015/Strat/lilbow03.jpg)
Lilbow pushed out, but Hydra was positioned to counterattack as soon as possible. His attempts to delay the protoss ball backfired, however, when the third colossus was in a convenient position to fry zerglings from the cliff as it rallied to the army. Hydra tried to bring them all back, but a good set of forcefields grabbed another 20+ zerglings for the barbecue.
![[image loading]](/staff/lichter/BlizzCon2015/Strat/lilbow04.jpg)
Hydra's patience waiting for his spire to finish was for naught as Lilbow barreled straight down his throat. He was forced to spam the "r" key, but it was too late. Even with a complete roach surround, Lilbow roasted everything in sight, including all the drones at the third. Hydra's supply plummeted, and Lilbow once again baffled us with his ability to make his route one protoss work.
![[image loading]](/staff/lichter/BlizzCon2015/Strat/lilbow05.jpg)
