EPTI've made the discovery that queuing construction commands on SCVs that are already constructing another building will only issue commands to the SCV that is closest to the new command. This seems to work in a similar fashion to how the Warp Gate that is closest to the unit being warped in is the one who will be used to warp in the unit.
How to replicate:
Have multiple SCVs constructing multiple buildings, select all the SCVs(easiest way is to box all the buildings in one shot) and then without using shift order them to build more buildings.
Let's say you try it with 2 scvs constructing 2 buildings, you will notice that if each SCV is closest to one of the buildings both buildings will be constructed, but if only one SCV is closest to both buildings, the second construction command will override the first one and the second SCV will not be involved in the commands at all.
Here's a few example photos:
When the commands were given, each individual SCV was closest to one of the barracks, no commands were overridden and all 3 SCVs were given a command. Each SCV proceeded to build their own second barracks after finishing their first one.
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![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/8aRP9.jpg)
When the commandss were given, only one SCV was closest to all 3 barracks, meaning every new command overrode a previous command, as such only the top SCV received any commands(one, followed by another to replace the first, then a third to replace the second) while the other 2 SCVs received no commands. This resulted in only one barracks being built.
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After issuing 3 commands to build 3 barracks next to each other, only the last one remains registered.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/xUWm9.jpg)
This is the result. 1 barracks being built with 2 SCVs following their previous commands (which were nonexistant so they remain idle).
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/P0p2h.jpg)
This was the result that we wanted to achieve when issuing the 3 commands.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/wTCB3.jpg)
This is the result. 1 barracks being built with 2 SCVs following their previous commands (which were nonexistant so they remain idle).
This was the result that we wanted to achieve when issuing the 3 commands.
Things to note:
This is in stark contrast to how SCVs that are doing another command (idle, mining, attacking, moving, hold position) are given orders. In this case if you box 3 SCVs and command them to build 3 barracks, the positions of the SCVs don't matter at all. However if you command 3 SCVs to build 4 barracks, then the barracks command that will be overridden to make place for the new command IS based on positioning, meaning if 3 SCVs are moving toward a ramp to quickly build 3 supply depots and you instead try to tell the SCVs to build 3 supply depots in another location, all 3 of those commands will be issued instead to the SCV building the supply depot closest to the SCVs at the time of command. This means if you quickly command 3 supply depots to be built for say an emergency wall, but you accidentally misplaced the one farthest from the SCVs, you would have to realize the situation, understand the mechanics, order a new command (such as move command) to the SCVs that are going to build these 3 supply depots then reposition all 3 depots, or alternatively select the individual SCV that is set to construct the misplaced depot and fix it immediately.
Why/How this matters:
Situation 1:
I'd assume a very large majority of Terrans shift queue their SCVs to a new command when it is constructing a building, with most of the time this command being to return to mine. Because of this if I say had 2 barracks building and I want to construct 2 barracks right after, I cannot quickly order my 2 SCVs to construct the 2 new barracks without either positioning the new barracks properly based on the existing position of the SCVs, issuing a move command to cancel out the return to mine command before issuing the construct barracks commands while holding shift (causing wasted travel time for the SCVs instead of going straight to the construct commands) or just using shift to issue the commands right away, causing the SCVs to return to the minerals, mine and then go to construct the new barracks.
Situation 2:
An attack is coming and I have very little time to issue commands to build a wall or I'm dead (good example is a second wall for a baneling bust). If I box 10 SCVs and order them to construct 3 barracks, but the farthest barracks is misplaced, I would have to either issue new commands to all 10 SCVs such as a move command followed by a shift command to issue new construct commands for all barracks or find the individual SCV set to construct the misplaced barracks and replace his command with a new one, or the third option and probably the best is to select all 3 SCVs set to construct new barracks, give them a new move command to cancel the existing command then hold shift to give new construct barracks commands.
What is your opinion on this?
