Ok here is the thing: I have managed to go from bronze to diamond as zerg with this build:
14 gas 14 pool 21 hatch-- every matchup.
I am thinking now is a good time to start practicing one opening for each matchup. It is also a good time to evaluate myself as a player and revamp my efforts. Since the school year is ending in about a month I will be able to start practicing again.
How I stand now as a player:
+ Show Spoiler +
I like to use heavily upgraded lings or roaches as the backbone to my army. I tend to go for double upgrades as fast as possible. I will delay higher tiered units for the upgrades unless I am responding to a specific strategy such as wanting mutas to deal with constant drop play and to regain map control, etc. Around the general time I get 2 2 I tend to move towards mutas or straight to broodlords depending on his own tech and my economy. << General progression of my games but of course it deviates a bit on an individual basis.
Strong points about my play:
Creep spread definitely is something I am obsessed with. XD
I usually get upgrades ahead of my opponent.
Weaknesses of my play:
Micro. I know a lot of people may be skeptical of this, but it does lose games at a certain point. I have been using a mouse for less than a year, and precision clicking remains a problem for me. At one point is was bad enough I could not double click to select units. XD In fact that was one of the main things Mr. Bitters told me to work on when I received a lesson from him. I am now better at this, but I still struggle with some basic unit control.
Macro-- getting supply blocked. I drone up, expand, and end up with tons of money because I don't build overlords.
Strong points about my play:
Creep spread definitely is something I am obsessed with. XD
I usually get upgrades ahead of my opponent.
Weaknesses of my play:
Micro. I know a lot of people may be skeptical of this, but it does lose games at a certain point. I have been using a mouse for less than a year, and precision clicking remains a problem for me. At one point is was bad enough I could not double click to select units. XD In fact that was one of the main things Mr. Bitters told me to work on when I received a lesson from him. I am now better at this, but I still struggle with some basic unit control.
Macro-- getting supply blocked. I drone up, expand, and end up with tons of money because I don't build overlords.
The plan:
+ Show Spoiler +
1. Find matchup specific openings.
I am looking for more defensive openings since I am not a high aggression player. I do take advantage of mistakes, and will all in or close to it if someone does something exceptionally stupid, or fails their own all in. In general though I prefer to just play safe and droneeeee.
I have looked at liquipedia of course, but am still unsure of my final decision for the matchups. I plan to track down a bunch of Sheth's games (ILU SHETHHHH <3333) and do a good-ol' day9 step by step to determine some build orders to try. I know Stephano is 'in' right now, but his style doesn't suit how I like to play.
2. Reclaim my mechanics!
Not playing hardly at all since August has definitely taken its toll. I find team games are actually really good for getting back in the swing of things-- and low stress.
3. Stop being afraid of more micro-intensive units and (wo)MAN UP!
Gonna do a lot of practice with infestors, and also mutas and banes, since I still have trouble with them. I don't want to limit myself by not being able to use units.
4. Practice. :D
For me, I enjoy practicing by myself on a map until I have the correct build order down and it feels natural. Then I move to custom games with a friend, where I can practice carrying it out under the pressures of having to scout and respond to aggression. Lastly, there's nothing like the ladder and all its surprises to help you learn how to adapt a build in different situations. When you run into trouble with something specific, its time to go back to customs and practice it over and over with a friend until you have a solid response.
I am looking for more defensive openings since I am not a high aggression player. I do take advantage of mistakes, and will all in or close to it if someone does something exceptionally stupid, or fails their own all in. In general though I prefer to just play safe and droneeeee.
I have looked at liquipedia of course, but am still unsure of my final decision for the matchups. I plan to track down a bunch of Sheth's games (ILU SHETHHHH <3333) and do a good-ol' day9 step by step to determine some build orders to try. I know Stephano is 'in' right now, but his style doesn't suit how I like to play.
2. Reclaim my mechanics!
Not playing hardly at all since August has definitely taken its toll. I find team games are actually really good for getting back in the swing of things-- and low stress.
3. Stop being afraid of more micro-intensive units and (wo)MAN UP!
Gonna do a lot of practice with infestors, and also mutas and banes, since I still have trouble with them. I don't want to limit myself by not being able to use units.
4. Practice. :D
For me, I enjoy practicing by myself on a map until I have the correct build order down and it feels natural. Then I move to custom games with a friend, where I can practice carrying it out under the pressures of having to scout and respond to aggression. Lastly, there's nothing like the ladder and all its surprises to help you learn how to adapt a build in different situations. When you run into trouble with something specific, its time to go back to customs and practice it over and over with a friend until you have a solid response.
The goal:
+ Show Spoiler +
Like I said I am in diamond now. My current goal is to get promoted to masters. From there ultimately I would like to improve my play enough to enter lower caliber tournies like Playhem Daily without embarrassing myself. (ofc my dream is to win code s but that's not a good goal. ) That goal will be reached through small steps, but I think the four things listed above are a good start.
My school year will be over in a few weeks, and I will be working but have so much free time again! Last summer I was able to improve enormously by playing 20-30 games a day a few days a week, and with a great lesson from Mr Bitter that pointed out a few flaws in my play that were holding me back. I plan to repeat this! :D
If you have advice etc, ty in advance. I will be contacting people who I have practiced or ladder-buddied with in the past on skypes once summer hits. (Sorry I poofed this school year, it was just too much for me. <3) If you want to practice with me 'n stuffs' it will be a few weeks before I'm really available. ^^
EDIT: I forgot to say the happiest sound in the world is the sound of drones gruntling as they mine.