I was originally saving this for some occasion but didn't get around to playing much and with HotS around the corner, I figured this would be a good time to share the little trick with you guys.
In this post, I will demonstrate how to effectively gain vision over any ramp that has been forcefielded once with the help of only one low energy sentry. Practically, this means that any Blink all-in build in PvP will be able to blink in your main at 7:00-7:10 provided that only one forcefield is used.
Good Protoss players know that there is only one way to correctly place an FF on your ramp when dealing with a blink all-in.
If placed too high (1), a single zealot or probe moved to a corner of the FF will gain high ground vision (trying this with a stalker will cause the vision to glitch on and off and you will be unable to blink in). A stalker forcefielded at the corner of the first forcefield will aslo gain vision in this configuration.
If placed too low (2), stalkers are able to blink over and provide vision
(3) is the only correct way to place your FF to deny vision up the ramp
After extensive testing, I have figured out a way to gain vision, even if the FF is in position (3).
I use a zealot in this video but it also works with a stalker
Place your zealot or stalker in the corner of the FF and hold position (so he doesn't move back when units shoot at him)
Forcefield right behind him so the border of your own forcefield reaches the middle of the ramp while still trapping your zealot
Wait for his first FF to wear off and blink up the ramp
This technique works as long as your zealot/stalker doesn't get killed by the units on top of the ramp (send your zealot 8-10 seconds after the initial FF to minimize exposed time). It works even if your opponent stacks his FF. Seemingly, earlier FFs have priority over later FFs when deciding by which FF the zealot is going to be pushed.
Practical uses include improved 4 gating if your opponent uses positions (1) or (3) to FF his ramp, or improved blink all-ins against Stargate builds or greedy tech builds.
Example of pro games (SPL) where this could have been used to change the outcome of the game: HerO vs Rain@7:15 ingame time Mini vs Wookie@7:10 ingame time
4 gate considerations: This technique can also be used to 4 gate in PvP, however this will not work if opponent places his FF as in (2) or lower.
Can't understand what's happening exactly - your FF behind the zealot causes his future FFs to not be low enough? He can't place new FFs at the "right" spot anymore? Is that it? Thanks for the find!
It looks to me in the video that his second FF is higher than the first - is this enforced by what you did?
Sentry defenses are a lot weaker in HotS anyway. Still this is huge for now. And yet, you will have 2 units less with your Blink no obs all-in. That might just be enough to lose to 1 Immo and a few Gateway units.
This technique works as long as your zealot/stalker doesn't get killed by the units on top of the ramp (send your zealot 8-10 seconds after the initial FF to minimize exposed time). It works even if your opponent stacks his FF. Seemingly, earlier FFs have priority over later FFs when deciding by which FF the zealot is going to be pushed.
This reminds me of the find where a unit created most recently would win in a 1v1 (in which if they attacked at the same time, and therefore should be a tie, but it always goes to the "youngest" unit). I wonder if there's a connection in how the game is coded.
This technique works as long as your zealot/stalker doesn't get killed by the units on top of the ramp (send your zealot 8-10 seconds after the initial FF to minimize exposed time). It works even if your opponent stacks his FF. Seemingly, earlier FFs have priority over later FFs when deciding by which FF the zealot is going to be pushed.
This reminds me of the find where a unit created most recently would win in a 1v1 (in which if they attacked at the same time, and therefore should be a tie, but it always goes to the "youngest" unit). I wonder if there's a connection in how the game is coded.
On February 10 2013 00:34 rEalGuapo wrote: Sentry defenses are a lot weaker in HotS anyway. Still this is huge for now. And yet, you will have 2 units less with your Blink no obs all-in. That might just be enough to lose to 1 Immo and a few Gateway units.
Just one unit in fact. This works with a stalker (and you should do it with a stalker) so when you get vision you can blink the stalker used to gain vision up as well.
thanks for sharing!! another thing i love about starcraft, people are still discovering tricks in this game almost 3 years since it came out! another testament to the beauty of starcraft