I'm on a mac and still having no problems cheesing people with the new patch.

hmmmm maybe i need an update, lemme try that

When you guys do different builds, is it typically...
- something you just feel like doing in that particular matchup/for that particular game before it starts without any other considerations
- something you react to based on game conditions/early scouting/whatever?

I feel like I need to learn some cheese builds just to mix things up (like, 2 proxy rax bunker rush, ZvZ 7pool with spine crawler, cannon rush, etc) but I never really come up with a reason to deviate from my usual build.

The thing that most impacts my build is spawn positions. Then it's the opponents gas timing.

There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to even bother with mind games when you're only laddering.

I don't really know that much about Terran/Toss builds and how reactive they are, but as a Zerg, that's pretty much how you play. You start with your completely standard build, then you scout what your opponent is doing and respond. But very rarely do you get shifted into a completely different build than what you were already doing. Most of the time, it's something like "hey, my protoss opponent is going stargate, better throw down a couple spores, maybe build a couple extra queens". Other than that, I'm pretty much doing exactly what I was already doing before I learned that information.

I generally let the map dictate my play for the most part. On PvT, maps like Daybreak and Cloud kingdom (no ramp into where T usually puts their bunker) are sometimes maps where I'll try something like a 6 gate sentry style bust. In PvP, I always check how viable blink play is (Super viable on cloud kingdom btw) and play to counteract or punish the likely strategy (Immortal expand on cloud kingdom usually, stargate styles where blink is bad). In PvZ, I'm pretty whimsical about what I do. Immortal/sentry is badass enough not to care about the map.

Sometimes in ladder I just do a build because I feel like it (I 5 gated terran about 4 games in a row, all wins), but scouting/reactionary style almost never dictates my opener, unless I scout something ridic like a proxy rax in my face.

playing on the ladder you definitely don't need to deviate from the standard ever, in fact it might hinder your development as a player, if you care about that so really, just do whatever you enjoy doing on the ladder.

If you do want to throw in some 2 proxy rax or whatever though, it's best advised to use it on maps you generally have trouble with and/or you know the opponent might have trouble with it. Like, most zergs 15hatch or w/e in zvt, and most zergs have no idea what to do vs a 11/11 proxy rax, so it can get you wins even vs better players.

But now I've only really talked about "cheeses" or whatever you want to call it, an all-in strategy that you decide even before the first miner is built. Then there's the whole world of adjusting to what your opponent is doing, which is an entirely different thing. Like for instance, if in TvT I open 1rax FE and see my opponent went gas first, most likely going banshee. Then I know (from experience) that he can't have much in the beginning, usually that build is VERY lacking in minerals (because you also take a second gas rather quickly and go for cloak banshee) so you have very few marines. Then you can decide if you want to deviate from your normal build and instead of building a CC you build another barracks or two and try to push. Usually if I scout this in time I just build another barracks, attack with a few marines and win right there.

So basically, you need a ton of experience and theory to be able to adjust on the fly like that, and it isn't really necessary to just play ladder. The above TvT example is the only one I've found that really works 100% if you scout it in time. There are similar ones like TvP and P goes nexus first, you can try to marine push that but it doesn't work if the P is microing well IMO. As for other races I don't know because I don't play them. If you enjoy coming up with these things though, I'd recommend getting a practice partner and just try all kinds of stuff out

Yeah, it's not just about being able to win on ladder though, I want to get better at the game period.

Looking at the patch history since people mentioned it today, I have to wonder - does Blizzard have any clue what they're doing? Apparently Reactors originally took 40 seconds to build, then they decreased it to 25 seconds before changing their minds and doubling it to the current 50? lol!

Filtersc posted an interesting video about his thoughts on the direction of the game and specifically changes in Heart of the Swarm:



He ends it by saying "When Heart of the Swarm comes out, I'm telling you right now, I'm never making another siege tank. I already don't make very many of them, because I don't think they're very good as is, but in Heart of the Swarm I will never make a siege tank. There's gonna be no point. Everything kills siege tanks in Heart of the Swarm."

I'm sure some people will be like "LOL Terran tears" but this is a pretty nice and thoughtful guy who plays all three races.

yea let's make balance complaints about a game in alpha that no one has played yet

hmmm somehow it started working now. kinda dislike how it is but im sure itll grow on me

How many games should it take to reach Diamond? How about Grand Master?

bout tree fiddy

6, 17

13, 37

siege tanks do 50 dmg? or was it 60?

Was looking for serious answers

I got the game about two and a half months ago. I just cleared 400 games, and I'm at top of gold. A lot of my games in the beginning I had no idea what units were for different races. I just kept playing short games to overcome the learning curve.

Anyway, I don't feel like my game is improving that much anymore. I can beat players above gold regularly, yet lose to gold players regularly as well. Is the only way up to grind out more games?

Why do you think you lose games? Seems similar to poker to me - identify leaks, work on plugging them.

says the guy in bronze league....hey-o!

I think when your level is lower than GM/Master there is always something to improve in your mechanics and that is just by playing many games. You might also want to do replay analysis on what you did wrong. You might also watch this:

http://day9.tv/d/Day9/day9-daily-312...n-and-improve/

And other newbie tuesdays might also be usefull.

I love day[9]. I haven't watched much yet, but I saw some key videos that really improved my game. The one with hotkeys w/ Zerg really helped my mechanics. I played oldschool SC back in the day, but he still helped me fine tune my mechanics that I never had ten yrs ago.

He is SILVER!

Psh, keep up with the thread, I'm a Silver now! Improving/practicing confirmed works!

Anyone stuck below masters is there primarily because of mechanics. The lower you go, the more it has to do with mechanics.

What race do you play?

Edit - it appears you are zerg

practice maxing out on 3 hatches, 2 bases as quickly as possible with roaches. Just do that over and over until it's around 13 mins or lower. Get lair, roach speed, +1. That will train your injects and mechanics. It will prob get you to diamond. Try to micro a ling elsewhere on the map while doing it.

so it was working, now its not. wtf starcraft. wtffff

i think blizzard should make a game that lasts under 5-10 seconds not count for points. lost a lot of points from crashing before the game starts or mistakes like that