How could you improve at SC?

How could you?

For me, it's mainly micro that I need. I have trouble controlling units while producing new ones at the same time. Also need practice at watching the minimap for drops when fighting.

For example, I attached a recent battle I had(watch it if you want, or upload your own battles for others to see). Started as a 3v3 and became a 2v2 and demonstrates why upgrades are so important. I'm the Toss at the 2o'clock location and my ally is the Toss at the 7o'clock location. Enemies are at the 9o'clock Zerg and 5o'clock Terran locations. Also, its a fastest map(yes, yes, a noob map -.-).

4 errors I found I did:

1. didn't have goon range upgrade for the first 1-2 battles -.-
2. lose track of gateway unit production when fighting at other bases
3. not enough observers for first 2/3 of match
4. no cannons at back of base to detect lurks in mineral line

 

pro's will actually modify their keyboard, by removing/highlighting curtian keys to avoid error.

 

I've actually been blogging (see below) my recent matches on Battle.net and the biggest issue I run up against is quick unit production. I find that I still can't quite manage my Gateways/Barracks/Hatcheries in a way that makes units fast enough. Of course, it's probably because I'm simply not building enough of them. But I have trouble justifying the minerals on yet another gateway instead of troops when I'm worried about a rush.

Thoughts on speedy unit production?

 

when i play toss on bnet, I always try to build 2 gateways after the first/second pylon is up, get 2-4 zeals, and make another gate, stay on 3 for a few minutes while making zeals and probes, then get 2 more, cyber core, then make tons of gates and 3 forges for upgrades.

This is on fastest maps

 

I dont play anymore, but I've found it easiest when playing to determine good timing for building/unit ratio was watching online videos of good players. Observing is key i think in progression, rather then just trial & Error over and over.

O and i dont just mean 1 or 2, you gotta really watch. I would maybe watch 200+ videos in a good 1-2 month course easily when i played.

 

Play the game.
Watch replays.
Play the game.

 

A bunch of my subscribtions on youtube are SCcommentators who comment on pro korean game replays. That's were I learned about how to protect reavers with shuttles to avoid enemy ground attacks like enemy reaver scarabs.

 

Not be lazy and actually micro.

 

My problem is I enjoy watching battles too much and forget about everything else as I watch 2 armies slaughter eachother.

I"ve learned different skills watching pro-games, but I don't have the micro to use them effectively.

 

"Luck does not equal skill"

Do you guys agree with this quote? I managed to win a game (3v3) because my ally was good enough to have hydras, lurks, guards, and devourers. My main base was destroyed, but I was able to rebuild in a different location, massing zeals and a few arbs. While my zerg ally attacked the front doors, I used my arbs to recall a whole zeal army in the back.

As for the quote, I don't quite agree. I've seen many pro-games where the player won due to a lucky push at the right time/enemy's miss-micro of units.

 

Pro gamers push aware of the timing, and miss-microing is just lack of skill.

If you're not a pro and just do the push at random, then yes it's partly luck if you win. But a push without still microing your units and keeping up unit production at home will undoubtebly fail, so without the presence of skill, luck doesn't matter.

 

It mostly isn't luck. Watch as the pro-gamers scout with efficiency, with just about any unit.

Generally, Macro>Micro.

Practice, and if you still can't build, hotkey your most important unit production structures, and GET OFF FASTEST MAPS. Fastest maps take no skill. They only require the ability to be able to build 50 workers and to have 24 Gateways pumping units. There is no resource management.

Anyways, you should try to ignore the battle. Losing one battle or two isn't important, especially on Fastest, than forgetting to build the 24 Dragoons at your base for the next battle.

 

The only reason I do fastest is for the 3v3/4v4. I hate 1v1 matches which is the only way ppl play the non-fastest ones.

 

As for luck v skill, it seems like luck only really matters if opponents are pretty equally skilled. Yes, something can go wrong, but if you have the skill, you're probably prepared to deal with it. Effective micro in battles seems to be the biggest amount of skill that outweighs luck.

 

Personally, sometimes I hate 1v1s and 2v2s too. Thats what UMS and Hunters is for.

Still, 1v1 is the only real way to improve. 2v2 and 3v3 and 4v4 also depend upon your allies. They can not gauge skill effectively, and can be imbalanced.

 

I usually don't find 1v1s fun. I only do it against people I know.

 

Hey, fun is for UMS and 4v4/3v3. This is why I can't PWN just about everyone on Battle.net. I DON'T CARE.

If you want to get better, practice. If you want fun, play with friends and UMS.

(latter for me)

 

I've watched so many pro videos before, I've memorized them but when it comes time to play, I forget it and do a poor job of executing the strategies. The main problem with me is that I don't build enough units and always have around one hundred or below minerals. Which then frustrates me that I can't build the unit I want at that very moment.

 

More workers then, and expo more.

BTW, I HATE YOU. YOU HAVE MORE MINERALS THAN ME. Jokes.

Maybe use BW Chart?, it lists how many expos, build orders, APM,etc., and is relatively useful for analyzing a game.

 

Map control is my worse weakness. Someone when the pressures on it can be difficult to protect an attempt at an expansion. I'm getting better though.