Alright, I have a friend who claims that he was able to actually successfully defend his base with the following strategy. He would fast tech to a lair, create a nydus network, then spawn two nydus worms, one at the bottom of the ramp and one at the top. He put spine and spore crawlers all around the front of his base to repel attack, and he said that its actually an excellent defence against rushes, as you can just move you units through the nydus worms to get through while your opponent has to actually kill both nydus worms to get into your base, all the while having his army getting hit by the spine and spore crawlers. And, because Nydus worms spawn anywhere, you can make it quickly, anywhere on the map, and without creep. Now, I'm skeptical. He didn't produce a replay, so I don't have any proof from him that this works, and seeing as Nydus worms only have 200 hp, it doesn't sound like it would be at all effective against anything but the smallest of forces. However, it definitley peaked my curiosity, as it's the first zerg wall off that I've ever heard that actually sounds like it might work to some degree. It especially sounds like a good way to protect a fast expansion early in the game while you wait to spawn a viable army to defend it, especially if its over near your enemies base where you can't place any spine crawlers do to a lack of creep, but I don't know. What do you guys think? Is this even worth trying? What are your thoughts?
Just make creep at an expo with your overlords, put down a tumor and make some crawlers then. Much cheaper then spamming Worms. Also, a rush is considered to be a very early attack. You can't hope to tech to lair, spawn a Canal and 2 worms before a rush. Let alone still having the minerals to build an army and some static defense. Although Crawlers aren't that static, but you get the point. Sorry to say, but this just all seems to be incredibly inefficient. :/
That was some pretty smart thinking on your friend's part if you ask me I get a feeling that this is a nice tactic that could work pretty well. 200 hp is always 200hp that need to be taken down before moving on to the next 200 hp which adds up to 400 split in 2 plus the lower worm provides vision for the crawlers to attack. Don't forget that terran walloffs don't have more hp either. A bunker is 400 hp and a supply depot 350 and unless they add depth to it you only need 1 building down to make a breach. Give it a few shots yourself and see how it works... or ask your friend to save the next replay when he does it(btw, if he did it recently there are saved replays under the "unsaved" folder)
A nydus wall sounds like a pretty inefficient use of resources, considering the amount of gas you'd use I don't think it's a great idea, especially if we're talking about an early rush prevention strategy. Why not just spread your creep to get from point a to b faster? Plus, you can use evolution chambers for 75 minerals and 750hp to produce a choke to guard with lings/roaches. The Nydus costs 150 minerals and 200 gas for 850hp. I could see the use of a Nydus to travel long distances to help defend maybe late game...haven't tried that yet... I don't doubt that having nydus setup this way would defend your base, but it costs so much in resources and time that I think it prevents a zerg player from sequencing into the next move (i.e. another expansion or massing gas heavy units. I like the fact your friend is trying to make use of the Nydus in creative ways though, I'd like to try and reinvent some ideas I may have for them myself...lately I've been using them on toss with my speedlings when they try to forge fast expand....
Well, I tried out this strategy against a computer. And it didn't even work! Nydus worms are too big to be stacked up like supply depos, and the only buildings in the game that can stack in a similar manner are spires because crawlers don't block anything! I only found two variations where this actually succeedes in blocking an opponenets path: in conjunction with hatchery or with two evo chambers, both of which are ridiculous. Even having three nydus doesn't work, as enemies can go right through them! So, I guess my friend was just leading me on. Sorry about that, guys.
Yeah... playing one base zerg and fast teching to zerg for the sole reason of blowing all of your gas on useless nydus worm walls sounds like 100 pct auto lose. if you are intent on walling off (maybe zvz and opponent goes banelings?) you can use an evo chamber or two but if you can avoid it your econ will be much better off.
