For curiosity's (and my sanity's) sake, does anyone have any recommendations on getting better at SC2 as far as gameplay and build decisions go? I've learned alot in the passing weeks since release, but after getting my face handed to me several times in 2v2s and 1v1s tonight have revealed that I STILL have much to learn.
Where would be a great start? Observing games? youtube?
I've tinkered with YABOT, and I love that as a resource that helped with my opening few minutes, but GAWD do I suck >.< lol
I wouldn't say it all depends on what race you play. If you really want to get better then you need to understand all races. You don't become good by learning a build some famous player used and simply doing it step by step without really knowing the thought behind it. I would say the best way to get better is to learn what units counter eachother and think, think, think. Invent your own strategies! Ponder which unit combinations work well together and what weaknesses they might have.
Also, once you get better, check out some of Day9's Dailies. He's a somewhat advanced commentator with a specific style of commenting (he's really hearthy, open and cheerful - you'll either love it or hate it), but they'll be interesting for you if you just browse for titles that apply to you ("Basic Decision Making", "Low Level Reps - In-game Decision Making", "Gold Level 2v2 Analysis") or take a peek at his older dailies from the beta, when people were still learning the game (Around daily #135 - the three-part series on Brat_OK, Artosis and White-RA are specifically good).
Day9 is the single most cheerful person I've ever seen. He seems to never be in a bad mood.
He started one of his last dalies with "Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Today you see a very grumpy day9!" And says so with a smile on his face.
Anyway, learning strategy is an important part of getting better.
There are people who're generally very good at games and don't need strategy to get into platinum or higher, but even they will start pwning incredibly much once they actually learn one or two strageties against all races. http://www.youtube.com/user/ForceSC2strategy
That dude here is a diamond level player going through most of the commone strategies for all races. It's a pretty good start if you learn strategy of your race vs T/Z/P.
What's cool about SC2 is that every single unit has at least 2 other units that it is strong against, and 2 which it is weak against. I believe the help panel (press F12) shows every unit's strengths/weaknesses. Learning these will be extremely helpful for counter-attacks and even initial build orders depending on how you scout.
To expand upon QMJ3's message about scouting - try and get used to sending a worker out to the enemies base when you're building up your first barracks/spawning pool/gateway. At the start you won't exactly know what to look for yet, but at least you're laying a good foundation. Also, it helps a LOT in learning to micro while macroing, which is something I've found to be the ultimate key to becoming a good player. I personally reckon strategies, build-orders and counters are all secondary information you can learn 'on the fly' as long as your basis of macro/micro is good enough.
I could list a crapload of stuff on how to get better... But most of those things would be useless since you probably know some.
Can you get a replay of yourself playing? I'll point out all mistakes you made and what to do to improve your gameplay.
But generally... You need knowledge on the game. I know all counters to all units and strategies by heart (not that hard to learn), and around 90% of all build orders and what they lead to. If you're on the EU, find me online and we can play a couple of games (my name and ID are under my pic) and i'll explain some things to ya.
An easy way to get all the knowledge about the game, apart from playing, is youtube. Husky, HD and Day9 are i think the most popular casters, but there are tons of others (me included). I might even make a vid on counters, scouting and decision making myself, now that i think of it...
a few very general tips as well:
Always scout. try to reach your enemy around 16-20 supply, anything after that will most likely result in death of a worker before getting info. If you see a spawning pool done, try and get a quick count of drones. Under 12 means either your opponent is a total noob, or rushing. If you see double gas between 16-20 supply, hes most likely getting gas heavy units (phoenixes, void rays, mutas...) as fast as possible, or again, is a total noob. 2 gates = Most likely rush, especially if they are both done at almost the same time. Gate->cyber = Nothing to fear. Yet. Scout again later. Terran has first gas before 13 and has a rax done/almost done -> get something against reapers. Rather safe than sorry. These are just a few examples. Also, always take in consideration that your opponent might be a total noob. I already saw people go for double gate at 8 or 10 supply, mass zealots, and not attack...
When you have 400 minerals spare and cant spend them on anything without causing a qeue in your construction buildings that isn't resovled within 15 seconds, expand. You can never have too much expos.
30 workers per base max, try to get as close to that as possible.
If you cant spend the resources you make, throw down more buildings untill you can barely keep up unit prouction in all buildings at once
Always scout. Sacrifice an ovie, or barracks, or get an observer. Then counter.
ALWAYS check your own base early in the game, around the same time you scout, maybe slightly earlier. Be afraid of proxies. Btw, Zerg can proxy hatch, which actually works if undetected, so dont think you wont get proxyed just cause hes zerg
Always have some kind of detection ready. An obs, 50 energy on the orbital, an overseer... If you get DTed and you dont have those, youre screwed.
I forgot what i wanted to say...
Always gg at the end (unless you get cheesed. I'll never gg a cheeser... They never managed to beat me, and just make me waste 20 minutes on a boring game.)
Every time you cheese, god kills a kitten. The kitteh's dont like that, so dont do it.
There was seriously one very important thing i wanted to say above.... but forgot >.< hope i'll remember!
PM me when you have that replay.
Hello,
For curiosity's (and my sanity's) sake, does anyone have any recommendations on getting better at SC2 as far as gameplay and build decisions go? I've learned alot in the passing weeks since release, but after getting my face handed to me several times in 2v2s and 1v1s tonight have revealed that I STILL have much to learn.
Where would be a great start? Observing games? youtube?
I've tinkered with YABOT, and I love that as a resource that helped with my opening few minutes, but GAWD do I suck >.< lol
Thanks! =D
When I started playing I watched TotalBiscuit's "I Suck at Starcraft 2" videos. They helped me out a lot.
You can find the first episode here:
He's also a very good commentator and has a pleasant voice to listen to.
What race are you? It all depends on each race.
I wouldn't say it all depends on what race you play. If you really want to get better then you need to understand all races. You don't become good by learning a build some famous player used and simply doing it step by step without really knowing the thought behind it. I would say the best way to get better is to learn what units counter eachother and think, think, think. Invent your own strategies! Ponder which unit combinations work well together and what weaknesses they might have.
Also, once you get better, check out some of Day9's Dailies. He's a somewhat advanced commentator with a specific style of commenting (he's really hearthy, open and cheerful - you'll either love it or hate it), but they'll be interesting for you if you just browse for titles that apply to you ("Basic Decision Making", "Low Level Reps - In-game Decision Making", "Gold Level 2v2 Analysis") or take a peek at his older dailies from the beta, when people were still learning the game (Around daily #135 - the three-part series on Brat_OK, Artosis and White-RA are specifically good).
@Mozared: Go
Day9 is the single most cheerful person I've ever seen. He seems to never be in a bad mood.
He started one of his last dalies with "Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Today you see a very grumpy day9!" And says so with a smile on his face.
Anyway, learning strategy is an important part of getting better.
There are people who're generally very good at games and don't need strategy to get into platinum or higher, but even they will start pwning incredibly much once they actually learn one or two strageties against all races.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ForceSC2strategy
That dude here is a diamond level player going through most of the commone strategies for all races. It's a pretty good start if you learn strategy of your race vs T/Z/P.
What's cool about SC2 is that every single unit has at least 2 other units that it is strong against, and 2 which it is weak against. I believe the help panel (press F12) shows every unit's strengths/weaknesses. Learning these will be extremely helpful for counter-attacks and even initial build orders depending on how you scout.
To expand upon QMJ3's message about scouting - try and get used to sending a worker out to the enemies base when you're building up your first barracks/spawning pool/gateway. At the start you won't exactly know what to look for yet, but at least you're laying a good foundation. Also, it helps a LOT in learning to micro while macroing, which is something I've found to be the ultimate key to becoming a good player. I personally reckon strategies, build-orders and counters are all secondary information you can learn 'on the fly' as long as your basis of macro/micro is good enough.
I could list a crapload of stuff on how to get better... But most of those things would be useless since you probably know some.
Can you get a replay of yourself playing? I'll point out all mistakes you made and what to do to improve your gameplay.
But generally... You need knowledge on the game. I know all counters to all units and strategies by heart (not that hard to learn), and around 90% of all build orders and what they lead to. If you're on the EU, find me online and we can play a couple of games (my name and ID are under my pic) and i'll explain some things to ya.
An easy way to get all the knowledge about the game, apart from playing, is youtube. Husky, HD and Day9 are i think the most popular casters, but there are tons of others (me included). I might even make a vid on counters, scouting and decision making myself, now that i think of it...
a few very general tips as well:
There was seriously one very important thing i wanted to say above.... but forgot >.< hope i'll remember!
PM me when you have that replay.
Never get supply-blocked? :P