Ugh, I've got a lot to learn...

So far my experience playing the beta has been unimpressive. After going 4-6 in 1v1 placement matches I got dropped into about 30 bronze, and then losing a handful of matches dropped me right down to about 60.

My problem seems to be with macro and spending resources as quickly as they're gained in this game. I've always been more of a micro player and tend to get burned out when the game lasts longer.

The biggest frustration I have with this game right now is the fact that competitive games rarely seem to go past tier one. Usually it's one decisive battle that ends the game early on, and without proper scouting if you unlucky get faced off against the wrong hard counter then you get crushed. Protoss seems to be at a huge disadvantage when it comes to scouting Terran with how easily then can turtle up.

I think one of the biggest appeals with StarCraft is how much learning goes into the game. I find myself spending much of my free time reflecting back on lost games to analyze what could have been done better, or considering new strategies which might surprise players. The post-game analysis does a great job of capturing build orders, which players can study to hone their timings. I give the team a lot of credit for this aspect of B.NET. Although it seems this screen sometimes gets cut short and doesn't capture all the items in a given game?

You're still new, and lots of people have already been playing the game. You'll get the hang of it.

In my experience, most games go into, but don't last past tier 2.

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Originally Posted by Blazur

So far my experience playing the beta has been unimpressive. After going 4-6 in 1v1 placement matches I got dropped into about 30 bronze, and then losing a handful of matches dropped me right down to about 60.

My problem seems to be with macro and spending resources as quickly as they're gained in this game. I've always been more of a micro player and tend to get burned out when the game lasts longer.

The biggest frustration I have with this game right now is the fact that competitive games rarely seem to go past tier one. Usually it's one decisive battle that ends the game early on, and without proper scouting if you unlucky get faced off against the wrong hard counter then you get crushed. Protoss seems to be at a huge disadvantage when it comes to scouting Terran with how easily then can turtle up.

I think one of the biggest appeals with StarCraft is how much learning goes into the game. I find myself spending much of my free time reflecting back on lost games to analyze what could have been done better, or considering new strategies which might surprise players. The post-game analysis does a great job of capturing build orders, which players can study to hone their timings. I give the team a lot of credit for this aspect of B.NET. Although it seems this screen sometimes gets cut short and doesn't capture all the items in a given game?

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Welcome to what Ive been saying for weeks.

SC2 is too macro focused.
I have yet to encounter a situation where teching/micro > macro armies outside hard counters like Colossi.
And Protoss definitely can't scout as effectively as the other races.

Even without the MULE macroing with terran is pretty tough. Add on switching isnt the easiest thing to do. I do alot of spending yet still have like 1k in my bank. I expand, mass up production facilities but income comes in an even faster rate then SC1.

I'm getting better at my macro, but its a major paradigm shift. When I attack, my income skyrockets and I need to fight to bring it back down once I'm done microing. This is part of the Reason I LOVE warp-gates. They really help you compensate for bad macro, just insta-spawning any unit you need.

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Even without the MULE macroing with terran is pretty tough. Add on swithcing isnt the easiest thing to do. I do alot of spending yet still have like 1k in my bank. I expand, mass up production facilities but income comes in an even faster rate then SC1.

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Minerals at least... I never have enough gas. :(

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Originally Posted by DemolitionSquid

Welcome to what Ive been saying for weeks.

SC2 is too macro focused.
I have yet to encounter a situation where teching/micro > macro armies outside hard counters like Colossi.
And Protoss definitely can't scout as effectively as the other races.

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You know, my personal stance on macro vs micro in SC2 keeps swaying all the time. At first I thought it might be too micro focused, then I felt that the emphasis was on macro, but now I think that even though macro is still important that micro definitely plays a bigger part in the game than I realised.

I think one of the most telling examples is in ZvT. In particular, I've been watching some games from a replay pack from a guy on TL called rrowland. He has this really amazing Zerg playstyle whereby he just relies on mass Zerglings and Banelings to deal with Terrans early game.

He can even take on Hellions with Zerglings with a fair degree of success, which is really surprising, and only possible with someone at his skill level. I have tried doing this myself, and I simply cannot do it. His strategy is only viable because he has the micro to pull it off.

Similarly, I've seen high-level Protoss players get impressive tech/economy builds because they can fend off an attack with much fewer units than what I'd be capable of using effectively. Specifically, amazing use of Forcefield to shut down otherwise game-ending Zergling or Roach attacks. It's amazing how close to the wire these Protoss players cut their defence. It always seems that the Protoss has only just enough units to repulse the attack, and it really impresses me how a skilled player can make great use of only a handful of units.

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Originally Posted by GRUNT

I think one of the most telling examples is in ZvT. In particular, I've been watching some games from a replay pack from a guy on TL called rrowland. He has this really amazing Zerg playstyle whereby he just relies on mass Zerglings and Banelings to deal with Terrans early game.

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I do that as well. It's awesome. Banelings' net expense is 50 minerals 25 gas, which is very cheap especially after you have your expo. You can tear down his wall in a second and just march on in.

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He can even take on Hellions with Zerglings with a fair degree of success, which is really surprising, and only possible with someone at his skill level. I have tried doing this myself, and I simply cannot do it. His strategy is only viable because he has the micro to pull it off.

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Most Terran players will assume you're going Roaches. After that it's hard to tech switch to Hellions. And Hellions aren't firebats either. Zerglings rarely line up in a straight line for the Hellions, but instead surround them, severely reducing their splash.

What's amazing is that when I watch Rrowland's reps from his perspective, I noticed he doesn't even scout sometimes before he goes Banelings! All he may see with his Drone scout is a SINGLE Barracks, and he'll STILL go for mass Zerglings/Banelings.

If his opponent tries to push with Marines and Marauders, he already has an army in place to deal with it. If his opponent tries to tech, he does what you do - breaks down the wall with Banelings and let the Zerglings run in :P.

Believe me, I've tried doing this strategy, but I simply cannot pull it off :P. And he does it with such a low economy - usually with only about 2/3rds the workers of his Terran opponent, and only off a single gas even into the midgame when he transitions into Mutalisks!

I don't get these higher-level players. They just seem to get money out of nowhere :p. But it pleases me that this sensation I experience when watching high-level SC1 games is still with me in SC2 :P.

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Originally Posted by Gradius

Most Terran players will assume you're going Roaches. After that it's hard to tech switch to Hellions. And Hellions aren't firebats either. Zerglings rarely line up in a straight line for the Hellions, but instead surround them, severely reducing their splash.

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Well, in the case of this particular Zerg player, he would go so Zergling-heavy that the Hellions were built in response to them because it would be clear to the Terran that the Zerg would have trouble getting Roaches from building so many Zerglings.

I personally find surrounding Hellions even with Speedlings to be much more challenging than Rrowland makes it look :p. That's why I'm so impressed by his play, even if such micro may be within the capabilities of most players.

I think it's a thing of beauty that it's easy to pick up and win (tier 1) but very hard to master (keep up with micro / macro in late game)

You're new, some people have played 500+ games already, the range of skill level for a new beta will always be rather large

the only issue I see so far, is Roaches vs earlygame protoss is insane. Im sure its beatable, I just only played it once and was pretty surprised by how strong it was.

But my biggest "obstacle" so far has been my sucky computer, its to the point where its very hard to micro.. I give commands and it doesnt always respond =/ Hoping to find a new video card tonight at a pawnshop, really dont want to have to order on online and wait 2 weeks before I can even play SC2 =[

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Originally Posted by DemolitionSquid

I'm getting better at my macro, but its a major paradigm shift. When I attack, my income skyrockets and I need to fight to bring it back down once I'm done microing. This is part of the Reason I LOVE warp-gates. They really help you compensate for bad macro, just insta-spawning any unit you need.

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Unless you need an Immortal or Colossus that is, but yeah Warp-In is great.

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Originally Posted by Blazur

So far my experience playing the beta has been unimpressive. After going 4-6 in 1v1 placement matches I got dropped into about 30 bronze, and then losing a handful of matches dropped me right down to about 60.

My problem seems to be with macro and spending resources as quickly as they're gained in this game. I've always been more of a micro player and tend to get burned out when the game lasts longer.

The biggest frustration I have with this game right now is the fact that competitive games rarely seem to go past tier one. Usually it's one decisive battle that ends the game early on, and without proper scouting if you unlucky get faced off against the wrong hard counter then you get crushed. Protoss seems to be at a huge disadvantage when it comes to scouting Terran with how easily then can turtle up.

I think one of the biggest appeals with StarCraft is how much learning goes into the game. I find myself spending much of my free time reflecting back on lost games to analyze what could have been done better, or considering new strategies which might surprise players. The post-game analysis does a great job of capturing build orders, which players can study to hone their timings. I give the team a lot of credit for this aspect of B.NET. Although it seems this screen sometimes gets cut short and doesn't capture all the items in a given game?

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Don't feel bad man, I've been playing since the 2nd wave started and I still suck. I've been hovering around the Rank 30th copper league for quite awhile now. It just seems no matter what I do I can't win.

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Originally Posted by Kaiser

Don't feel bad man, I've been playing since the 2nd wave started and I still suck. I've been hovering around the Rank 30th copper league for quite awhile now. It just seems no matter what I do I can't win.

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Practice will make perfect, along with much time devoted to watching replays and studying build orders. As it is I already find myself daydreaming at work, thinking about my next strategy or how I can optimize my early game.

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Originally Posted by GRUNT

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Similarly, I've seen high-level Protoss players get impressive tech/economy builds because they can fend off an attack with much fewer units than what I'd be capable of using effectively. Specifically, amazing use of Forcefield to shut down otherwise game-ending Zergling or Roach attacks. It's amazing how close to the wire these Protoss players cut their defence. It always seems that the Protoss has only just enough units to repulse the attack, and it really impresses me how a skilled player can make great use of only a handful of units.

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While i haven't played Beta more than a few times, I've found from replays that Protoss is a losing side unless Chrono Boost is used (heavily, for a surer start), and at least 4-5 sentries are produced. The best chance for a Protoss after the first few rushes is tech heavily, as what makes the Protoss useful is the number of useful abilities it has.

If used properly sentries can be a huge help. Watch Gifted's stream or replays. Watching what he can do with sentries is pretty cool.