Starcraft anyone?

[wv]

So I've been playing a ton of Starcraft recently, but need to find a training partner to take that shit to the next level.

Is there anyone out there who still plays Starcraft seriously willing to play 1-2 games a night on the latest OSL maps?

[Dan Barrett]

Since when were you Korean?

[Ben Titmarsh]

Wow I haven't played Starcraft since the days of Battle.NET on dial up. If I could find a copy I might be tempted. Would probably be pretty rusty these days though!

[wv]

Yeah I recently realised what a fucking brilliant game Starcraft is. Balanced, competitive, skill intensive and a true challenge to get to a level above beating the computer.

I play 1-2 games a night, and watch about an hours worth of commentary every evening.

There's a couple of great commentators on Youtube that do daily Pro League games - might be enough to tempt you into finding that copy!!! OSL and Pro League currently underway, and the games are honestly ridiculous. These dudes make this game do things that blow my mind. Here are their channels:

http://www.youtube.com/user/CholeraSC
http://www.youtube.com/user/diggitySC
http://www.youtube.com/user/moletrap
http://www.youtube.com/user/VioleTAK
http://www.youtube.com/user/HuskyStarcraft


Also, here's the latest battle report for Starcraft 2, which looks amazing. My thinking is, if I can rock out Starcraft before SC2 comes, I'll be an SC2 pro the day it hits the shelves next year March!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GazrLE4dZ4c&feature=player_profi...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8GlR1iIHnc&feature=player_profi...

[Kieran Symington]

Ah, I remember this game. I could beat the computer easily enough but against real people I just got pwned. There was always too much going on!

[wv]

Come on n00b - train up!!! ;D

It's actually quite easy once you get the initial build orders down.

Basically, in high level Starcraft, there are approximately 3 starting build orders per race. Each build order is designed to counter another build order.

At the core, these build orders are:

Rush
'Cheese' (ie forward factory)
Macro economy

Each of these build orders have variations obviously, but mastering the variations is the next level.

The true test comes in switching it up when necessary. Good players can even 'FAKE' build orders - ie planting a forward Spire as a Zerg player to make your Terran opponent think you're going Mutalisks, then denying the midgame scout and switching to Lurkers, thus nullifying the anti-air the Terran player builds.

Also to remembered is that you essentially have 3 different matchups. So if you're playing as Terran, you need to decide on your build order depending on the following matchups:

Terran vs Protoss
Terran vs Zerg
Terran vs Terran

What build order and switches you choose depends (broadly) on the following:

Map
Scouting
Race vs Race strengths

So, for example, it's pointless going Macro economy vs Zerg if your initial scout spots that your zerg apponent has gone early breeding pool and 6 zerglings. You'll be dead before your second Command Centre is even built.

However, if your early scout spots that your Zerg opponent has gone for a fast expo hatchery with no breeding pool, you absolutely HAVE to expand aswell, or you will lose to the Zerg player's Macro economy build.

This, is the most basic of build order decisions, and obviously it gets a lot more complicated. Watching commentaries is the quickest way to learn, as the commentators are actually really good, and explain these decisions in detail within each game.

Herein, ladies and gentlemen, lies the sheer beauty (and challenge) of this great game.

[Kieran Symington]

Warren Vonk said:

It's actually quite easy once you get the initial build orders down......
The true test comes in switching it up when necessary. Good players can even 'FAKE' build orders - ie planting a forward Spire as a Zerg player to make your Terran opponent think you're going Mutalisks, then denying the midgame scout and switching to Lurkers, thus nullifying the anti-air the Terran player builds....
If your early scout spots that your Zerg opponent has gone for a fast expo hatchery with no breeding pool, you absolutely HAVE to expand aswell, or you will lose to the Zerg player's Macro economy build....
obviously it gets a lot more complicated......

My brain hurts.....