Closing Up Shop.

Due to time considerations, I find myself with little to no time or inclination to continue posting for this blog. It didn't run for very long but I enjoyed my time spent here immensely.

I'm keeping this post short, but I wanted to thank everyone who read and those of whom I met through this endeavor. I plan to continue reading those blogs on my list and will be on Battle.net as often as I can, so feel free to look me up if you haven't already.

Cheers,

Apollo

GSL Season 2 - First Impressions

Another season of the GSL Starcraft II Open is upon us and with it comes another $90,000 USD(approx) grand prize for the winner. Oh, did I mention the tournament was even better this time around? It is.

GOMtv has gone to great lengths to improve the production value of this tournament is quite a number of ways, paying special attention to areas that viewers had been whining concerned about during the first season. Did they smooth out all the wrinkles? I'll give my view beyond the break.

Poll: Would You Continue Reading?

I've been struggling with a question for a while now and after watching my buddy Rahlekk make the switch from Zerg to Terran, I decided maybe it wouldn't be all that bad. I've played 200+ games as Zerg and I think that's enough to get a decent grasp of what they're like and how they play. I'm no expert, but I think I can say that I have a basic grasp of the playstyle.

Now, during these 200+ games, I've watched Terrans and Protoss doing all sorts of things I could never do as a Zerg. I'm not saying this as some sort of QQ-- more like a contrast of options than an imbalance. The other races are simply different ways of getting to the same goal, in my mind. But one thing always creeps in with these thoughts and Fungal Growth's(Yeah, I made a Zerg analogy. I make no apologies.) my urge to change races: what would happen to the blog?

I enjoy writing this blog and I hope you all enjoy reading it, but would the enjoyment still be there on both sides if suddenly I was learning Terran strategies or practicing Protoss tactics? I figured I'd put it to a vote and see what sort of response I get. Please vote if you enjoy reading this blog.

Would you keep reading this blog if I didn't play Zerg?

GOMtv Starcraft II Team Invitational

When you're having people over to your house for a fancy dinner, you want to make sure everything's in order before they get there. And if you happen to be having say.. thousands of people over to watch 64 of the best players in the world square off in Blizzard's Starcraft II, then that need for preparation is all the more urgent. This is exactly why GOMtv is holding a short(4 day) tournament for the biggest Starcraft II teams in Korea from October 13-16, 2010.

That's right, as a dry run to test the limits of their improved streaming service, GOMtv is hosting a full-blown tournament that anyone can watch... FOR FREE. Details follow the break.

GSL Starcraft II Open: Season 2 is coming!

If it wasn't apparent before, I am a huge fan of watching pro-level Starcraft II matches. I'm also a big supporter of what GOMtv and Blizzard are trying to do with the GSL and the TG-Intel Open. So it will come as no big surprise to you then that I'm stoked for Season 2 that will be coming to a live stream near you October 18th, 2010! You can see the GOMtv news post here.

Straight From Team Liquid: Fruit Dealer GSL Highlights and Music Video

In case you don't check the Blizzard page regularly.

If you saw the GSL or even if you didn't, check out this awesome video created by Teamliquid.net. Everyone loves a good montage!

Patch 1.2: Upcoming Zerg Changes

So it seems Blizzard has not forgotten about the ravenous horde of Zerg players entirely. Dustin Browder(lead designer of Starcraft II) posted some changes he intends to make next patch, along with some interesting numbers that go a long way to show how deep Blizzard is looking into balance issues.

New Look

I was finding the old black/purple design a bit.. much and it was starting to look cluttered. Hopefully, no one finds the new look objectionable(if you do, speak up and let me know). I'll be trying a few designs over the next little while, just to see how they look. If any catch your eye, let me know.

Experiment in Tier 1 Play: Zerglings, Roaches, & Banelings! Oh My!

You might be wondering why I have a picture of an Ultralisk here at the top of a post about Tier 1 play as Zerg. I would agree that your question is a valid one and the reason I have chosen to taunt you with this image is because if you make the crazy decision to only play Tier 1 in Starcraft II, you will never see this unit. You will never hear the majestic flapping of a Mutalisk's bat-like wings or the musical "Screeeeeeeee" of a Nydus Worm bursting forth into an opponents undefended base. If you limit yourself to Tier 1, you will experience the game in a whole new way.

GSL Final: Set 5

Map: Scrap Station

Wow.

Just wow.

GSL Final: Set 4

Map: Desert Oasis

Well, I suppose a straight 4-0 win just wouldn't have been good TV. Despite a great start from Fruit Dealer who managed to counter HopeTorture's marine-only starting force with speed banelings and infestors, the game quickly became unstable with both players losing their main bases.

Fruit Dealer expanded to both islands while HopeTorture grabbed the gold, giving both time to recover some of their production ability. Unfortunately, Fruit Dealer just couldn't recover in time to defeat HopeTorture's mix of marines/thors/tanks.

The score is now 3-1 and the match continues.

GSL Final: Set 3

Map: Kulas Ravine

Bahahahahaha. Bahahaha. Bahaha. Ha.

Sorry, had to finish laughing at the insanity of Set #3 before I could start writing this. Kulas Ravine is by far the worst map for Zerg, exposing them to so many attacks and being incredibly difficult to defend your expansions. At least, this is what is normally true. In the mystical world of Fruit Dealer, maps apparently don't matter.

GSL Final: Set 2

Map: Lost Temple

After the first set, my confidence in Fruit Dealer has gone even higher than it was before if that were possible. Hopefully, his domination continues all the way to the $90,000 prize.

The second set begins with the players spawning as close to each other as possible which is never good for a Zerg player. Fruit Dealer went for Zergling speed again, expanding and slapping down a spine crawler in anticipation of a tank drop which is a common Terran tactic on this map and HopeTorture did not disappoint.
Luckily, Fruit Dealer managed to counter this drop with a pair of Spine Crawlers and three queens, protecting his expansion from the Siege Tank Death Rain and transitioning into Mutalisks.

HopeTorture continued to attempt different drops as he tried to put a dent in Fruit Dealer's tempo, but Fruit Dealer's mutalisks seemed to be everywhere at once and knocked medivacs out of the sky all day long.

This combined with Overlord drops into HopeTorture's main and Baneling drops coupled with infestors/lings/roaches against the Terran army ended the game once again in Fruit Dealer's favour.

GSL Final: Set 1

Map: Delta Quadrant

This set was an example of what a master Zerg player can do and how even the most experienced of Terrans can make mistakes that cost the game.

Fruit Dealer opened with Zergling speed, expanded at 21, and set about building to counter HopeTorture's typical build of tank/marine/thor. You might think that this would set up the map for those large, high food count battles that Terrans seem to do so well in, but you would be wrong.

From sniping medivac drops with his Mutalisks to killing harassing Hellions before they even manage a single kill, Fruit Dealer was on HopeTorture's every move with a counter and expanding at every opportunity. Even when his expos were scouted and HopeTorture pushed in to take one out, Fruit Dealer was there to respond.

With heavy use of Fungal Growth and flawless flanking of HopeTorture's forces with banelings, zerglings, or ultralisks, Fruit Dealer dominated this set from beginning to end. He even built a Greater Spire, simply to bait HopeTorture into making Vikings, without building a single Broodlord.

Masterful.

GSL Final: Intro

I'm going to be trying to blog and watch the matches at the same time, so bear with me. I'll be providing details on each set as they finish and then I will go to sleep. It's 5:55am right now and I probably should have had a nap before this. Anyways, here we go!

GSL Final: Zerg vs Terran for $90,000!

I have no bias. Really.

When I first started watching the GSL over at GOMtv, I was excited to see what professional Zerg players had to offer as far as gameplay and things I could pick up from their games to help mine. I didn't really consider I'd get hooked on watching pro matches like I have. Watching these matches has been more exciting and more interesting than any regular sport, at least in my opinion.

When The Universe Steps In: And slaps you with a fish.

Sometimes we get distracted from our goals. My goal is to improve my ladder play while steadily rising up the rankings and I got distracted. I have actually been distracted by a myriad of things.

Forges: Could they be living among you?!

So Patch 1.1 really isn't as terrible as I might have depicted. But what it is doing is forcing Protoss(not so much Terrans) to alter their game plan in order to continue their journey to universal domination. One theory floating around right now is that Cannon Rushes, VR Rushes, and Cannon Contains are going to be more popular than they were before. Yay.

Today I'm going to be reviewing one of my recent games where my opponent went Void Rays and how I dealt with it. Was it pretty? No. Did I do everything perfectly? Never. Do I see places where I can improve? Yes. And that's really the most important thing. So if you're interested, take a gander at my replay here.

Opening Strategies: Winning Starts Here

Don't 6pool.

Ok, now that that's out of the way, we can get on to playing like we expect the game to last longer than ten minutes. Wingweaver over at The Starcraft Noob recently wrote about practicing his early game over and over against the AI so he can get it down quick and effortlessly. There's a lot of sense in that idea, but what if you don't really have an opening strategy to practice? I know when I first started, I didn't.

6 Things I Constantly Forget

I've been spending some time watching replays, mostly because I'm frustrated with my inability to reliably win in Zerg vs Zerg. In this match up, for me at least, all good gameplay habits tend to go out the window and I start to panic as soon as I see the beady little eyes of the enemy zerglings coming to eat my face. Because that's what zerglings eat. My face. Moving on.

Nydus Network: Surfing the World Wide Worm

You can't get more Aliens than this.

Do you know what irks me? Protoss and their silly Warpgates. Do you know what else? Terrans and their Medivac drops of doom. These intermingled hatreds got me thinking about what Zerg has to compare to these particularly irksome tactics from our less slimy opponents and then it came to me. Nydus Worms.

Sure Warpgates and Medivacs are great, but nothing strikes panic in the hearts and confusion in the minds like the sound a Nydus Worm makes as it bursts forth through the crust of the ground and begins to belch out a horde of ravenous Zerg. Surprise attacks are so much fun and so effective, but once I started thinking about giant, upchucking slime subways I wondered if there were more uses to these gargantuan channels of the information super slimeway.

Burrow Play: Why Roaches Rule

When I was first starting in Starcraft II, I had a very loose idea of what the Zerg were. Having barely played the first game, I of course knew that Zerg were bugs on steroids and that they overwhelmed their opponents by sheer speed and numbers. The archetypical Zerg is the zergling, usually. It's what almost everyong thinks of first. Then, of course, they think of Hydralisks, Mutalisks, Brood Lords, Queens, etc. But does anyone's mind first think of Roaches?

TG Intel Starcraft II Open: Part 2

We are now entering Day 4 of the TG Intel Starcraft II Open(what a mouthful) and I have to say GOMtv has improved their offering every step of the way.

Everyone Loses

It's true. Everyone loses. Some more than others but eventually, they all do.

Anyone who's been around video games for any amount of time knows the highs and lows that come with playing. When you have a lot invested into the game in terms of practice time and the feeling of competition, emotions can run high both during the match and after it's over. At least, I know mine do.

TG-Intel Starcraft Open

So I gave in and forked over the $19.99 USD for a season pass to the TG-Intel Starcraft Open. I'm sure that this will be an educational experience for me as much as an entertaining one. In fact, I've already learned one thing: I don't speak Korean. As I type this, I'm watching the HQ stream of the pre-game show and everything is in Korean.

And then as I type this, the English kicks in. Awesome. So here's the details.

64 Players from all over the world squaring off for a crazy amount of money and this is, to my knowledge, the first official league and tournament held in Korea. Matches are going to be cast by Nick "Tasteless" Plott and Artosis, so you know they'll be entertaining and informative.

My plan for the most part is to watch the matches after they've been played, but I wanted to at least check out the first one live. It's just about to start so I'll let you know how it goes later on.

UPDATE: Well, GOMtv is off to a somewhat rocky start. Streaming and bandwidth problems are making the High Quality video choppy and the Standard Quality stream is currently overloaded. I'm hanging in there, confident that they'll get things together, but I might not be able to watch any matches today.

UPDATE #2: Things finally got stable enough to watch the SQ stream for the last match. Apparently problems with the connection from Korea to the States was causing all the issues, which I hope they manage to rectify before the next stream. A lot of people are upset, as often happens on the internet, but I think these rough roads will only get smoother. Plus, there's always the VoDs to review once they come out.

Operation Diamond: Step 1 Complete

Finally, after 150+ games, I have been promoted to Silver.

I guess there's not a lot of movement in this division, as I was plunked into a new one(only 79 members). Still, they started me at 9th, so that's a bit of a time saver. Or so I thought until I looked at the score board; the top 20 or so people were only a few points from each other. By the time I had changed from the Promotion screen to the ladder screen and then started a game, I was 14th.

It's too early to tell if the competition is much different, but I'll let you know what I find. In either case, Step 2 of Operation Diamond(nice name, eh?) has begun: push from Silver to Gold.

Top of the Heap: Where do I go from here?

After a long(read: a few days), grueling(actually it was quite fun) process, I find myself finally at the top of my division. So, now what?

While I wait for Blizzard to acknowledge my relative awesomeness, I wanted to talk about a few things I noticed from my trip up the ladder. Primarily, the difference in opponents as you get higher in the ladder and the necessity of adapting your play to your new environment.

The Push Continues

So after all my excitement of pushing into the Silver division and how excellent that would be, I have a confession. I'm still in Bronze. By the time I had finished pushing, I was ranked 2nd in my division and only 40 or so points from 1st. Not too shabby, I think to myself.

Then Blizzard's match-making system decides it's been far to lenient with me. Enter in matches against Gold-level players. These were definitely not games I was used to playing, but I think I did well; I did lose a few but I also won a few. It did, however, seem to wreck my focus and I lost more than I cared to. And then the unspeakable happened.

I'm Making the Push!

After sitting in and around the 30th spot in my particular Bronze division, I decided to focus on one or two strategies/goals in each game and try to break into the Silver division. So far, I've played 13 games today and won 10 of them; apparently, deciding to win is all it takes. As of this writing, I've hit rank 10 and that's enough for me for the day.

Tomorrow I'll post a few things that I'm noticing about both my play and that of my opponents and maybe you too can make that push into the next division, whatever one that might be.

Making Up Your Own Mind

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

[Warning: I might come off as griping. Maybe. If I do, I apologize in advance.]

Everyone knows that a 6 pool rush is a cheese tactic that results in you either winning the game against an unprepared opponent or results in you being horribly behind in economy if it fails and most likely losing the game to any sort of counter attack. But why does everyone know that?

Patch 1.1: You got my letters!

Dearest Blizzard,

Oh how I love the little games you play with my heart. First, you give me little zerglings and tell me they are awesome and quick. You regale me with stories of how they are a mighty swarm that can overwhelm my enemies and bring me victory and glory.

Then you give Terrans siege tanks and tell them to aim for the beady little zergling eyes.

Banelings: Addendum

For your viewing pleasure: The Banetage



Time marker 1:25 and 3:15 are exceptional. It's always the marines that seem to walk over them too.. poor marines.

Banelings: 101 Uses

No, this will not be a list of 101 uses for Banelings, despite their effectiveness in all manner of household tasks from removing soap scum to whitening teeth. This post refers instead to Banelings 101, the basics really, and how to use them more effectively.

Anyone can just mass 10-20 banelings and send them on their merrily suicidal way, but that is usually both ineffective and inefficient. For one, they're a one-shot deal; win or lose, you don't get them back. You've already sacrificed a speedy little zergling for one of these bloated bed bugs, so to waste them on improper applications only increases their final cost in both resources and time.

Below are a few ways I try to make each of my banelings count for a little more.

Replay: Defensive Victory

You can find the replay here.

After watching Day[9] commentate on Artosis and his interesting style of play here and here, the idea began to really appeal to me. It seems contrary to the way you would think Zerg should be played; they're fast, cheap, and seem perfect for lightning quick assaults and sneaky back-door attacks.

Essentially, he focuses hugely on economy, at least in these beta games, and makes just enough of an army to respond to whatever his opponent throws at him. It takes a watchful eye and amazing micro and macro management, but it's awesome to behold when done correctly as Artosis seems to do.

I think that mindset is influencing my play and in a positive fashion. So I present you with a replay of my own to watch if you want and some of the lessons I took from the game. Please note, I'm aware a lot of mistakes, dropped balls, and such were made in this game. I'm learning and hopefully reducing the glaring errors as I progress. But if you see something I haven't touched on that I did wrong or could have done differently, by all means point it out.

So here it goes...

Lessons from a diary...

With Comm-Link #4 out, a host of new community contributions have been brought to the attention of the masses. One that stood out for me was the Diary of a Zergling, written by Launch on the SC2 community forums. Entertaining? Yes indeed. Informative? I think so, even if everything is not right there on the surface.

I think little, but important, lessons can be learned from this diary so I thought I'd go ahead and give my interpretation of these little zergling chronicles.

Where I'm coming from

I didn't think I would like Starcraft 2.

I played Starcraft, the original, for a total of a day when it launched and dismissed it as a Warcraft II clone with lasers instead of swords. I didn't particularly like WC2 either, other than the occasional multiplayer with friends. Perhaps I wasn't at the right point in my life to appreciate RTS games or perhaps I simply had other things to do. I don't really know.

After being addicted to WoW since its vanilla release but eventually souring to it after playing the WotLK expansion, I hungered for something new and different. Enter Starcraft 2.

Engaging, with enough story to keep me interested, and most importantly, missions that rarely able to be reduced to "build your base. kill the enemy base.". Admittedly, the zerg colonies would usually die in the process, but that is very rarely the central purpose of the missions. This was one of my hang ups about earlier RTS games.

So that is where I come from. Here is where I am right now. I have completed the single player campaign on Normal(yeah, I know, big achievement) and am now pushing through it again on Brutal with an eye on getting achievements. I am becoming more and more engrossed with league play, even though I am sitting at #29 in my Bronze-level division, but I am learning.

I'll be venting my frustrations about my matches, my thoughts on the game, and keeping updates on where I am in the battle.net ladder, so if that interests you, keep coming back. If not, well, you can still keep coming back.