Post by hossinaut on Oct 12, 2011 22:53:20 GMT -6
Hello, world of Emberware.
I am the Hoss, and I have an idea.
Recently, a friend of mine (dear grant <3) was like hey, you should roach rush! So i was like, "hmm. not against terran, but against toss or zerg, why not!" and it worked a lot. But the issue here is that you have no economy and no way to get an economy following this. I've lost several games due to the fact that I cannot get enough stuff up to a) not die and b) macro/get ahead. Both of these MUs it seems are highly vulnerable to an engagement just ruining the entire game.
Given the economic situation specifically, I set out to refine my ZvZ MU, and play a more macro-oriented game in ZvP.
The easiest way to get a better economy is to have a later pool, or to fast expand. Fast expansions, however, especially in ZvZ, are incredibly easy to punish HARD. Its not difficult to win games solely because one's opponent goes hatch first, if you pool first, even and sometimes especially if you have a later pool. (Later pools encourage greater droning by your opponent so that they can take the macro advantage.)
Given that FEs are inadvisable, I have to settle with a later pool than normal. How then, I asked myself, may I apply pressure or do a lot of damage quickly? A unique part of all early game units and workers is the type they all share. All early game units and workers are classified as light. One of the two units that deal direct damage (no casters) does bonus (and splash) damage to light units- Banelings. Given that if I get zergling speed first, then my zergling speed will be slower than my opponent's. Thus I need banelings before speed, to take advantage of every unit early game being slow and all early game units (apart from queens) being of light classification.
BO
scout @ 80 minerals following 10th drone on 4p maps
10 overlord (subject to change based on tests to be conducted in the near future)
15 pool
14 gas
15 overlord
@100% pool, baneling nest + queen + 2 pair zerglings
from here, pump lings like you think they are either roach rushing or about to kill you some other way. Your baneling nest should pop with about 100-125 gas in the bank (4-5 banes) and you should be able to be at his base (excepting Tal'Darim Altar) by this time as well. The issue here is to morph the banes and get them into his mineral line (NOT the army) and kill as many workers as possible. Banelings are faster than drones on creep, so take advantage of that.
Take an expansion and get Zergling speed as soon as is viable or you feel like you can stop making banes for whatever reason. Do not forget to inject during the crazy micro battles, and it shouldn't be an issue as an inject only takes like 1 second per. Similarly, I haven't tried it yet, but going 2nd queen as you're getting your nat up would help (tumor) connect your bases with creep as well as allow for an inject immediately once the nat pops.
I've played around with a fast +1 melee attack instead of zergling speed. This is a bad idea. You have enough gas early game to get one or the other, and speed is really way more vital.
If you don't outright kill the poor fool, drone up (if you can) saturate your nat, and go for a standard mid game ZvZ comp. Your choice of muta/ling, roach/muta, roach/hydra, roach/infestor, whatever. Do not forget to tech to t3 and get fully saturated on 3 bases. You'll live and leap ahead.
Replays will be posted tomorrow, and I would appreciate feedback from your own ladder games as well as thoughts on mine. If you post replays I can try to answer game specific questions you have concerning the style. <3
GLHFGG
Good Hunting
I am the Hoss, and I have an idea.
Recently, a friend of mine (dear grant <3) was like hey, you should roach rush! So i was like, "hmm. not against terran, but against toss or zerg, why not!" and it worked a lot. But the issue here is that you have no economy and no way to get an economy following this. I've lost several games due to the fact that I cannot get enough stuff up to a) not die and b) macro/get ahead. Both of these MUs it seems are highly vulnerable to an engagement just ruining the entire game.
Given the economic situation specifically, I set out to refine my ZvZ MU, and play a more macro-oriented game in ZvP.
The easiest way to get a better economy is to have a later pool, or to fast expand. Fast expansions, however, especially in ZvZ, are incredibly easy to punish HARD. Its not difficult to win games solely because one's opponent goes hatch first, if you pool first, even and sometimes especially if you have a later pool. (Later pools encourage greater droning by your opponent so that they can take the macro advantage.)
Given that FEs are inadvisable, I have to settle with a later pool than normal. How then, I asked myself, may I apply pressure or do a lot of damage quickly? A unique part of all early game units and workers is the type they all share. All early game units and workers are classified as light. One of the two units that deal direct damage (no casters) does bonus (and splash) damage to light units- Banelings. Given that if I get zergling speed first, then my zergling speed will be slower than my opponent's. Thus I need banelings before speed, to take advantage of every unit early game being slow and all early game units (apart from queens) being of light classification.
BO
scout @ 80 minerals following 10th drone on 4p maps
10 overlord (subject to change based on tests to be conducted in the near future)
15 pool
14 gas
15 overlord
@100% pool, baneling nest + queen + 2 pair zerglings
from here, pump lings like you think they are either roach rushing or about to kill you some other way. Your baneling nest should pop with about 100-125 gas in the bank (4-5 banes) and you should be able to be at his base (excepting Tal'Darim Altar) by this time as well. The issue here is to morph the banes and get them into his mineral line (NOT the army) and kill as many workers as possible. Banelings are faster than drones on creep, so take advantage of that.
Take an expansion and get Zergling speed as soon as is viable or you feel like you can stop making banes for whatever reason. Do not forget to inject during the crazy micro battles, and it shouldn't be an issue as an inject only takes like 1 second per. Similarly, I haven't tried it yet, but going 2nd queen as you're getting your nat up would help (tumor) connect your bases with creep as well as allow for an inject immediately once the nat pops.
I've played around with a fast +1 melee attack instead of zergling speed. This is a bad idea. You have enough gas early game to get one or the other, and speed is really way more vital.
If you don't outright kill the poor fool, drone up (if you can) saturate your nat, and go for a standard mid game ZvZ comp. Your choice of muta/ling, roach/muta, roach/hydra, roach/infestor, whatever. Do not forget to tech to t3 and get fully saturated on 3 bases. You'll live and leap ahead.
Replays will be posted tomorrow, and I would appreciate feedback from your own ladder games as well as thoughts on mine. If you post replays I can try to answer game specific questions you have concerning the style. <3
GLHFGG
Good Hunting