Assistance required

[Shmoss]

Hey guys, I got the Starcraft & Brood Wars 2 in one pack thingy earlier today, and I've spent the whole day playing it. It makes me excited thinking about playing it tomorrow lol. Well, as the title suggests, I am in a bit of trouble. I've not completed a single campaign level, but I've got pretty far doing a custom game playing as Protoss. I know a lot of stuff about StarCraft, ie, Ghosts using nuclear missile drops, Vultures and Spider Mines, how the tanks can go into Siege Mode, the Zerg's way of creating stuff, pylons, etc, but when I get attacked as Terran or Zerg, I just... no matter how many troops I have (from 12 Hydralisks to 7 firebats and four marines), I end up dying. What am I doing wrong?? I really want to try out some other units like Ghosts and Ultralisks, but I just never get that far. Is there a way to alter the dificulty? Thanks in advance, Shmossy.
I'd really like awnser so that I can play tomorrow without dying straight away. On certain maps the opponent leaves me long enough to build up enough forces to fend off some troops to survive a few firebats, hydralisks, zealots, etc, but then my land crumbles. I'm usually pretty good at Age of Empires, but I don't know what I am doing wrong. :cry: I seem pretty :lame: at Terrans or Zergs at the moment. :( :worship: ~Shmossy

[SilverCrusader]

play through the campaign, it will tell you.

[Shmoss]

Lol exactly what I didn't need to hear. I like playing RTS style, not leading an army of gay zerg hunters and saving some allys, I want to BUILD! And access more units! Why don't people, uh, tell me what I'm doing wrong? People on this forum can mash an opponent within five minutes, so I can learn a lot from you, and them.

[matefkr]

You need to know some basic thing: if a weapon has e.g. 10 damage, it doesn't mean, that it takes 10 damage (minus armor calculation), cous there are 5 types of weapons and 4 of unit sizes:

concusive: takes its full damage (minus armor-calc) from small uits (zergling, mutalisk [at this point doesnt matter the graphical size, but in other point yes]) 50% damage from middle (normal) units (like hydras) and 25% damage from huge units (like tank).
normal: takes full damage from each units
explosive: 100% from huge units, 75%from medium, and 50% from small

Air units don't use concusive weapon. Generally, the hard hitters don't use concusive weapon.

Armor ignoring weapon: some spell
the four'th unit size type is unused.

If you play protoss, use many photon_cannons, some zealots, more dark_archons some archons, some hihg templars, and a few reavers. Dragoons only usable against air units (but scouts are better).

Some tactical tips: if you fight againgst a usable enemy troop (at least 10 enemy), don't stand for too long time in one place. use manyobservers as possible to catch enought infaormatin from enemys. In the begin of game build 6 probe, then a pylon, then a forge, then the seven'th probe, then 2 photon_cannon, then 8'th probe, then one gateway, then 10 probe, then one zealot, then one cybernetics-core, then one assimilator, then 12probe, then 2nd zealot then 2nd pylon, (as the assimilatore done, send 2-3 probe [or more depending on the distance), 3rd photon, 14 probe, citadel of adun (if you want early templars) or anything else, what you want,just build a a couple of fighters, then as you have done with thsi, and you have about 4-6 probe more then the number of minerals (and the minerals are in the most close to your nexus), you nearly have to expand.. You should use maximum 30-40 probe (or less if you can catch another species).

"if i said e.g. build 10 probe, i meant you have to build probes until you have 10"

[bloodbane]

expand everything

[U-238]

Your question is a fairly broad one. And as such it's extremly difficult to give advice. The best advice for you right now is exactly the opposite of what you want to hear. And that is to play through the campaigns. Now matter how much of a drag it may seem it will help drasticly. Even if it's just the first 3 campaigns it will help a a lot. Once you're done with those you'll have a much better feel for the game. After that it's a matter of economy and micro/macromanegment. To learn things like this you're best off by upgrading to the latest patch. (Just go to Multiplayer>Battle.net) and it will download and install. Then you can download and watch starcraft replays of good players and pick up endless amounts of information. (However, one tip for watching replays is to get the BWLanucher (www.bwprogrammers.com) and use that. Otherwise all you may end up with is a bunch of workers sitting around and players not doing anything.)


That's about all the general advice I'm going to be able to give you. And most of the other good players around here will say much the same. It may not sound great but it will help.

[NpnArbiter]

Well try also not attacking ANYTHING for as long as possible computer AI will sometimes provide like 40 mins before a terrible raid

[UnHoly-Assassin]

You could do a tvb game, where you have computer allies to help buffer your defense (sometimes they do come to your aid) as well as serve as a meat shield. But really, the campaigns are pretty good. They teach the most about how to best handle each unit. Then you can try fastest maps, where they're easy on the economy. After that, practice micro using UMS maps like Team Micro Arena, Impossible Scenarios series, and the Micro Challenge series. When you think you've learned enough tricks, learn the trickiest part--Macro. Practice with some friends on bnet on how to manage a base according to a strategy while defending, attacking, etc.

[Atillawurm]

Lol exactly what I didn't need to hear. I like playing RTS style, not leading an army of gay zerg hunters and saving some allys, I want to BUILD! And access more units! Why don't people, uh, tell me what I'm doing wrong? People on this forum can mash an opponent within five minutes, so I can learn a lot from you, and them.
Dude playing the campaign is so you can learn the basics of the game its not about what you think is stupid, It teaches you how to build and move your units, the first mission is great for teaching micro skills. Also the campaign teaches you how to use the different races to there full potential.
Also I suggest the Prima's line of manuals for the games.

[ITSTORRASQUE4U]

After that, practice micro using UMS maps like Team Micro Arena, Impossible Scenarios series, and the Micro Challenge series.

Well, it depends on his style, he could be better going for macro first and then micro... I dunno. All has been said here, PLAY THE CAMPAIGNS, as they have some melee action as well: installation mission enhance micro, base missions boost macro, and melee use both :)

Then get a friend as bad as you in the game and start practicing together.

[Shmoss]

Lol thanks matefkr, that will help, but I need help as Terrans or Zerg. Zerg are hard to master, and I don't survive long enough as Terrans to build good stuff. Anyway, I'm going to play it now, see if I am any better.

[matefkr]

okay: terran:

build up to 7 scv, then start to build a barracks, then 8th scv, then start a supply, then 9th scv, then 10 scv, then one marine, then one bunker, then 2nd marine, then 11th scv, then 3rd marine then refinery, then 12th scv, then 4th marine, then academy (or engineering bay: in this way you will build a missile turret, and do infantry weapon upgrade instead of medics, and a few more firebat then in the fallowings), then 13th scv, then 2nd supply depot, then comsat_station, then 14th scv, then factory (probably earlier..i don't know), then machine_shop, then 2 medic, then 2 firebat, then 2nd factory, then 3rd firebat, then tech stim pacs, then use tanks with siege_mode, or vulture, with spider-mine.... similar expand tachtics, as at protoss, but you should expand to islands, as the terran turret can attack only air units.

From the middle of the game you have to expand quickly, or just get two nuke silose as early as possible, and if you use two nuke at one time against enemy, combined with valkyries (against overlords), you may can easile win.

If you expand more, you should concentrate on battlecruisers (16 battlcruiser with 4-6 sci vessel can easily erradicate your cpu enemys).

[MrBobby]

r u getting more than your original 4 workers? if you're getting pawned that badly... but you're probably just building stuff really really slowly. so you get behind then in the game. and then beaten badly. do stuff faster. try and find a friend who can actually play WELL to tutor you. get him to do this face to face, not online.

[own3d0406]

okay: terran:

build up to 7 scv, then start to build a barracks, then 8th scv, then start a supply, then 9th scv, then 10 scv, then one marine, then one bunker, then 2nd marine, then 11th scv, then 3rd marine then refinery, then 12th scv, then 4th marine, then academy (or engineering bay: in this way you will build a missile turret, and do infantry weapon upgrade instead of medics, and a few more firebat then in the fallowings), then 13th scv, then 2nd supply depot, then comsat_station, then 14th scv, then factory (probably earlier..i don't know), then machine_shop, then 2 medic, then 2 firebat, then 2nd factory, then 3rd firebat, then tech stim pacs, then use tanks with siege_mode, or vulture, with spider-mine.... similar expand tachtics, as at protoss, but you should expand to islands, as the terran turret can attack only air units.

From the middle of the game you have to expand quickly, or just get two nuke silose as early as possible, and if you use two nuke at one time against enemy, combined with valkyries (against overlords), you may can easile win.

If you expand more, you should concentrate on battlecruisers (16 battlcruiser with 4-6 sci vessel can easily erradicate your cpu enemys).

WTF??? WTF????!!!! What the FUCK?? Please don't listen to him. He's got the whole BO wrong, no Silos and no BCs! This the basic BO for TvT and TvP:
8 Supply Depot
10 Barracks
12 Refinery
1 Marine
14 Supply Depot
16 Factory
18 Factory
Machine Shops on Both
Tanks
Expansion

Make sure to build a wall in and attack with siege tanks and vultures with mines. Very basic stuff.

As other people have said, your topic is too broad. Sounds like you're having trouble with micro though, it just takes practice I guess. :confused:

[Shmoss]

Lol what is Micro? Micro management... O_o what's that? I found a map where the enemy doesn't attack you for a while, it's called "Cross the line".
I got quite far as Zerg on it. Terrans are tricky. I can't be bothered doing the battle.net update, otherwise I would find an opponent and tell him to go easy and tell me what to do.

[JoshisaNoob]

That probably won't happen. If you can't beat the computer, you can't beat a human. I can 1v2 comps and win, and I rarely beat human players. The campaign will teach you to play. StarCraft has so much going on at once for you to focus on, it's impossible to learn the game by asking people to type what to do. And if you're not going to sign on B-net, why try to get better at melee? If all you're going to do is single player, just have fun playing the campaigns.

[Shmoss]

Ok then. But can someone tell me what "micro" means, please?

[own3d0406]

Ok then. But can someone tell me what "micro" means, please?

How about searching some other threads? :rolleyes:
http://www.warboards.org/showthread.php?t=25008