Micro or Macro

[Faiien]

What do you guys think is more important to the sc2 gameplay micro or macro. I know its a hard choice but if you had to give one up for the other to have more in sc2 which would you be willing to give up more of? Like i said this is a really hard decision but if i had to pick one id go for micro? yes id have to give up some units but i think more micro would lead to a more "pro" community and it would certainly weed out noobs.

[Protogod]

We have more than enough macro focus to let some loose.

[Faiien]

thats true but dont you think theirs a fine line of balance between micro and macro? if you spend too much time working on your micro your economy,tech,units will fall behind the enemy but on the other hand if you have low micro and just press a and click on the destination w/o actually arranging your units that also hurts you. I think the micro/macro balance in sc2 must be the best if its to make for a good gameplay.

[SlickR]

well i gues both are important equally. Can't choose from this poll

[ChimTheGrim21]

well i gues both are important equally. Can't choose from this poll

If there are 2 variables.. like say Macro and Micro, then in order to achieve balance Blizzard would need about 50% micro and 50% macro gameplay.

This is that silly term "Balance" everyone has been saying. It actually attributes to more than just the three races in the game.

[Kankuro4800]

Well, micro is needed not only in melee, but in UMS maps too...you can't macro in an rpg, now can you?

[Ahzz]

This is idiotic. Most of you think you only know one thing if you concentrate on something. In starcraft, you're atleast average with micro too (if you try) even if your macro is good. It's not like, "zero micro = good macro" or "zero macro = good micro"

you know both.

[SolidSamurai]

Let's remember kids...

'Good micro' does not only imply clicking crazily to allow that one marine to take on 3 lurkers. It also includes proper unit placement and awareness of all units (including workers) at any one time. Just mongering some slander as usual. :P

[Protogod]

Let's remember kids...

'Good micro' does not only imply clicking crazily to allow that one marine to take on 3 lurkers. It also includes proper unit placement and awareness of all units (including workers) at any one time.

Indeed. You don't have to be Boxer to have micro, you just have to manage your army properly.

[pytum]

having a plentyful macro makes you micro more easily, thats the way i see it

[gamer102]

No macros... just no... original starcraft was macro free.
To be a good player, you have to have speed and reflexes in mouse-ing and keyboarding, and on the field of battle.

No macros becuase you would feel you're playing a computer, where it can queue up and build 20 units from 6 different locations in a blink of an eye.
You only have to press one button to get a pack of marines, supply depots, and SCV's up and running... thats a little noobish.

EDIT: Not noobish... can't think of right word.

[Faiien]

6. "With MBS (Multiple Building Selection) and automine in the game, what macro-specific features are going to be added to make sure that the player always has as much to do on the macro side as he does micro? Will a player still be able to favor macro or micro according to his own style?" - FrozenArbiter (www.teamliquid.net)

It is our goal to allow players to micro more vs. macro more. This is something that was great about the original StarCraft and it is something we want to maintain while we add new mechanics as well as interface features. We are still evaluating such features as automine as well as MBS. We don't have an answer for this at the moment, but we are working on it.This contributes to this convo, it was exactly what i was looking for from the blizz team.

[3Vee]

No macros... just no... original starcraft was macro free.
To be a good player, you have to have speed and reflexes in mouse-ing and keyboarding, and on the field of battle.

I'm assuming you've not played many long games, because keeping 3+ bases running/producing units falls into most definitions of "macro" I've ever heard.
Or am I completely missing what you're trying to say?

[SgtHK]

No macros... just no... original starcraft was macro free.
Exsqueeze me?

[ShadeZ]

No macros becuase you would feel you're playing a computer, where it can queue up and build 20 units from 6 different locations in a blink of an eye.
You only have to press one button to get a pack of marines, supply depots, and SCV's up and running... thats a little noobish.
You are referring to macros, as in buttons that carry out a series of commands at once? This is not what we are talking about. That is for computer commands and commands in games like WoW.

The Macro we are talking about is how well you manage your base, produce units, keep your mineral count down to zero, expand, etc. They are not one and the same, thre are no macros in rts games.


Personally, I think the game wouldn't be Starcraft if both weren't almost equally important. I'd like to keep it about the same, though, where macro is a little bit more important. It's good to know that you can play games one way or the other though, where some players have real good macro(ie. oov) and some have real good micro (ie. boxer)

[gamer102]

I'm assuming you've not played many long games, because keeping 3+ bases running/producing units falls into most definitions of "macro" I've ever heard.
Or am I completely missing what you're trying to say?

what is micro-ing in an rts game?

why is there a poll for macro if it is how you manage your base?

there are no macros in rts games.

is SC an rts?

[ShadeZ]

I'll say it again. We're not talking about that kind of macro. Managing three bases at once is not called micro. It is called macro. Micro mainly pertains to the control of units, while macro mainly pertains to structures, and the building of units, and the setting up of expansions, etc.

[gamer102]

Oh... I get it.

Macro = How well you can set up your base and keep it going.

Micro = How well you can preform actions quickly with your keyboard and mouse in battle?

is my micro thing right? I dont quite get what a good micro player does.

[3Vee]

It's not exact, but in the context of an RTS, "macro" is largely equivalent to strategy: securing supply, resources, choosing what to build, etc.; and "micro" is essentially tactical: where to send your units, keeping track of which ones are damaged, casting spells, avoiding spells.

Your stereotypical "macro only" player is going to have a ton of bases, and a huge army - but often of only one or two unit types, which are then somewhat vulnerable to counters. In Starcraft a lot of these guys play Zerg, massing hydras or muta (sometimes with zerglings). The stereotypical "micro only" player typically is low on expansions, and is often bad at keeping up with supply, but is very effective, either using a small number of units very precisely or relying mainly on casters. In Starcraft, most of these are Protoss players who rely on Templar, although since Terran turtle easily you'll see some there.

So yeah, you're more or less right, but that's some more detail.

[gamer102]

thankyou very much for that in-depth post.

i only play like 500/1 on a custom/melee ration lol im really good at td's

lol what you said... that means im bad at macro....but good at strategizing good choke and defensive points

[gamer102]

sorry, i guess warboards or me was having some problems a few days ago about displaying the next page... ok you can delete this post

[deadkat]

They're equally important, but my micro is considerably better than my macro, hence my vote.