StarCraft

[Elok]

Yes, I FINALLY got the game, with expansion pack, as an early Xmas present. Currently on Zerg mission one, having finally beaten the obnoxious Ghost-spamming AI on Terran mission ten. I used the horribly inefficient but psychologically satisfying technique of waiting for the AI to bankrupt itself with its regular ineffectual attacks, then building a Yamato Death Fleet and systematically erasing them from the map. And going after the Covert Ops first. As it turns out, the AI has a hard time locking down eight Battlecruisers at once, especially when they're supported with sensor sweeps! Haha, BURN, you little nuke-happy invisible bas--ahem.

I can finally see why so many lunatics in South Korea accidentally starve to death while playing this game. I'm trying to learn the ropes by going through the missions in order; I'm very bad at strategy, as attacks tend to fluster me and I have a bad habit of becoming complacent. Plus I hate relentless micromanagement, which is why I've already decided that the Terrans are more fun for me than the Zerg. Constantly rebuilding expendable vermin forces doesn't seem too fun, nor does the constant replenishing of drones. I imagine I'm going to love the Protoss.

Anyway, any advice you guys can give me as I learn to play this game? My previous RTS experience was with Age of Empires II, which has a lot more hotkey shortcuts. There's no "zoom to next idle worker" command here, for example. The F2-F4 wireables aren't too useful (I have the minimap if I want to center the screen in a hurry), and the reputed ability to wire to the number keys doesn't seem to be working. I've been nuked so many times just because I can't order a comsat sweep in time...

[Verto]

You played one, you played em all.

[lord of the mark]

youre way ahead of me, I got this about a year ago, but put it aside before finishing the Terran missions, to play EU2 instead.

[Whoha]

as you get more and more into the game, the more micro is involved.

I had some fun yesterday, orchastrated a massive probe drop on a friend, took out his command center, a factory, a ton of miners, and so on.

[Maniac]

If only the game had a pause mode which still allowed you to give orders, I would still play this game.

[Whoha]

well you can slow down the flow of time greatly.

[Maniac]

You can? Hmm, perhaps I should check out the game again.

[Barinthus]

StarCraft is a great game.

Frankly, you gotta learn to micromanage some. Observe each species' weaknesses and strengths and adjust according. This game like other RTS are basically paper-scissors-rock games.

[vmxa1]

I can't remember the last time I played, it must have been soon after the Brood Wars addon, but I sure like it.

I am almost glad they did not come out with a sequel, I have played so little RTS, I would be lost.

[Elok]

Originally posted by Maniac
You can? Hmm, perhaps I should check out the game again.

Yes, I think you use the + and - keys to regulate the speed of events.

I'm enjoying the Zerg more now that I've discovered the fun of building a dozen Zerglings at a time. All those hopping little vermin attacking in swarms... The Hydralisks too.

[Maniac]

Originally posted by Whoha
well you can slow down the flow of time greatly.

I tried it out again, and I'm immediately hooked again.

Even on the slowest speed though, it quickly becomes an uncontrollable splashfest whenever a bunch of mariners and zerglings or hydralisks strike. On the lowest campaign levels this doesn't really matter much - one mariner more or less won't make that much of a difference, but I do remember I found it annoying when the enemy used infested terrans or *GASP* Ghosts. Whenever I heard the sound of impending nuke attack, I kinda panicked. I've never been really good at clickfests, so I'm rarely able to see where the attack is happening, click to that part of the map, click on some unit(s) to find and destroy the ghost in the few seconds that are available to prevent a nuke attack. Guess why I like turnbased games.

[Barinthus]

Well I'm deaf and cannot even hear those warning sounds of an incoming nuke attack so if I can do it you can do it .

IIRC when a nuke is coming or something on the map there will be a signal of some kind such as flashing.

To prevent myself from getting overrun I build defenses. Terrans are so easy to do for this. Build towers where their aircrafts tend to fly over. As for main entry points I usually build two bunkers - one on each side. Each bunker get a tower behind or next to. Of course those bunkers are stuffed full of marines (not firebots I hate those but I've heard they are fabulous against Zergs). Later on when I get seige tanks, I'd park one next to each of those bunkers. Keep one or two mechanics nearby to keep those repaired. The rate of fire is so fierce that nothing can even come near especially enemy Terrans and Zergs - complete bloodbath.

I also like to build wyverns when I can so if I'm attacked I use those to help out and pull those out once their cloaking goes down.

Same principles apply to Zergs and Protoss (adapt to them of course).

Know that early mission where you have to defend agains Zergs until the rebel group come in and evacuate you? First time I tried it I lost. Second time I barely made it - my last structure exploded into flames the same second the rebels showed up.

Once you've completed the game go back to that mission - you will find it's so easy. I often wind up destroying Zerg's base and overlords before rebels show up.

[Whoha]

in multiplayer though you can't change the speed, you are stuck at what level you pick originally, and anything slower then fast is too slow. generally all the games I play are at fastest. even so you do have time to do things, you just have to not panick.

[Jon Miller]

I play Zerg, and hope I strike first

JM

[RGBVideo]

The micromanaging type I hate most is the combat managing. There are no formations, and the AI always makes the troops attack on a long column and the units block each others paths since they start attacking immediately when they get to attacking range

I used the horribly inefficient but psychologically satisfying technique of waiting for the AI to bankrupt itself with its regular ineffectual attacks, then building a Yamato Death Fleet and systematically erasing them from the map.

This works? I thought that the AI gets nice chunks of resources every x minutes on SP campaigns (IIRC you can check it out from scenario editor... I don't have the game anymore, so I can't take a look) ?