Quote (OmegaJSP @ May 14 2013 04:31pm)
There's a handful of different paths you could take to get better. I can speak from the Zerg and Protoss point of view.
For me, I actually got better by doing cheese builds. And no, I'm not trolling; I'm being serious.
Cheese builds work for a reason. When I learned first-hand why they worked, I started changing them for more non-cheese builds. For example, I did the 4-Gate Warp Rush a handful of times, understanding it worked usually because of sheer numbers of units and decent unit control (i.e. target priority: units > workers > important structures). Then I got to a point to where it didn't work as reliably (usually because I get scouted and the enemy prepares) and I needed to play differently. So, from 4-Gating, "what if I skipped the 4th gate and got a Robo Bay instead? I could probably mix in an Immortal or Warp Prism." Or "what if I skip the 3rd and 4th Gateway and go for an earlier expand? I could pressure my enemy and expand safely behind it, but I still do have the option to go into a defensive 4-Gate if I scout them and realize I they're cheesing or all-in'ing."
As you get better, it's always most important to make sure your macro is solid. Micro is important, yes, but when you're sorely outnumbered, it's not as important (though clever micro can delay a push long enough for you to get ready for the attack when it reaches your base).
Thanks, that makes sense.
What I'm looking for is a very general opener that I can use each game while I learn.
Then I change things/adapt after scouting etc.