This page serves as a catalog for bookmark-worthy posts. The list is not exhaustive. Many of my posts are not listed here.
General tips
These tips are not restricted to any expansion.
- The concept of convergent points
- The concept of build order blocks
- Playing against economic-oriented openings
- Terran control group set up
- Rally point on a building
- Reaction to economical builds (update with a specific example)
- Centring the town hall
- How to wall
- Scouting basics
- Hiding information
- Idle worker after build command
- Attention based harassment
- Tips from Polt
Thought provoking
These articles are not exactly tips, but discuss topics beyond game play.
- Better marketing for better RTS games
- Think about thinking – How to make better decisions in StarCraft
- War Chest Team League controversy – A marketing case study
- The hidden side of GSL tournament format
- Fast is not better – The effects of increasing starting worker count
- My response to the Blizzard and Hong Kong protest incident
- The effects of game design philosophy on map making
- Thinking about talking balance
- Making sense of our reaction to AlphaStar
- Region lock: A clash of ideology
- WCS system (with brownbear)
- THERIDDLER versus avilo WCS controversy
- Content creation and community reaction
- Scouting on non-two player maps
- An era of global Starcraft
- Attention as another dimension of mechanics
- DeepMind (Alpha Go) and what it means to Starcraft
- What good balance argument is not
- Match fixing scandal 2015
- Why I don’t subscribe to GSL [anymore]
- Attribution in Starcraft
- Value of casters
- Dilemma of change
- Balance appreciation
The Elementary Series
The Elementary Series covers important topics that can be applied broadly at all levels.
This is an ongoing project.
- Setting up
- Mindset
- Mechanics
- Hotkeys and control groups
- Stages of the game
- Composition and unit utility
- Build orders
- Scouting
- Relative role to the opponent’s
Legacy of the Void
Basic guides and builds
- The concept of convergent points
- The concept of build order blocks
- 2-1-1 for each match up (some parts are outdated)
- Builds for beginners and intermediate players
- Siege Tank positioning
- Reaper openings
- Attention based harassment execution
- Differences between 1-1-1 and 2-1-1
Terran vs. Protoss
- Engineering Bay block expand
- Marine fast expand
- Early wall off main ramp
- Third Command Centre before 2nd and 3rd Barracks
- 3-1-1 framework
- Securing expansion at the natural
- Mag-Field Accelerator Push at the Third Nexus
- Basic Reaper Expand into Stim Medivac Move Out
- Banshee and Siege Tank two base timing
- Proxy (outdated)
- sOs’ answer to proxy (outdated)
- Cloak Banshee
- Mass Widow Mine drop
- Versus proxy tech builds (Stargate or 2x Robotic Facility; some parts are outdated)
- 2-1-1 builds
- Basic scouting guide (some parts are outdated)
- Engineering Bay mineral block
- TY’s 3CC defensive build
- Two base Tankivac Raven push (outdated)
- Versus Adept Phoenix
- Early Pylon Overcharge attacks (outdated)
Terran vs. Terran
- Maru’s framework
- Using bio against mech
- Defending against proxy Reaper
- Mass Cyclone with early 3CC (outdated)
- Double Refinery Reaper opening
- 15/16 gas first Reaper expand (a detailed framework)
- With Cyclone (outdated)
- Relativity and framework
- Mid game transition (include standard build order; outdated)
- Relative roles of offender versus defender
Terran vs. Zerg
- A strategy perspective in understanding fast 3CC builds
- Overlord hunting with floating Barracks
- Battlecruiser mech
- Zergling, Baneling, and Hydralisk
- Triple Barracks Reaper (some parts are outdated)
- Reaction against Spawning Pool before Hatchery
- Battle mech
- 0-2-0 Hellion and Cyclone mech (outdated)
- 2-1-1: Double Medivac Stim timing (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4)
- Sky Terran composition (Part 1 and Part 2)
- Early third Command Centre
- Reaper expand into 1-1-1 variants
- Double Liberator into double drop
- Zerg’s three phase tech switch
- Polt’s safe all-rounded Tank and Banshee opening (outdated)
Wings of Liberty & Heart of the Swarm
Basic guides
- The Case for Build Order of Terran
- Convergent point (Part 1) and (Part 2)
- Understanding build orders in blocks
- Reaper expand in all match ups
Terran vs. Protoss
- Third Command Centre before 2nd and 3rd Barracks
- Scouting and key timing
- Midgame game plan (Part 1 and Part 2)
- Learning TvP from Flash
- Taeja’s gas first aggression (Part 1 and Part 2)
- Reaper expand
- Prototype by Bomber
- 3 Barracks
- 3 Barracks 9:00 timing
- Early +1 upgrade
- Answer against early proxy Oracle
- Widow Mine drop (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3)
- MMA’s anti-meta defensive opening
- Polt versus Blink Stalkers (tactical movement)
- Bomber’s Hellbat and bio mid game aggression
- SCV pull
- Polt’s tactical movement
- 15 gas opening
- Defend against proxy Oracle
- TY’s mid game approach
Terran vs. Terran
- Offender versus defender
- Gas first opening
- 15 gas opening reaction against Banshee
- Banshee into Stim Medivac drop
- 2 Rax Reaper aggression
Terran vs. Zerg
- Scouting
- 7:00 1-1-1 Hellion and Marine drop
- Proactive counter against +1/+1 Roach timing
- Hellbat timing
- Mech-Bio composition
- Reaper opening details
- Bomber’s counter intuitive approach
- Command Centre first build arrangement on high ground
- Two base timing
- 7:00 Hellbat timing
- 3CC defensive Banshee (Part 1 and Part 2)
It would be just wonderful if there were also your “Go to build” for each match up explained “in blocks” (with some branches for specific reactions :D)
That is a good idea actually. I will think about how I can approach it.
I just noticed, in the “Terran vs. Zerg” section, the “Hellbat timing”, “g” is not completed in the link. Only the “Hellbat timin” is blue, the “g” is not.
Like your site alot, just delete when you fixed it.
Updated. Thanks!
Which builds do you recommend a newbie learning? I only played the campaign and a few ai matches.
Welcome to the game. Message me in the Terrancraft facebook page, and I will help you out. It’s easier to chat there than here.
Do you guys have discord
I don’t have a TerranCraft channel.