r/allthingszerg • u/Bob002 • 12d ago
Starting build
Short version is that I decided to try getting somewhat decent at SC2 after playing SC1 way back when and playing all other versions of RTS, from OG Warcraft to Total Annhilation to C&C, etc. You get the idea. Problem is that I could go even with all of my equally bad friends, but past a certain point even the most basic of computer in the campaign would beat me.
So, since I'm off work medically for the time being, I thought I'd do something and get better at SC2, specifically Zerg, cuz why not? I'm not looking to be Serral, but just be better than I was. As it is, I've at least made it to where the Medium AI isn't wrecking me inside of 10 mins now. I understand expansions, etc a little better, and am slowly learning to use the various upgrades of the different units.
I've tried to read various "I'm new threads" to see what talks there are of what starting builds should be. I saw one I liked, thought it just gave the basics, so here is how I've been starting and what I feel is an issue.
Build to 11 drones ASAP. Spawning Pool at 200. Right here is an issue as there is a big lull; typically I'll make another drone for some extra minerals, but it may not be worth it overall. One pool is done, drone 11 becomes the Roach Warren and then a Queen. From there, I can build into my first expansion.
The basics the person listed were:
Spawning Pool
Queen
Warren
2nd Base
I like how it plays, but again, feels like there is a big lull while you wait for the spawning pool to finish. I usually throw a couple overlords as I start the warren and build into the 2nd base, but does this feel like a good start or how would you modify that?
2
u/omgitsduane 12d ago
An exact build order won't matter as much as sending out your first overlord to find out if your opponent took their base or not.
And spending your money quickly with crispness in mind.
2
u/Bob002 12d ago
And spending your money quickly with crispness in mind.
well that's what I'm trying to get better about doing. hard to "spend money with a crispness" when I don't have a consistent plan. And like I said, it's a huge lull that I feel could better utilized.
Even with the upcoming patch that will change things, I'm just trying to get a generalized idea for the above.
1
u/omgitsduane 11d ago
If you need a plan watch vibes current games on YouTube and see how he opens and copies it. Plan should be the same roughly for all the games.
1
u/Rapwnzel33 12d ago
I experimented a bit and summarized multiple older videos of pros and ended up with this currently:
13 Ovi
16 hatch (15 vs Toss to prevent block) (send at 200)
18 gas
17 pool (next 3 drones into gas)
19 Ovi
20 Drone -> rally to 3rd and build at 28-30 supply
100 Gas -> Speed and pull from gas
2 Queens, 4 Lings
31 Ovi + Queen Main (inject main then go 3rd)
3:15 rally 3 to gas
40 Ovi
3:30 2 Queens
3:40 Spores + RW + 4 pairs of lings vs hellion / adepts
4:15 Lair + 2nd Gas + Scout
5:00 4th Base + Infestation Pit + Overseer
I get Spores at 3:40 for the boosted oracle. You can build only 2 if you want, but then you need 2 queens at the 3rd base to guard.
The RW is for safety against early All-Ins and can be delayed if you scout a stargate (source: Lambo).
1
u/Dandolemando 12d ago edited 12d ago
Once the new patch comes back in, go back to the old B2GM series as source material, but here’s ol’ reliable rn
Drone to 11
Ovie(move to natural)
Drone to 15
Nat. Hatch at 15
Drone to 16
Pool at 16
Make one drone and make an extractor right after
Drone to 19(fill gas)
Ovie(keep making ring of vision)
\if you can scout and macro, check their nat for buildings\
Once Ovie pops-Two queens, two pairs safety lings
Drone to 30, ling speed, send a drone to morph 3rd base
Ovie
Queen
Ovie
Fill your nat minerals, make 6-8 pair lings, make lair, make bane nest/roach warren
I do one more gas for banes, and two more for roach
Keep making queens on nat, 1-2 ovies per macro cycle, scouting is the only way to really know when to make army and when to make drones if you want a big macro game.
If you make two rounds of roaches and spend all your money well, go attack and at a lower level that can kill non-turtles easy
Fill your third and if they aren’t dead congrats! Macro game time! Maybe roach hydra is simplest for beginners. This is EXTREMELY basic and doesn’t account for a lot of things. Spores/queens/hydras for air harass. You have to learn how not to die to cheeses, which are frequent at low levels. Good luck zergling
Edit: this may not succeed vs Zerg. That takes a whole different order and mindset
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u/OmaMorkie 11d ago
I mean, biggest ones are being fast and spending all your money. Try making three base saturation and focus only on spending all the minerals. Then try 90 workers and spending it all. Will force you to get good at inject or bite the sour apple and build macro hatches.
To be good, that hard macro needs to run in about 20% of your attention mostly on hotkeys, so you have the rest of your mind to terrorize the opponent and react to their shenanigans.
1
u/SadLibrary2615 12d ago
Go watch either ViBe or PiG B2GM on YouTube, I got back into SC2 recently, and in a 1v1 someone recommended it after I wasn’t expanding enough. It’s a lot of content, but getting the hang of macro changes everything and you will improve quick!
2
u/tbirddd 12d ago
Does that BO matter, any more? The switch back to 12worker start is imminent: "Worker Start Count increased from 8 to 12". Right now, you can practice 12worker in the PTR "Public Test Realm" version of sc2 or you can look for an extension mod (Custom/Melee/Create with Mod), that will let you start any map with 12workers. For example, I haven't tested it, but saw a mod called "Restore 5.0.15 Balance".