Managing everything+having time to think in long/big games

[Flynn]

I find that in long games and/or on big maps I spend so much time trying to manage everything (mainly microing) that I have no ability to think about overall strategy and/or act on information from scouting. How do the pros gets around this?

[BRNKoINSANITY]

In a word.... practice. That is the main thing. However, there is a trend as the game progresses. The bigger/longer the game goes on the less you micro individual units or small groups, and the more you stay zoomed out and work on the big picture. It becomes more efficient to play from strategic view with groups of 25+ units than it is to try and save every single individual unit on a tiny scale.

Also, if you are on a large or open map, you usually don't want all your units in one place and focused on one spot on the map. Yes you will have one front where you are pushing, but you need to have other units and scouts out and about, AND you need to be zoomed out frequently enough to see what is going on.

Really man, it all comes down to focus and practice.

[Flynn]

I posted this after a game on the map TAG Craftius Maximus which has land, sea and air. The overall picture was a blur because I was microing my engineers that I had dropped on the islands and trying to do another umpteen things when I decided to post a thread. I wonder if it would be better to focus on one thing at a time. Like expanding as far as you can on land, establish a frontline and then drop engineers on the islands for instance. It seems like some things require so much micro that it is counter intuitive to do them until later on.

[Rediska]

All answers in head of theme.
Think.

If you dont know what to do - go home and cry while you can. War is not for you.

If you didnt could create a plan of your managing - ctrl+k.
If you dont know what will you do on unknown map - ctrl+k.
If you can't remember what did you do even 10 sec ago with your squad on front line - ctrl+k.
If you can't imagine situation on the battlefield after 1 min or even 30 sec - ctrl+k.
If you on panic - ctrl+k.
Don't waste your and opponent's time.

[Flynn]

What a douche There is no real variety of strategies anyway.

[ColonelSheppard]

nope,
If you dont know the map - scout your enemy and do the same he does.
If you cant remember the last 10 seconds - doesnt matter.
If you cant imagine situation on the battlefield after 1 min or even 30 sec... hmm actually no idea how this is possible but setting your your factory waypoint to the enemy base always helps.
As more time your waste of your opponent, as more he will get anoyed as more chances you have to win.
If you panic - read the Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy.

And if you have no plan what you are doing at any point of the match you are at the same level as me.

[Flynn]

ColonelSheppard agrees with me for a change There must be a minimum APM or something to be able to be competitive because I just seem to be behind all the time.

[Rocksteady]

It's just experience and memory. You'll eventually get to a point where you'll know what to do next and just do it without thinking about it. It's a different game but you should check out some of Day9's Starcraft videos, what he says translates fully to all RTS games and is very helpful.

[GallantDragon]

Shift key, shift key, shift key.

No need to micro an engie if you just queue everything up. BTW, in watching your replays I'm not sure if you're aware that by putting engies into attack-move mode by using ALT-right click they will automatically reclaim everything in their way. It's better than using patrol to do that because they'll become idle once they've finished reclaiming.

[Flynn]

I'm not sure how the shift key will help with micro, you still have to manually queue everything up and if that engineer gets destroyed you have to start all over again And I am aware of the attack move, but I read that spamming attack move can bugger up the pathfinding. I have noticed that the pros use patrol as well, I guess for this reason. I still think my approach of focusing on the main part of the map then switching to the islands when you are at a stalemate/advantage is valid.

Edit: Also, when I gain the advantage I have no trouble telling what to do because things naturally happen, for instance the mass meter begins to fill up, you realise you have to upgrade mexes, etc, you realise you need to tech up for a final push, but when I am "on the ropes" so to speak I find it very difficult to think how to proceed.