bo whoring ?

[odin002]

Hello everyone !

I'm wondering for the early, how do you do your bo ?
Are you doing it by using only feelings ? So if I check a replay of a player on the same map I'll see some differences at the early.
Or do you know exactly what you are going to do (learned by heart, or because you played 23872 times the map, or because you wrote it in a paper and you are reading it) ?

A good bo can be really deadly on some maps(small one or heavy reclaim one).. so that's why I'm asking.
But there are so many different maps that it will take way too much time to learn a bo on each map (unless you write it on paper)


Thanks for help. Bye

[da_monstr]

Hello,

Of course, experience and knowledge of the map counts - Daroza's Sanctuary and The Ditch being the best examples.
However, there are several things to take into consideration, even if you're playing the map for the first time.
- How many mexes are in your vicinity?
- Is there a hydro? How close is it?
- Are there any rocks/wrecks/civilians to reclaim?
- How many trees are there to reclaim?
- Map size?
- What you want to do (tank spam/1st bomber/eco/tech rush)?
- Does your opponent have a favourite tactic you need to counter?

These are some of the things you need to consider when doing your build order.
But most of all, practice, practice, practice.

However, I'm only 1000 rated in ladder, so some more experienced players might have better insights.

[Vee]

Here's how I do it.

If I played the map before, I remember last time I played the map, and I remember what went right and what went wrong in the BO, and change it accordingly. For example if I powerstalled last time, then better build an extra pgen, and if I had spare power, try one pgen less.
If I didn't play the map before, I remember maps with similar starting positions, so that I have some idea of what to do.

There are also some rules of thumb. Where I see most people failing is on maps with a hydro and reclaim. So here's a quick rule of thumb of what to do on hydro maps: make 4 mex, then hydro, then 3 pgens, then airfac, then landfac. First engi and second engi assist acu for building those things. Third engi finds some reclaim (important!!) and then expands.

If you only remember 1 thing, then remember this. If you have a hydro close by the build range of your acu, then never ever make pgens before hydro. The BO gods will curse you for that. You end up with less mass AND less power with that.

What is also really important is the small details. Try to minimize engi/acu movement. Try to build everything inside the build range where the engi/acu already is. And NEVER change the rally point of a factory to the other direction while a unit is already in production. Don't let engies/acu bump into each other. The reason why the small details are important is not just because if your engi walks 2 seconds then your factory will be done 2 seconds later, but there are also secondary effects. When your engi walks 2 seconds, you'll have some mass in storage because the engi starts spending mass later. Your factory will be done later, so from that you also get extra mass in storage. To spend that mass you'll have to build additional stuff. And to build additional stuff you need additional pgens. And to build additional pgens you need additional engies. tl;dr: get your stuff as early as you can, whether it's pgens, mexes, or factories.

That said, if you manage to get 2 extra tanks by using a superior BO, and then you don't pay attention and let those tanks die to the enemy acu, then you've won nothing. Early unit micro is much more important than BO.

[nine2]

Vee I would love to watch a youtube video of you inventing a build order and explaining stuff as you go.

[odin002]

It seems a bit dreamy for me to remember what I have done EXACTLY in one map... unless you play 2-3 maps or play it 20 times.

Yeah I even hearded a discussion from you for hydro, you were saying if I'm not wrong that it's better to do 4 mex hydro if the hydro is reachable by com in 13 or 26 seconds(don't remember the exact timing), otherwise better make a pgen before going hydro.

And yes the small details I know it.

Ok, thanks.

[ZaZen]

I would say "Hydro rush" on any map if its closer than it is on "Open Palms". Open palms although possible to rush often leaves you a factory down compared to the two facs and 5pg build by the acu

I use standard "first land" then "second air" or "second land" as i mention in my guide, link in my siggy, other than that i make it up unless its a high reclaim map like Daroza or Ditch, Vya i build more power as there are many mex and facs to be built by the expansions.

I think a lot of it is down to map experience though. What works on one doesn't always work on another and thats because reclaim plays such an important role.

[Nombringer]

I would say "Hydro rush" on any map if its closer than it is on "Open Palms". Open palms although possible to rush often leaves you a factory down compared to the two facs and 5pg build by the acu

It's not set in stone though, there is a new hydro rush build in the meta at the moment.

[odin002]

Uh nombringer ? Which is..?

4 mex then 1 pgen then go hydro ? if hydro is far away. Otherwise 4 mex then hydro.

[Vee]

I see people are stealing the 4 mex pgen bo