KuroNeeko said:
Hey dude, just wanted to take a second to let you know that I wasn't insinuating anything or calling you "bland" because you like Terran. I know things can get all mixed up when you parse communication down to the forum level so I just wanted to make sure that you knew that it's all cool. I <3 you, mayne.
The thing is that I actually am a bland person (and totally comfortable with it!).
deathberry-The best things that you can do to increase your ability to play rapidly:
1) Learn the keys. Get comfortable with having the same unit selections on each key every time-for me, I use 1-4 for units, 5-7 for buildings, and the rest for command centers for comsat if needed. Also learn the hotkeys for unit abilities and especially production choices.
2) For each matchup, pick one general build order that you'll do every time you play that matchup. Practice it against the AI until you have it down pretty well. You want to get really good at that particular build order so that it comes natural to you when playing, your hands and brain automatically process it, and that leaves spare "cycles" for you to think about the nuances of the particular game, how to best react to your scouting intelligence, and how to set up a game plan for how you are going to win.
For example, against Zerg, I have a build order where I get out three barracks, combat shield, and hit the zerg player like a truck right when the +1 weapons from the engineering bay finishes (literally, I time moving out and having start shooting right when it hits). That's my game plan for the early part of the game. Here's an example I started with from TeamLiquid:
10 Supply - <Supply Depot> 1 at choke; minor supply bottleneck here
12 Supply - <Rax> 1 @ Choke
13 Supply - <Gas> 1
Gas Finished -
2 mining SCV to gas
Rax Finished -
Rax SCV to scout
[Comsat]
16 Supply - <Supply Depot> 2
16 Supply - <Rax> 2
18 Supply - <Ebay>
18 Supply - [Reactor] @Rax 1
20 Supply - [Infantry Weapons]
21 Supply - [TechLab] @Rax 2
22 Supply - <Rax> 3
27 Supply - <Supply Depot> 3
27 Supply - [Combat Shield]
29 Supply - <Supply Depot> 4
32 Supply - [Reactor] @Rax 3
35 Supply - <Supply Depot> 5
39 Supply - <Supply Depot> 6
49 Supply - [Infantry Armor]
(the numbers denote what to do at specific supply points, your attack starts around 46-49 and in general you have extra minerals to start your natural expansion CC right then too, which works well since you'll need to ramp up gas big time).
I would suggest you do marauders/marines for TvZ and TvP and bashee/valkyries for TvT. Very newbie friendly (the TvT much less harder to manage than a ground mech TvT).
3) Watch your replays. Take notes-specifically, try to start recognizing what behavior/buildings the opponent has mean while identifying problems of your own.
For example, I'm playing a TvT. I play a two-factory into CC opening and go hardcore ground mech on most maps (Hellion/Siege tanks). However, one of the most dangerous builds against this build is fast banshees from two starports. So I comsat aggressively/float my barracks around to the back of his natural) and watch for any hint that he's setting up two starports with tech labs. Early on I'll watch for barracks with tech labs (reaper harass) and if they show up I put down a bunker at my mineral line w/ four marines and get some marauders.
