Join the 4pp Starcraft League!

[davethezombie]

(Picture photoshopped by GPink)
That's right, YOU.

Mustardmap and I have been thinking about creating a Starcraft league for awhile now. Seeing as there is still tournaments running to this day, it could be quite the experience, to join together as a league, and someday compete against those top Korean players.

What is the 4pp Starcraft League?

We are organizing a league of selected players to join in on, and reach high ranks before we may have any chance to participate in any tournaments. We'll be practicing every so often, whatever works with the team, so that we can reach a good understanding of the game. We hope to have lots of fun along the way, make new friends, and live the experience of competing in the top leagues.

What do I need to join?

You need:

• Starcraft and the expansion pack, Brood War (What most players nowadays play with)
  
• Ventrilo (For team communication and strategy)
  
• Dedication
  

We want real, dedicated players for this league. If you're planning to drop out later on for whatever reason, don't bother signing up. A lot of work is put into organizing the team, so by dropping out, you're only making it more difficult for the rest of the dedicated players.

Our ventrilo server info can be found here: 4playerpodcast.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=3320

What tournaments are there?
There is the iCCup, which hosts tournaments (usually for the purpose of achieving ranks): www.iccup.com/

The iCCUP league has map packs which are used in the tournament. They can be downloaded here: www.iccup.com/files/view/iCCup_Season_7_Full_mappack_02.html

Team Liquid, hosting tourneys for similar purposes, sometimes cash prizes:
www.teamliquid.net/

And much more other sites where tournaments are held.

I don't have that much experience with Starcraft. Can I still join?
Of course! Our very own, mustardmap, is more than glad to give lessons and tips on playing Starcraft. Many of the players who are joining are new to the game, so don't be afraid to join if you feel left behind. We're in this as a league.

Any Norwegians?
What? No! Get outta here!

So far on the league we have:
Mustardmap
DavetheZombie
GPink
Exterminated
fuzzy09
streetninja
Calam1tous
girunit75
russianroulette
traison
noturavgazn
heavy0metal0queen

Any further questions, contact me or mustardmap.


Now let's get this rollin'!

Notice: Opening Post to be updated frequently, so check back often!

[mustardmap]

What I suggest before entering multiplayer lessons is to grasp how Starcraft is run first. Basically playing the first few missions in Campaign, just so you know how buildings things work, what supply is, the resources etc. Basically the bare minimum to play Starcraft.

I will also update this post frequently with new info and times.

Build Orders: Page 1

EDIT
REGARDING THIS WEEKENDS PRACTICE RUN
The thing we will be looking over this practice run is common build orders for each race and matchup. If necessary I will update this post with those builds. Also we will discuss unit combination against certain races, and why it became like that. After all that is done, I'll try to teach some basic micro, the most commonly used things people should know without thinking eventually.

In Summary what we will be doing:
Build Orders
Units Usage (History on "Why we use them" As well)
Basic Micro

PRACTICE
What I suggest right now, is to find a build order to your liking, and use the proper unit combination. Memorize them basically, a play 1vs1 against Computer players on Lost Temple. If you can beat the computer 100% of the time, that means you have both Build Order use and Unit Combo's down. Facing a computer does not take as much macro and micro compared to a human, so you do not have to adapt and learn this as well right away. This is what I suggest currently.

EDIT
TERMINOLOGY
During the course of the lessons, I will update this list just to help out players grasp what each term means which I will frequently use, and many other commentators will.

Micro
Unit control, how you control your units. In other words, how you can most the most use of your units. With micro you can make a normally losing battle into a winning battle. This is very important for early rushes and harass.

Macro
Unit production and building production. Basically how well you can keep your money down with your current economy. This includes building more producing buildings at the right time, and constantly producing units from these buildings. This also includes how you keep up with your supply. A good macro user will make it so the building they have never stop producing, that they keep up with supply, and that there money is usually below 200-500. This is more important for mid and late game, especially long games. Macro is in direct relation with economy.

Economy
This one should be a bit obvious, but for those who do not know, its your resource income. This includes the number of expansions you have, and how well you are harvesting them. A high economy is usually favorable. However having a lot of resources will not matter unless you are using those resources to produce things. Holding on to 2000 minerals is not smart, it means your macro is not matched with your economy, and you are wasting those minerals when they could have been spent on units now. Economy game is the standard nowadays, its favorable to lead into late game with a good economy. However there are low economy rush builds available, but in the end, it depends whether that rush worked or not. If a rush fails, that means your economy is behind which means your macro is behind which is never good. Race specific economy advice to come. Economy is in direct relation to macro.

Choke
This is should be rather simple. Its basically the entrance to your base, outside of your natural. This is the front of your base and your expansion usually, a place to funnel enemy units, however it can also funnel your units. Many times when you are turtling, you can use this choke to hold your position easier.

Natural
This is the expansion closest to your base, usually near your choke point. In most maps, its usually below your ramp. This is usually the most favorable place to expand since its close to your base, allowing easy access to your units from your main to easily get to this expansion.

[Exterminated]

Hey, guys. I'm a Mac user here, and there might be other Starcraft playing Mac users too. The ICCup program is an Exe program, and you should know that Macs and Exe don't mix. We are currently researching a way to convert the Exe, but until then, here are some Options.

Crossover
This is a program which can run and mount Windows and Linux files straight from your desktop.

Wine
See above.

Parallels Desktop 4.0
If I am correct, you need the disk of the OS that you are emulating for this to work. Basically, it just brings Windows up as a window on the Mac desktop.

Boot Camp comes free on a Mac automatically. It allows you to divide your hard drive space and run another OS while keeping Mac intact. You need the CD of the OS you want for this, as well.

[GPink]

I began playing Starcraft when my friends got it for me for my birthday about 6 to 8 years ago. I played semi-regularly back then, but only casually. At this moment, I can't say I'm very good at the game, and when I play with my friend, we oftentimes just play against computers, sometimes not beating them. D: I'm willing to get better though.

I'll be good for any practice time where I'm not working, and that's at any time of night or day. It's all on a week-by-week basis, so early contact and planning is the best route to go with me.

[fuzzy09]

Yeah, I'm sure Mustard knows, but I'll be joining.
Will be getting the game after the 8th of June, the date of my last exam, and I'll be off college then, so I'll have plenty of free time to practise.

Practise dates may be slightly on and off for me, due to me being English. If you guys practise in the night, I'll be asleep. We'll see how it goes closer to the time however.

[tenshibo]

not sure if i'd join the league with you guys right off the bat, but i'd like to try out the game and see how i am. if i'm decent at it, i'd join (maybe) so where could i get this game, preferably for free?

[streetninja]

I'll join but I don't think I'll be participating in tournaments.

[BRYN]

I wont be joinin', but I will be bannerin':

[fuzzy09]

BRYN, you really are like BannerMan or something. <3 Its a new type of hero.

[Calam1tous]

I would love to. Never had the chance to really get good at Starcraft. Sign me up.

[GeistAE]

Hmmm... I might join you guys. I just need to...
1. Find my Starcraft.
2. Test the Key online cuz Its a burned version from WAY back when It came out.
3. Get Brood War .
4. Fix the widescreen fail.

If it doesnt work... BUY Both .

Ill uhh... get back to ya in a bit lol.

[str4ngerd4nger]

why am i not on this list?

[girunit75]

Sign me up. But i won't be able to play much right away i've got lots of stuff to do.

[davethezombie]

ATTN all SC league members:
We'll be having a practice run on Saturday (5/23/09) around 4pm ish PST. It's not required you make this event, but it is recommended if you wish to learn the ropes of SC.

[mustardmap]

Terran Build Orders

FlaSh Build:
www.gosugamers.net/starcraft/thread/357089

Other Builds:
www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=90288

Zerg Build Orders
www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=73314

Protoss Build Orders
www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=26031
www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=61353
www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=47495
www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=29507