"Marine stew: for the hungry baby lurker in your family"
-Drefsab
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| Don't Cry for Me, Argentina! (5-6 min D/L at 28.8k) | | | Author: | | | IP: | XXXX | | Date: | 10/22/99 06:10 | | Game Type: | Starcraft | | Labels: | none | | Report Rating: , # of Ratings: 4, Max: 9, Min: 7
Lifetime Rating for Macdonough: 7.6111 |    |
An interesting tale of a 4-way Ladder Free-For-All
By Macdonough
Intro
Hi again! I'm back with my second battle report. There are more pictures this time, so it will take a few minutes to load. If your browser acts up and displays only the top part of some images, hit reload/refresh. If the Stats table at the end doesn't work, just highlight the text so you can see it. I hope it everything works like it should, and I hope you enjoy...
Remember: single quotes (' ') denote personal thoughts.
Map
Player Stats
Me (Lieut.Mac):Terran;Middle Right
I enter the game with a whopping 932 ladder rating and a 1-7-1 record = ) Again, obviously this is the name I play Free-for-Alls on. 'Why does everyone always pick on me? = (' In reality I'm a very experienced and knowledgeable player. If I played 1on1s, I'd probably get above 1200, maybe 1300. However, Terran is my weakest race.
warmaster...058:Zerg;Bottom Right
Very simply--he's a newbie with concepts of quick teching.
Diego_Maradona:Protoss;Middle Left
Purple turns out to have something like a 1134 rating. Stupid me...I failed to check this beforehand.
120cc:Zerg;Bottom Left
Brown comes in with a nasty 16-18-3 record and a rating of 1000. He plays like a Zerg with 1100.
'Dangit! Why does the computer have to give us all similar colors?'
Gentlemen, Start Your Engines
Because the start locations for Polaris Prime are on island platforms, I opened with a modified Terran island early expansion build:
9: Supply depot
10: Barracks on southern edge
14: Command Center on southern edge
15: Engineering Bay
There were other things in there too, like a Refinery and another Supply Depot, but it's not important right now. Remembering that I was up against 2 Zerg and a Protoss, I immediately began building towers in order to discourage Mutalisk rushes and Reaver drops. I also added a Bunker and a Siege Tank by both Command Centers. Soon my Academy and Comsat were up, revealing my opponents' build strategies:
warmaster...058 was building up for Guardians, as I saw some base protection, a few Mutalisks, and a morphing Hive. Seeing yellow's slow progress, it was evident that his build order was not planned or efficient.
120cc followed a rigid build order for massive and early Mutalisk production. Lets just say I'm glad he was on the other side of the map!
Diego_Maradona made Reavers, Templar, and Dragoons, but used them for defense as he expanded. The small size of his base and number of troops proved that he was teching-up quickly.
The War Begins
During my expansion to the position directly south of my main base, I already experienced two encounters with the enemy. First, I spied a warmaster...058 Overlord hovering on the edge of the fog below my second Command Center.
 Knowing that Overlord production in the early game is critical to a Zerg's speedy development, I promptly took 4 Marines to assassinate the yellow peeping-tom. Before warmaster...058 noticed enemy units on his radar, I put all the Marines directly under his Overlord and attacked. (That way, no matter how far the Overlord goes, it will still die before it exceeds gun range; but this should be common sense).
The second Overlord I saw was that of 120cc's, and it kinda scared me. It came streaming over my expansion with a speed that can only mean early Lair upgrades for massive drops or expansions. The other thing that scared me was the fact that 120cc didn't turn it around before it died, but just ignored it as it was pumped full of missiles and bullets. This told me that he was busy coordinating some other action, which I hoped wasn't planned for me.
The Odds are Narrowed
After getting both of my bases up to efficient production, I began Wraith production out of 4 Starports. The reason I had so many Starports in operation was because I scanned warmaster...058. He had absolutely no detection or protection by his peons! Before the game, I had planned to just sit back and not become involved until the end, but now I couldn't resist. = )
So when I had a fresh squadron of Wraiths ready to fight, I sent them into action. I cloaked my beauties and crept them up behind warmaster...058's minerals. Then I quickly hit "Hold Position" and back at home loaded a Dropship with an SCV, which I sent to the upper right corner platform. I clicked back to the Drone massacre to find that warmaster...058 was bringing in Overlords and Mutalisks. All I did was simply kill his Overlords, taking minimal damage from a Spore Colony, and he quit. I don't blame him...I would've done the same thing. Getting hit hard in the backside makes you feel plain out screwed-over. (Ahem...that is not open to interpretation = )
Retreating my wing home for repairs, I continued shipping SCVs and troops to the upper right platform. The map is so large that I had four Dropships working non-stop going back and forth. Soon my main was mined-out, so I sent those SCVs too. After a few minutes the new area was a bustling mining center and shipyard.
Meanwhile, 120cc and Diego_Maradona were having skirmishes of their own...fatal ones not to mention. From Diego_Maradona's screams I gathered that 120cc was severely injuring him with a lot of Mutalisks. Scanning his base and finding all his buildings emitting blue flames confirmed this supposition. When I asked about what happened, all Diego_Maradona said was, "Brown wouldn't let me expand," and "Brown almost killed me." Additionally, I asked if he was "functional or just barely alive," to which he replied the latter. Diego_Maradona's pathetic situation made me have pity on him. I felt moved to avenge him by attacking 120cc. And that's just what I did...
Now that I could devote attention to things other than expanding, I decided to increase Wraith production. At that time I was thirsty for action; so, I picked the top middle resource node as a possible spot to assault. I scanned the area with my Comsat and 'Jackpot!' There sat many unwitting brown drones and no Overlords or Spore Colonies. Immediately I ordered 2 squadrons of Wraiths to teach 120cc a lesson about proper expanding. My fighters destroyed the Hatchery and Extractor, slaughtered the drones (although 120cc buried them, I had 3 Comsat stations hot-keyed = ), and killed the few Mutalisk defenders, all before being chased off by a flock of Mutalisks supported by Overlords.
However, I managed to turn and flank my pursuers, driving off a portion of Mutalisks which I surrounded and killed one by one. 'Gotta love it = )' During all this commotion, one of my Dropships that was shuttling units between my main and top right base spotted a budding Diego_Maradona expansion. Without pause I sent one of my main squadrons of Wraiths to eliminate it.
Even though I was avenging Diego_Maradona for his brutal beating by 120cc, he was still my enemy. After this he resigned. Besides, I had claims on the entire right side of the map.
Quiet Time
Instead of trying to defeat 120cc's huge force of Mutalisks (because only massive Irradiations or Brood War Valkyries would have been effective) in order to take that expansion site from him, I chose to expand somewhere else. On top of that, I felt content in the fact that I made him waste over 1000 minerals and almost 1000 gas, not to mention time, all compared to my loss of maybe 300 minerals and 200 gas for a couple Wraiths. Anyway, the site I chose to expand to was warmaster...058's old base, as it still had a significant amount of resources. Here is where I saved the most money of all, though. First, I dropped a few Marines and a Tank behind the minerals and began to take out structures from that side.
 I cleared just enough room so that I could build a Command Center and still leave the front of warmaster...058's old base intact. This way I didn't have to spend hardly any money on defense because I had a perfectly good mask to cover any actions. One more spot and I would soon have the entire right side of the map.
Well Surprise Surprise!
About this time Diego_Maradona suddenly came back to life! I guess I didn't remember seeing "Diego_Maradona has left the game.," but when purple spoke up, I was totally not expecting it.
He promptly asked me, "Do you think you can kill brown?"
I replied, "Of course."
 Apparently Diego_Maradona wanted to collaborate with me to get 120cc killed. I didn't mind though because Diego_Maradona was pretty much dead. So purple started telling me all the movements and locations of 120cc because he still had Observers all over the map. By then I also had 6 Starports running and about 7 Battlecruisers, but because I had so many expansions my supply was limited. Notice in the picture how I was filthy rich but almost at my supply limit = (. However, I also had 2 squadrons of Wraiths and a few Science Vessels = ) ...
Let the Fun Begin!
Taking my massive fleet of about 34 ships, I plowed through the map straight to 120cc's heart.
Need I say more?
After that I systematically destroyed the rest of 120cc's bases. But even though 120cc was severely crippled, he put up an amazing fight. He set up a new main base in the middle and started cranking out the Defilers. The fight for his survival was quite fierce. The both of us hit each other where it hurts...hard.
 First, I found his stash of Overlords and clobbered them with Wraiths. Then in return 120cc plagued my Battlecruisers several times. 'Grrr...I wish this were Brood War so I could have Medics!' So I laid siege to the middle, which was heavily laden with Spore Colonies, and wiped it clean. 120cc was forced to relocate once again. Below are some snippits of cool eye candy from the battle. 
The next place I attacked was the top middle, but guess what...
I had to pass directly over one of Diego_Maradona's bases. The fact that purple didn't avenge himself for my accidentally attacking his Assimilator proved that his "friendship" was loyal. This reassured me and I kept moving to kill 120cc off. After destroying the top spot, I took a left and headed for 120cc's only remaining base. By this time I had killed half of my SCVs and made about 8 more Battlecruisers. However, my supply of Wraiths in action was drying out fast, but I didn't feel like bothering with them anymore...they were just too fragile and weak at that point in the game.
This is a picture of the final battle with 120cc. He plagued my fleet several times, as you can see, and erected many many Spore Colonies during the assault. But a few seconds later...
 120cc has left the game.
'Woohoo! It's all over. I've won. Now I just have to finish off purple.'
Boy, was I ever wrong! I soon found out that Diego_Maradona had been leading me on all this time. Meanwhile he was secretly building up and army of Templar! 'Bastard...Backstabbing bastard. Grrr'
 After repairing all of my Battlecruisers, I attacked the middle. That punk had so many Templar that my fleet didn't stand a chance no matter how I spaced them. It was gone in record time.
I asked purple, "Do you honestly think you can win?"
"Sincerely"
"Well, give it up. Just quit now...because it ain't gonna happen."
'Oh my gosh, I was really asking for it, wasn't I?'
Taking my reserve fleet, I flew around the top side of his main base on the right. I had a stroke of luck and was able to destroy one of his expansions on the way, but this only let Diego_Maradona know that I was coming. It thus gave him time to perfectly place all of his Templars, Dragoons, and Arbiters in his main base. This time I managed to EMP most of the Templars with my Science Vessels, but they just kept coming and coming!
'Initiate panic mode'
Now I was freaking out. I had another fleet waiting for me back at home by the time the first 2 were destroyed. I attacked the middle again, escorting my attack force with 4 Science Vessels, but the extra 2 proved not to even make a dent. A horrendous lightning storm erupted over my ships and they all plummeted to their deaths.
Now I was also out of gas. There was still one spot I could expand to, but I couldn't set it up in time before Diego_Maradona came along with all his Templar and Dragoons. I bet only a fleet of Science Vessels could have beaten his army.
'So I'm out of gas and...hmmm...I have 5000 minerals. What should I do? If I just made marines they would get owned my Psi-Storm and Reavers even worse than my BCs.'
 I resorted to the last-ditch, desperate-to-win, newbie-defense: I covered my main base with Missile Turrets. I'm so ashamed to say I did such a thing, but I wasn't going to give up easy to that lying bastard. (Sorry...I'm still peeved about it.) Anyway, I shuttled all of my Tanks and Marines from my other bases and set them up in various spots in my main. My other bases, not to mention, were in the process of being attacked by Diego_Maradona. Look at the mini-map to the right...my main base is completely covered in the radar's neon green. Sad huh?
'What now?' The answer was: 'wait.'
I was out of money and room to maneuver, so I just sat there. I started up a conversation with Diego_Maradona. First I began by telling him how his base sucked. Then I claimed I could beat him any day in a 1 on 1. This didn't impress him much and he got sarcastic on me. The truth is that Diego_Maradona was just a ladder free-for-all cheapo. He got his 1134 by playing FFAs and pouncing on players after they get attacked. My theory on this has to be true, because 1) he said himself that he only plays FFAs; and 2) his base layout really did suck! Granted, he has the concept of putting cannons behind a wall of buildings,  but as you can see his thinking was very linear on this. Besides that, he had astonishingly inefficient unit production. Being a Protoss specialist myself, I know what works, and there is no doubt that I could pound him into the dirt in a 1 on 1. Knowing this, I felt completely cheated because I was being beat by an inferior player. Hope I don't sound to harsh here.
During our conversation, Diego_Maradona said that he couldn't speak English very well.
So I ask, "Espanol?"
"Si"
"Ah muy bien."
Then he asks where I'm from.
I reply "Tejas, y usted?"
"Argentina"
Well that explains a lot. No wonder he couldn't understand me the whole time. I began speaking in Spanish from then on, and he actually commented me on my good grammar. = )
Soon after that little chat, Diego_Maradona attempts to kill me. He flies 6 Arbiters, 4 of which are Hallucinations, right over my wall of turrets. 'I knew he would do that.' Diego_Maradona Recalls a huge division of Reavers, Templar, and Dragoons into my base. The Dragoons and Arbiters engage my Battlecruisers while the Templar are blown to pieces before they can get off too many Psi-Storms. The fighting was so intense and concentrated in one area that I could barely micro-manage my troops. In the end I had 5 Battlecruisers left out of 12, 2 dead Tanks, 5 dead Marines, about 10 destroyed Missile Turrets, and a few buildings on fire.  Because I needed to build up again, I dropped all of my SCVs in the half-on-fire base below me and sent them to mine in the little patch of 4 minerals just outside of that base. I didn't want to move the Command Center closer because Diego_Maradona's numerous Observers would definitely notice. Besides, I didn't really have time to wait on the stupid thing crawl across the screen. In the picture you can see me messaging my fellow clan leader and friend. 'All hail Knights of Fear!' I knew that my time here on Polaris Prime was dwindling fast.
Knowing that he couldn't kill me with Recall, Diego_Maradona started making Carriers. 'Dangit. I knew he would eventually figure that out.' Purple erected several Stargates, and after a few minutes had 12 of the behemoths looming just outside my base as they waited for Arbiter escort. Then, armageddon. In all the confusion of missiles from my Turrets and Interceptors from the Carriers, I did what I could. I EMP'd the fleet of Carriers as many times as I could and then attacked with my Battlecruisers. I managed to destroy at least 3 before I had nothing else to fight with.
"buen juego"
"gg"
It took him a couple minutes to destroy all of my buildings, so I got a chance to chat a little in the meantime. We seemed to part on friendly terms, but I still had this sick, hateful feeling in my gut. The final blow was quite psychedelic, as I quickly recalled all that I had been through just to end up losing:
Statistics of the Game
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Player Stats
|
|
Name
|
Units
|
Structures
|
Resources
|
Total Points
|
Kill/Loss Ratio
|
|---|
|
| Diego_Maradona
|
271020 |
47320 |
87136 |
405476 |
7:5 |
| Me (Lieut.Mac)
|
220705 |
60175 |
70482 |
351362 |
16:5 ! |
| 120cc
|
158250 |
25105 |
107092 |
290447 |
1:5 |
| warmaster...058
|
8100 |
2105 |
10202 |
20407 |
hahaha |
Elapsed Time: 2:51:39 !!!
Lessons Learned
1. Don't Cry for me... It was my fault that I lost. I don't deserve pity. I should have checked everyone's stats before the game started. I should have killed Diego_Maradona when I had the chance. I shouldn't have been so nice. Being friendly is something different that being nice.
'Ok, that's too heavy. Let's get to the other lessons.'
2. When in doubt, make more Science Vessels!
3. Don't think you can outlast your enemy in a stalemate, especially if he has a cable modem. = )
Comments
Well, thanks for reading my report. I hope you liked it because I put a lot of time into it. Sorry about all the pictures, but I think you'll agree that the time it took to download was well worth it.
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