This was guaranteed to be a good game because each player was around 990 ladder score. Err, 990 you say? Yes, 990 is my reply. The game's victor was actually the lowest, with a rating of 946.

To get the ball rolling, let's introduce the players.

RootBreaker[w] was some sort of random guy, who joined channel "ffa" when ::nobody:: said "Come to channel ffa for an ffa." He claimed to be good, so he was admitted. He randomed like the other two players and received the noble Protoss. He spawned at the very bottom left hand corner.

::nobody:: was the creator of the game. He is well known for his battle reports, but very sparsely known for his playing ability. This game he would prove if he had the necessary skills or not. ::nobody:: received the tenacious Zerg after randoming. He spawned at the very top left corner.

I_Cud_b_Better got, yes, you heard me right, Purple Terran!! Could he live up to the legacy created by OrcManiac and King-Lewis? We would soon find out. He spawned in the very bottom right hand corner.

GelatinHero was a fellow observer. He did little for entertainment .. I think he was AFK 90% of the game. The funnest thing he did was make this comment:

Multiplication is a 192x192 map with a plethora of expansions and dozens of islands. It is an old Map Of The Week and I had only gotten it from Jim-The-Car the previous evening. BTW Jim, I own you at Rock Paper Scissors =].

I_Cud_b_Better sent me a message that he was going hardcore BCs. He, being the genius he is, got behind on supply early in the game and was going to cost him. He quickly went for dual Starports and produced a few Wraiths before going hardcore BCs. He was the last one to get an initial expansion and this put the hurt on him pretty badly. He recovered quickly, however, and established an excellent perimeter defense on his latest expansion in a small period of time.

I_Cud_b_Better's initial build was somewhat standard (save for his supply depot forget) w/ a Supply Depot before Refinery build order. Following this came a Barracks and after that a Factory. He produced very few units this early in the game.

::nobody:: went for a Mutalisk rush with a zany build order for it ... it went Spawning Pool, Lair, Spire ... complete lack of second hatchery. He spawned about 7 or 8 Mutalisks and used them to fortify his new expansion. He was the first to expand, surprisingly, because he had to research Overlord transporting while I_Cud_b_Better's buildings (err, the majority of them) had flying capabilities to relocate across the vast space. He did a fun trick by getting transportation before speed, and since the expansions are nearby (a bit closer than Polaris Prime), he was able to get there at a rather decent time.

RootBreaker[w] just did a general techer's build. His build was early Robotics Facility to Citadel of Adun to Observatory to Templar Archives. I didn't recognize the build and suspected "newbieism." His strategy became somewhat clear, for after he expanded he threw down dual Stargates, using a similar build to I_Cud_b_Better, except for Protoss. He spent a lot of money in a short period of time so I could tell he was not spending well.

The versatile Mutalisks finished the job quickly by destroying the pylon which was powering the two "warping-in" cannons. The Dragoon did little to hamper their attempts and was destroyed after the pylon. RootBreaker[w]'s first attempt to expand had failed -- miserably.

Upon sighting that ::nobody:: was going for a Mutalisk-based build he warped in two Stargates to make Mutalisk wh00mpers (a.k.a. Corsairs) and some defensive High Templar. At around this time, ::nobody:: constructed a Hydralisk Den ... however, the whole game long he made a maximum 12 Hydralisks. Possibly, this confused RootBreaker[w]'s Observers into thinking of a Hydralisk drop strategy ...

I_Cud_b_Better hasn't sat idle however -- he constructed a Science Facility and a connected Physics Lab so he "cud" (tee hee =) begin production of lethal Terran BattleCruisers. His first two popped out relatively early.

It has become obvious that all three players, ::nobody::, RootBreaker[w], and I_Cud_b_Better were all going for air based strategies.

Right after the destruction of RootBreaker[w]'s expansion, ::nobody:: expanded, unharassed, again! He was really powering and both other players had *pitiful* recon (brown did however have an Observer patrolling the eastern side of the map -- but that was it) -- I_Cud_b_Better was literally living off Comsat Sweeps ... Ouch.

Now, there is a general teching and expanding period. Everyone upgrades, techs, and both ::nobody:: and I_Cud_b_Better establish one more expansions.

EXPANSION COUNT

::nobody:: has established 4 expansions.

I_Cud_b_Better has solidified 2 expansions (he recently floated a Command Centre to the island directly above him).

RootBreaker[w] now controls 1 functioning expansion.

PROBABLE WINNER:

::nobody::

During this relaxation period, each player has created a great deal of units. Multiple things occured ... ::nobody:: has a badass fleet of Zerg Devourers and Mutalisks ... I_Cud_b_Better has an exceptional fleet consisting of ~10 BattleCrusiers and multiple Science Vessels.

This is the first in a series of closely-woven battles which follow suit and eventually determine the game's winner. At this point, I_Cud_b_Better has the most badass fleet with RootBreaker[w]'s fleet coming in at a close second, leaving ::nobody::'s living fleet in last.

After mourning the loss of his agile fleet, ::nobody:: begins Defiler production to assist the defense of his nearly naked expansions. I_Cud_b_Better decides to go on the offensive at this point and travels north along the eastern side of the map, on a collision course with one of ::nobody::'s naked expansions.

The mighty BattleCruisers arrive on the scene, ready to do some damage. However, not eqipping the powerful Yamato Guns that were being installed on many other Terran BattleCruisers, the hulking spacecrafts were very susceptible to:

::nobody::'s expansion falls quick even though I_Cud_b_Better's BattleCruisers are very weak, with the lowest one at 1 HP and the highest at ~283. He Defensive Matrixes his powerful BattleCruisers and heads on a collision course with ::nobody::'s main base.

::nobody::'s base is weakened but he scares off the mighty BattleCruisers with Dark Swarmed Hydralisks. Remember that guy RootBreaker[w]? He hasn't been up to nothing and has thrown down an Arbiter Tribunal and has two functional Arbiters, ~10 Carriers and ~10 'Sairs headed for I_Cud_b_Better's only functioning expansion. With the absence of this expansions, I_Cud_b_Better would practically be out of the game.

Through the help of "gayweb," RootBreaker[w] is able to smash through I_Cud_b_Better's expansion defense. The island quickly falls to the Protoss captiol ships. I_Cud_b_Better admits near defeat.

RootBreaker[w]'s massive fleet which has been constructed out of a mere two Stargates has just levelledI_Cud_b_Better's main base and forced him to leave the game. All that remains in RootBreaker[w]'s way between him and victory is ::nobody:: and his units.

::nobody:: has only defilers and malicious, vicious (and slightly nutritious) Zerglings to stop the approaching Carriers. Let's take a quick break:

EXPANSION COUNT

::nobody:: has 1 expansion delivering income.

I_Cud_b_Better is toast.

RootBreaker[w] controls 2 functioning expansions.

PROBABLE WINNER:

RootBreaker[w]

The following ensued:

RootBreaker[w] emerged victorious. His 946 Ladder score proved to be just too much for the solid 990 players and he owned them solidly.

Never underestimate the power of a wh00mping 946 ladder score!

I_Cud_Definitely_b_Better

Multiplication is not only exciting in school, it's even more fun out of school!

Mogalin = God

I won't use my comment hack to get 1st comment -- can I still get it?