Fox^1 Vs. GameOverZ

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Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, "Was there ever a city like this great city?" They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out, "Woe! woe, O great city..."

Revelation 18:17-19 (NIV)

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Ahem, back to the subject at hand...

It is a sad time for me because this report is only a shadow of what might have been. The reason for this is because of a dastardly disease that I like to call Battle Report Burnout Syndrome.

Battle reporting for me has always been strictly a hobby. Tying myself down to do one per week was entirely too much. Especially during the summer when its so nice on my days off and there's beach volleyball to play, and campfires, and Applebees...

I am returning to my usual way of releasing reports. That way is, writing a report when I feel like it. Tonight, I feel like writing a report. It is a grandiose match between my good friend Fox^1 and my archnemesis, the evil GameOverZ.

In their first match, the two played a game on Dire Straits. GameOver was terran and Fox was Zerg. Fox ended up doing some heavy duty containment and expanding all over the map. This was made easier by GameOver's "3 full bunkers in my main for defense on an island" strat.

Fox ended up with 3 expansions to GameOver's 0 and ran him over with a Muta/Scourge/Guard/Devourer combo.

Game 2 was the real thriller and that is the setting upon which this report takes place...

BATTLE OVER THE RIVER STYX

And of course, it wouldn't be a true game with GameOver if he didn't give himself an out...

Finally, the map was downloaded and it was time to get the game started.

As you can see by the picture to your right, Styx is a simple map. Two bridges connect the combatant's land masses. Both land masses have a natural that is protected by their main base.

In this particular matchup, both Fox and GameOver went random and both players received terran.

Both players start out by constructing a supply depot and 2 barracks. GameOver sends out an early SCV to scout. The SCV arrives while Fox's second barracks is still under construction.

GameOver attempts to interrupt the construction of the barracks by using his SCV to attack Fox's hard working SCV. However, Fox will not fall for this clever ploy. He sends out an SCV of his own to protect his construction and it soon becomes apparent that GameOver's SCV will die before completing its mission.

Not wanting the trip to be in vain, GameOver continues to micro his SCV. He moves away from Fox's barracks and over to the Vespian geyser. Fox has not yet constructed a refinery there so GameOver decides that he will construct a refinery of his own.

The refinery has only 58 of its 750 hitpoints when GameOver's SCV loses courage, halts construction, and heads back for home base. (They just don't make GoZ SCVs like they used to.) Fox's first 2 marines have no trouble destroying the 8% completed refinery.

Back at GameOver's base, he has just constructed an academy and is working on a factory. He has a couple of token marines for defense. Meanwhile Fox has continued to pump marines out of his two barracks. Surprisingly, he does not start work on a refinery.

At first, I thought that Fox was showing off how weak his terran game was, but that was when he revealed his master plan. He grabs up 12 marines and 8 SCVs and moves this force towards the bridge.

GameOver's scouting marine meets up with Fox's assault force on the bridge. The marine gets blown away, but not before sounding the alarm.

GameOver realizes that a superior force is headed towards his base and he begins to frantically pump marines from his two barracks. He has 4 marines waiting on his side of the bridge when Fox's troops arrive.

There is a quick exchange of machine gun fire. 2 of Fox's marines are shot down, but 2 of GameOver's marines are also killed and he retreats his 2 remaining marines back to his base.

Its at this point that GameOver spots the SCVs that accompany Fox's marines and he becomes perplexed...

When Fox's force of 10 marines and 8 SCVs arrive at GameOver's base, GameOver has managed to muster a force of 5 marines and 1 vulture from his now completed factory. Knowing that his troops are outnumbered, GameOver cowers inside his base near his mineral line.

Seeing the lack of troop activity, Fox nonchalantly begins constructing 2 bunkers within range of GameOver's barracks and supply depots.

GameOver knows that if the bunkers are completed, he will be in deep trouble. Desparately, he tries to attack Fox's force using his standing troops as well as some of his SCVs.

Fox has 3 barracks now and they are all rallied to GameOver's base. Even as this battle is taking place, two more of Fox's marines arrive on the scene.

GameOver is not able to concentrate his fire on the bunker-building SCVs due to all the marines. Fox's bunkers complete without too much hassle and he quickly hops his remaining marines (which total about 6) inside.

With 6 marines protected by bunkers and 6 SCVs to repair and attack, GameOver's remaining troops are quickly wiped out. Quite a few of GameOver's buildings are within bunker range and they all burst into flame before exploding spectacularly.

The game lasts 8 minutes and 2 seconds. GameOver ends up only 163 points behind Fox, but his tech proves to be his undoing.

Thank you Fox for reminding us that a good grunt rush keeps the good players (and GameOverZ) honest.

GameOver, do you have any final thoughts?

That's right GameOver, stick to what you know... ;-)

Cheers,