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Hi guys so I just read a blog on TL where this guy basically had a giant QQ about how he's in plat but will go on streaks beating masters regularly, and then down to losing to silvers and golds regularly. He has no idea why etc etc: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/view...ic_id=331845#4

I started replying and realised that the advice I gave could be helpful to anyone so I'd post it as a blog here too.

With erratic play from players where their play can be 3-4 leagues higher one day then the next there's a host of issues that could be the cause. Often I will say make sure you take breaks, you eat healthy and exercise, don't play when tired and your life outside the game is going well and you aren't ignoring real life for a game. However sometimes the player is completely adamant that they already do all this and yet still their ladder play suffers. And so I thought about how our ego ties into competitive play:


When you start beating higher level players than yourself you're telling yourself you're a ******* amazing player and its easy cos you're so damned good. I used to think the same. These days however you know what I think when I win a game?

"Hmmm... I slipped up my macro really badly when I was getting broods, I need to remember more macro hatches and keep up injects in future. My micro in the first 2 engages wasn't the best, I need to work on that. I also got lucky he didn't do a blink timing because I think that could have killed me, I should find ways to make sure I know he isn't doing that next time so I'm not relying on luck".

Now this isn't just me saying you should look for ways to improve. It's about the entire freakin mindset of improving and DOING YOUR BEST. If you're not playing your best then there's often 1 key reason. As I stated above you might just think you're freakin amazing and stop trying as a result. If this is the problem then it's because rather then wanting to play the game, you just want to beat your opponent. Your ego seems to be implicitly tied in with winning to the point where you get on an ego-high and start ignoring aspects of the game. Now if this is the case then it isn't until you hit rock bottom, after 20 or so losses that you finally are so upset and disenchanted with the game and your performance that your ego is crushed. With no inflated ego to focus on you have to actually start focusing really tightly on how you perform and actually go back to playing the game to your actual ability.

Of course 17 wins and 3 losses later you think you're king-shit again and start losing because all you're thinking about is crushing your opponent into the ground without even trying and how awesome you are, and so the cycle begins again.

I believe these thoughts on the ego of players in Starcraft II applies to most players to one degree or another. I hope that you realise that winning at this game, while making you feel like a baller, in no way makes you better than anyone else. There's always someone out there faster, better or smarter than you. All you can do as a competitor is gain what you would from any competitive sport or activity, the satisfaction of self-improvement, effort and trying bloody hard.

All ego does is stand in the way of real satisfaction.

Also a note from my good friend Kaveh:

"improvement itself is going to be executed in an erratic way if there is no focused internalization of techniques / ideas, which is why you should practice specific things rather than ladder in a general way and think that all play will improve specific aspects"

Please comment, leave any thoughts or disagreements below