[TAdeL2]

10 ladder games Featuring deL!

nirvAnA: The famous deL shares his experiences with us, TGM style!

Playing such SEA heavyweights as Nightbringer, Malthraz and who could forget Stormtrooper these replays present exceptional value for the high platinum player looking to take it to the next level.

For those wondering about the time commitment, these replays should last just a little longer than OxygeN's replay pack as they are slightly more macro-focussed than the Singaporean Terran's typical game.

1) Tal'Darim LE vs Nightbringer

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This game was a PvP on Tal'Darim LE so naturally I avoided a tedious macro game in favour of scouting 2 directions at the start while putting a pylon down in the middle at 8 supply. After one gateway in the middle of the map I had established his location and threw down a 2nd gate for good measure. Usually you can squeeze out another probe after the 2nd gate and I probe harassed to would his workers. I then proceeded to make zealots and chronoboost them out as much as possible.

At this point it was 138 to 36 APM so I was clearly the better player. My opponent even commended me on my superior tactics.

he mad? ye he mad

In conclusion, even though he counter-proxied me and got a forge up, I got my own counter-forge and the game ended when I kept his units busy with my own while cannoning his last remaining buildings. He made the mistakes of not pulling his probes to supplement his army/hide more buildings and also moving out with his army to take out my buildings when he might have forced a draw by defending his buildings.

Rating: 6/10
What I could improve on: To be honest this is a timeless build that is done to perfection. In hind sight though I think I could have been more abusive.

2) Metalopolis vs Nubtorious

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This time I thought I'd mix it up a bit and proxy the 2 gateways in his natural instead of in the middle of the map - it's important to change up your play like this lest opponents catch on to your coveted builds. Luckily in this case my Terran opponent was in close positions.

After the obligatory early-game pleasantries (see image below) the game was underway. However, as quickly as it had started it was over as my opponent's talent was no match for my amoved zealots. He soon left the game without a gg which I thought was a little BM (bad manner).

"Good Manner" is an integral part of ESPORTS

Despite this, my opponent did make an effort to contact me after the game. Post-game banter like this is a surefire way to make some friends and practice partners and I highly suggest pleasantries after games.

Nubtorious: u must have had a very bad day today, i feel sorry for you. if that win could make you feel a little better. im happy for you
You: nah I just like making retards look as bad as they are
The player is ignoring you.

Rating: 9/10. I thought my opponent did well scouting my proxy and continuing to mine with mules when he pulled SCVs to defend.
What I could improve on: I only killed one SCV with my probe.

3) Xel'Naga Caverns vs Stormtrooper

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As this was a 1v1 map my strategy was altered. The more acute among you may pick it up, though it's subtle, but this time when I did 8 pylon into 2 gateways I did it at the natural without having to scout my opponent's location because it's a 1v1 map. Note that I put it to the left of the top nat on XNC so there was little chance of a rogue overlord lucking out, that is totally lame.

The folley of my opponent's build choice was soon highlighted when I had 3 zealots and a probe against his 50% morphed spawning pewl.

Lesson learned: don't make more than 1 base.

Victory!

Rating: 9/10. My opponent's micro was terrible (though I boosted his morale by saying "nice micro" every time he failed) so it made me look good. Reccommended.
What I could improve on: I think I should have called him something offensive before he left the game for maximum effect.

4) Xel'Naga Caverns vs Malthraz

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This one was pretty straight forward and similar to the game before, except my opponent's spawning pool actually completed. Strangely he didn't really make zerglings and the game was over quite fast.

Sometimes under the pressure of competition your nerves can make you forget what you meant to do or say.

GG soon followed.

Rating: 10/10. Forget GSL you won't see much better than this.
What I could improve on: Sometimes while trashtalking my grammar slips a little.

5) Scrap Station vs Malthraz

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Now this game was close to my heart. After doing 2gate proxies for the previous 4 games I decided to keep my opponent's on their toes. This was especially pertinent as this was the second time I hit this opponent during the 20 minute gaming session (good SEA ladder, Blizzard!). I set out with a plan and executed it to perfection - I did a regular 9 pylon but then made a forge at the top of my ramp. I went for maximum saturation off one base while defending with cannons and threw down a wall-in and robotics bay and started to DT tech. During this time I distracted him with a fake "gg" - this is called meta-gaming.

Mind games like this can throw your opponent off. Use them well

The first phase of my plan played out like this. I hit him with DTs and made cannons from my warp prism. While he was distracted by the Nexus I build behind his main mineral line my DTs racked up around a dozen kills. Notice my high resource count - it is good practice to save up your minerals in case you need to switch strategies fast once you procure new intel.

Sometimes it is necessary to let your opponent know they are behind by making a Nexus in their main.

The second wave of my dismantling of a vastly outwitted opponent was the ol' shuttlegoon. This vintage BW strategy involves loading up shuttles (warp prisms) with dragoons (stalkers) so they have exactly the same/less move speed and also don't get to fire their shots off as fast. Obviously this was too much for my hapless opponent and he tapped out.

THE OLD SHUTTLEGOON.


Seconds before impact.

It's always nice to get your genius recognised. Consider applauding me if I meet you on ladder and enrich your life.

Rating: 10/10. Shuttlegoon.
What I could improve on: I really think I could have ended it when I made cannons from a warp prism and a manner nexus in his base, but by walling myself in and by his own confusing builds I was too indecisive.

+ [Games 6 to 10] +

In this case I got bored after 5 games and didn't play any more maybe next time.

Quick Comments

	deL:	Very educational.
	Nvdeth:	I learnt a lot thanks!
	TACosmic:	deL is a strong player and doesn't afraid of anything!
	JacziE:	TAdeL aka FXOdeL is an up and coming progamer in the SEA region
	ROOT`iaguz:	Protip to FXOBoss; send this guy out first next time kk?
	[TA]LoSt:	A brilliantly executed ShuttleGoon, with play-by-play analysis second only to Oxy.
	nirvAnA:	best platinum coach !!
	PiG:
	Tom:	5 stars
	NvPinder:	Subtle touches like 'pewl' are why i love you as a person.
	Champi:	solid playstyle, scary what electrolytes can do for u
	Apth:
	TAavanar:	how mucha re lesson?
	Satu:	If this was TL.net, this'd be spotlighted. In fact, we should make a spotlight section specifically for this masterpiece.
	NvRossi:	quality
	ToRDeathsFang:
	mGMUSE:	"proxied" did it for me ROFL
	inFeZa:	terrible
	TAkrunch:	Best 5 game summary to date.
	FrOst:	Will be testing out shuttlegoon shortly.
	dazaris: