Great Team Liquid Thread:

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=263636

It talks about the Protoss Warp in Mechanic and things you may not have thought about concerning it. He claims it broke Protoss, I don't agree with that opinion, but the content does make think about certain aspects of the game and how Protoss differs from the other 2 races because of this mechanic.

NASL Grand Finals Puma vs MC

Grand Finals
MC vs Puma
PvT

This will be a best of 7 series, no idea of the maps that will be used. My bet will be on these:
Xelnaga Caverns, Metalopolis, Taldarim Altar, Terminus, Shattered Temple, Crossfire, and Backwater Gulch. Not necessarily in that order.

Game 1
First map is Metalopolis. Players spawn in close air positions in the southern portion of the map. MC spawning in the south and Puma in the West. Standard play coming out, Fast factory coming out and floats up and lands in the base of MC for some Helions. MC already grabbing a Stargate and not grabbing Voidrays, but Phoenixs instead. Puma grabbing his Command center in preparation for an expansion. It seems Puma is favoring heavy Bio units and MC begins his expansion as well. food counts are about even at the ten minute mark, 80- 76 of MC. I lost the internet, just for a second but it was enough for me to miss the drop in the base of MC but i dont think it did much. MC did throw down a Templar archives at some time, and grabbing a few Archons and favoring alot of Zealots like he has in the past. MC also epxanding behind this big aggression he is doing as well. EMP's go off and completely nulify the forcefields of the Sentries which wont go down now. MC is forced to retreat as his Zealots are eliminated. Puma expands after this to his 3rd, and attempts another drop but it is spotted early. MC, after now taking full advantage of his 3rd base, is now leading the food count by 40, 150-110 at the 18 min mark. Colossus are now coming into the game as 2 Robo Facilitiys are down and producing. A lot of Ghosts are out now as well, and they get some great EMP's off, nullifying Storms. He pushes through and eliminated the army of MC and MC is forced to gg after the overpowered emps just cripple him....

Game 2
Shattered Temple is the next map and again both players are spawning in close air positions in the south. MC in the West, Puma in the South. Puma looks to be going for 3 Barracks, and MC going for an early expansion. Puma also putting down an expansion as well. Puma looking to be favoring bio units again. MC is grabbing a late 2nd gas and a Stargate and Puma this time doesn't have a Viking to help fend off the Phoenix's. Puma trys a drop but flys right into the Phoenix's of MC, MC holds it off, but his Stargate tech is delayed. Another Ghost Academy is out, so probably some Nuke play, Charge also coming up as well as more Phoenix play. Templars are coming up so we can expect some Storm play. Puma makes a drop and manages to delay the mineral line and snipe the twilight council that was making Charge. This Cripples him and now MC loses his Zealots and is forced to GG. Puma is up 2-0

Game 3
Xelnaga Caverns is the map. MC spawning in the south, Puma in the North. Standard play again. Early 2nd gas is being taken from MC. MC going for a Stargate again, hes favored this build in every game we have seen here in the finals. A Voidray is coming out as well, and a 2nd after that, MC defends Pumas early pressure so well, his entire force is eliminated. MC now goes on the offensive with the 2 Void Rays that have still not been revealed yet. He is picking off alot of buildings and forces Puma on the defensive and establishes hiw own expansion in the mean time. MC is leading the food count by 20 at the 11 min mark, 80-60. MC is going for 7 Phoenixs now and a drop from Puma is on the way. but MC picks it off with no trouble, Puma drops again, this time on MC's Twilight Council and again picks it off right before Charge Finishes. Storm is done however, and 4 Templars are on the field ready to do damage, no Ghosts to counter these and MC pushes Puma all the way back with no trouble slowly eliminating the Terran army, Puma gg's and MC takes game 3, 1-2.

Game 4
Map is Backwater Gulch. Puma is spawning in the Bottom Right corner, and MC is in the Top left. MC opening up with a Robo Opening for the first time in this series. No Stargate tech looks to be coming out. Looks to be a 3 gate Robo. Banshees looking to be coming out as well with Cloak. He trys to do some Harras but it doesnt work as MC fends it off. Puma throwing a Ninja Expansion down in the top Right corner.  Colossus are also on the way in as well. Puma also takes his Natural. Puma now favoring heavy bio units. MC going for Stalkers and Colossus. Blink is out, Charge and Storm both on its way. MC not making more than 3 Colossus. Storm as canceled it looks like.Ghosts are now in play, great EMP's go off, MC's army is destroyed, and Puma will take game 4, 3-1.

Game 5
Terminus RE is the map. Looks like im 5 for 5 in map guessing. Cross Positions are spawned, MC in the East Puma in the West. Early expansions go down. Probably a 4 gate push coming in. it is rebuffed, and a Banshee is out, with cloak, makes it across the map and picks off 9 probes. It seriously delays the economy of MC, but Puma has not done anything to take advantage of his natural. Puma is still on one base. He is just now taking his 2nd at the 10 minute mark, but Cloaked Banshees are harrasing all around the map. Chargelots are coming up. Templar Archives are up as well, with Storm most likely following, Puma is retaining map control. He makes a drop and again delays the mineral line of MC. Puma is just dominating MC and beings taking his 3rd. MC also taking his 3rd and defending against the drops very well. MC makes a push but doesnt do much except pick off 2 more drops from Puma. Puma trying to drop again. The stream is lagging. The drops of Puma are forcing MC to stay near his base and he is just not able to go on the offensive. He holds off a big attack with a key storm that changes the tide of this battle, MC IS NOW IN THE LEAD, hes got Puma running! He denys Pumas 4th and proceeds to head back and tech up. MC looking to make a few Colossus. The Archons are helping him absorb that damage and MC is even taking his 5th as well M C almost loses his 3rd, it was 4 HP away from death, and Puma is on the death march and trys to engange, Archons are getting pushed back and picked off. Puma makes a drop and picks off the 3rd, the main army of Puma is also eliminated and both sides are looking to rebuild. we are now at the 25 min mark and its 4 bases against 5. Puma charges in and Great storms go off to delay that. Colossus are now on thier way into the field MC picks off another drop and is in the lead with food by 20, Great Storms go off, Colossus now on the front lines, Puma is on the run, food count is in favor of MC by 50, EMPs go off but aren't enough. Puma gg's and MC takes game 5, 2-3.

Game 6
Taldarim Altar is the map. 6 for 6 on maps selection woot. MC spawning in the bottom Left, Puma spawning in the Bottom Right. Standard play from both sides. MC going for a fast Twilight Council. Blink is coming down, and no Dark Templar Shrine so probably a big Blink Stalker push. MC appliues alot of pressure, and really delays the mineral line with alot of early game Blink stalker pressure. 21 workers killed several of which were Mules. Stimpack has been delayed, Charge now on its way and MC expanded behind all this pressure. and is now grabbing his Templar Archives and is grabbing storm. Both players are now expanding to thier 3rd. No storm coming out, but Archons are on thier way. Ghosts are also being made. MC defends against Pumas first drop pretty easily. Storm is now on its way, as well as a 4th base for MC. No concussive shell is out, Storms go odd as Puma enganges, MC is forced to retreat, this could be it for MC, he loses his army, but a great lag spike causes me to miss how he turns it around!!!! Puma is pushed back, a great storm goes off and MC is alla round the map picking of anything he can. but a drop from puma picks off MC's 3rd, MC doing a great job at defednig it now, MC picks off a big drop! MC storms another drop Feed backs go off, Archons charging in, Puma engage but is severely at a desadvantage, Immortals in play, MC is forced back, but he is still leading in the food count, so much going on, so much lag, its getting bad.....Another big pickoff from MC stalkers take out one, feedback on the other. MC is at 200 army, Puma at 120 at the 27 min mark. Still no concussive shell is out. MC is cleaning up Puma. Puma trying to drop but it does nothing. Puma gg's and mc takes the series to 3-3. INCREDIBLE PLAY, CMON MC!!!!You can do it!!!!!!!

Game 7
Last match! Map is Crevasse! Spawn points are on the Left side of the map. MC in the bottom and Puma in the top. Early expansion going down. MC going for a 3 gate Proxy Pylon push but it doesnt do so well and is rebuffed. He loses alot of units, and only Marines and SCV's in his opponents base to hold it off. Puma going heavy Bio, Concussive Shell and Stimpack going down. Twighlight council coming up, Food count is 88-72 in favor of Puma. Puma engages, Forcefields so well, and holds off Pumas attack, he loses almost everything and MC is back in this game. Chargelots in, 6 gateways down, and no Medivacs yet, but Ghosts are in play. Dark Shrine is now coming up. Food counts are now about even, but Puma takes the advantage again and MC loses a big part of his army after trying to push up.3rd bases are coming up and Dark Templars do sneak in. Puma has very little detection and MC has alot of map control. Puma pushes out, takes out the proxy Pylon and the Ghosts of Puma EMP the sentries of MC and MC loses his army and gg's, Puma is the NASL Champion!

North American Star League Results Division 2, Day 2

This post is all about the match results for Day 2 of the North American Star League! Day 2 features 10 players from all over the world competing for the $100k prize pool.

I want to start out by saying I am sorry for not giving all of the info for the first Day the NASL. There was quite a lot of videos to watch and I just did not have enough time to watch them all! I can however give the results for the matches.

Day 1

Artosis vs Sheth

I did watch some of this match and to be honest, so no extraordinary play from Artosis. Sheth went on to beat him 2-0.

Fenix vs KiwiKaki
Fenix beat out KiwiKaki 2-0.

Morrow vs Rainbow

Morrow beat Rainbow 2-0.

Now on to Day 2! Here is the Map Pool that will be used:

NASL Division 2, Day 2's Map Pool, Crossfire, Backwater gulch, and Taldarim Altar

As you can see, the same maps from Day 1 except Terminus has been taken out, and Taldarim Altar was added in. The first match to be broadcasted will be QXC vs MoMaN!

NASL Division 2 QXC vs MoMaN

Match: (T) vs (Z)

This map favors some unique
play with far positions and not
so easily defendable expos

Game 1

Map: Crossfire

Match 1 proved to be very exciting with a few close calls and excellent timing pushes from both opponents. QXC opens with Tank Marine and gets ready to push, but Moman gets 10 Mutalisks out just in time to take out the Tanks. QXC does however damage the Hatchery to just 40 hit points. This loss just puts QXC at a disadvantage and MoMaN takes the first win.

Backwater gulch offers an easily
defendable expansion but large
 open areas in the middle.

Game 2

Map: Backwater Gulch

In this match, players spawn in cross positions at the Top Right and Bottom Left positions. QXC uses a great new tactic. He mixed Reapers with speed with Medivacs healing. The Medivac acted as a scout up on ramps and the Reapers were able to poke up, shoot and jump back down to prevent taking any damage. However, MoMaN takes advantage of QXC's immobile army and darts in and out of QXC's base several times doing moderate damage to his economy. This caused QXC to fall permanently behind with Banelings and Mutalisks darting in, taking out units, and darting back out, denying any expansion attempt by QXC. MoMaN takes the game and the series, 2-0.

NASL Division 2 Cruncher vs Darkforce

Match: (P) vs (Z)

Game 1

Map: Crossfire

Cruncher opens up with a 3 gate Stargate and begins pumping out Voidrays. He uses them for some inital harrassment but retreats with only 3 Queens to defend. Darkforce looks to be teching to Roaches while Cruncher begins picking up a few delayed Collossus to help supplement his army. Many many Corrupters are on the field and Cruncher attempts to push out with a Blink Stalker/Collossus/VoidRay mix but loses his Colossi to the huge amount of Corrupters on the map, however Cruncher succeeds in taking out the ground army of DarkForce and proceeds to continue the aggression and take the first game.

Game 2

Map: Backwater Gulch

Players spawn in cross positions. The builds appear to be very standard play until Cruncher places a Proxy Pylon, but it is scouted 1 minute before Warp Gate tech is researched. Cruncher decides to expand with only 2 Gateways and nearly loses it to some early Zergling pressure, but holds it with only 3 Zealots and a Sentry. He proceeds to place a Stargate down and begins to produce some Void Rays again. He begins some harrasment and map control with the Void Rays and Phoenixs and also proceeds to grab some Colossus while Darkforce is grabbing a Spire with a Roach/Hyrda army. However Darkforce is very low on gas and his 3rd base was delayed due to the Void Ray harass. Both players are playing very passively, just teching up at this point. Darkforce moves on to take 3 more bases and pushes in but is rebuffed and loses all his Corrupters and ground army and is now grabbing Infestors with Neural Parasite However Darkforce still has an advantage in numbers as well as excellent creep spread so he may be able to deal with this army effectively. However, Cruncher does begin teching to get a Mothership. Darkforce try's to keep Cruncher at bay with some Zergling harass, while rebuilding units he lost against that Stalker/Colossus/Void Ray combo. Another engagement with the Mothership/Colossus/Stalker/Void Ray mix means total defeat for the Zerg army, Cruncher begins taking out expansions and Darkforce concedes the match. Cruncher taking the series and the game to 2-0. Very great game and an excellent unit combo that isn't used enough!

NASL Division 2 TT1(P) vs Sjow(T)

Match: (P) vs (T)

Game 1

Map: Crossfire

This match featured some pretty standard play, TT1 opening up with some Gateway units and transitioning into Robotics play. Sjow choosing to go with Marine/Tank with a Raven, which works REALLY well against Protoss. More Terran players need to not only be incorporating it in a PvT matchup, but making it standard in every PvT match. Point Defense Drone works so well against our Stalkers. TT1 makes a mistake early on and attempt to pick off some Tanks, but loses his army in the process. Sjow then sets up outside TT1's expo and finishes him off with the help of some Banshees. Sjow takes the game 0-1.

Game 2

Map: Backwater Gulch

Both players are spawning on the Right sides of the map. Both players are going for an early expand. TT1 went for a 3 Warpgate with Sjow going for a 3 Barracks and with Banshees coming out. TT1 is going for Colossus again, and a Raven for Sjow coming out as well. Pretty much the same build from both players again, however TT1 favoring Zealots over Stalkers, in fact, not a single Stalker has been made by the 12 minute mark. He is probably trying to make that Raven useless as Point Defense Drone down not cancel out the Colossus's attack. He did try to destroy Sjows army, but the Tanks and  Marines are able to eliminate the 20+ Zealots that are without Charge with relative ease. Charge would most likely have done a lot more damage to Sjow if he had it. Having that many Zealots it would only make sense to upgrade them with Charge. Sjow takes the series 0-2.

NASL Division 2 InControl(P) vs Ensnare(T)

Match: (P) vs (T)

Game 1

Map:Crossfire

This match shows that its not the size of the unit that matters, its how you use it. both players open pretty standard, 3 gate expand and a Marine/Tank unit combo into an expansion. Incontrol buys his expansion some time by positioning some units and Sentries outside Ensnare's base to prevent him from moving out while Incontrol takes the economic lead. Incontrol then starts teching up to Colossus while Ensnare makes a push with his Marine/Tank Combo, gradually pushing Incontrols Stalker/Sentrys back, but the first Colossus does make it out just as Ensnares Marines get separated from the tank line. Wihtin a few seconds, all 25 Marines are dead, and the last of the Tanks are getting mopped up. Both armies however do end up building up into that deadly ball and Ensnare does a few drops and positions himself to have a very clear control over his half of the map, but Incontrol takes advantage of the immobility of the siege tanks and jsut completely sidesteps Ensnares army and goes right into his main. By using Ensnares own ramp against him, he is able to take out his army and claim Game 1.

Game 2

Map: Backwater Gulch

InControl attempts a Dark Templar Rush but does not realize Ensnare expanded very quickly and built a few Missile Turrets in time to stop the Dark Templar. Ensnare makes a very good timing push after Incontrol is attempting to expand twice, and crushes his defenses. Ensnare takes the series 1-1.

This is a very Macro oriented map with 2 close
expansions and very long distances between bases

Game 3

Map: Taldarim Altar

Last match of the day. The only match to make it to this map. I was looking forward to this map to see how a Protoss reacts to certain pushes. Players spawn in cross positions so this is going to be a very long macro oriented map. Ensnare takes a very early expansion while Incontrol begins building more units.  He is going to go for Colossus, while Ensnare is getting 8 Barracks for a heavy infantry only unit composition. Ensnare is in the lead with food, but a heavy Infantry well get torn apart by Incontrols 5 Colossus. When the engagement finally happens it does happen in Incontrols favor by having excellent Forcefield placement and a dozen Phoenix's to absorb the damage from the Vikings. He kept his Colossus safe and delivered a defeat to a Code S Korean. Congrats Incontrol!!!!

Spoiler Alert!

Results

White-Ra(0) vs July(2)

QXC(0) vs MoMaN(2)

DarkForce(0) vs CrunCher(2)

TT1(0) vs Sjow(2)

InControl(2) vs Ensnare(1)

Ways to control your opponent.

One very effective strategy to gain the advantage is too attack him with certain units that force a building or training or action from him.

Example: If you simply get some Dark Templar and very obviously send them to a spot and start harassing, that forces your opponent to start building detection, thus wasting some resources and time in getting it. If you time it right, you can even attack him while he is in the midst of this transition. Attacking while your opponent is teching to a new unit, researching a vital upgrade, or building defenses is very important. You can catch your opponent off guard while he is waiting for that upgrade to complete before he pushes.

Another way I found was through a match a few weeks ago on Scrap Station. The ground distance to our bases was far, however I like to take advantage of the short air distance by sending in warp prisms to deploy and warp in troops. He saw this and began to build Missile Turrets, EVERYWHERE. I’m not talking about 2-3 here and there, I’m talking about at least 5-10 for each of his expansions (he had 3 by the end of the match). I didn’t have a backup strategy back then so I continued to try and do the same thing with little success. What I should have done is take advantage of the fact that he was pumping in at least 2k+ amount of resources for this defense and started just mass building units to try and break this Terran who was by now turtling. Its important to remember this key fact: If he starts mass building these defenses, he is not building units. With all those Missile Turrets, an army consisting of mainly Gateway units and Immortals could break the line and would have probably won me the game.

The game ended with him building up several Battlecruisers and sending them at me after I attempted to use a Mothership and Mass Recall inside his base.

The key to begin to start controlling your opponent is scouting. If you don’t know what he is doing through scouting or early aggression, it is very difficult to gain the advantage. I am interested to learn other ways of controlling your opponent. I’ve only played a total of 40 games so I still have a lot more to experience.