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Starcraft 2

Starcraft 2 by Tom Throp

Twenty five games of Starcraft 2 later and I’m starting to get the hang of it. I know when to build, what to build and how to defend my base, I’m starting to win games. Sure they’re forty minute games but I’m holding out longer than my opponent, war of attrition and I win.

Then I try a 2v2 with a friend, online placement match. It’s faster, well normal speed, but I’ve gotten so used to waiting to build it catches me off guard. Then I realise I’m I actually have to defend to start with, I’ve been so used to having rocks protect me to start with that it’s more like two minutes that ten that I’m first attacked.

I panic, mash every button and realise; I haven’t gotten good at Starcraft 2, I’ve gotten good at the practice league. All those tactics, play styles I’ve built up over the last twenty odd games are good for practice league. Pretty much useless for proper stuff.

I could continue in the league but as I get better with the novice stuff I get worse with the proper games.

Screw it, I have to go into ranked games.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m still rubbish at the game, when I win I win because I’m slightly less worse than my opponent.

I start my first of five placement matches to decide which league I’m going to get put in. There’s bronze, which is what I’m aiming for, the lowest league and a good one to practice in. Then there’s silver which most good gamers can get promoted to. Gold is for people who are good at Starcraft and have the time and patience to learn the game nuances. This is as far as most people will get. Above that there’s platinum and diamond for the real hardcore.

I’m looking forward to getting into bronze and as I learn the game and get better at it I can work my way up to silver.

I lose game one. And game two. Good start.

Game three is a fairly convincing win, but it’s the guy’s first online game so my victory isn’t as sweet as I thought.

Then I win game four, just. My opponent should have and could have won but I was lucky.

And game five, six minutes in and my opponent loses connection and quits out.

2 wins, 2 losses and a win by default, “Not a bad start to my Starcraft 2 career” I think as I wa-

Gold.

It’s put me in gold. I never planned to get into gold. If I play in gold I’m going to lose. Lots. I should be bronze, why aren’t I bronze?

If I play I’ll go down, I don’t think I’ll ever be good enough to get to gold again.

I guess it’s time I retire from Starcraft 2.
Tom