Bold vs. Mad_Mercanary.

Battle Report by: Bold
Map: Lost Temple
Players: Bold-404 (Protoss) vs. Mad_Mercanary (Terran)
Date: 3/17/00

This game was another pick-up public Lost Temple 1on1.   I created and Mad_Mercanary joined, we both chose Random and the game began.   I spawned Protoss (my best race) at 6:00.  I started with my usual pylon between 7th and 8th probe, gateway on 10 (sent that probe to scout), pylon on 11, and second gateway on 13.  To my dismay, I found Mad_Mercanary in the last spot I checked -- 12:00 which revealed that he was Terran, and this is what I found:

This looked to me like a mass infantry build with preparation for DT.   So I decided to go 8 zealots while teching to ranged goons and eventually reavers.   After a bit, I sent a zealot out to scout and I found a group of about 20 marines/medics/firebats and a couple SCVs trying to contain me right outside of my natural.  I wasn't scared because I had my 8 zealots along with about 8 ranged goons.   So, I sent a few zealots out and lured his infantry back to my ramp where I clogged the choke with zealots and used my ranged goons to pick off marines and firebats using concentrated fire (shift-right clicking on single units).  Once Mad_Mercanary realized he was getting destroyed by my unreachable goons he pulled back to where he placed his bunkers at my natural.  But by now I had cut his troop count in half and just proceeded to attack the rest of them and the filled bunkerrs with my zealots and goons.  I lost about 5 out of my 8 zealots, but only 1 dragoon in this whole skirmish.  I also kept pumping out goons during the attack so I wouldn't fall behind.   At this point I knew I had a pretty big advantage, he didn't have tanks, only infantry, so I placed my troops outside his base in order to contain him.

I also put up my natural expansion and transfered some probes from my main in order to get it up and running as quick as I could.  Also, you have to be weary of the Turbo Newbie strategy (tanking your opponents cliff above their natural) when playing against a Terran on Temple so I dropped a dragoon and a zealot on my ledge and had them patrol it.  I proceeded to pump out dragoons and observers while putting up a robotics support facility so I could add some reaver support to my outpost.

My containment was working very well.  Mad_Mercanary tried sending some more infantry out for a second attack wave, but when he realized that I had a number of troops preventing him from leaving his base he retreated them.  Little did he know I had also spread out observers to every resource node (including his natural), making sure he wouldn't expand at all.  I then took the liberty to take 9:00 main and natural.  There was basically no action at this point.. Mad was completely contained and I already had 3 expansions and was powering like mad, making tons of upgraded goons and zealots.  He did manage to tank drop my 9:00 twice and my main once, each attempt was quickly destroyed by goons and zealots (he had no marine support for the tanks).   So, the only thing left for me to do was devise a way to get up his ramp without getting pummelled by tank fire.  So I threw up 2 stargates and a fleet beacon, pumped 8 corsairs and researched dweb.  The rest is history.. right before I employed my forces in an effort to end the game, Mad expanded to his natural, but I saw this with my observer and ignored it because I knew I would destroy his main before his CC was even finished.

GG's were exchanged and I had a short discussion with Mad_Mercanary about his gameplay and how he should have expanded a lot sooner.. all while I proceeded up his ramp and into his base to deliver the final blow.

This game was the most challenging one that I have reported so far, which is pretty sad, don't you think?  I guess that's what I get for playing public games.. hopefully next time I'll have more of a challenge.  Important notes: a few zealots with ranged goons using concentrated fire destroys infantry, especially on a ramp.   Corsairs are awesome for barging into a Terran base.  If you think you have the upper hand after an attack, either counter hard, counter and expand, or contain your opponent and expand like mad while keeping tabs on all other expansions.. and then power like mad like I did this game.  Oh, and Mercanary is actually spelled Mercenary :).   I hope you all enjoyed this report.  Expect some more in the very near future.

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