Updated for HOTS!
Understanding what Mech is, and isn't.
People always have different perceptions on what a successful build does. Some people want to follow it step by step, and want very intricate instructions. Such a build would be a 1-1-1 against a Protoss. You need this much marines, tanks and banshees at this time, and you will need to do X, Y and Z with the banshees before you attack. When you attack, follow these rules: A, B and C. etc.
The general premise of a successful mech build is not linear and straightforward like that of a "timing attack". There are builds that are timing attack "centric" that uses primarily factory and starport units, but that build is still simply a timing attack build order, and should not be categorized in the broad layout of a "style". "Styles" I introduce are ways to play the game, and mindsets that come with them. Marine-Tank, Bio, and Mech are all but the 3 most popular styles for Terran, each of those have their uses in varying matchups.
The reason you cannot practice with the "do 1 build every matchup" approach to get better with Mech is because there are simply TOO MANY UNIT COMPOSITIONS!
- Bio is shocklingly simple, there is only 1 main one (MMM) and a secondary one (vikings, ghosts, mines).
- BioMech is still pretty simple. Add a subset to your main army requiring slightly more careful control (the tanks) and it is essentially still Bio, with more pre-spliting during engagements than kiting.
- Mech is much more different. Your opponent went fast Muta, you have Mines, Thors and Hellbats. You scout a SH transition, now you have tanks, ravens and/or banshees. Then your opponent switches into Mass Infestor/SH/Broods. You need to add Vikings and hellbats to the mix now!
- Every game requires you to switch up your composition, there is never a static composition when playing Mech unlike playing Bio/Biotank.
Now to truly master Mech, you need to spend a lot of times practicing each unit composition in practice games. This means when you are playing Ranked and your ladder points are on the line, you can now access a vast array of unit compositions, and switch tech seemlessly along the Toss or Zerg like a veteran Kick boxer weaving through the punches. And now that you reach that point, each game should be mapped out holistically. What are the underlying principles that I can always rely on? How can I break down my in game reactions to these more general categories?
-Greedy play?
-Super aggressive with Warp Prism/Roach drop?
-Cheese?
-Opponent is not doing a true build (I can pull SCV's for an all in... but when and how?)
The game will truly be revitalized once you see it in terms of the bigger picture. I wish you all the best :)
-Greedy play?
-Super aggressive with Warp Prism/Roach drop?
-Cheese?
-Opponent is not doing a true build (I can pull SCV's for an all in... but when and how?)
The game will truly be revitalized once you see it in terms of the bigger picture. I wish you all the best :)
