""Checkmate," i said, "I just blew the @#$% out of your sorry-ass king."
-excerpt from "The Fate of Jamellan"
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| Duel on Island Hop:Total Anarchy vs Moonwalker | | | Author: | | | IP: | XXXX | | Date: | 06/11/99 12:06 | | Game Type: | Starcraft | | Labels: | Starcraft(1), Problem: Broken Images(1) | | Report Rating: , # of Ratings: 5, Max: 10, Min: 8
Lifetime Rating for omgtktt: 8.5000 |    | Hi there… greyhoundbus here again. I really should stop logging on as omgtktt. When people say 'omg' it really confuses the hell out of me. Ah well… I'd just finished an entertaining (it's entertaining when you win! :p) 2v2 game with Sweet1 as my partner on Lost Temple, and I was looking for another game to play, when Total Anarchy sounds out the call for an island game. My favorite! I responded very quickly, but suddenly somebody mentions BRs, and it occurs to that me it'd be nice to write another one. So I ask the other two guys in the game if it's okay if I just watch. The two generous fellows say 'yes', and we're off!
The map: Island Hop
The Players: -
Total Anarchy: Teal Protoss, Starting at bottom right position
vs
Moonwalker: Blue Terran, Starting at bottom left position
Starting positions!
The Chase:
Both combatants start out playing a conservative game, electing to build solid defenses before trying any offensive moves. After establishing a healthy economy, Anarchy warps in a Gateway, a Forge, and a Cybernetics Core. He is quick about getting cannons up around his probe line, and builds a couple of dragoons to help with defense as well. Once this basic defense is ready, he proceeds to warp in a Robotics Facility and 2 Stargates.
Moonwalker meanwhile builds a Barracks, a Factory, and an Engineering Bay. Also following a defensive posture, he places turrets and 2 bunkers around his base, making sure to guard his SCV line. After building a Starport and beginning construction on a second one, he proceeds to place vulture mines all along the outer rim of his base, in anticipation of any ill-conceived drops.
With all basic infrastructure in place, Anarchy decides to secure the extra resources he'll need to fuel his war efforts. A shuttle picks up a probe and flies north, and finds an ideal expansion spot at the top right corner of the map: a small island easily defendable by well-placed cannons. A Nexus and a pylon begin warping in almost simultaneously, and it's not long before cannons begin the transition from Aiur.
Moonwalker meanwhile takes his time to build a dropship, and it is only after Anarchy's expansion is well established before the Terran commander begins searching for an expansion. Two Wraiths also appear for duty before Anarchy even has an air force, but they both remain within the safe confines of the base while awaiting reinforcements. Moonwalker's dropship, loaded with one SCV, begins to move East… straight for Anarchy's main. When the Protoss base is spotted, the dropship pilot is quick to take a small tour of the parameter, taking note of Anarchy's still-sparse defenses. A couple of alert Dragoons, however, become aware of the intruder and chase the offending dropship away.
The dropship continues on a clockwise path around the map, heading North… and promptly finds Anarchy's expansion. Forced to retreat from cannon fire, the dropship heads East, and finally drops the SCV off at the 12 o'clock starting position. Construction of Moonwalker's second CC then begins in earnest.
Meanwhile, back at base, 4 wraiths have just finished construction and are ready for their tour of duty. For their first job, Moonwalker apparently has harassment in mind, and sends the small fleet on course for Anarchy's main. Anarchy hasn't been idle, though, and is more than ready to meet the threat with 2 fresh Corsairs and an Observer. Versus that combined with cannon and Dragoon fire, Moonwalker's daredevil wraiths stand no chance, and are obliterated before they can retreat from the hotzone.
Anarchy, curious to know just what his opponent is up to, sends a lone observer in the direction of Moonwalker's base. Before he can see much of the base, the observer is killed by turrets… but he what little he does spy doesn't suggest much of a force on Moonwalker's part (a grand total of two wraiths). Still, he takes no chances, and continues building his army to a comfortable size.
When 5 Corsairs have warped in, they begin scouting. Already aware of Moonwalker's starting location, Anarchy is eager to know if his Terran opponent has any expansions. The Corsairs begin a reconnaissance route that goes straight from Anarchy's main to the small expansion island at 9 o'clock, then to the starting island at top left, and finally straight east to his own top left expansion. On this last lap, Anarchy's Corsairs spot Moonwalker's CC and refinery at the 12 o'cock position, and he delightfully notes that the island has virtually no defenses. A shuttle loaded with two Dark Templar immediately begins moving, and once unloaded, the cloaked pair waste no time is wreaking havoc on the defenseless SCVs. Moonwalker attempts to cut his losses and lifts his CC, but the Corsairs move in to finish it off. Content that they have crushed this expansion effort, the two DTs leave the remaining refinery to burn.
DTs and Corsairs demonstrate the meaning of cooperation
About a half-dozen of Moonwalker's wraiths, frustrated by this loss, move out with vengeful intentions. They decide to take a shot at Anarchy's expansion. However, they quickly realize they are no match for the few cannons that guard the base, and retreat, but not before losing one of their number. Flying through the center of the map, they encounter the shuttle transporting the DTs home from their successful raid. Eager to take revenge, the wraiths blow the shuttle out of the sky. Anarchy's Corsairs, enraged by the reported deaths of the heroic pair(snicker), react quickly and catch the wraiths before they can retreat from the center. With an observer standing watch, the 5 Wraiths quickly prove to be no match for the combined splash damage of the four corsairs, and the entire Terran force explodes almost simultaneously, with no losses for the Protoss.
Moonwalker, realizing the situation is grim, quickly attempts to expand again. However, his choice of location is questionable: he attempts to expand at the 12 o'clock position again.
Anarchy meanwhile has already begun working on his Carrier fleet. He has also expanded again: to the 6 o'clock position right next to Moonwalker's main. With plenty of resources to spare, Anarchy's Carrier construction moves at a brisk pace, and it is not long before a half-dozen of the flying behemoths guard the skies above the Protoss base.
Moonwalker, meanwhile, desperate to halt his opponent's flow of income, makes what will be his last attempt to destroy Anarchy's top right expansion. A Science Vessel moves in and EMPs the two High Templar standing guard. A lone dropship unloads a tank and two goliaths on a small open area on the island. Soon however, the wisdom of Anarchy's choice of expansion becomes clear, when even this supposed 'safe-zone' comes under fire from the huddled cannons. One Goliath dies before the cannons are destroyed, and the tank is free to fire away while the surviving goliath stands guard. However, Anarchy's probes, aware that the tank is near death, huddle together to discuss a gameplan. Immediately after the tank fires a volley at the Nexus, every single probe blitzes the sieged tank, and reaches it before taking any casualties. The lone Tank pilot dies of embarrassment more than anything else.
The Goliath, dumbfounded by this course of events, attempts to finish the job the Tank started, and opens fire on the Nexus. It is then that Anarchy finally shows his hand: a mighty force of at least 6 Carriers move in from behind and make quick work of the lone Goliath.
The lone Goliath marches on. What he doesn't know is, he's gonna get pounded...
...by these guys.
Meanwhile, Moonwalker has succeeded in completing a covert ops facility. It appears, though, that he lacks the resources to take advantage of it: no ghosts guard his main or his expansion. However, by this time Moonwalker's newly rebuilt expansion is underway. It provides a glimmer of hope… far too late. Anarchy gets wind of this new expansion effort, and before long a mighty force of 8 Carriers and 3 corsairs move in to smite this second attempt once and for all. Moonwalker's tiny defending force of 5 Valks and two Goliaths prove to be little more than a diversion for the bloodthirsty Protoss fleet, and before long the base is reduced to rubble.
Moonwalker gets a feeling of deja vu... except Carriers are a little bigger than DTs.
With this last failure, it is obvious that Moonwalker has lost the game. Having run out of minerals at his main, he is unable to build any sort of respectable defense or offense against his opponent. Minutes later, when a force of 11 Carriers, 12 Scouts, and 12 Corsairs come cruising through, Moonwalker's fate is finally sealed.
Some comedy relief before the final attack... A lone dropped Dragoon gets whupped silly by SCVs.
Moonwalker demands proper documentation of his demise...
...but his base is levelled a little to fast for me to get decent screenshots ;p
Lessons learned:
-Expand early! Moonwalker waited just a little too long to get his expansion going. That alone was enough to cost him the game.
-Don't expand too far away from your main: Not only does it take longer, but it's harder to get reinforcements to an expansion on the other side of the map. Anarchy's choice of expansion was justified because it was a small, easily defendable island far away from his opponent. Moonwalker's choice of expansion was not only far from home, but it had a large area as well: a bitch to defend in the first place. The distance only makes it harder.
-Wraiths vs Cannons: big no no. But as Moonwalker's drop on Anarchy's expansion shows, a drop CAN be effective. If this had been an earlier move, things might have turned out a little differently (though, granted, he might not have an SV to take out the High Temps).
-Wraiths vs Corsairs, Wraiths suck. Don't do it.
-Don't play as Terran on island maps. :p Sorry but that's the way it is!
The final score! Gee, that omgtktt sucks! :D |
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