All comments posted by Buzzjuice :
This is going to be a tough contest! Good luck everyone!
(Do forum posts count?)
This strategy is more effective on maps like Desert Oasis. It has virtually no sea, and the very long distance for ground units makes it difficult for marines, allowing YOU more time to build up. At the same time, the distance, in terms of cliffs, is very short so you can easily send in Reapers very quickly to their base and do some economy damage or harrass.
Again Reapers are good, but are much better at hit and run. Strong micro does a lot to affect how effective Reapers become in combat.
However, if the guy goes helions you are in trouble.
Watch it. By the time the Raven comes in and gets all the upgrades, the enemy usually has a very big force at the time that may quickly dispatch these Ravens (air/ground or both). Use caution.
Also useful on spellcasters that don't have that much health e.g ghosts or high templars who have powerful spells at their disposal.
Otherwise good guide! I don't get to see that much of the Raven used in Terran replays I've seen so any info on it is very good.
There are a few more elements to a Rush, than just a rush. Often people use a 'proxy' meaning like a Gateway or Barracks, or a Pylon that is near the enemy base and then pumping out units that way. This method of rushing and attacking is also known as 'cheese' or cheesing the opponent.
Like Seven said, committing to this means that you WILL be behind if the cheese fails. And cheeses can be defended as long as you remain with a cool head.
The video above shows a match TvP where top ranking players, Predy and First and Last face off. First and Last, as Protoss goes for a proxy pylon and then goes warpgates and rushes Predy, the Terran player. Watch how Predy defends against these rushes, and this very well applies to this rush build as well.
Tips for Desert Oasis:
The map, because it is structured as such, is very powerful for air units. Watch for the Banshee cheese where the Terran players mass up Banshees and attack like in this game:
Also watch for Hellion rushes and factory proxies near your base. However, now with the Patch 6, marines got nerfed in terms of how much time is takes for marines to get built up.
Nice work with the upgrades guide! A lot of people keep getting confused which way too go, more attack or more defense? I like how how give your methodology, and then your conclusion to prove your point. Good guide!
Nice guide! Very useful!
You can also add that the Forcefield ability of the Sentry can block Banelings or Melee units from reaching your army, effectively countering them.
You can also block off Hydras from escaping to a ramp or away from your army using Force fields. And aren't Sentries a good counter to Mutalisks considering they cost less, have Guardian Shield, and do fast damage (8) and bonus against light?
Congrats on your 4th Shield! This is a very good overview of the XP system on this site!
Whew! This is going to be a long LONG week! Good luck to everyone competing in this!