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| Features \ \ Game one: Athena | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The map AthenaAthena is a fun little map, for a couple of reasons. First off, it’s a 3 player map, making cheese strategies a bit more viable than on a 4 player map. Secondly, it has those three expansions surrounding the center on the map on high ground. For a terran this is good news, as a well turreted base at one of those expansions establishes plenty of control over the center of the map. A non-terran might have a more difficult time securing those middle expansions, but they’re in luck! Between every pair of main bases lies one expansion on the high ground as well as another one just below those, and all expansions of the map have gas. All in all a map that could present some nice rushing action as well as more macro intense games. And the games beginThe first game of the set saw ForGG starting as yellow at 1 o clock and Flash in red at 6 o clock. While people in general were rather certain that Flash was going to go for his standard fast expanding, heavy macro style they were less sure as to how ForGG would go about his game. Maybe he would try to challenge Flash at his own game, being a more than proficient macro player himself? Or would he go for some kind of rush as a response to Flash’s favored economic build? ForGG opted to scout very early, just after he had finished his first depot. Shortly after his first scout was underway, a second scv was sent out towards the 6 o clock position, discovering Flash who was plonking down his first factory. A short distance to the northwest of Flash’s natural expo a yellow blob appeared on the minimap. The first scouting SCV was indeed putting down a proxy factory very close to Flash’s domain. Having finished that factory a second one was constructed by the same diligent SCV. At the same time, ForGG built an armory at home as well. Oblivious to this, Flash started construction on his command center while getting the machine shop for his factory. Shortly after this he received unwelcome visitors at his ramp in the form of two bloodthirsty vulture bikes.  Knock knock knockin’ on Flash’s door The two lonely marines guarding the ramp were swiftly dispatched and the vultures proceeded to breach Flash’s main. In the nick of time Flash’s tank finished and could take care of those pesky vultures without too much damage done. Now ForGG had two factories very far away from his own base and Flash had managed to wipe out his early vulture rush and was finishing construction of his command center. ForGG could not afford to let off on the pressure against Flash or he would risk falling hopelessly behind the beastly macro machine. Strangely enough he began producing goliaths from his two factories.  Goliaths? Huh? This was a rather surprising thing to do at this stage, seeing as Flash did have a number of siege tanks and was starting up his second factory. However within a very short period of time ForGG had 6 goliaths heading towards Flash’s base, forcing his SCVs to run for cover behind the safety of the siege tanks and lifting his command center. The goliaths began to focus on the command center as it lifted off and started to head home. Flash had the advantage of the higher ground, but had only 3 tanks to stave off the assault. Some back and forth micro ensued with Flash picking off one goliath but having his command center land on red health. Having fended off yet another assault by ForGG, Flash’s second factory was up and his tank count was now up to 5, with a goliath for moral support as well. In a surge of reckless confidence, Flash ventured out with this paltry force only to encounter a mob of unfriendly goliaths. Flash retreated swiftly but lost everything except two tanks who managed to make it up the ramp. The goliaths focused on the command center yet again, but Flash sent all the mining SCVs at the expansion to repair the burning building in a desperate attempt to save it from missile death, while Flash’s tanks did what damage they could against the goliath horde, although curiously enough without the benefit of siege tech. Alas, it availed him not in the end. Although Flash’s command center managed to make it into his main with two digit hp left, the goliaths pushed up into Flash’s main and wiped up the remainder of Flash’s forces. As an extra touch a dropship with a goliath and two marines joined in the slaughter, and ForGG had won the first game in the set.  Game over, both for the command center and for Flash
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