Starcraft II Terran Build Order

While I am by no means a pro player, I have 1,300 wins, so I do know a thing or two about SC2. I only play Terran, and have refined my strategy some. Here’s my standard build order:

* SCV x 2 – mining
* SCV to build depot
* SCV
* SCV
* Depot is built – build refinery
* SCV x 3
* Refinery is built – build Engineering
* Divert 3 SCV to gas mining
* More SCVs (I’ll have 21 by the time I’m full speed)
* Engineering is built, build depot
* More SCVs
* Depot is built build second refinery
* Base upgrade to fortress
* Refinering is built divert 3 SCVs
* the SCV that built refinery goes to build 2nd base
* Divert one SCV to start building Barracks
* Divert SCVs to build turrets by the truckload, while building more miners on my bases.
* Build Factory, then Armory.
Upgrade tech as often as possible.

In the end I’ll have 2 bases (or 3 if opponent is a slow, strong building type), 2/3 Barracks, 1 Factory, 2 Spaceports. And maybe 2 Engineerings if I hv the time. I’ll build 50 infantry units (mostly Marines, Thors, tanks mostly for defense), 20 banshees, sometimes some Battleships. I might skip banshees for a change and go Battleships all the way. Or if the opponent is Terran and builds Battleships, Vikings by the truckload: 2/3 spaceports building 2 Vikings each simultaneously. Amazing how 20 well upgraded Vikings can tear apart Battleships…

There are adjustments made to this strategy depending on who I’m fighting — not just the race, but the actual person. Some dudes I seem to see a lot and know how they fight. So I have a better idea of what (not) to do.

You can’t write Cantonese!

This is something I’ve heard more than once – usually by people who don’t speak Cantonese (or Mandarin for that matter). The short answer is “Of course you can, silly fucking rabbit! What do you think ‘em funky-looking sinograms like 嘅, 唔, 冇, 嘑, 哋, 叻, 攰,  are for?” They sure aren’t for bathroom decoration.

A more elaborate answer would include not just odd sinograms used only in the Cantonese language, but also words that don’t make a lick of sense in Mandarin: 而家, 鍾意, 脷, etc…

There is a form of Cantonese called “Written Cantonese” — basically Standard Written Chinese with a hint of Canto flavour, and pronounced in Cantonese when read. Ugly and not really the Cantonese people speak every day and relate to. The announcements (verbal and written) in the MTR are a good example.

But along this stilted language there’s a vernacular written language that mirrors spoken Cantonese. It’s used in ads, SMS texts, IM chats, casual emails and similar non-formal communications.

“Real” Cantonese in ads may have been around forever and a day, but I have noticed an increase lately. Whether this increase is real or perceived, I don’t have enough background to be sure. This ad I took a picture of in the MTR is a prime example. “我捐嘅錢、下一站會去邊?” (The money I donated, where does it go next?) Run this through Google Translate for a good laugh… The use of 嘅 and 邊 (short for 邊度) makes this sentence a vernacular Cantonese sentence. Written indeed, and plastered all over HK.

Hello world!

One, Two, One, Two, Three. Is this thing on? Cool.