[Guide] - 7m30s Thor Timed Push!

[MaximumSquid]

I'm mostly looking for feedback with this setup, but since I can't post my own topic on Team Liquid for another 3 days I figure I'd give you gentlemen dibs. 

I recommend just checking out the attached replay first, but the text  form of the build is below to if you want to skim it or run the short  video:

-=Update: YouTube Video Added=-
7m35s Thor Timed Push!! (Yes, I am making you listen to Mortal Kombonk!)
 
-=Paper Build=-

10 / Supply
12 / Racks
14 / Refinery
*save
15 / Orb,Marine,Bunker,Refinery,2nd Marine
*Mule
18 / Supply,Tech Lab
19 / Factory
20 / Marauder,Supply
23 / Marauder,Supply
*Mule
27 / Armory,Marauder,Marauder,Tech Lab
33 / Star Port
34 / Thor,Marauder
*Mule
43 / Supply,Reactor
44 / Marauder,Supply
*7:30 "Thor is Here!!", Hotkey your Thor and immediately attack move him to the enemy base
*Mule
*Hotkey 8-12 SCVs into a control group, toggle auto repair, and right click your Thor
*Hotkey your Marauders into anther group and command them to move with the Thor as well
*Hotkey your Starport, Racks, and Factory and set the rally to the Thor like a hero from WarCraft:3
47 / Thor,Viking X2,Supply

-=Instructions for Attached Replay=-

  The replay requires that you replace your "Base.SC2Data" File with the one that comes with Strategy AI 0.22
 
  Backup a copy of your original  "Base.SC2Data" file if you haven't already so you can view official  replays later by switching it back.
 
  The path to the Base by default is "*\StarCraft II Beta\Mods\Liberty.SC2Mod\Base.SC2Data"

If you don't have authentication setup to just open the Beta to use Blizzard's UI for replays I recommend Valkirie's Starcracft II - Beta Launcher V0.28 to view the replay or to play offline against the above AI package like I did to make the replay.

---
Other Notes:

This clubbed to death every AI I've tried against so far. . .
If you are worried about Banshie / DT / Muta Cheese then save a mule or set up an Eng Bay & Turrets before you leave your base instead of a starport  (Starport is good against Void Rays and Tanks though)
Pure Stimmed Marauders, Storm, and Burrowed Banelings might also be a problem, but I don't have a key to get online and test this for real =/
Also. . .I know my replay is 5 seconds off. . . I macroed the theorycraft as best I could, but I'm only human. . .

Lastly. . . if someone could convert this into a Terran AI or tell me how to do it myself I would be honored to test it out that way.

/Enjoy

[iLLu]

You'd have to make sure you wall off properly, and maybe get a few more marines for protection.

When the AI attacks me he usually brings:

6-8 roaches/12-16 zerglings
or
12-16 marines/around 8 marauders
or
6 zealots and maybe a couple of stalkers

I find on something like Metaloplis you can just have like 4-6 marines and a couple of maruaders and an SCV hanging around to repair any buildings that cop flak and you'll be sweet.

[dodongbadong]

hmmm "unable to load map"

i tried your instructions as well as the complete guide on how to watch replay which is link by Valkerie himself through his topic about .28 but still unable to load map, i really wonder why..

sad cant watch your replay.. :ticked:

[MaximumSquid]

dodongbadong:

Eh,

Might be a random file that is named something differently, but it will take too long to track down. . .
(my steps of War is named "(2) - AI - Steppes of War.s2ma". . .  maybe try that quick?)

I can turn it into a youtube video I guess, but actually playing the replay is much better obviously.

Out of curiosity have you gotten any replay to work?

---

It's Easter so I'll probably get the video posted a little later today

Also has anyone gotten my replay to work successfully?

[MaximumSquid]

iLLu:

Yeah I prefer to bunker my mineral line for easy access to repairs, but you won't lose much ground if you want to block off the choke instead.

---

Update:

YouTube Video Added to original post

It's quick N dirty, but if you can't get the replay to load this will at least give you a taste of what to expect.
 

[unclean]

Replay worked for me, just had to launch the game with patch 6.

I like this strategy, it definitely works as a timing push, and after trying this myself the thor is surprisingly beastly because of the sheer amount of scvs that can repair it at once. The problem is this will probably lose to any other timing attack except (maybe, I'm guessing) protoss.

In the terran mirror you'll likely have MM knocking at your door at around 5 minutes, at which point you hardly have anything out. At 7 they'd probably have enough maurauders to focus down your thor even with scv repair. Zergs' push vs terran is usually mass speedlings + banelings, which shuts this down hard. Against Protoss it would be a lot closer of a fight - not sure how a couple of immortals vs a thor would pan out because of cannon strike, it would probably come down to micro.

You mentioned a couple of those, but unfortunately they're very common strategies, so unless things change this this is probably more of a novelty build.

[MaximumSquid]

Unclean:

Patch 6 huh. . . that's interesting; I'll pass that on when I post this again

I don't think getting attacked first is much of an issue with the bunker up. . . even if it receives no repairs the units inside are going to take down any advantage that my opponent had by not teching buildings.

It's funny you mention Toss being the ideal matchup because they hit the hardest when focus firing and have; consequently, been the toughest matchup so far. . .

I think I'm going to make some more videos of the build against some of the other AI that I can't post replays for.

The video I already have posted was basically just total annihilation and didn't show what a repaired Thor can do against armies that outnumber it in resources which is I think what people would really want to see (and ultimately sell the build)

[daftuser]

This build sucks. You can have 2 thors at thier ramp at 7:30 (faster-time) with the following:

10 depot
12 rax
15 gas
15 gas
15 marine (up to 3)
16 depot
18 bunker to complete walloff
19/20 factory 1
@ 50% factory 1: factory 2
@ 100% factory 1: armory
@ 100% factory 2: tech lab (2x)
23 depot

STOP ALL PRODUCTION AT 23

@ 100% tech lab 2x THOR


You want to bring most of your scvs when you attack obviously

I found this works well against protoss, maybe Zerg too.

Hell, if its vs the computer, anything will work lolol

[MaximumSquid]

Daftuser:

Completely different builds. . .
Yours is a definite All-In where mine hangs onto 90% of it's economy / production while making the push so if for some reason it fails I can keep the fight going.

I'll still try it out as it's your first post on these forums and I don't want to offend you, but just theory crafting it it looks like it will be weak to early Reaper Harrass with your low army production and your bunker placement, Banelings with no Marauders in the mix, Tanks with no air for vision up high ground, and a number of counter attacks to your base while you march your guys slowly across some maps. (Banshees being the worse scenario since your **Orbital Command will be dead, and your opponent will be able to get get cloak before you deal enough damage to his base, but also the Baneling / Speedling timed push can bust in your front door and will just finish the game right then)

My biggest problem though is that in a head on fight against T1 Zerglings you'll lose outright to a simple attack move.

I only have AI to test against, but I've been doing it for a while and even giving myself handicaps like waiting a full ingame minute when my army was ready to attack before going in without any additional units.

TL:DR. . .
My build risks nothing

**My mistake. . . your build doesn't have Orbital Command in it. . .