The Climb: The StarCraft Ladder Experience

While climbing through the ladder, it’s very natural to reach walls that seem nigh impossible to cross by ourselves.  Even with extensive replay analysis, we reach a point where we’re just not sure how to carry on.  Is it our macro?  Our decision-making?  Is our micro not good enough?  To get over these barriers, we need to ask for help from more experienced players.  Will and Dan will be talking about getting coaching and how to use these insights to continue our climb.

Will: linktr.ee/l0rdcranial
Dan: linktr.ee/capt_hapa

Will and Dan take the opportunity to discuss one of the most infamous and frustrating strategies to deal with:  cheese!

Will: linktr.ee/l0rdcranial

Dan: linktr.ee/capt_hapa

Think back to the first 10 games you played on the ladder.  You had no idea what to do or what was going to happen to you.  Now think about your 100th game, or your 1,000th game.  How much better could you read each situation and execute your plan.  Experience is a cornerstone of growth, and Will and Dan will be talking about how to gain it and how to use it.

Will: linktr.ee/l0rdcranial

Dan: linktr.ee/capt_hapa

With 2022 Season 3 in full swing, Will and Dan have an extended discussion of their laddering experience, ranging from the new maps to the current meta they have been experiencing.

Will:
linktr.ee/l0rdcranial

Dan:

linktr.ee/capt_hapa

If you've ever felt completely overwhelmed by the laddering experience or feel like you can't go another day losing over and over again, you are not alone.  Every other player has experienced that feeling.  But when the going gets tough, the tough get going.  Join Will and Dan as they talk about how they persevere on the ladder and how to deal with the strain of laddering.

Will:

linktr.ee/l0rdcranial

Dan:

linktr.ee/capt_hapa

If you want to climb the ladder, you have to practice, practice, practice!  Will and Dan revisit the topic of practicing and share some of their insights on how you can improve you own practice sessions.

Will:
linktr.ee/l0rdcranial

Dan:

linktr.ee/capt_hapa

X unit is OP!  Y strategy is IMBA!  Z is so stupid to play against!  We've all heard the complaints, we've all been lectured about how our units are so much better, and maybe some of us have done the lecturing in the past.  Join Will and Dan as they talk about the ever-present balance whine within the community and how it can affect your game if you buy into it too much

Will:

linktr.ee/l0rdcranial

Dan:

linktr.ee/capt_hapa

Keeping a healthy mindset on the ladder can be the difference between improving on the ladder and stagnating as a player.  Will and Dan talk about their own experiences with their laddering mindset, from getting frustrated to trying to keep positive.

Will:
linktr.ee/l0rdcranial

Dan:
linktr.ee/capt_hapa

Knowing the state of any StarCraft match is vital in any match.  In this episode, Dan and Will discuss game sense as a lower level player.

Will:
linktr.ee/l0rdcranial

Dan:
linktr.ee/capt_hapa

Will, Dan, and special guest Apoptosis discuss their experiences with streaming and how new streamers can get into the hobby.

Will:

linktr.ee/l0rdcranial

Dan:

linktr.ee/capt_hapa

Apoptosis

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Poptosis808

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/apoptosis808

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@apoptosis808

Despite our efforts, we all will lose many, many ladder matches as we climb up the ladder.  Will and Dan take some time to offer some healthy coping mechanisms and ways to turn losses into a more positive experience.  

Will:  

linktr.ee/l0rdcranial  

Dan:  

linktr.ee/capt_hapa  

Learning build orders is an integral part of becoming a better StarCraft II player.  With a build order, a player can hit tight timings, have a plan for each match, and have a mapped out response for anything your opponent may throw your way.  Join Will and Dan as they discuss how they learn build orders and how it has helped them climb the ladder.  

Will:  

linktr.ee/l0rdcranial  

Dan:  

linktr.ee/capt_hapa  

Joined by special guest RushiSC, Will and Dan discuss casting as a lower level SC2 player.  Casting can be very accessible, even if you are a newer player, and the trio discuss how to get started and what you can do to improve your casting experience

Will:
linktr.ee/l0rdcranial

Dan:
linktr.ee/capt_hapa

RushiSC:
https://twitter.com/RushiSC
https://www.twitch.tv/rushisc

From the bronzest of bronze league players to the tip top of the ladder, we all make mistakes.  The important thing is that we as players accept our mistakes and try to work on those issues.  In this episode, Will and Dan talk about some of the mistakes that they make and what they do to rectify those blunders.  

Will:  

https://linktr.ee/l0rdcranial

Dan:  

https://linktr.ee/capt_hapa

There's a lot that can happen in a StarCraft game, and quite often we get tricked, bamboozled and completely deceived.  Join Will and Dan as they talk about trickery on the ladder and possible solutions to decrease the chances of falling for deception.

Will:

linktr.ee/l0rdcranial

Dan:

linktr.ee/capt_hapa

In StarCraft, there are a lot of decisions that need to be made before, during and after a match, and it can be difficult to figure out what aspect of the game we should be focusing on.  Sometimes we’re on top of our micro without realizing that our macro is suffering.  Sometimes we have a perfect setup for the late game but control our units horribly.  When we are practicing with a friend, what should you work on?  In this episode, Will and Dan will be going over how we figure out what to work on and what we prefer to focus on.  

Will:  

[https://linktr.ee/l0rdcranial](https://linktr.ee/l0rdcranial)  

Dan:  

[https://linktr.ee/capt_hapa](https://linktr.ee/capt_hapa)  

Will and Dan have The StarCraft Observer on to discuss content creation in StarCraft II.  The trio talk about their recent adventures on the ladder as well as their experiences with making content for the community.  Whether you're an painter, audio/video editor, musician or any type or artist, don't be afraid to put your work out there!  

Will:  

linktr.ee/L0rdCraniaL  

Dan:  

linktr.ee/capt_hapa  

The StarCraft Observer:  

Twitter: twitter.com/thestarcraftobs  

Instagram: instagram.com/thestarcraftobserver  

TikTok: tiktok.com/@thestarcraftobserver  

Podcast: thestarcraftobserver.com/podcast  

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all!  In this end-of-the-year episode, Will and Dan discuss what they have learned throughout the year, such as scouting opponents better, learning to make better calls with the information gathered, and unit positioning.  The hosts also discuss their goals and ambitions for the upcoming year.

Will:
https://linktr.ee/L0rdCraniaL

Dan:
https://linktr.ee/capt_hapa

The StarCraft ladder can be a wild place, and players must know how to figure out what their opponents are doing.  In this episode, Will and Dan talk about how they determine what players are doing in a match, as well as their triumphs and frustrations with figuring out an opponent's plan.

Will:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsmEQmeDkFZrln0Hte8WzCw
https://twitter.com/L0rdCraniaL
https://www.twitch.tv/l0rdcranial

Dan:
https://linktr.ee/capt_hapa

In order to climb up the ranks of the StarCraft ladder, players must practice their fundamentals.  From working on build orders to sparring with other players, Will and Dan discuss how they work on their own gameplay and tips on how to practice.

Will:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsmEQmeDkFZrln0Hte8WzCw
https://twitter.com/L0rdCraniaL
https://www.twitch.tv/l0rdcranial

Dan:
https://linktr.ee/capt_hapa

In this episode of The Climb, Will and Dan take a stroll through the pro scene and discuss the players that inspire them to ladder harder, take risks and learn new mechanics.  

Catch The Climb live every other Wednesday at 7pm EST on twitch.tv/l0rdcranial  

Will:  

twitter.com/L0rdCraniaL  

youtube.com/channel/UCsmEQmeDkFZrln0Hte8WzCw  

Dan:  

linktr.ee/capt_hapa  

Will, Dan and special guest OhNoSC2 discuss their recent ladder experiences and how they measure their improvements in StarCraft II.  

Will:  

twitch.tv/l0rdcranial  

twitter.com/L0rdCraniaL  

youtube.com/channel/UCsmEQmeDkFZrln0Hte8WzCw  

Dan:  

linktr.ee/capt_hapa  

OhNoSC2:  

twitch.tv/ohnosc2  

twitter.com/ohnostarcraft/media  

Everybody has experienced the frustration of playing on the ladder and the tilt that comes with it.  Will and Dan take some time to discuss the effects of tilt on your playing, how it occurs, and what you can potentially do to keep it from happening to you.

Will:
twitch.tv/l0rdcranial
twitter.com/L0rdCraniaL

Dan:
linktr.ee/capt_hapa

Will and Dan sit down and reminisce about their experiences going from Bronze to Diamond.  From the difficulties of learning and climbing to the next league to the wild stories of their gold days, the duo share their adventures in the hopes that they will help enlighten those who have the same goal of ranking up.  

Dan (capt_hapa):  

https://linktr.ee/capt_hapa

Will (L0rdCraniaL):  

https://www.twitch.tv/l0rdcranial

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsmEQmeDkFZrln0Hte8WzCw

The Climb Podcast:  

https://open.spotify.com/show/6jKu2DZtHWGYNKEHgihiat?si=f1aQDWA4S92x71cJhTeOMQ&dl_branch=1

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-climb-the-starcraft-ladder-experience/id1565969635

Will, Dan and special guest Shuuyi discuss their recent ladder sessions as well as the below Masters tournament scene.  Join us as we talk about how to prepare for tournaments and what to expect from them compared to ladder matches.

Will:
twitch.tv/l0rdcranial
twitter.com/L0rdCraniaL

Dan:
linktr.ee/capt_hapa

Shuuyi:
twitch.tv/shuuyiw
twitter.com/ShuuYiW

After a short break from StarCraft and streaming, Will and Dan discuss their experiences with coming back to the ladder scene and the game in general.  Expect to come back with a clear mind, but rusty fingers.

With the changing of the StarCraft II seasons, The Climb hosts talk about their experience of competitive burn-out.   They also discuss potential tips and tricks to avoid the wear and tear as well as what to do if one should find themselves lacking passion for the ladder.  

Will and Dan discuss how their goals in StarCraft II and the things to keep in mind when setting them.

Will and Dan talk about their views on MMR and the best ways for less experienced players to view their own rating.

Dan and Will discuss different playstyles used by ladder players and how pro players influences.  

Will and Dan discuss how ladder anxiety has affected them and how it could affect newer players as they begin their journey into the StarCraft II ranked ladder.  

Will and Dan discuss how they were first introduced to StarCraft and what brought them to begin playing competitively.

Join Dan (capt_hapa) and Will (L0rdCraniaL) as we take a dive into the StarCraft ladder experience and discuss topics pertaining to anyone trying to get to the next league.