{"post":{"id":"10032","title":"How to make a Thor - for Dummies","content":"![The Way Of The Thor](http://i.imgur.com/knlKX.png)\r\n\r\nAfter a long vacation it was so finally time for my first real encounter with Terran. Yes I have tried playing Terran before, but it was just briefly and I only tried to wing it and didn't really have a clue but what I was doing... so it didn't really turn out that good as you might understand ^^ \r\n\r\nThis time I was gonna be a bit prepared at least, so I did three things before starting the game up: \r\n\r\n**1.** Talk to a Master Terran, result: \"don't forget to wall off\" \r\n\r\n**2. **Find out how I theoretically was suppose to [do a wall off](http://starcraft2terranstrategies.com/tag/terran-wall-off) \r\n\r\n**3. **Finding a [Terran tech three](http://sc2armory.com/game/terran/tech_tree/) so I actually knew how to build Thors.\r\n\r\n###How to make a Thor:\r\n\r\n*\"Take 1 Command Center, add 1 Barracks (preferably close to the ramp for additional wall off effect) and then it's time for a Factory with a pinch of Techlab. Finish off by adding 1 Armory and then you may have as many Thors as you desire.\"*\r\n\r\nSo pretty much... Command center > Barracks > Factory + Techlab > Armory > **THORS!!!!**\r\n\r\nHoly crap that is a lot to do without any units to defend my base. Seems that I need to figure out the whole wall off part now.\r\n\r\nAnd after thinking that I just open up StarCraft, picked my favorite map (Metalopolis) and made DexTheDrone into green Terran (that felt strange!!)\r\n\r\n##GAME 1 (opponent: Easy Zerg AI)\r\n\r\nThe game starts and my mind goes blank... What I haven't played in over a month, how do I do stuff but then as my SCVs impatiently stood looking at the minerals my brain just let my fingers take over and suddenly I was up and running. \r\n\r\nI focused on just making SCVs and having them do their mining thing and put up a lot of Supply Depots all over the base. After a while I realised:\r\n\r\n*\"Damn, I'm not sure when to start putting up other buildings!\"*\r\n\r\nAfter a quick glance at my cheat notepad I put up my first Barracks. \r\n\r\n**Not close to the ramp... Of course.** \r\n\r\nThe second one ended up close to the ramp and the wall off lesson was in full swing. Placing those Supply Depots to get a impenetrable wall was not an easy task, so since the first and second one didn't do the job, I just kept adding a few more just for the sake of it (**-facepalm-**). \r\n\r\nWhen I finally had all the buildings ready to make the Thors I was so happy pressing that T button...\r\n\r\n... but my happiness was painfully short.\r\n\r\n** \"not enough Vespene Gas\". **\r\n\r\nWhat? Crap, I forgot to get Gas!!! Up goes one Refinery, not enough. Second goes up. Still not enough, taking second base and pushing up Refinery 3 and 4. \r\n\r\nI WANT THORS!!! \r\n\r\nAfter 26 minutes of brain farts and a hint of hubris, I had a 15 man army of Thors... they crushed! :D\r\n\r\n![You can never have too many Thors?](http://i.imgur.com/n4z6q.jpg)\r\n*You can never have too many Thors?*\r\n\r\n###To sum up: \r\n\r\nStuff took me a while to build, it also took me a while to figure out hotkeys and remember the order to build stuff and then I was stupid enough to sit and think that the Thors took way too long time to build without building another Factory. AND ofc I forgot Gas, and then realized I needed pretty much Gas to make Thors.\r\n\r\nLame, I know.\r\n\r\n##GAME 2 (opponent: Easy Terran AI)\r\n\r\nThe goal was to speed things up and, you know, have Gas for Thors and whatnot. My wall came up pretty OK, only two Supply Depots this time. Good for me! I was spending my supplies a bit better. Remembered  Gas and took my second earlier. \r\n\r\nThis time I was \"bold\" enough to push with 8 Thors after \"only\" 19 minutes, and ofc crushed the opponent again. It was just too easy, even for a nub like me. I play it way too safe and over build Thors, SCVs and pretty much everything besides Factories. \r\n\r\n###Time to consult my coach:\r\n\r\n**Dex**: a silly question after two games perhaps, but Thors don't 'take up room in Barracks or how does that work?\r\n\r\n**Coach**: Huh?\r\n\r\n**Dex:** isn't Barracks like Overlords, so you need to have them to build units?\r\n\r\n**Coach:** Supply Depot.<\r\n\r\n**Coach:** Like, Supply is right in the name...\r\n\r\n**Dex:** oh I thought that was just for Gas and minerals...\r\n\r\n**Coach:** -blinks-\r\n\r\n**Coach: **Overlords for Zerg, Pylons for Protoss, Depots for Terrans.\r\n\r\n**Dex: oki :$**\r\n\r\nOOPS!! I don't need Barracks?! \r\n\r\nDamn I almost had to look in the mirror to check that I wasn't blond.\r\n\r\n![Double Facepalm](http://i.imgur.com/Q2I3z.jpg)\r\n\r\n###Let's try the coach again...\r\n\r\nCoach realized that I need a bit more information before he feels comfortable of letting me in to play with the Thors again and lays down some pointers for me to learn.\r\n\r\n**Coach: ** Well I think two Factories per base is pretty much where you're going to be at.\r\n\r\n...\r\n\r\n**Coach: ** Yep, you should really push with two Thors. :)\r\n\r\n**Coach: ** Well if you have three SCVs in Gas, they farm 100 Gas per minute.\r\n\r\n**Coach: **So for every base you have, you can build one thor per minute.\r\n\r\n**Dex**: I go two bases so far\r\n\r\n**Coach**: So one Factory per base is the goal. :)\r\n\r\n**Coach: **Remember, Thors are big and scary.\r\n\r\n**Coach: **Push like they are.\r\n\r\n**Coach: ** Get comfortable, figure out how many SCVs to keep on minerals and stop building them.\r\n\r\n##GAME 3 (opponent: Medium Terran AI)\r\n\r\nI decided I needed to get my confidence up again so stopped playing around with boring easy opponents. I made a good wall, got an early push with Marauders from my opponent, no Thors had yet emerged from the Factory!!! \r\n\r\nLost my wall but a hero Thor came charging (read: stomping) and saved the day. I rebuild my wall and learned the joy of being able to repair my units now. Beat that Zergies ^^\r\n\r\nDid my first push with two Thors, just as I was told, died before they got up the ramp :( \r\n\r\nPushed again with 4 Thors, got just up the ramp and then had to retreat and die without mercy a few steps from my base. \r\n\r\nHell, it's time to army up! Got six Thors and charged over finding my opponent taking his second, DENIED! The green Thors then charged up the ramp and got surprised by barely any units at all. \r\n\r\n**Victory!**\r\n\r\nIt turned out to be a 25 min game. I still went for 2 bases but were sneaking Gas from a third, I know long distance is not a good idea. My silly defence to this was well if I don't put up a Command Center I probably don't have to guard the third base...\r\n\r\nI'm guessing you understand the \"for dummies\" part of the title by now ;)","image":"/assets/post_default_image.png","tag_list":["terran","blog post","Thor Way"]}}