PiGStarcraft Profile Blog Joined December 2010 Australia 945 Posts Last Edited: 2014-02-20 11:52:02 #1



I've been to dozens and dozens of competitive LANS and seen a lot of people play far below their potential because they are oblivious about many of the most important settings you MUST check whenever you set up on a new PC. I've even been at international events such as IeSF in Korea where many of the players couldn't navigate the Korean windows and just played with sub-optimal settings. Letting yourself get handicapped like that is just silly, so I decided to write a simple checklist of the most vital things that must be changed every time you get on a new PC.



1. Windows Mouse settings:







Search "mouse" in windows and open the menu. Open the "Pointer Options" tab and de-select the box "enhance pointer precision". Also adjust the "select pointer precision bar" to 6/11. The number 1 reason people screw up at LAN is leaving mouse sensitivity on at LAN, this completely destroys their mouse accuracy if they aren't used to it.



Note from T.O.P: "Monitor resolution needs to be consistent if you want the mouse speed to be the same" - most events will use the most common 1920x1080 monitors, so if your one at home is different remember to toy with your mouse settings by going into game and pretending to split workers vs banelings for a minute on each sensitivity. You should be able to get it to be very similar to your home settings, though if you're a progamer just buy a standard monitor!



2. Windows Keyboard settings:







Search "Keyboard" in windows and open the menu. Adjust the "repeat delay" and "repeat rate" bars to the Shortest and Fastest options possible. This means when you're holding down 'Z' to que up 50 zerglings you don't need to wait 5 seconds for it to register!



3. Test your sound!



Depending on the setup this can be fixed 1/100 ways just fiddle around ingame and in windows sound settings and get an admin to help if you can't figure it out. Just make sure you get this sorted before you get fully settled in-case you need to change PCs.



4. INGAME Settings









The most important part is to mirror your setup at home with these.



If you're a real badass like me (giant nerd), you will print out your settings for the Gameplay and Sound tabs as there are too many options to remember them all. Likewise in Graphics and controls, memorise or print-out your settings and ensure they reflect your home setup so that you are as comfortable as can be.



5. Tablecloths



Get rid of any annoying table-cloths that screw up your mousepad surface by peeling them back from the table to make a flat space for your mousepad.



6. Monitor height







The top of your monitor should be roughly in line with your eyes. If it's lower than ask around for a small box to raise your monitor up. If it's too tall, see if you can stack chairs to give yourself a higher seat or find and adjustable chair. Sometimes events will even have adjustable monitors which makes this problem easy



Note from mnck: bring a pillow to adjust your chair height if it's too short, and this also works for monitor height.



7. Allied Colours - ON







I usually take this setting being on for granted, but recently at a LAN it was left off and my opponent was coloured "white" on Polar Night. I ended up missing a probe that went right past my lings and took big damage from a zealot pressure! I realised that maybe trying to spot white dots on snow maps wasn't the smartest idea .



So always leave your colour settings on "color units green, yellow or red based on hostility" using the button next to the minimap!







Hopefully this guide will make you more comfortable your next time competing at a LAN! Now you just need to worry about playing your best and not getting cheesed! Gl hf!







Heya guys and girls of TL!I've been to dozens and dozens of competitive LANS and seen a lot of people play far below their potential because they are oblivious about many of the most important settings you MUST check whenever you set up on a new PC. I've even been at international events such as IeSF in Korea where many of the players couldn't navigate the Korean windows and just played with sub-optimal settings. Letting yourself get handicapped like that is just silly, so I decided to write a simple checklist of the most vital things that must be changed every time you get on a new PC.Search "mouse" in windows and open the menu. Open the "Pointer Options" tab and de-select the box "enhance pointer precision". Also adjust the "select pointer precision bar" to 6/11. The number 1 reason people screw up at LAN is leaving mouse sensitivity on at LAN, this completely destroys their mouse accuracy if they aren't used to it.Note from T.O.P: "Monitor resolution needs to be consistent if you want the mouse speed to be the same" - most events will use the most common 1920x1080 monitors, so if your one at home is different remember to toy with your mouse settings by going into game and pretending to split workers vs banelings for a minute on each sensitivity. You should be able to get it to be very similar to your home settings, though if you're a progamer just buy a standard monitor!Search "Keyboard" in windows and open the menu. Adjust the "repeat delay" and "repeat rate" bars to the Shortest and Fastest options possible. This means when you're holding down 'Z' to que up 50 zerglings you don't need to wait 5 seconds for it to register!Depending on the setup this can be fixed 1/100 ways just fiddle around ingame and in windows sound settings and get an admin to help if you can't figure it out. Just make sure you get this sorted before you get fully settled in-case you need to change PCs.The most important part is to mirror your setup at home with these.If you're a real badass like me (giant nerd), you will print out your settings for the Gameplay and Sound tabs as there are too many options to remember them all. Likewise in Graphics and controls, memorise or print-out your settings and ensure they reflect your home setup so that you are as comfortable as can be.Get rid of any annoying table-cloths that screw up your mousepad surface by peeling them back from the table to make a flat space for your mousepad.The top of your monitor should be roughly in line with your eyes. If it's lower than ask around for a small box to raise your monitor up. If it's too tall, see if you can stack chairs to give yourself a higher seat or find and adjustable chair. Sometimes events will even have adjustable monitors which makes this problem easyNote from mnck: bring a pillow to adjust your chair height if it's too short, and this also works for monitor height.I usually take this setting being on for granted, but recently at a LAN it was left off and my opponent was coloured "white" on Polar Night. I ended up missing a probe that went right past my lings and took big damage from a zealot pressure! I realised that maybe trying to spot white dots on snow maps wasn't the smartest ideaSo always leave your colour settings on "color units green, yellow or red based on hostility" using the button next to the minimap!Hopefully this guide will make you more comfortable your next time competing at a LAN! Now you just need to worry about playing your best and not getting cheesed! Gl hf! Progamer www.twitch.tv/x5_pig | pigrandom88@gmail.com | @x5_PiG | www.facebook.com/pigSC2

mnck Profile Joined April 2010 Denmark 826 Posts #2 Always bring a pillow for the chair and a book for the monitor, that way you can adjust two different things if the height of the monitor isnt working. Gotta bring that lan pillow. @Munck // Proud Member of Bunny's Cheer Squad

Battousai13 Profile Joined September 2010 United States 635 Posts #3 On February 20 2014 20:33 mnck wrote:

Always bring a pillow for the chair and a book for the monitor, that way you can adjust two different things if the height of the monitor isnt working. Gotta bring that lan pillow.

Have you been talking to HuK? Have you been talking to HuK?

PiGStarcraft Profile Blog Joined December 2010 Australia 945 Posts #4 On February 20 2014 20:33 mnck wrote:

Always bring a pillow for the chair and a book for the monitor, that way you can adjust two different things if the height of the monitor isnt working. Gotta bring that lan pillow.



I usually just harass event organisers until I get a box of good size and that's worked out so far but it's a bit silly and you have to be a bit extroverted to bother with this, a book is probably better .



The pillow is great advice! I've been meaning to start bringing one to events! I usually just harass event organisers until I get a box of good size and that's worked out so far but it's a bit silly and you have to be a bit extroverted to bother with this, a book is probably betterThe pillow is great advice! I've been meaning to start bringing one to events! Progamer www.twitch.tv/x5_pig | pigrandom88@gmail.com | @x5_PiG | www.facebook.com/pigSC2

T.O.P. Profile Blog Joined January 2009 Hong Kong 4684 Posts #5 Monitor resolution needs to be consistent if you want the mouse speed to be the same. Oracle comes in, Scvs go down, never a miscommunication.

PiGStarcraft Profile Blog Joined December 2010 Australia 945 Posts #6 On February 20 2014 20:46 T.O.P. wrote:

Monitor resolution needs to be consistent if you want the mouse speed to be the same.



Excellent point! I used to play with a 1650x1080 at home despite every event being a 1920x1080. I always had to fiddle around with my sensitivity and I'm sure it hurt my performance a lot. Excellent point! I used to play with a 1650x1080 at home despite every event being a 1920x1080. I always had to fiddle around with my sensitivity and I'm sure it hurt my performance a lot. Progamer www.twitch.tv/x5_pig | pigrandom88@gmail.com | @x5_PiG | www.facebook.com/pigSC2

ragnorr Profile Joined April 2011 Denmark 4526 Posts Last Edited: 2014-02-20 12:02:03 #7 On February 20 2014 20:33 mnck wrote:

Always bring a pillow for the chair and a book for the monitor, that way you can adjust two different things if the height of the monitor isnt working. Gotta bring that lan pillow.

Pillows are such a must, you never know what kind of shitty chair you end up with at a lan.



I would also surgest drinking water instead of sweet drinks, it helps a lot to stay awake for a whole day, same goes for food as well really Pillows are such a must, you never know what kind of shitty chair you end up with at a lan.I would also surgest drinking water instead of sweet drinks, it helps a lot to stay awake for a whole day, same goes for food as well really

Lucoda Profile Blog Joined February 2012 Ireland 183 Posts #8 I play at home with arm rests up, I find it easier to play long hours as a result. Would most LANS have seats with arm rests? https://twitter.com/LucodaSC2

RPR_Tempest Profile Blog Joined February 2011 Australia 7702 Posts #9 On February 20 2014 21:11 LucoxP wrote:

I play at home with arm rests up, I find it easier to play long hours as a result. Would most LANS have seats with arm rests?

Nope! Nope! Soundwave, Zerg player from Canberra, Australia. @SoundwaveSC

PiGStarcraft Profile Blog Joined December 2010 Australia 945 Posts #10 On February 20 2014 21:11 LucoxP wrote:

I play at home with arm rests up, I find it easier to play long hours as a result. Would most LANS have seats with arm rests?



I recently swapped to a chair with no arm-rests specifically because they almost never have them at LAN. Usually only stage-matches will have arm-rests. It took a day or two to adjust but after that I was fine using my crappy old chair whenever I practice, I swap to my nice chair when I'm doing other things .



On February 20 2014 20:59 ragnorr wrote:

Show nested quote +

On February 20 2014 20:33 mnck wrote:

Always bring a pillow for the chair and a book for the monitor, that way you can adjust two different things if the height of the monitor isnt working. Gotta bring that lan pillow.

Pillows are such a must, you never know what kind of shitty chair you end up with at a lan.



I would also surgest drinking water instead of sweet drinks, it helps a lot to stay awake for a whole day, same goes for food as well really Pillows are such a must, you never know what kind of shitty chair you end up with at a lan.I would also surgest drinking water instead of sweet drinks, it helps a lot to stay awake for a whole day, same goes for food as well really



I can't support this enough! I always bring bananas and some muesli/nut bars and a big bottle of water to LANs so I don't need to eat fast-food. I recently swapped to a chair with no arm-rests specifically because they almost never have them at LAN. Usually only stage-matches will have arm-rests. It took a day or two to adjust but after that I was fine using my crappy old chair whenever I practice, I swap to my nice chair when I'm doing other thingsI can't support this enough! I always bring bananas and some muesli/nut bars and a big bottle of water to LANs so I don't need to eat fast-food. Progamer www.twitch.tv/x5_pig | pigrandom88@gmail.com | @x5_PiG | www.facebook.com/pigSC2

Lucoda Profile Blog Joined February 2012 Ireland 183 Posts #11 Would many pros listen to music while at LANS in the background? And just to add onto the arm rest topic, are there any wrist/arm injuries that you could get from not using arm rests? It's safe to practice long hours with no arm rests? https://twitter.com/LucodaSC2

GohgamX Profile Joined April 2011 Canada 1054 Posts #12 LAN's are notorious for having the worst chairs around... Time is a great teacher, unfortunate that it kills all its pupils ...

FFW_Rude Profile Blog Joined November 2010 France 10169 Posts Last Edited: 2014-02-20 13:28:28 #13 On February 20 2014 22:08 LucoxP wrote:

Would many pros listen to music while at LANS in the background? And just to add onto the arm rest topic, are there any wrist/arm injuries that you could get from not using arm rests? It's safe to practice long hours with no arm rests?



I don't think you can listen to music at lans. Last i've been to a lan as a player was at late 90"s so it probably doesn't count, but we weren't alowed to have anything that the game in sounds because you could have something recorded to help you instead of music or something.



Pillow is a really nice thing to have. It's like "a must" because some oranizer just don't care (well... it may have changed too in 15years :p)



Did it change now ? I don't think you can listen to music at lans. Last i've been to a lan as a player was at late 90"s so it probably doesn't count, but we weren't alowed to have anything that the game in sounds because you could have something recorded to help you instead of music or something.Pillow is a really nice thing to have. It's like "a must" because some oranizer just don't care (well... it may have changed too in 15years :p)Did it change now ? #1 KT Rolster fanboy. KT BEST KT ! Hail to KT playoffs Zergs ! Unofficial french translator for SlayerS_`Boxer` biography "Crazy as me".

lichter Profile Blog Joined September 2010 1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL 22233 Posts #14 No ruler? What a chobo :p Administrator YOU MUST HEED MY INSTRUCTIONS TAKE OFF YOUR THIIIINGS

pNRG Profile Joined February 2012 United States 244 Posts #15 On February 20 2014 22:50 lichter wrote:

No ruler? What a chobo :p



I'll never forget the first time seeing Flash with his ruler & tape... I'll never forget the first time seeing Flash with his ruler & tape... "He's like a Kakuna with Flamestrike." - Artosis 25.7.2014 \\ "Sometimes you gotta' be manly to get out of the group stage, Reynad." -Artosis 17.10.2014 \\ “There goes your dream of a frivolous lawsuit with a brewing company.” – Tasteless 26.8.2015

FFW_Rude Profile Blog Joined November 2010 France 10169 Posts #16 On February 20 2014 22:57 pNRG wrote:

Show nested quote +

On February 20 2014 22:50 lichter wrote:

No ruler? What a chobo :p



I'll never forget the first time seeing Flash with his ruler & tape... I'll never forget the first time seeing Flash with his ruler & tape...



Is that weird that i envy you like hell for seeing a korean guy tape his desk after measuring it with a ruler ? Imagine saying that to someone that don't know Starcraft. Is that weird that i envy you like hell for seeing a korean guy tape his desk after measuring it with a ruler ? Imagine saying that to someone that don't know Starcraft. #1 KT Rolster fanboy. KT BEST KT ! Hail to KT playoffs Zergs ! Unofficial french translator for SlayerS_`Boxer` biography "Crazy as me".

opisska Profile Blog Joined February 2011 Poland 8848 Posts #17 On February 20 2014 21:56 RPR_Tempest wrote:

Show nested quote +

On February 20 2014 21:11 LucoxP wrote:

I play at home with arm rests up, I find it easier to play long hours as a result. Would most LANS have seats with arm rests?

Nope! Nope!



That's something really wierd, on the level of a football match played on concrete instead of grass. I can't really stand doing anything on computer without armrests for longer than a couple of minutes. I am sometimes forced to do so (while travelling) and usually have strong pain in my right afterwards. That's something really wierd, on the level of a football match played on concrete instead of grass. I can't really stand doingon computer without armrests for longer than a couple of minutes. I am sometimes forced to do so (while travelling) and usually have strong pain in my right afterwards. "Jeez, that's far from ideal." - Serral, the king of mild trashtalk

Azhrak Profile Joined January 2011 Finland 1124 Posts Last Edited: 2014-02-20 15:49:59 #18 One point not mentioned is scaling. "Monitor resolution needs to be consistent if you want the mouse speed to be the same". However, having for example resolution 1680x1050 scaled up to the 1920x1080 monitor doesn't feel the same as home. Choose your resolution from SC2 and turn off scaling from the monitor if possible, or from the GPU (NVIDIA control panel or AMD Catalyst). Ask an admin if unsure.



Edit: To clarify, a smaller resolution than the monitors native resolution without scaling results in black edges in the monitor. starcraft2.fi

Azhrak Profile Joined January 2011 Finland 1124 Posts Last Edited: 2014-02-20 17:48:35 #19 input language. You probably will want to set up the input language same as you have it at home, or otherwise typing will cause you constant stress as you struggle for the right characters. To change your input language, navigate to Region and Language -> Keyboard and languages tab -> Change keyboards button. Add your desired language and move it to the top of the list. You may even remove all the other input languages if you wish, so you won't accidentally hit alt+shift and have your input language changed mid-battle.



Input languages selection:



In case of a foreign language Windows, you can use these shortcuts.

Mouse

Start menu search: main.cpl + enter

Pointer options is the 3rd tab





Keyboard

Start menu search: main.cpl keyboard + enter

Speed is the 1st tab



Input Language

Start menu search: cmd + enter

In command prompt: control input.dll + enter



More tips:

Have a copy of your Documents\StarCraft II\Variables.txt file available so you can change the SC2 settings in a heartbeat. Just make sure to then add in all settings required by the tournament like Save All Replays.



Plug your mouse and keyboard to USB2 slots (the black ones) if possible. Sometimes and oddly behaving mouse/keyboard is fixed by not using the USB3 slots (the blue ones).



If you use a specific mouse/keyboard driver software, have it with you on a USB stick for easy install.



Plug your headphones always to the same output, be it in the front panel or the back. Use the back panel if possible (use an extension cord), as it is less likely to be flawed.



Bring an extension cord for your headphones just in case, since you cannot know the distance to the audio output.



If possible, use noise cancelling headphones, closed headphones, or in-ear headphones with earmuffs to achieve a peaceful environment. LAN events can be really loud, which might cause a distraction. Additionally, if you play on the stage, you will have to use earmuffs anyway, so it's good getting used to them.

Another thing not mentioned is. You probably will want to set up the input language same as you have it at home, or otherwise typing will cause you constant stress as you struggle for the right characters.To change your input language, navigate to Region and Language -> Keyboard and languages tab -> Change keyboards button.your desired language andof the list. You may even remove all the other input languages if you wish, so you won't accidentally hit alt+shift and have your input language changed mid-battle.Input languages selection: + Show Spoiler + In case of a foreign language Windows, you can use these shortcuts.More tips: starcraft2.fi

PcH Profile Joined December 2010 United States 82 Posts #20 That ergonomic picture is horribly incorrect. The feet position, the eye/head position is all wrong. www.twitch.tv/pch__

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