Chocobo Profile Joined November 2006 United States 1108 Posts Last Edited: 2012-09-21 01:24:35 #1 The new GM ladder has nearly filled up now, with 189 spots claimed... and the race breakdown is not very even at all. Zerg make up 49.2% of the ladder, protoss 30.2%, and terran a pathetic 20.6%.



The masters ladder isn't looking much better... 4.3% random, 32.9% protoss, 36.6% zerg, and 26.3% terran. You actually have to go all the way down to bronze league to find terran cracking 30% of the population.



BTW what caused me to want to go and look up these stats? In the past week on the ladder in low masters league, I have faced 29 zerg, 11 protoss, and 2 terran. I was wondering if terran still existed outside of the GSL.



Now, this certainly doesn't prove that there's any imbalance... there are a number of reasons unrelated to balance that could be causing this. Maybe people got bored of playing the methodical terran and switched races. Maybe they're inspired by the popular live streaming players like Stephano, Idra, Huk, Destiny, and White-ra... there aren't as many popular terran streamers.



But honestly, I believe a significant part of the population shift is related to game balance. People switch to races that are easier to play and easier to be successful with. When the game was new, the situation was almost the opposite of what it is now (40% terran and 20% zerg in the higher ladders). I didn't buy any of that "people play terran because it's the race they know from the campaign" nonsense. They played terran because things like 5 rax reapers and tanks on ledges meant free wins against zerg, and TvP was looking favorable as well.



My opinion is that there is no racial imbalance at the pro level, but below that level it might take a little more work (more skillful positioning, more scouting, and more micro) to achieve the same results you'd get with the more forgiving zerg.



I can't think of anything specific that's imbalanced or could be changed to help fix this... I think it's just how the game is. As a Street Fighter player, I know sometimes it's just easier to play Zangief than to use a finesse character who has to land a 20 hit combo to equal a single punch that Zangief lands. Maybe reduce bunker build time by 5 seconds, that should fix things.

stew_ Profile Joined June 2012 Canada 239 Posts #2 i'm pretty sure most terrans are used to this.... it's not even that shocking to us either 자연속에 내가 있다! 운!지!

Wrathsc2 Profile Joined March 2011 United States 2009 Posts #3 its just harder playing at that level as terran imo. A marine walks into a bar and asks, "Wheres the counter?"

Kmatt Profile Joined July 2011 United States 811 Posts #4 That, and it could be less people play terran these days. When all-ins don't win anymore and the lategame is so under-developed, I would lose hope too. We CAN have nice things

Account252508 Profile Joined February 2012 3454 Posts #5 --- Nuked ---

Bippzy Profile Blog Joined March 2011 United States 1403 Posts #6 On September 21 2012 10:31 Wrathsc2 wrote:

its just harder playing at that level as terran imo.

Yeah, and im one of those guys believing game shud be balanced at top. Imo its kinda cool to see terran as the underdog with the "most" potential. Nothing needs fixing Yeah, and im one of those guys believing game shud be balanced at top. Imo its kinda cool to see terran as the underdog with the "most" potential. Nothing needs fixing LEENOCK LEENOCK LEENOCK LEENOCK LEENOCK LEENOCK LEENOCK LEENOCK LEENOCK LEENOCK LEENOCK LEENOCK

blade55555 Profile Blog Joined March 2009 United States 17375 Posts #7



On korea I think it's a lot more even and I actually don't know about EU. But can't judge racial balance on just GM, especially on the NA ladder I imagine this has been the case on NA with zerg being mostly in GM for the past 6 months and will probably not change until hots.On korea I think it's a lot more even and I actually don't know about EU. But can't judge racial balance on just GM, especially on the NA ladder When I think of something else, something will go here

BlackPanther Profile Blog Joined April 2011 United States 871 Posts #8 I think the reason for it is that no one really is a huge name Terran player in the foreign scene compared to the super star Zergs and Protoss.

sekritzzz Profile Joined December 2010 1356 Posts #9 Its a bit hilarious how all these people are throwing random conclusions such as "terran is a hard race to play, thus less people play it". Its as if sc2 came out a month ago. For people who didn't know terran was quite popular back in the day.... and zerg was played at a 20%~ rate.

FakeDeath Profile Joined January 2011 Malaysia 4700 Posts #10 You should used Korean ladder as a better reference.

Since Korean ladder is the highest level among all continents ladder.

That would be a better judgement. Play your best

Infernal_dream Profile Joined September 2011 United States 2143 Posts #11 Seems like an undercover terran qq thread. Terran used to be the highest represented race. It goes through shifts. Zerg has been getting all the buffs lately so of course your FOTMS are going to go over there.

psychotics Profile Joined July 2011 United States 184 Posts #12 it couldnt possibly be that theres just more better zergs in NA then terrans? you know that could never be the case at all, considering most of the NA pros that are popular are zergs?

In all seriousness the "this race is harder to play then others" is kinda flawed and wrong way to think. each race has its own skill sets that are required and some people are just better at certain aspects of the game and so a race feels better or worse for them. for example, if someone is really good at counter attacking, flanking, and controlling the map, they probally would not do so well as protoss because protoss cant be played like that similarly if someone is realy good at micro and multitasking and harass zerg is probally not the best race where as terran would be better.

SgtCoDFish Profile Blog Joined July 2010 United Kingdom 1512 Posts #13 On September 21 2012 10:33 Kmatt wrote:

That, and it could be less people play terran these days. When all-ins don't win anymore and the lategame is so under-developed, I would lose hope too.



A lot of people have thought processes like this, and switch races, that's why terran's not played much.



I love it. No tvt ever. Best thing :D A lot of people have thought processes like this, and switch races, that's why terran's not played much.I love it. No tvt ever. Best thing :D

Kfcnoob Profile Joined January 2011 United States 296 Posts Last Edited: 2012-09-21 01:46:07 #14 Terran is definitely unforgiving and requires alot of skill since refined timings and micro are critical for successful play. As you've said, the pro players have no problem with this sort of requirement. However, until high masters most players will not achieve this level of comfort. Is it imbalance? I'm not sure, but its definitely annoying to see protoss in GM league with 70 apm when no terran under 170 could compete at that level. And Artosis sayeth "the one who kills many, but loses few, comes out ahead."

IMPrime Profile Joined September 2011 United States 714 Posts #15 On September 21 2012 10:40 sekritzzz wrote:

Its a bit hilarious how all these people are throwing random conclusions such as "terran is a hard race to play, thus less people play it". Its as if sc2 came out a month ago. For people who didn't know terran was quite popular back in the day.... and zerg was played at a 20%~ rate.



because back when the game wasnt figured out at all and cheese was overly powerful because no one knew how to respond to them properly, zergs kept dying to them and thus were the hardest race to play because back when the game wasnt figured out at all and cheese was overly powerful because no one knew how to respond to them properly, zergs kept dying to them and thus were the hardest race to play

isaachukfan Profile Blog Joined October 2011 Canada 785 Posts #16 Mods should lock this troll bait thread before it gets out of hand. I'm a mennonite, yes I'm allowed to use a computer

Chocobo Profile Joined November 2006 United States 1108 Posts #17 On September 21 2012 10:34 blade55555 wrote:

I imagine this has been the case on NA with zerg being mostly in GM for the past 6 months and will probably not change until hots.



On korea I think it's a lot more even and I actually don't know about EU. But can't judge racial balance on just GM, especially on the NA ladder I imagine this has been the case on NA with zerg being mostly in GM for the past 6 months and will probably not change until hots.On korea I think it's a lot more even and I actually don't know about EU. But can't judge racial balance on just GM, especially on the NA ladder

Excellent point, I don't know why I didn't think to check the other ladders. Here's what they look like-



Korea GM: zerg 37.4%, protoss 34.5%, terran 28.2%

Korea masters: zerg 27.6%, protoss 33.3%, terran 34.3%, random 4.8%



Europe GM: zerg 37.3%, protoss 36.7%, terran 24.9%, random 1.2% (random GMs, pretty sick)

Europe masters: zerg 35.3%, protoss 35.1%, terran 25.5%, random 4%



SEA GM: zerg 32.4%, protoss 38.1%, terran 25.9%, random 3.6%

SEA masters: zerg 32.2%, protoss 32.2%, terran 30.7%, random 5%



China GM: zerg 39.3%, protoss 32.5%, terran 24.8%, random 3.4%

China masters: zerg 31.9%, protoss 34.3%, terran 28.2%, random 5.6%



Looks like the results are pretty similar with the exception of Korea... a place known to have higher overall skill levels, so that the skill requirements of terran aren't as much of a drawback. But even there the GM league is low on terrans.



Of course, looking at races used on ladders is a horrible way to determine game balance... tournament competition is one of the best ways, and it's looking pretty even there.



And I couldn't agree more with Bippzy's post... there's nothing wrong with having a race that's tougher to learn but has the most potential if played very skillfully. Excellent point, I don't know why I didn't think to check the other ladders. Here's what they look like-Korea GM: zerg 37.4%, protoss 34.5%, terran 28.2%Korea masters: zerg 27.6%, protoss 33.3%, terran 34.3%, random 4.8%Europe GM: zerg 37.3%, protoss 36.7%, terran 24.9%, random 1.2% (random GMs, pretty sick)Europe masters: zerg 35.3%, protoss 35.1%, terran 25.5%, random 4%SEA GM: zerg 32.4%, protoss 38.1%, terran 25.9%, random 3.6%SEA masters: zerg 32.2%, protoss 32.2%, terran 30.7%, random 5%China GM: zerg 39.3%, protoss 32.5%, terran 24.8%, random 3.4%China masters: zerg 31.9%, protoss 34.3%, terran 28.2%, random 5.6%Looks like the results are pretty similar with the exception of Korea... a place known to have higher overall skill levels, so that the skill requirements of terran aren't as much of a drawback. But even there the GM league is low on terrans.Of course, looking at races used on ladders is a horrible way to determine game balance... tournament competition is one of the best ways, and it's looking pretty even there.And I couldn't agree more with Bippzy's post... there's nothing wrong with having a race that's tougher to learn but has the most potential if played very skillfully.

gengka Profile Joined September 2010 Malaysia 439 Posts #18 im just a platinum terran in SEA server. I took a glance at my ranking and... i'm currently 11th in my league and i'm the only terran in the league top 20. Make Love Not War

Account252508 Profile Joined February 2012 3454 Posts #19 --- Nuked ---

Chocobo Profile Joined November 2006 United States 1108 Posts #20 On September 21 2012 10:47 isaachukfan wrote:

Mods should lock this troll bait thread before it gets out of hand.

Not intended to be troll bait... I just thought it was worth discussing the very low terran population on the ladder, which was a surprise for me to find out about.



Maybe I could have titled the thread in a way that's less likely to entice morons to jump in and post "LOL NO SHIT, THIS GAME IS IMBA AS FUCK, TERRAN SUCKS ASS AND THAT'S WHY I QUIT THIS POS GAME" but I'm hoping the TL community is a little better than that. Not intended to be troll bait... I just thought it was worth discussing the very low terran population on the ladder, which was a surprise for me to find out about.Maybe I could have titled the thread in a way that's less likely to entice morons to jump in and post "LOL NO SHIT, THIS GAME IS IMBA AS FUCK, TERRAN SUCKS ASS AND THAT'S WHY I QUIT THIS POS GAME" but I'm hoping the TL community is a little better than that.

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