Added a link on top to files. I’m going to start synching my replay folder, which has a lot of replays that don’t make it to the replay database.

So yeah I’ve been debating with myself over whether I should talk about microing specifics, like footmen micro or whatever. In the end, I’ve decided I don’t really feel like it.

Anyway, there’s something I haven’t mentioned because I haven’t taken the time to start using it, but now I’m going to! Not sure how many people know about this, let alone use it, but Warcraft has a way to add the currently selected units to a group. You do this by holding shift and pressing a group number. This really helps with group management if you use a lot of groups like I do. (or at least half of it, the adding units part).

Example: In group 5, I have only my sorceresses, but the sorcs are also in a larger group 2, which might have summons, breakers, or whatever. Normally, I would have to add a new sorc to both group 5 and group 2. Here’s how I do it with the new method.

I add a sorc to my sorc-only group, 5 normally. You do that by selecting group 5, holding shift, selecting the sorc, and then regrouping with control-5. I have to do this for both the old and new method.

While my sorc-only group, 5, is still selected, I hold shift and press 2. Done, the sorc is also added to group 2 now. That’s 2 steps to update group 2 after updating group 5. (hold shit, press two)

Normally, you would select 2 (1 step), hold shift and add the sorc (2 steps, plus selecting units on the map is something you avoid if you can), reassign the control group (2 steps, hold control, press group number). 5 total steps, so by using Warcraft’s built in function, I save 3 steps in adding a unit to my groups; it’s better optimized.

EDIT: now that I think about it, you could actually shift-add the first sorc to group 5 as well. Then shift-add to group 2. WOW, that’s 3 (omg.. 2nd edit) steps total. I should have been using this sooner. :ENDEDIT

Okay, enough with that. Next is creeping optimization. ShrieK always comes to mind whenever we use that phrase. I think he said before you can shave 15 seconds [or maybe it was less] off your start if you do everything right. I’ve yet to make all the tiny adjustments he does. NEVERTHELESS, I’d like to stress the value of creeping well. Today when I was organizing my replays I actually found two on TS where I’m speed-build creeping the merc camp vs a computer. (1) (2). They’re from when I was practicing for WCG. Back then I really didn’t have any top human practice partners, so I spent a lot of time just working on some different starts against computers; I probably played maybe 200+ games (not full-length, just the start). What I did in those 2 TS replays is what I MEANT to do vs ShrieK, but I totally just forgot about it for some reason during the game. It’s unfortunate, as he did what I expected him to do.. but WHATEVER. What I did in the TM game I practiced many, many times as well. I haven’t used either start much since and I probably couldn’t do them now anymore :D

AutoHotkey is what I use to remap keyboard keys, and before I started using mouse drivers, mouse buttons as well. Download it here

It has lots of uses, here are some:
-disable alt-tab and the window key. I also disable alt-f, so formation is not accidentally toggled
-keep health bars on and remove the need to hold down alt altogether
-use inventory items with a different key by remapping to the numpad keys.

After you install the program, you want to create an ahk file that contains the remapping instructions. Simply open a text editor such as notepad and save the file as “filename.ahk”. Save it in an easy to access location such as your desktop.

Following I will show code for basic functions, check the documentation for more. Each remapping instruction should be on a new line.

Disable alt-f, send ‘f’ instead
!f::send f

Disable alt-tab, send ‘tab’ instead
!Tab::Send {Tab}

Use 1st extra mouse button for Numpad-8 (top right inventory slot)
XButton1::Send {Numpad8}

Make Caps Lock act like Backspace (backspace centers on town hall)
CapsLock::Send {Backspace}

Make the left window key turn on health bars
LWin::Send {] Down}{[ Down}

Make control-left window key turn off health bars
^LWin::Send {] Up}{[ Up}

After you save your file, double click on the icon where you saved it and it should be active. When active, there should be an AHK icon in your taskbar icontray.

To disable the mappings for normal desktop use, add #IfWinActive, ahk_class Warcraft III as the first line before everything else.

Here's what my old ahk file looked like before I switched to mouse drivers for inventory slots:
 

#IfWinActive, ahk_class Warcraft III
CapsLock::Send {Backspace}
XButton1::Send {Numpad8}
XButton2::Send {Numpad7}
^XButton1::Send {Numpad5}
^XButton2::Send {Numpad4}
!f::send f
LWin::Send {] Down}{[ Down}
^LWin::Send {] Up}{[ Up}

Thanks to Tye for showing me a few of these! Feel free to leave questions in comments, but I’m going to have to ask you to rtfm if you want me to just make your file for you.

“What does APM have to do with micro?”

Higher APM just means you click more.

“Is there some relationship between clicking more and micro?”

Not really.

APM = MICRO?

There is one school of thought that says you should spam actions to raise your APM and eventually the spam will magically turn into micro. I say bulls***. I think you should get rid of unnecessary actions so they don’t distract you. The key is to stay calm and keep everything on the screen in your attention instead of spamming actions and getting caught up in one thing. Everyone has probably experienced at one time or another, like while watching a replay, totally missing something during the game. “I didn’t even realize that happened.” If this happens to you, you really need to just STOP clicking and doing so much stuff and first learn how to WATCH the game and be aware of what is happening. Admittedly, this still happens to me a lot especially if I haven’t been playing or haven’t warmed up; I coined a term for it back in my 220-200 AT days, I call it “game awareness.” The first step towards improving your micro is working on your game awareness, not increasing your APM.

Tying it Together

So what’s next? After you can watch the game when playing without getting lost is when micro begins. You want to stay calm and go through the actions. Staff a unit, pass staff, staff unit, pass it again. Select footman, move it back, select group, deselect footman and regroup. It should all be very smooth.

When you lose your step and the smoothness breaks, for example if your opponents just really outmicroes you and you slip when a footman didn’t get deselected, the best thing to do is just stop and regain composure. It’s like if you’re playing in an orchestra or something and you get lost, you’re a measure behind. You have to stop before you can start again.

The first and most important way to improve your micro is to use good unit groups. I’ve written about this before in Hotkey for Success.

There are two basic points I think about in my group design:
1. I want to be able to move my whole army in few actions
2. I want easy access to invididual unit types

With these two basics in mind, you can make your groups. More points to consider:
3. Units that attack together should be in the same group. e.g., footmen and breakers
4. Units that do not move together should not be in the same group. e.g., usually ground and air

It’s usually not possible to perfectly achieve all 4 points and the balance between them is up to you.

The benefits of point 1 should be obvious, but it is difficult to achieve with a maximum group size of 12 units. To help with this I have some groups follow (right click on a hero/unit to follow it) my hero, such as priests, tanks, mortars. This works for basic army movement but in combat it is inadequate.

A lot has already been said in the “Hotkey for Success” post so I won’t repeat it here.

Introduction

Micro Matters is going to be a semi-organized series about micro-related topics. It is not going to be a full system on how to micro; one, because my ’system’ most likely isn’t the best and two, it wouldn’t be complete anyway as there are lots of things I don’t do very well. Finally, because I’m just FAKING it I actually don’t know what I’m talking about. =)

What Is Micro?

Simply put, I’m going to use the term ‘micro’ to refer to anything you do on the smaller scale of play. Unit usage and creeping are examples of micro. Conversely, ‘macro’ will refer to the larger picture, the overall game; things like controlling units at different spots on the map, resource management, remembering to build your buildings, etc.

Parts

This will be updated as posts are finished.