Proper Hot-keys for Macroing

[Jon™]

I used to play SC and started in on the beta for SC2. I'm liking the new units and some of the changes they've made to the interface, especially the ability to hotkey more than a dozen units.

Playing Zerg in the original, I realized the importance of pumping out huge numbers of units. I can see that SC2 will require the same kind of macro production but I'm having trouble finding some of the correct keys for what I'm seeing in some of the better replays.

You can hotkey more than one hatch. If I have 3 on one hotkey, is there any way to zoom to a particular hatch? If I have them all on one hotkey and I'm looking to, say, produce drones at one site since it's just coming online, being able to zoom to that hatch and get drones there while the other two pump out combat units would be helpful.

Same thing with queens. If I have three hatches and a queen at each, I can have all 3 queens on one hotkey, but when I hit that key it will go to whichever queen is closest (I'm guessing) but I can't then tab over to get to the other queens to use their spawn larva power. Can that be done?

Any other macro tips would be great!

[BSOS]

you cannot scroll through hatcheries like that unless you put that specific hatchery by itself on a hotkey.

i like to put all my hatcheries on 1 hotkey and the new one on a separate hotkey, making army units from those others, and only drones on the new hatchery.

queens, i put a separate queen on a separate hotkey for each base, so main = 4, natural = 5, 2nd exp = 6... etc

[Jon™]

you cannot scroll through hatcheries like that unless you put that specific hatchery by itself on a hotkey.

i like to put all my hatcheries on 1 hotkey and the new one on a separate hotkey, making army units from those others, and only drones on the new hatchery.

queens, i put a separate queen on a separate hotkey for each base, so main = 4, natural = 5, 2nd exp = 6... etc

Putting the new hatch on a separate hotkey is a good idea. Hadn't thought of that.

For the queens what I've started doing is having them all on one hot key then using the minimap for their spawn larva ability. It's made it much easier to keep pumping units out while not having to bounce all over the map.

[Arovien]

Queens should have each a separate hotkey. You do not want them running around since you want them to spawn larvae immediately. Running between bases takes time you can not spare.

[BSOS]

something i've been experimenting with and is EXTREMELY USEFUL: the "backspace" queen larva spit technique

what this is... is a technique to simultaneously spit larva at every hatchery AND have all your queens on 1 hotkey.

how it works:
1) have multiple hatcheries (3+ is a good number)
2) control group all your queens to one number
3) follow this procedure:

-recall all your queens (hit the hotkey that has all your queens on it)
-center your mouse on the screen
-hit "backspace", then hit "v", then left-click the mouse
-repeat the last step until all hatcheries have been larva-injected



=this works because "BACKSPACE" has a special function, similar to f1 or spacebar.
=backspace cycles through your command centers/nexuses/hatcheries and it also centers the structure on the camera.
=having each queen on the one hotkey works because the closest queen to any hatchery will always inject-larva, not a farther one.
=by simultaneously hitting backspace and spitting, you are able to inject-larva faster than ever before; much faster than keeping each queen on a separate hotkey then double-recalling the specified queen and spitting on the nearby hatchery.

-note-
this may require a large hand... once that has the ability to both hit "v" and "backspace" at the same time.
with little practice i'm sure this shouldn't be a problem.

[Yazid]

How do you guys practice hotkeys ? custom games against AIs? im having big trouble finding a good way to setup my hotkeys and also to memorize the race hotkeys.. :/

[BSOS]

it'll come. it really should only take a few days to memorize buildings and units hotkeys.
i don't practice against anything in particular... just play games and try new stuff out. if you want, i guess you could play against AI and see if that helps

[ApuKerpal]

I have to say I tried out the BSOS Backspace V technique last night and it worked like a charm... love it!

Thanks for the info, that saves minutes over the course of the games...

[Nesphit]

Or, if you want to be a real cheater, bind your backspace key to a special button on your mouse! Not sure if that is tournament legal or not, but it sure helps.