Recently while attempting to tech enemies rather than MMM them I've realised how important it is to get 4 or even 6 gas pumping asap - but this also puts into the balance defending my expansions. So what are your priorities to expand - do you turn your expansions into a scary *** 2nd base, or do you throw two out and hope the 30 suvs with them will get you 3k minerals before you are caught. I personally set an SUV on a large route to check for expansions and assume most decent players will check mine so its getting to the stage where I'll get zapped moments after landing I don't want to split my army in half but as a noob I'm taking all suggestions/comments, do you spam AntiA and land on islands? do you park next to an enemy base with 50% of your army etc. Thanks - PS im only a bronze player/played about 65 games. Says rank division 7 so I guess thats ok but don't know how much that reflects anything (could be just that i've played more than others, dunno)
As terran i tend to expand to the bases that require air to get to, but ure natural is just as good, Bunkers will help you alot, as will some of ure army, you can plant ure main army infront of ure natural to fend off the enemy, as for when to expand dont try to do it very early, have some bunkers/marines ect up.
I have this problem too, i am afraid, but i play protoss. I find that if I take my natural, and defend it with the bulk of my force this is when I get air raids/drops/nydus/warp prisms(if i have bad base sight) in my main mineral line. So the way I compensate is to put my army some where in the middle of the two bases, in order to react quickly. I guess the reason I also dont fully commit to my expo is that fact that all my tech/infastructure is in my main. I also have had many experiences where an enemy turns my chokepoint into my main against me. All of this can be stopped with extra scouting but thats in a perfect world, and I am definetly not perfect. Hope that gave some insight
Cannons is ure answer, after you have a robo out as toss you can scout the enemys build order, if they have air/reapers then cannons are a good idea. same with nydus.
I usually do pop 1-2 photies in my main mineral line, perhaps one by my choke for ghosts/DT. I feel like if i try to mass them I am behind overall inthe game. I think most can agree too much money spent on static D can be very bad in most games. Everything is game dependent, but I guess cannons could buy me some time.
to defend an expansion you must create it at the correct time, which is when you attack, or move units in to attack which forces your opponent to back up. also placement of expansion is key, if you are agressive then the safest place to expand is towards your opponent if you are defensive then the best place to build expo is away from them and as close to your main as possible to allow your forces to move from one to another, a few cannons are good but they are meant to buy time not to stop a full blown attack.
