Microscend
Macro Cycle
Workers, supply, production. Spend everything.
Macro is the economy side of an RTS: never stop making workers, build supply before you run out, add production and spend what you mine. Nobody attacks in Macro Cycle; the only opponent is the money you leave unspent.
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What it trains
The first version is the first three minutes of a game in three phases: the opening on one base, your natural ready to fill at 1:15, then everything at double pace from 2:00. The second runs three bases at double pace from the start, for players the first one no longer stretches. Your score is the value of every unit you finish training, so idle buildings, supply blocks and unspent minerals all cost you.
Rated in Macro, the one skill it uses.
Two versions
Each version is named by the ranks it measures. Start on the first; once your best is at the top of its range, the next one carries on from there.
Bronze – Master
PlayWorkers, supply, production. Spend everything.
The situation
The first three minutes of a game, in three phases: the opening on one base; at 1:15 your natural is done, to fill; from 2:00 everything runs twice as fast. Nobody attacks; the only opponent is the money you leave unspent.
Scoring
Your score is the mineral value of every unit you finish training: workers and army alike. Idle buildings, supply blocks and unspent minerals all cost you points.
How to play it
- Keep workers training (50), a Supply Depot (100) up before supply runs out, Barracks (150) to spend.
- At 1:15 the natural is done: send workers there and train from both Town Halls.
- From 2:00 income and production double: have the buildings ready and depots ahead.
Your best Not played yet
Obsidian – Pro
PlayThree bases at double pace. Never stop producing.
The situation
Macro at the top: three bases, and the whole economy at double pace, so every cycle comes round twice as often. Nobody attacks; the only opponent is the money you leave unspent.
Scoring
Your score is the mineral value of every unit you finish training: workers and army alike. Idle buildings, supply blocks and unspent minerals all cost you points.
How to play it
- Keep all three Town Halls training workers: on one control group, a key press trains at the freest.
- At this pace a depot's supply goes in seconds: build them two at a time, well before you run out.
- Put the production buildings on a group of their own; Bksp takes the camera from base to base.
Your best Not played yet
In your games
It is the cycle every RTS economy runs on: constant SCV, probe or drone production and supply built ahead in StarCraft II; villagers, houses and a Town Center that is never idle in Age of Empires.