Playing Terran in my previous league I've beat a lot of other Terrans with Mega Rax strategy. In my implementation it looks like this:
- 10 Supply
- 11 Barrack
- 12 Refinery
- 14(or15) Barrack 2
- in mean time (as resources allows) tech-lab for 1st barrack, reactors to other tech labs, research stim-pack, and pump marines.
Too often that worked good: usually opponent has some marauders, rarely 1-2 tanks (without siege mode), probably bunker...
But, after been promoted to next league, too often I stuck with my strategy. In higher league, they build tanks quicker and when I have good amount marines to push the bunker on the entrance - they get tank in siege mode - and my "marine push" - died.
...
For sure, I can scout (scan) and see if my opponent goes to factory, stop my marine push and switch to other builds. But the problem here is that I didn't build refinery early, I spend for barracks... I still could win and trying to do that, but:
If opponent PLAN from the beginning to go to quick factory and tanks:
- 10 supply
- 10 refinery
- 11(12) Barrack
he will have factory as quickly as I will have 2nd barrack. and he will have 1st tank in 45 more seconds.
Let's assume I don't build refinery/gas/tech-lab. So, if opponent builds tech-lab on 1st rax - he will have 1 marine less then I will (if I will go baracks only). If he build factory/tech-lab/refinery he will have 100+25+75+30*0.9=227 minerals less (75 - cost of refinery, 30*0.9 - amount of minerals that could be collected by SCV instead of building Refinery, 100+25 - amount of gas. I assume, that workers collect gas with the same rate as minerals). Plus 100 for bunker - 327 minerals
So I will be able to have 4 barracks against his 1 barrack + 1 factory. In the same time.
Each 50 seconds: - I will produce 8 marines; - he will produce 2 marines + 1 tank.
Till the time he research "siege mode" (80 seconds) I will have around 13 marines, he will have 2 tanks + 4 marines (been sitting in bunker, having SCV repairing bunker/tanks... Plus time for my army to reach his base...
Here is a naked theory but it seems like there are no any chances to beat 'quick-siege-tanks' BO with 'pure marine' build.
If I add into my BO refinery and tech-lab, I will have my army smaller and later and don't think stim-pack will help to beat tanks behind the bunker...
Please see my thought and let me know if something is wrong in my calculations.
If you know some good replays for this particular case (diamond level players would be the best :) ) - you are very welcome (I would prefer really replace, not video as it is very required here to see exact timing of all things happened).
Thank you very much in advance.