8

The best example is trying to block a zerg early hatchery. Most pros will set their worker to patrol in a small area to block the hatchery. Why not hold position or just "stop"?

Improve this question

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
12

Patrolling keeps the worker from getting killed easily, while still blocking the area.

And it's more efficient than manually moving around, you can let it 'patrol' and move on with your business.

Improve this answer
3
  • By melee units with similar speeds, anyway.
    – Raven Dreamer
    Commented Jul 3, 2011 at 15:50
  • Exactly, talking about worker vs. worker
    – DrFish
    Commented Jul 3, 2011 at 15:51
  • +1 Actually, they normally do it manually with way points, but its for the exact same reason. To take fewer hits from chasing workers
    – tzenes
    Commented Jul 3, 2011 at 16:13
8

Patrolling the worker also prevents it from showing up as idle. This way, any idle workers that are selected can actually be used for something else.

Improve this answer
1
  • 3
    Haha the funny thing is, I patrol my intentionally-idle workers instinctively, but I forgot why I started that habit. You just reminded me why.
    – tenfour
    Commented Jul 3, 2011 at 19:02
1

I assumed that the patrol gets the probe up to speed, so that they don't need to accelerate for further movements, such as the little way needed to move the probe to perfect position when building the expand. I might be wrong though.

Improve this answer
1
  • wow I had never considered this... very good point.
    – tenfour
    Commented Nov 13, 2014 at 13:31
-2

Yet another reason is that a patrolling worker will attack other workers that come near it (IIRC). An idle worker will just run away, which means they're no longer blocking. Whereas if they send a worker to build a building where your patrolling worker is, I believe your worker will attack theirs, and if they don't notice it, could even kill it.

Edit: As the comments indicate, I might not be right about workers attacking when set on patrol. I haven't tried it lately.

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    Why -1? Is the answer wrong? If it's not, it seems useful.
    – Rotsor
    Commented Jul 4, 2011 at 1:15
  • 3
    The -1 is probably because this isn't true. Patrolling workers do not attack automatically.
    – tenfour
    Commented Jul 4, 2011 at 11:41
  • 2
    I see. I didn't know that. Why +1 then? :)
    – Rotsor
    Commented Jul 4, 2011 at 13:16

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.