1. Playing against the computer will never give you an idea of what play against a good human player is like. The experiences are crafted for different audiences. The PC can only offer you a look at how to use your own units. Basically a sandbox with stuff to shoot to give your self some idea of what kind of damage unit A may do against unit B/C/X/E/Z. So for a first look, sure, use the AI player to get a feel and after that forget is exists. 2. A lot of new RTS games have the replays feature. The only way to see your mistakes is to go back and watch them. It also helps to use tools or websites like gamereplays or wcreplays to see what better players do and how they do it. 3. Constant harassment is usually key to winning or getting the other player to defeat themselves! The only way your management skills will get better is to practice and maybe fiddle with your gear (Mouse/KB?) so you can increase the amount of hotkeys/shortcuts you can use to micromanage with. 4. Practice, practice, practice! It doesn't matter if you are good even if you're playing in a tourney. It's better than not playing at all. Tourneys, ladders, etc... will get you to face better players and become objective about your own gameplay. If you can join a clan to spar with and against even if the game is made mainly for 1on1 play. 3 areas of improvement are mainly management skill, map control build order efficiency ? 5. If you can get down to the raw numbers for what units do, how they do it, and ect.... Armor types, speed, ROF, attack power, etc... is all helpful for the Knowing Thy Self part. Some people pick up on the weaknesses of the units naturally, others enjoy going into the cold, hard, facts via the numbers. If you aren't winning than you'd better be learning! :)
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