Introduction

 

When you first glance at three workers harvesting Vespene gas from the relevant building it seems that there is absolutely no room for more. Therefore, some players took it for granted that this is the optimal amount required for gas collection. However, would using 4 workers increase productivity from one extractor? Even among the best StarCraft players there was uncertainty as to what the ideal worker saturation was on gas.

 

An experiment was required to find the optimal number of workers needed for the most efficient gas production and identify any dependence on the location or speed of the worker.

 

 

Method

 

A map was specifically designed that sets a timer for 60 seconds early in the game and ends the game after that set time. The basis for the experiment was the map Dire Straits, and it included a Hatchery and Extractor located in the usual places for this map and the usual 4 drones spawned at the same distance from the extractor.

 

Test 1: "3 workers on gas"

Once the game started, all 4 drones were selected by double-clicking and sent to the extractor. Immediately thereafter, one of the workers was removed to leave only 3 mining gas.

 

Test 2: "4 workers on gas"

Once the game started, all 4 drones were selected by a double-click and sent to the extractor.

 

These tests were then repeated several times in different map locations. A similar setup was used to test both Terran and Protoss as well. An alternative test using 5 workers was performed but quickly abandoned as it became clear that it yielded the same results as using 4 workers.

 

 

 

Results

 

Zerg

After repeated trials the outcome was esentially always similar. After 1 minute of collecting gas with 3 drones, 176 gas was accrued. 4 workers, however, yielded 200 gas.

 

One minute of gas harvesting.

3 Drones	4 Drones
176 gas	200 gas

 

Terran

The experiment was performed twice with the Terran, both at 7 o'clock and 5 o'clock, but the results were the same (as was the case with Zerg) so no other locations were analysed. For 1 minute of gas production from 3 workers 192 gas was harvested. The time of the experiment was increased from 1 to 2 minutes to further dissect the differences between 3 and 4 worker gas production. After 2 minutes 392 gas was provided by 3 workers while 4 workers brought 408 gas.

 

One minute of gas harvesting.

3 SCVs	4 SCVs
192	200

 

Protoss

Protoss was experimented with 4 times with 3 probes in the bottom left base, and the results were as follows: 168 and 176 gas in 1 minute. And from 4 probes at the bottom location: 192 gas. The experiment was repeated at the 5 o'clock location and surprisingly the 3 probes constantly accrued 160 gas after 1 minute, while 4 workers gave 192!

 

One minute of gas harvesting.

3 Probes	4 Probes
160, 168 or 176	200

 

Conclusion

 

In all cases, 4 workers collecting gas for 1 minute extracted more gas than 3. It appears that the probes idle in the assimilator a little longer than drones or SCVs as their less dependable results indicate, and in addition the orientation of the assimilator relative to the nexus may make a difference. The main thing that can be taken from this article is that four workers indeed collect gas faster than three!

 

Original translation (in Russian)

SaK

Editting

iCCup.deL (ENG)

iCCup.Rp (RUS)

Translation (in English)

iCCup.deL

iCCup.YelloAnt

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