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
Google Translator
#1
(Messages 23)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 04:59 CET
hmm, interesting.
#2
(Messages 119)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 05:05 CET
So what does this mean? That we should start putting 4 workers on gas? I mean somebody in Korea must have tested this before.
#3
(Messages 81)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 05:18 CET
I still believe that 3 workers on gas is more efficient throughout the length of a game.
#4
(Messages 38)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 05:19 CET
mmm i have seen some ZvZ replays where the amount of gas collected by a player who used a fast gas BO was quite similar to that of a player who didnt make a extractor very early but used 4 drones instead of three.
#5
(Messages 261)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 05:19 CET
What i dont understand is this (Ive had this debate for YEEAARRSS): How can 4 be faster when you see the scv waiting outside the refinery? When i add 4 on gas theres now (for a brief second) 2 scvs waiting to get inside. Id like it if you made a short rep showing the results.
#6
(Messages 2)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 06:02 CET
Maybe the fourth SCV is impatient and pushes the third one into the gas a little ealy. :O
#7
(Messages 2)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 06:03 CET
early*
#8
(Messages 3)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 12:58 CET
maybe it starts w8ing erlier
#9
(Messages 54)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 05:24 CET
mm i dont know lol...
maybe its true
#10
(Messages 1)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 07:02 CET
I think its got something to do with the distance from the gas to the HQ, maybe?
#11
(Messages 1)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 08:11 CET
There are positions where the 4th drone seems to throw off the AI's pathing... can't say which map it was but the gas was at an angle and I wanted to see if a 4th drone would make it slightly faster but instead the drones would exit the gas in a bad spot and then take the longest path possible when delivering and returning.
Also what about placing the building by your gas to make the workers mine gas straighter. You should test that to see how much that effects it.
I doubt I'd ever go 4 drones. Early game I rather use that extra worker in the minerals :-/. Then by the time I really need gas I'd have expansions up anyways. If this is true and 4 produces more gas faster then I can see it being useful when your in a tight spot and need your gas ASAP, I guess :).
Still interesting nonetheless.
#12
(Messages 3)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 13:00 CET
but you might gain from building the gas somewhat later and put 4 drones on it?
#13
(Messages 258)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 10:29 CET
GJ True sometimes 4 workers on gas can be more efficient.
#14
(Messages 7)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 14:18 CET
In my opinion, depends where the gas is.
Exemple : Where the gaz is on below of the base, 4 is better than 3.
#15
(Messages 15)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 15:20 CET
Im sure as hell ain't gonna use 4 workers on gas as a resualt of a simple test. As they typed themself after 2 minuts the gas collected between 3 and 4 workers is evening out.
#16
(Messages 1)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 16:32 CET
This is so good.
In the experiment that I had seen before,
the result had changed greatly by the position
of the gas to the position of CC(Nexus, Hat).
There was a result that the amount of the gas
that was able to be collected by three changed greatly
by the position of the gas to the position of CC(Nexus, Hat).
#17
(Messages 71)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 17:29 CET
Nice experiment, did seen something like this before also. But keep in mind it's not only the fact that 4 workers gather more vespine gas, maybe top-players already know this put they just want more minerals in early game and in middle-late game it dosen't really matter that much?
#18
(Messages 261)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 17:53 CET
Well for the people who say their not gonna use it cause of their timings, why not make up your own timings? As Terran, if i can get my factory even earlier than sweet! That might make it even easier to hold off early goon pressure. I dunno, im going on today and ill have to try it a couple times.
#19
(Messages 22)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 18:27 CET
This study was weak. Only thing it concluded is that more/better data should be collected.
#20
(Messages 261)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 19:58 CET
Well I think your right that more data should be collected. But as far as being weak? No, i think this will possibly open up a bunch of new timings and maybe a couple new BO's. The only think poor about this was the map choice IMO. Try using more popular maps like Dest, Pyth, HBR, ect...
#21
(Messages 40)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 20:00 CET
30 gaz more per minute = not a lot :P
#22
(Messages 1)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 20:11 CET
very old news. we found this out in like 2001.
#23
(Messages 8)
l
29 Sep 2009 @ 22:40 CET
yes I also heard from this in SC beginning, dont know '99 or 2000,
but forgot it and thought 3 drones in gas are best, because I seen it in most replays and strategy tutorials:)
#24
(Messages 383)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 00:34 CET
This is really obvious if you pay some attention :D there's always a gap with 3 workers mining gas.
The only thing that should be surprising is T imba :S
#25
(Messages 261)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 01:37 CET
Not from what i see. When i have 3 on gas there is ALWAYS one waiting to get in before the one comes out.
#26
(Messages 2)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 01:24 CET
ooww nice
i gonna put 4 pobres
#27
(Messages 63)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 02:04 CET
very very interesting, now i'ma put 4 probes when i go arbiter heavy or ht heavy :)
#28
(Messages 63)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 02:05 CET
Now I know why sometimes Stork puts 4 probes on gas when he's going fast carriers ;o
#29
(Messages 1)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 02:28 CET
Geez, this has been debated plenty of times. Refer to these articles for more in depth testing:
www.teamliquid.net
And regarding the orientation of the geyser respectively to the the nex/cc/hatch:
www.teamliquid.net
#30
(Messages 5)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 03:17 CET
When you put a building in front of the vespene geyser like a spawning pool, supply depot, etc. do you get more gas? And does it beat 4 gas workers?
#31
(Messages 10)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 03:17 CET
why wont you take bluestorm's nat with no cc and put 7 scvs on it? :D
#32
(Messages 2)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 03:24 CET
with terran i have seen Skyhigh switching when he wants from only having 2on gas " for a little eco booset" to having 4 then back too 3 , id say 30gas more every few mins isnt really want your looking for but "using that too help strat timing's may be that way to go . instend of having the 4 on it all the time "mix it up"
#33
(Messages 11)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 06:53 CET
why is everyone jumping on the bandwagon that 4 is better than 3. There are multiple reasons that help show that 4 is not better than 3, and the most obvious is that in 99% of proleague games, players use 3 on gas. If anyone is trying to gain a slight advantage, it would be professional players. however, you don't see that happening.
There is a reason for that. All proleague maps are made so that the geyser is either on the top, or the right hand side. This is becuase of pathing issues. If you were using dire straits (how do you even know if the geyser is balanced for 3?), then you are bypassing the fact that all the maps played right now are more balanced. You should of conducted the experiment on a proleague map, not a map that blizzard made 10 years ago...
Gas mining has to do with positioning of the geyser to the CC/Hatch/Nex. It has been balanced so that 3 is the same as 4. There has been extensive testing on this. I personally find it really funny that people are saying "oh wow im gonna use 4 now" when the game is 11 years old, and has obviously been tested many many times in the past. None of this is new, nor very relavent. The article is fine, however it's touching on a subject that has been addressed and re-addressed over a dozen times in the past.
#34
(Messages 11)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 06:56 CET
dunno how to edit my post. I meant to say gas on the top and the left only require 3 miners, and gas on the bottom and right require 4.
#35
(Messages 261)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 07:10 CET
Good post
#36
(Messages 3)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 06:58 CET
teamliquid this?
#37
(Messages 2)
l
30 Sep 2009 @ 10:52 CET
160/200......It's unfair to Protoss......
#38
(Messages 3)
l
01 Oct 2009 @ 01:22 CET
i dont know why there was such a debate on this topic, when you put 4 workers on gas you can clearly see that its faster than putting 3.. i might be wrong but isnt 4 bigger than 3? lol @ this whole thread
#39
(Messages 2)
l
01 Oct 2009 @ 11:38 CET
-_-||| Is 5 bigger than 4?But why 5 workers dont get faster than 4......
#40
(Messages 2)
l
15 Feb 2010 @ 17:53 CET
I'm gonna go instal chaos and try this myself haha. If 4 workers > 3 that would be pretty good for terran cause unlike Z terran tends to build up a lot of excess SCVs while still on 2 base.
#41
(Messages 10)
l
10 Mar 2010 @ 21:19 CET
dependes of the priority of the game.. For example if am using toss.. vs T and i going to fast arbiter... problably it would be pretty good if i put 4 workers to the gas vespen. But if i am just mining for other target maybe 3 is ok. :s what u think?:P wanna play pvst and try it :P?
#42
(Messages 10)
l
10 Mar 2010 @ 21:22 CET
Depends of the priority of the game. For example if i am using Protoss versus Terran and i am going to fast arbiter... Problably would be pretty good if i send 4 workers for the vespen gas. But i am mining and playing with other strategy maybe 3 is ok. : What do you think? ^::P want to play pvst and try it? :P