Develop Scouting Skills Using SCV’s
If you’re debating how to scout as a Terrain player, you may find it difficult to choose between sending a harvester away and discharging a scanner sweep. Both methods are simultaneously available to you anyways so there is no need to fence yourself to one side, when you can and sometimes require both techniques.
The SCV is easily built, can travel to most areas on its own, fit through small openings and perform tasks, but is physically fragile and cost one unit supply. The scan can reveal a location anywhere on the map; it detects any concealed units or buildings within its range and is immune to attacks, but the effects lasts only 12 game seconds and economically costs the ability to summon a MULE. To review, summoning a MULE costs 50 energy points from the orbital command, which shares the same pool of energy with the scanner sweep ability. If you choose to call down a MULE you will temporarily benefit from its mineral harvest that boasts at least 30 minerals per load, gathering twice as quickly as an SCV. Additionally it can harvest at the same mineral patch simultaneously with an SCV. Choosing to spend the energy for a scan rather than a MULE seems costly then. But it also seems that they each can suit you differently depending on the situation-why not use both?
The SCV can provide you effective early scouting as you lay out your base. It’s available earlier than the scan; the SCV will face limited danger in early game and can be quickly remanded back to harvesting. It won’t be cost effective to burn off 50 energy points for a scan right after upgrading into an orbital command, especially when a MULE can be called down otherwise for an economic boost. Additionally the SCV can harass your enemy, build over their vulpine geysers and temporarily block constructions, such as impinging any add-ons for Terrain
