I previously did testing on how much vespene gas income is lost per far geyser. The #1 question on that video is which maps have the far gases. To test this, we go into every single co-op map and test whether each player’s gas is far or not.
My approach:
- Go into the arcade version of all co-op maps and control both players to take their vespene gas.
- Identify which geysers are far based on whether the harvesting structure is 100% utilized. There are a few ways to identify whether it’s full [which are different ways of saying essentially the same thing]:
a. The harvesting structure has a worker in it 100% of the time.
b. Two gas-harvesting workers cannot be seen facing opposite directions just outside the geyser they are harvesting from.
c. All worker stop just before entering the gas harvesting structure. - Estimate for each map how many minutes of gas harvesting time there are.
a. Average map duration for regular players
b. Subtract 2 mins from main gases to account for initial buildup.
c. Subtract 6 mins from expansion gases to account for expansion time. - Multiply by the average gas lost per minute based on my previous testing.
If you want to watch the test, and/or are a kind person who wants to support a small co-op Youtuber, here’s the whole test:
For the others, here are the results:
About half of the maps in co-op have a far gas issue, and the losses can average from 180 to 320. Vespene gas is a constraining resource for many commanders, and they stand to lose the equivalent value of 6 Hydralisks or 6 Dragoons, or 2 Siege Tanks, or 3 Swarmhosts, or over 20 Banelings.
Some commanders have remedies for far gases without necessarily spending on an extra worker. Here are some solutions:
| Commander | Solution |
|---|---|
 |
Extra Orbital Commands on the far geyser’s side to make it “closer”. You’ll likely want them anyway for the extra MULEs and/or scans. Does not apply to the Void Launch far gases, or the Miner Evacuation right expansion. |
 |
Macro hatchery on the far geyser’s side to make it “closer”. You’ll likely want to get them anyway for the extra larva. Does not apply to the Void Launch far gases, or the Miner Evacuation right expansion. |
 |
Macro hatchery on the far geyser’s side to make it “closer”. You’ll likely want to get them anyway for the extra larva. Does not apply to the Void Launch far gases, or the Miner Evacuation right expansion. |
 |
Auto Assimilators |
 |
Macro hatchery on the far geyser’s side to make it “closer”. May be considered unnecessary depending on your playstyle. Does not apply to the Void Launch far gases, or the Miner Evacuation right expansion. |
 |
Auto Refineries |
 |
Auto Assimilators |
 |
Macro hatchery on the far geyser’s side to make it “closer”. Or keep your stetzone blue all game, if you care more about income than completing the objectives. |
The best solution for the rest will be an extra worker on the far geysers.
