Original post where the OP (me) asks for tips on effective scouting as it seems that when I scout, I lose out on macro as a Bronze level (Protoss) player. Sparked a lively conversation with 80 replies which I try to summarize here with selected replies which I thought were helpful (bold emphasis mine, also edited for brevity):

-----[ *Scouting Tips** ]-----*

Blu-

When you go to your probe, all have to do is make it move so it won't get killed which should only take a second. Then go back to your base and macro. Repeat. You should also learn the timings so you know when to retreat the probe. If you see the Barracks glowing for a while it's time to go. If you see a Pool and eggs being hatched, it's time to go. If you see a Protoss, stay in that base like a baller.

Riovanes

You were totally right about queuing up waypoints around the enemy base - just set up him up to do like 10 circles of the base (btw this is a lot faster to do on the minimap than the main screen).

Pires007

Then you're probably focusing too much on scouting, at bronze level, you don't need Huk's level of probe harass / scouting.

Besides, when you use your hotkey, you should see the construction progress on bottom of the screen. You can queue your next unit at 75% of the way through which is better than waiting the same amount of time after the unit is produced.

-----[ *Mechanics** ]-----*

ewic

If you need to build a gateway, hit '44' to bounce back to your base, box the probes, bit 'bg' to build a gate, and drop it wherever it needs to go

ewic

get used to the "probe ready" sound as a cue to hit '4e'.

aeb5005

instead of queuing up some movement around his base with a probe, use some patrol orders.

General tips:

moogleiii

You can also do ctrl-f1 at the beginning to select all probes. You can ready your hand over those buttons during the game loading screen if you're that hardcore.

ZumaBird

Or hold 'e' as the game starts and click your nexus before hitting ctrl-F1 to start building a probe almost instantly.

-----[ *Practicing multitasking between macro and micro** ]-----*

em_son recommends: http://www.sc2mapster.com/maps/multitasking-trainer/

On the very easiest setting it is a fantastic challenge. It taught me just how much I can look away from my base and still macro. And also how much I can micro while still checking out my own base. Even if you don't "win" the challenge, it should probably teach you a lot.

-----[ *Philosophy** ]-----*

phandy

It'll come with practice

Should Bronze players even scout?

deltahuey

Pick one thing, and work at it until you can do it in your sleep. Macro is by far the best thing to pick at Bronze.

"Should I scout if I don't know what I'm looking for?". Answer was no. And at Bronze, trying to figure out tells from your opponent isn't a winning proposition.

Just scout your base and natural for cheese.

deltahuey sparked a great conversation about the topic which drew many great responses:

N0V0w3ls

It is a very good idea to get in the habit of scouting as early as possible. You learn when your opponent is cheesing, how much they plan to tech by checking gas, and sometimes how early they plan to expand. Just because OP is bronze and his opponents can't give much away doesn't mean he should forget an important part of the game.

Dreadgoat

The idea "bronze shouldn't scout" is true if you want to win, but absolutely false if you want to get good at the game. Send a scout every game at the same time you always do. Maybe you get to the enemy base and you see a bunch of stuff and have no ability to parse it while keeping your macro up, but you sent a scout, and that's one step closer to it becoming an automatic behavior.

Send a scout, but focus on your macro. Sometimes the scout dies instantly and you learn nothing because you suck, but next time you will pay more attention. Sometimes the scout will survive for 3 minutes and you will see everything but not really understand it, and you'll lose to something silly. But your scout was there, you will watch the replay, you will see that YOU saw the Dark Shrine and just didn't respond to it. In future games you will remember that Dark Shrine bullshit and when you see it you will get pissed off and say "NOT THIS TIME MOTHERFUCKER!" That's how you learn to scout.

Dreadgoat

Same reason that you continue to build workers as bronze Terran or Protoss even when a pro would cut them. It is NOT the best decision to make workers non-stop all the time forever. However, it's absolutely critical to get in the habit of making workers almost instinctively if you want to get good at the game.

Same goes for scouting. It is NOT the best decision to send a scout at low skill levels. However, it's absolutely critical to get in the habit of scouting almost instinctively if you want to get good at the game.

Dreadgoat

Yes, but remember that the emphasis is to keep your macro up. Don't say, "When I scout, I lose out on macro." Err on the side of, "When I macro, I lose my scout." I think that's the safer/better direction to approach from. Eventually you'll get good enough at quickly macroing during the scout that you will have enough time to manage the scout.