I'm a 1500-1600 player. I have a few questions on macro:
1. On long maps I go for miner archer sword sword miner. Should I go for miner archer sword miner instead or is this situational? And is this a 'preferred start'?
2. If i lose the first battle for central tower I'll build ca. How do i come back from this? Build spears and push or turtle?
3. Are passive income and hustle important upgrades? If so when do I buy them?
4. How do i transition out of spearcher mass? I usually go for merics and a mage.
5. When do I build giants? I usually build one when I have cash in excess of mana.
6. I know albatross are used to counter mass spears or ninjas but when im not facing that do i incorporate them in my main army? Or are they underpowered?
7. How do I break miner wall where they have mages behind the wall? Or do I just go for tower spawn 2?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

DragonArcherZ 350, or qwebirc.swiftirc.net (#team-zenith) and find me there (my username is DAZ).

Add me and message me when I'm online, talk to me live, it's easier to explain with some games and when I can get some actual response. There's little black/white and the better you become as a player, the more you'll realise that.

But I'll give you a few to the ones I can actually answer:

1) I suggest going for AM -> S -> MM. Second sword isn't required unless they SA.
2) Why do you need a CA. Make your own army, assuming you didn't badly lose your archer
3) Hustle definitely is, passive sort of is but harder to fit in.
4) You start making other units.
5) When you're transitioning.
6) Don't incorporate them. Archers are better, though albows hold niche usage; if you don't know how to use them though, don't.
7) Be patient and macro.

If you play it right you can get away with getting 8 miners before any attacking units. most people will rush you with 4 swordwrath but just garrison and make CA. Put 6 miners on gold 2 on mana, if you want you can make a couple more later. Than make 2 speartons with one more on the way and try to take mid. Then if you take mid try to kill a miner or 2 with speartons. It takes 4 spear pokes to kill a miner but If he garrisons run away. Now make a few more speartons and hold center and than make archers get fire arrow and seige the other player and get upgrades with extra money and win.

Quote from lordrahl123

If you play it right you can get away with getting 8 miners before any attacking units. most people will rush you with 4 swordwrath but just garrison and make CA. Put 6 miners on gold 2 on mana, if you want you can make a couple more later. Than make 2 speartons with one more on the way and try to take mid. Then if you take mid try to kill a miner or 2 with speartons. It takes 4 spear pokes to kill a miner but If he garrisons run away. Now make a few more speartons and hold center and than make archers get fire arrow and seige the other player and get upgrades with extra money and win.

Please don't.

You cannot make it with 8 miners before attack units without a CA, and with CA you are simply putting yourself behind. People who are 4 sword starting are not going anywhere either. You cannot survive with 6 on gold. In the current style, 2 spears will do nothing, as your opponent (if of good skill level) will have archers and a spear before you have your spear.

I could go further, but I don't have to.