I downloaded, installed, and updated. What should I do after I configure my settings? I haven't played a real time strategy game in years.

Campaign mode first, battle.net after, then custom games and such.

Jump directly into multiplayer and don't ever touch single player or anything else. Now it's your turn to become a pro.

Seriously though, the campaign (so far as I played it) is awesome and does a decent job at easing you into the mechanics of it all. I would finish it if I had the time to put into it, but I got other story games first and the multiplayer side of that game takes up the rest of the time.

@Levio said:

Campaign mode first, battle.net after, then custom games and such.

That is the best way to get the feeling for the game. Campaign will give you the feeling for the Terrans. Then play some custom games and go from there!

GL HF

Once you're ready to jump into the multiplayer, skip the practice games. They're completely useless at teaching you the game and feature maps that are different from the real ladder maps. If you want to play an unranked game to practice, make a custom game against a very easy Computer on one of the ladder maps. GL!

Definitely go for the campaign to get a feel for the game and mechanics.

Just keep in mind that multiplayer is a completely different style of play. Your opponent (most likely) won't just run crap into your front defenses constantly.

Campaign.

You should add me.

Enigmatic

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Campaign mode first, battle.net after, then custom games and such.

You guys forgot challenges, I learned a lot from that ^^

@amir90 said:

You guys forgot challenges, I learned a lot from that ^^

This. They are definitely worth checking out.

Also, I like playing with the building grid and timer on in the options. There is also a hotkeys display option you might want too. I find they help a lot.

Watch online commented matches. Is fun even if you don´t play Starcraft 2. And will help to understand better the multiplayer. When you don´t know nothing and go multiplayer, loses in ways that you will find impossible to win. But that is because you don´t do basic things that are fatal in multiplayer, even in bronze level play. 
 
Here is a good site to find commented games: 
http://sc2casts.com/

Dude, beat the fuck outa story mode. its awesome!

@Pibo47 said:

Dude, beat the fuck outa story mode. its awesome!

I actually couldn't have said it better myself.

For me, even though I know that the multiplayer is the big draw, I thought that the campaign was a fantastic experience. Having just finished it last week, I am pumped to find out what happens in Heart of the Swarm.

Did the same thing few months ago. If you care about the multiplayer, best thing to do is to follow a pro gamer stream and copy some builds. See what works, and then practice hotkeys and unit control. I never really played an RTS before either (Halo Wars count?), but I managed to place platinum league. I still get frustrated when I loose to stupid shit, but I'm hangin in there.

When you start playing multiplayer, choose random as your race until you have decided on the one you like.  They each have different mechanics and play styles.  

Welcome to the rest of your life. I agree with the choosing random idea above, too many people pick terran because they're humans and never bother to learn another race even if that other race fits them better.

@Levio said:

Campaign mode first, battle.net after, then custom games and such.

This sounds like the correct course of action.