Overlord Management

Overlords are not just flying houses which you collect in a safe corner. As a macroing Zerg you need a lot of map vision to be able to react to any incoming harrassment in time. Guess what - Overlords can scout! They are not the best escape artists, so do not overextend them to where it costs your more than the information gain.

My Suggestions for Overlord distribution:

versus Protoss: - Send the first one to scout your opponent spawning location, you may also try to get some intel of what is happening in his main base, but do not lose it, it is too early for any losses. After that send it behind the opponent's Natural Mineral patches and keep poking in everytime you are interested seeing if he has taken this expansion yet.

- Send the second one to scout the area directly around your constructing Natural Hatchery. It will keep you informed of Cannon shinanagans. When your Natural Hatchery finally completes send it safely (on the outskirts) near to your opponents main base (respectively where you expect his tech to be) so you already have at least 2 Overlords who are in position to scout what is coming at you.

- With the next Overlords you can decide wheter you want to get more intel of the opponent's side of the battlefield, then send them over cliffs and his potential third base, or, what I prefer, you cover all of your bases outskirts to be informed about Warp Prisms, Observer+Blink Stalker or aerial aggression earlier.

Important Scout Timings:

versus Terran:

versus Zerg: