4th race idea- with actual gameplay/balance discussion!

i know blizz isn't going to include a playable 4th race for SC2, but it's fun to imagine. so, unlike this thread i'm actually going to suggest how they would affect gameplay, and be distinct from the current 3 races.

The race will be the Xel'naga + hybrids. it's the obvious choice, and it means we don't have to suddenly introduce some weird race into the lore.

now, the biggest differences between the races, as i see it, are:
1. base construction
2. unit cost/construction
3. unit interaction

so, with those in mind...
1. terrans have complete freedom in construction. The SCV is used during construction and is freed after. Protoss are somewhat limited in construction, but pylons are quick and easy to set up. Probes are free as soon as construction begins. Zerg are the most limited, creep spreads slowly and only the (somewhat expensive) hatchery can spread creep from new ground. The drone is used up in construction.

for the xel'naga, there could be another system. their buildings are not constructed by the workers, but at their command center (like how zerg create their units). their command center can still build units while it's constructing buildings. after construction is complete, their workers place the buildings. Lore-wise, the xel'naga prefer to stay in orbit in their worldships. when they need a base built, it is constructed in space, and then dropped from orbit, with its landing site directed by the worker.

balance-wise, this means they are limited in building construction speed, which could affect their early game (much like the zerg, who have to use up drones and are limited by drone production speed.)

2. unit cost: basically, terrans are the middle ground, protoss are powerful and expensive, zerg are cheap. xel'naga would take a slightly different route: start off cheap, but have more individual upgrades. much like the zerg's "mutation" ability, there would only be a few "basic" xel'naga units, which are cheap. unfortunately, there should be few "across-the-board" upgrades for their units- each has to be upgraded individually. the base units are constructed in separate buildings. in short, they will have both large masses of the cheapest units (like zerglings) but also some of the most powerful, expensive units (like carriers).

3. unit interaction: this is kind of a vague one, and also depends a lot on player skill. but the way i see it, the zerg has the lowest interaction- the standard strategy for the zerg is just to mass one or two units, e.g. mass hydras, mass mutas, etc. occasionally there's one or two spellcasters there. the protoss are next up. they have pretty powerful units, many of which can hold their own in battle, but also some really good spellcasters. usually you see more of a mix of units with the protoss. the terrans have the most interaction, with almost every kind of unit requiring backup from some other type of unit- marines and medics, seige tanks + dropship + whatever, ghosts + nukes, etc. i have no idea how the xel'naga would fit into this, but this is probably where there's the most room for balance.

what do you guys think? balance-able? does it make them unique enough, without being too different (don't want players to feel like they're playing a whole different game when they pick this race...)

 

Pardon me for being blunt, but...



At this point, anyone who wants a fourth race just needs to wait for SC2 to be released and then make one in the map editor.

 

^ We could even make our own RTS game!

 

Editor ftw. ^ ^

 

have you ever tried that? it's actually quite fun and good exercise, as long as you don't expect anything out of it. which is why i posted this.

 

just lookt at the 4th race thread on general discussion, read through that and you have the future of this thread

pointless

 

There's a difference between a fourth race made by fans and a fourth race made by Blizzard.
Like, a huge one.

 

quite true. if blizzard makes a 4th race, they bounce ideas around among dozens of employees to try out ideas, playtest, balance, etc. it's a long, deliberate creative process.

if a fan makes a 4th race, he bounces ideas around with 1 or 2 friends, gets no useful ideas, posts on the internet, gets no useful ideas, makes it anyways, gets no useful feedback other than "zomg you suck i could do better lolz!" it's a long, debilitating creative process.

 

When sc2 comes out, I'm making my own custom race btw dudes o.o