With the release of information on the Protoss Nullifer in Karune's 26th Question and Answer, new questions have arisen regarding the channeling of abilities in Starcraft II. Channeling, for those who don't know, is when a spell is cast that requires the spell's caster to stay stationary. This picture shows the Force Field ability (back when it was cast by the High Templar), and could be interpreted as showing channeling. Personally, I don't think that we'll see channeling in Starcraft II. In the above screen shot, there is no way to tell whether the animation is simply the casting animation or a channeling animation. On the other hand, Blizzard has said that the Force Field ability will cost 30 energy and last 15 seconds. If it was a channeled ability, why would there be a time limit at all? And wouldn't the cost be something like 5 energy per second instead? I may be a little biased, but I really do think that channeled abilities are going to be left in Warcraft III. The original Starcraft didn't have them, and I don't believe we'll see them in the sequel either. What do you guys think? And if you can see channeling being in Starcraft II, what else could it be used for, and how could it affect the game?
Wasn't nuke already a channeling ability? of sorts...? btw, not sure but I think the light on HT's hands in that picture was their attack. In one of the Q&As it was said that Blizz is experimenting with giving normal attack to high templars
Nuking is hard to define - but technically, it is not a spell. The Nuke doesn't require energy, and doesn't affect battle until it actually hits. So while the Ghost does have to remain stationary to target one, I wouldn't consider it channeling. And when the Nuke actually 'enters' the game, the Ghost can walk away. And if the light on the High Templars' hands was their attack in that picture, then I'd consider it further evidence against the possibility of channeling.
You're right, nuke (assuming it a spell) would be more like the Blood Mage's Flame Strike spell. It was much faster than nuke, but the concept was similar - wait a while for casting and once it goes off you can move. I think it should be (as with everything) an option in map editor, but I don't see where would it be used in sc. Unless they made abilities like psionic storm channeling, but that's unlikely and I don't think a good idea
Channelling feels a little too warcrafty, but I think it all depends on the spell and spell caster. For instance, I would not mind if the Defiler returned with a channeled dark swarm, but with a bigger radius. That would actually be really cool, and you would not loose too much energy if you misplaced the swarm, since the initial energy cost is low and after that it drains energy per second.
I am not aware of anything that goes on in the warcraft world just to let you know On the channeling thing, I ain't really bothered if the Nullifer channels or not as it would be the same whether it did or not and to save time I'll quote my self from another topic: Although I'm pretty sure Blizzard has testest this, but currently there is no solid evidence if it channels or not so we can only speculate.
I say leave channeling out of starcraft. Even though I've never played the warcraft games, I think they should stay separate, considering Blizzard wants to have the notion that starcraft is not warcraft in space. I never liked games that make your units stand still to use an ability. If they do decide to have channeling, I won't mind too much since the game will still be immensly fun to play.
I honestly don't care if it's implemented or not. And even though it might be like warcraft, I think the whole argument saying starcraft shouldn't be like warcraft is ridiculous. Who cares if one feature from warcraft that has nothing to do with warcraft gets into starcraft? It's not like we're putting starcraft in azeroth or anything.
Starcraft is a fast paced game so I can only see channeling acceptable for really powerful skills like nukes and yamattos and the black hole if it is reintroduced
Thats makes me think, as in a way nukes are 'channeled' cuz it isn't an instant call-down or cast since the unit is immobile for the duration it takes for the nuke to get on target.
I consider nukes a channeling ability due to the fact that the ghost is locked in place for several seconds and if he moves the nuke goes poof. The only thing that differentiates it from WC3 (aside from lack of mana cost) is that the only way for the enemy to interupt it that we know of is to kill the ghost though it was said a time bomb can stop a nuke. Most take that to mean the nuke won't hit the ground but it could also be taken to mean it interupts the calldown. This would of course mean that drop pods can be halted as well
Hmm, as far as i know it would still be pretty hard to halt drop pods, cause they did have much shorter channeling time right?
It was about half the time of a nuke but we saw it when it only dropped 6 marines now its 12 of ANY infantry including workers so they might have changed the cast time
the only ability i would like to see channeling with is the force field. basicly you could set up a longstanding wall it would be awesome.
I think it would be cool to allow the psi storm the OPTION to be channelable. How it would work is the psi storm is cast and you have two options 1. Run away and recharge while the storm does its business 2. keep the HT casting and every second spent casting will increase the duration and damage at the cost of requiring additional energy. That way you could cook an area over several seconds making it instant death but your HT would be extremeley vulnerble and would not be able to cast again as soon or you could go the safe way and keep them out of harms way leaving them with extra energy. Remember though each is optional not required. i think it could add some strategic depth
