Day 1 Blizzcon 07 Summary

[img width=650 height=207]http://www.starcraft2forum.org/gallery/10_04_08_07_10_07_27.jpg[/img]​

At BlizzCon, we learned many new stuff for the Terrans and Protoss. I'm sure that many of you have mixed feelings about all the changes. Here is my writeup on the things I like/dislike from the changes given from BlizzCon (my opinion in yellow).

My gathered sources are from the notable sites listed:
http://teamliquid.net/
http://www.sclegacy.com/
http://www.sc2armory.com/

[img width=650 height=90]http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/3492/terranxy2.jpg[/img]​

-New Salvage ability that sells the current building returning 100% resources, if activated it cannot be stopped
Unique concept for the Terrans. I actually like this concept, but it sounds like it could be imbalanced. Some tweaks here and there would probably make it better.

- Reapers are built at the Merc Haven (Bar Building)
- Reapers are pre-built up to 4 units, after you build 4 (very quickly), the units must go through a cooldown before they can be rebuilt.
- Reapers throw a mine called D8 Charges/Magnetic Mine that blow up after a few seconds
Another unique way or producing units and further distinguishes from all the other unit production methods. I also like their new mine ability.

-missile turrets are no longer detectors (sensor dome replaces the role of been a stationary detector)
Another mechanic that would distinguish the Terran stationary detector from other races. (Other races stationary detector can fight back, but the Terrans can't) I like it very much.

- Planetary Fortress and Surveillance Station cannot be downgraded
- Planetary Fortress and Surveillance cannot be lifted off
I like. Because I have been hearing many people stating about mass Planetary Fortress and lifting to enemy base for the win. It looks like this won't be an issue with these kind of restrictments.

Nomads. Seems to be replacing the new Science Vessel. Has EMP, can repair air units and Defensive Matrix
- Nomad has no attack
- Defensive Matrix puts an aoe bubble that protects all units from damage inside
Personally, I hate the model of the Nomads. Blizzard should definitely remodel it like how they remodeled the Siege Tanks. As for it's abilities, it is looking good. The new defensive Matrix sounds very interesting and so does the repair thingy.

- Predator is an Anti-Air ship
- Predator can transform into an Interceptor which blocks/reflects enemy attacks
Sounds good. Another unique special ability that distinguishes itself from other unit. I like.

- Starport upgrades to a Starbase
- Starbase allows production of units while the building is flying

Another interesting mechanic. I'm curious to see how this works out. I believe that it would bring in alot of unique strategies for the Terran arsenal.

- Battlecruisers now have an AOE move called Plasma Turret
- Battlecruisers individually choose either Yamato Cannon or Plasma Turrets as it ability.
- Battlecruisers shoots many lasers when attacking instead of a single laser
- Battlecruiser model changes depending if you choose a yamato cannon or plasma turret
Love the new changes to the BattleCruisers. Now, they actually look like a Captial ship. Props to Blizzard for listening to their fans on this one.

- Snipe deals 150 damage to an organic unit, uses a command key
Good ability for the Ghost. About time they get a sniping ability.

- Drop pods are in game, drops 6 marines
I think this ability would need some tweaks here and there, but nothing major because from what I'm seeing, this ability could be easily abused. Nevertheless, a cool concept. Would make the Ghost a lot more useful.

[img width=650 height=90]http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/2933/protosszl3.jpg[/img]​

- Star Relic was renamed to Stasis Orb and does not fly
- Statis Orb is built at a Gateway
- Statis Orb slows down an enemy unit it attacks
Mixed feelings. Should be interesting how this pans out later on.

- Carrier is now gold and not silver/gray. Same model as the Tempest except the colour change + the size.
- Carrier is now the new Capital Ship
- Carrier is now bigger then the Warpray
- Carrier now carries Interceptors
- Interceptors return to its old form and shoot lasers
2 Thumbs up. I wasn't very happy when Blizzard wanted to make the Warp-Rays the new captial ships for the Protoss. I'm happy that they scrapped that idea and brought back the Carriers. Although the Tempest model looks good and will be missed, you can't complain that the symbol of the Protoss is coming back. Not to mention, the new Carrier model looks just like the Tempest, except it is yellowish and much bigger!!!

- Reaver was removed
Err, I actually really liked the Reavers. I don't know why they removed it. Maybe it's because they overlap the Colossus in their roles?

- Warpray is now silver/gray (Dark Templar themed)
- Warpray is now smaller then Carrier
Sounds good. Since they brought back the Carriers, it made perfect sense for them to make the Warp-Rays have the Dark-Templar themed on them. Making them smaller then Carriers is also a huge plus.

- Twilight Archon has no feet and hovers
- Twilight Archon has the feedback ability
Nice to know that they got the feedback ability. But I actually prefer Archons to have feets. They look alot more deadly like that. But oh well, as long as it looks good, I don't really mind.

- Can build more than 1 Mothership
- Blackhole ability axed.
- Has cloaking ability (Similiar to the arbiters)
- Mothership Planet Cracker ability now shoots 1 giant laser instead of many
This is the worst change by FAR! Seriously, the Mothership was soo kickass when it was first introduced. And now, they decided to scrap that mechanic and change it into some soaped up Arbiter? Pffft. Protoss is a race about powerful yet expensive units. The Mothership of been an ultimate type of unit really suits the theme of the Protoss. I don't know why Blizzard decided to axe that idea completely. Not to mention, now they actually sound too similiar to the Thors, in that they are powerful late game units. Their role also seems to overlap the Carriers in that they are late game captial ships and basically have the same kind of role. One is bond to be better then the other and the better one will always be built over the other one. That means that one of the two (Mothership or Carriers) is going to be heavily underused/overused for late games. Blizzard axed Reavers because they probably think they overlapped the Collossus role. Well, the Mothership and Carriers seems like they are going to overlap each other in their roles too. Blizzard should seriously stay true to the Mothership's theme, in that they are an ultimate unit which means, you can only build 1 per game. I'm sure they could balance this ship correctly if they wanted to.

That basically concludes of all the changes we have learned from BlizzCon.
I would also like to hear what changes you guys like/dislike learned from BlizzCon.

By -Ych9

 

Re: Changes to units/mechanics from BlizzConn that you like/dislike

damn...im also of mixed feelings...sometimes i wish i hadnt known in the beginning..with all this stuff changing soo fast, its confusing. i didnt even know of some of these changes. where did u get the info on the nomads and predators?

more than 1 mothership? noooo! worst thing ever...now it will rival the thor...bet the zerg will also have something similiar.

damn ych9, where you get this info from?!

 

Re: Changes to units/mechanics from BlizzConn that you like/dislike

the reaver was removed i dont know it's good or bad alot of change in the protoss ya was happy that the warpray arent the flagship still prefer the mightly carrier and they should revamp or redit the information at the website of everything is done for the warpray and stuff , it's seem like the terrans are getting better and better with all the cool toys around

 

Re: Changes to units/mechanics from BlizzConn that you like/dislike

I don't like the idea that you can create twilight archons with whatever templar you have. They are two distant things (high- and dark- ) and shouldn't be mixed.
Mothership should return to her first model (ultimate unit and the 3 abilities)
Ghost droppod should work like arbiter's recall, the six marines shouldn't just pop out of nowhere.
I don't understand the prebuilt and recharge bit concerning the reaper.

 

Re: Changes to units/mechanics from BlizzConn that you like/dislike

Damn, I hope they keep the raw stuff in the editor like with WC3, some people wanna play with the uber MS

 

Re: Changes to units/mechanics from BlizzConn that you like/dislike

I say that the Spec Ops building (the one in which we build ghosts) should have 6 slots, sort of like a bunker. This should be filled with 1 to 6 marines (or maybe other infantry, tho that would make it too powerful). Then these can be called by the ghost to any location in the map. The spec ops building will be like a silo, which can shoot nukes and pods!

 

Ych9 I pretty much agree with all your points of view. And I'm seriously seriously STOKED that the Carrier is coming back now because what I really enjoyed was the Tempest MODEL, and so as long as they keep that but apply the Carrier feel/status/texture, then I'm all good. I think this was the best solution. I'm very happy about that.

I also support most ppl's claim that the Mothership should regain its powers as a single ultimate unit. It's even CALLED a "Mothership." What kind of Mothership is one where there are a bunch of them that you can mass? I thought it was one of the single coolest things about the Protoss. The only thing I might say in support for Blizzard for making this decision to severely nerf it is that it has to do with balance. It's one of those units that is so powerful that it's only at the end of the tech that you can get it, and so I think that they figured for most of the game, you might not even have access to it, even though it has the power/potential to "even out" the Protoss. But then, AFTER you get access to it, the power abruptly shifts over the the Protoss again. I mean, of course it may not be this drastic, but I think you all might get what I'm saying. Basically my point is that it might be kind of difficult to have so much powe balance dependent on the production of a single unit. So i don't know, maybe it was necessary.

I'm sort of glad Reavers aren't coming back *dodges angry mob stones.* Yea, I'm sorry but I actually never used them too much before, they were cool, but I think the Colossus does the job just fine and it will be a unit we will all come to love. It seems to be that way already in fact.

Keep 'em comin' Ych9. Thank you for such a thorough update. owerup:

 

er... all this info is already on this site in different places but ok.

I'd like to see a picture of the new carrier and warp ray though.

 

thanks for the summary, all the info needed to be able to be found in one spot, with so much of it flying around.

 

For those that haven't seen the new Carrier or WarpRays, here is a video to check it out. Although it isn't very clear, it still gives you an idea on how it looks.

It is actually a video of Nal_Ra playing with SC2
http://gall.dcinside.com/list.php?id=starcraft_vod&no=33051&page=1

Watch the 4th video. You can see the Warp-Rays at the 37 sec mark. You can also see the Carrier at the 1:03 mark.

 

those carriers look great! i cant really see the warp ray though.

 

Hah, cool. God, I could only see the Carrier for like a second though. Is that the only part u can see it at? It seemed to look pretty cool though.

 

i thought i saw it 2-3 times for red in the 4th video.

 

That is why it's nice to have it all summarized in one place :

Anyway I liked or didn't mind most of the changes. The only problem I had was with the new mothership.

 

how many time can you throw time bombs? once? anyway i think its a little strong right now specially against structures. and i have a problem with the mech haven building. its a bar! why? come on. it doesn't look good in the terran arsenal or base and on the battlefield. its a joke!

exactly. archon with feet looks 10x cooler and its boring when its hovering.

i have no problem with this and i do hopre reavers get the axed. they dont fit in in starcraft 2, they look boring and not protoss like anymore in starcraft 2 (im not talking about the in game value of it). i hope blizz will change it with a new unit. terrans are more exciting now to play simply because they got a LOT OF NEW COOL toys while protoss have few new units and if reavers will still be included. my God!

i agree. why? maybe they want it to be like the movie independence day.
i think its because of the black hole skill, i know there is way to balnce out the ability, maybe they did not bother too and they just simply removed it and make the mothership a little weaker. =\

 

theres a cooldown on the reaper bombs

i liked the feet too.

 

Indeed i don't like the mothership changes BUT i really hope that they will make the mothership only this weaker less powerful unit in multi and single player while in the campane it is still its orginal form and power level from the first demo.

PLus i was hopeing in the protoss missions i could wander around its decks as who ever controls it.

 

Great news.. I hope they will go back to the super unit concept for the mothership...

and I really really hope they will make a new kind of reaver.. I really loved these.

 

I think Blizzard did an amazing job with Terran but I don't really like what they're doing with the Protoss right now. Mothership was absolutely perfect for the Protoss- a super expensive, ultra powerful unit. They could've balanced it by making it cost even more or by just getting rid of Black Hole. But now it really is just a lame floating pyramid Arbiter that can't hit air or use cool spells. Maybe if they give it recall it might work, but then it would actually just be a big Arbiter.
Twilight Archons need feet, they looked like incredibly cool and, although I haven't seen images of them hovering, I would really prefer if they remained bipedal walkers.
Good news is the Carrier has returned and I love the change of Warp Ray to Dark Templar. It seems like something the Dark Templar would make and use. Although the Tempest was intriguing, I want to know if they will give its GTA shield to something else. I'm pumped that real interceptors are back, that's very good news.
Static Orb, I don't know how much this unit will be used. If all it does is slow enemies down I don't really think it's a great unit. If it had no attack and an AOE slow down, that would suit its name much better and make it far more useful.
Reavers, you looked ugly as hell with your lame Starcraft 2 model, but you will be missed. It's unfortunate they didn't get the Siege Tank treatment and simply come back with cooler looking ones.

 

thanks for the update. I've been waiting for SC2 for years now. SC was and still is the only computer game that I have played extensively (was introduced to me by my dorky nephew; props to him this one time ).

But yeah most of the changes were good and I agreed with your opinions. Mothership needs to be more powerful. From the video too many mothership makes the unit less special.

As to the carrier, my favorite race is the Protoss and I love Carriers. But the design of the Tempest is better looking in my opinion than the old Carriers. I'm glad that they kept the design although I like the color of gray and blue better than the gold one here (maybe because the quality of the video was too low). I think darker colors make the Carrier more intimidating.

One last little grip: I don't like the new tech tree with DT and HT being in separate buildings. Aren't they suppose to be coming together and becoming more united? Shouldn't it be better to have the templar archieve of old?

Other than that, it looks good so far.

Blizzard bring back the mothership and the blackhole that looked fun!