Each race should view cloaked units differently.

that's a good point. having these affects will just add a little flare at the cost of gameplay.

 

well, i think its a great idea owerup:

and dont worry about the team colored heatvision goddamnit!! This is sci-fi lol

 

Sure, seeing team colors would be a problem, but it's definitely not something that can't be resolved (Ah! Double negative! *hiss*)
Protoss seeing in what we see now is obviously not a problem, because it's what is currently used, and judging by the course of the thread, most people are satisfied with that.

Terran seeing as an out-of-focus-staticy-hologram-whatever-the-hell-we're-calling-it shouldn't be a problem, and should actually work better than the current system, because the ENTIRE hologram can be made the corresponding team colour, instead of just certain parts of the unit. If the Zealots armour, blades, legs, arms, and head are all Teal, you should have a good idea what team it's on.

Now Zerg seems to be the one causing the most problems. Before I get into this, I should point out that if this idea gets implemented, I strongly feel that the Zerg NEED to be able to see in heat vision. It makes logical sense, it fits their race, and above all, looks cool as hell. However, there ARE alternatives, so don't just shun this idea based on your opinions of heat vision.

For instance, Zerg detectors could be based off thick clouds of ultra-small spores (lore-wise). So, to see cloaked units, the invisible units are surrounded by these little flecks. The outline of the unit is therefore very clear, and, as the outlines of the units in this game seem to be pretty darn unique, that's good enough. The spores could then change colour to match the colour of the unit they're "de-cloaking". How's THAT for hyperevolution?

Anyway, that's just to show you that there are quick, simple alternatives to the heat vision idea. So even if you don't like heat vision, don't let that get in your way of seeing that different races seeing cloaked units different is a great idea. The idea is young, and we're only just developping it.
The first idea, of course, is coloured heat vision. Granted, it would be a little wierd seeing the "cold" areas of a unit as 'light yellow' and the "hot" areas of a unit as 'dark yellow', but it's still a cool idea.

Now, I personally am of the belief that all Zerg should see all cloaked units in true, blue and red, heat vision. Yes, this will make Zergs unable to see the color of cloaked units. To balance it out, perhaps Protoss would just see whispy blue outlines, and Terran would just see standard Green Static. Or perhaps they could be left as is. Allow me to elaborate.

You can see an allies cloaked units, can you not? So really, I don't see where the whole issue comes from. Aside from Yellow being my lucky Zerg color and talking to people I dont know, I hardly ever pay attention to colors, especially in battles. Therefore, if you are playing Zerg, and an Observer enters your base, you will have two possible lines of thought.

1) If the unit is just a see-through version of the standard observer model, then the Observers belongs to one of your allies.
Course of Action: Possibly ask what your ally is wasting his observer for. Aside from that, nothing. You needn't pay any attention.

2) If the unit is a solid, though somewhat wavy, blue-and-red heat vision version of the standard observer model, the Observer belongs to an enemy.
Course of Action: Blow it out of the sky. It doesn't matter what colour it is, it's enemy, and it can see in your base.


The only conceivable reason I could think of for wanting to know the color of an enemy unit that badly is if you want to know where on the tech tree your opponents are, if they happen to be playing the same race. At which point, just click on the unit. It'll tell you the color straight away, and you can get back to senselessly hydralisking it to death.

So, to sum up, my main points of contention against the "Flair vs Gameplay" idea are...

1) Blizzard could make it so that none of the races see team colour, in order to add a touch more depth to cloaking units and subtlety in general, which we can all agree was somewhat lacking in the original.

2) Blizzard could make it so that only Zerg cannot see team colour, in order to make up for their detectors being easier to deploy than Protoss and Terran. (Assuming Overlords are still around and fulfill the same function.)

3) Blizzard could make it so that all of the see team colour, using any of the methods described in this post, other posts, or completely new ones.

Hence, no gameplay is sacrificed, and the flair remains.

 

Hmmm interesting idea, seems cool. Although about the Zerg heat vision, I have a question. What if a mothership used the cloaking field around say, colossus,immortals,stalkers, or observers? All these units I listed are mechanical. I don't see how heat vision would help see invisible "cold" mech units. Since they don't produce heat, other than maybe the colossus's thermal lances, I don't see how the Zerg can see them if they were to be cloaked. And I also remember hearing that protoss were cold blooded? I'm not sure. Anyway I'm not too sure heat vision would work.

 

All mechanical units produce heat. They have engines. And if they dont produce heat, theyll just look bluer (colder) but still will be detected.

As I said before, a circle surrounding the unit with the color of that unit's team should be enough and visually nice. Or an aura, like WC3 heroes. It works for the zerg. Ever played alien vs predator? The special vision of the aliens surround the cloaked enemy with a halo. Like jesus, but deadlier.

 

I think thermal vision with a thin outline in team color would suffice. But like Lemmy said, I think all the ideas are workable in more ways than one.

 

I am compleatly for this Idea. That would be so cool. 8) :thumbup:

 

Maybe for the Zerg thing, a colored ring on the ground....Team color, or simply red for baddy, yellow of whatever, and green for homies.

 

Differences like this between the races that don't have a gaming impact are always nice.

 

i like it, it will be nice eye candy for all the players.

 

i liked this idea a lot.it is a nice touch,that,while not being necessary,would be very cool to have.and Blizzard is known for adding all sorts of little details that add to the game as a whole.

i liked the 'toss and Zerg's version,the terran's version could be like a faded hologram,as someone said before,or like a wireframe model,that would change according to the unit(maybe add some sort of aura around it,for casters like the Ghost)

 

This is a great idea, thermal vision will look cool

 

I hope you mean when they are detected. Yes, this would be a cool idea. I don't think that it matters that the Zerg don't cloak. What he means is that if you were playing as zerg and you detected a cloaked unit, you would see the thermalness of it. It doesn't matter that they don't actually cloak themselves. Very good idea. This would add flavor to the game. Hooray for tiny details!

 

I see nothing wrong with the green wireframe they have for the buildings, maybe another color, but I think it could work for terrans.

 

http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=sc2-general&t=34320&p=1&#post34320


Congrats, you've made it onto Battle.net! Now theres an even better chance the devs will see your great idea

 

Great idea!

 

Haha sweet.

 

people over there are so pessimistic :

 

no no no this is what i think about terran's vision

it should be green...and staticly...

i dont know if someone said it or not but this is how id like it to be

zerg and protoss are fine
normal and thermal

 

Great idea. Also I think Paragon's idea about the green night vision thing as well.