New Swedish Scan for SC2 (Lots of interesting stuff)

Wow Terran is looking freakin sick... and although the Thor looks like a walking can of ownage and rape, I don't think it will be TOO powerful. That position is reserved for the Mothership. Vikings look cool, I wonder which building they'll be built at? Air units from the Factory? Or ground units from the Starport? I wonder whether or not this Planetary Fortress will be able to use those huge guns while lifted off? That'd be a pretty powerful force mefinks. Supply Depots are killer, the Ghost looks pretty beastly but I wish it had some more detail... I'm liking this- except right now Terran looks way too strong, but I know they'll end up getting balanced.
=edit= Does anyone else feel like the Dark Templar looks lame as hell now? And does this mean the High Templar will no longer merge to form any sort of Archon? I wouldn't like that... I hope they atleast let any two templar form to make the Archons, although I would prefer the fun mix and match with 3 different possible Archons formable.

 

Thanks for the confirmation Paragon.

I really don't understand what Blizzard is doing. Why didn't they show all this at E3? Seriously, I didn't expect to learn anything before BlizzConn. Actually I was expecting BlizzConn to just showoff the Protoss units in the demo. Looks like I was been too pessimistic. Now, I can't wait to see what Blizzard has in store at BlizzConn.

 

Lots of places "leak" stuff to get the fans more involved in the product. Or they will show some new things in some obscure place (Sweden? Really?) and then with how big the internet is, fans pass it around and go "omg wow is that real?!?!!?" and then when it gets confirmed that it is real they go "omg wow i so knew that was real so coool"

I think the supply depot submerged will still be targetable just like any other building. If you look at the submerged one, it's a big *** door.

I like the new names and I like Thor. I doubt Thor is actually powerful enough to take on a base by itself. It's probably just an expression. And yes, it's probably a tier 3 super goliath.

As for the viking, it seems to have huge missile pods. Like a valkyrie would have to fire all those missile slavos. And it probably has the same attack for ground and air mode. Although the big chain guns it has cannot be seen in the air version.

Also: thor = matrix apu
[img width=670 height=826]http://walien.free.fr/mec/78_3.jpg[/img]
plus the thing in escape from butcher bay
http://media.pc.ign.com/media/691/691009/img_2511769.html
which is probably based on that thing in WH40k

 

Actually, I think the DT looks freaking pimp now. It's black, has a cloak, and wields a scythe. Ring any bells?

 

like the death ripper.

 

Don't you mean the Grim Reaper?

 

its not really a scythe though. its like a double scythe-like boomerang sort of thing.

 

Here is a better translation from GosuGamers:

_________________________________________________
First Screenshot

PROTOSS
Protoss was the race we actually got to play with and blow to pieces.

TWILIGHT ARCHON
Sacrifice two Dark Templars and there you have the even nastier Twilight Archon. You probably knew this already however.

HIGH TEMPLAR
Recognize him, possibly?

DARK TEMPLAR
****ing Dark Templars. The second match was over after exactly 15 minutes when a German brought three of them to my base and cleared out most of it. I didn't yet manage to construct an Overseer, which can spot invisible units.

Second Screenshot

MARINE
Starcraft wouldn't be Starcraft without its Marines, which are the backbones of the Terran armada.

PLANETARY FORTRESS
The Terran Comand Center can be upgraded to a Planetary Fortress. This is a Command Center carrying a $!@%load of defensive weaponry.

THOR
The coolest new unit is named Thor after the thundergod. A boy like this can demolish a whole base on its own.

SENSOR DOME
With a sensor like this, enemy units are displayed on your minimap, even if they are moving in undiscovered areas.

GHOST
Yup. The Ghost is with us again.

Third Screenshot

TERRANS
We got to see but not touch the human warriors of Starcraft II. Here is what we know of them. Some are old friends while others are new.

VIKING FIGHTER
Say hello to the Terran's own transformer. The Viking can change shape from an aircraft to a walking robot. Useful when flying towards an enemy base and getting attacked from the air.

SUPPLY DEPOT
New for the Terran bases: a building which can submerge under ground for your units to pass. Works great early in the game as a first line of protection.
_________________________________________________

I am thinking that the Thor will rock, it is not a super unit but a powerhouse just like the BattleCruiser. Oh yeah Paragon, I agree, The Dark Templar now really look like rips from the Covenant Elites.

 

uumm. yes. hahah. grim not death. im an idiot for missing that. and reaper. lol

i think the viking fighters would be the main necessary units build of any terran players in starcraft2. and marrines and some airships like wraith will become not that important because of the versatility of the vikings. i mean if vikings can change from air to ground it means that it has strong ground attacks (mech form) and strong air attacks(ship form) so why need to make marines and other airships. iyou can siege enemy base while flying then tranform then quickly in mech form when enemies have lots of air defense (instant unit transport). if this how it goes then vikings are imba. and the only way to balance them out if one viking cost a lot (minerals and population) and is a tier 3 unit. 8)

 

Hi everyone, long time troller and first time poster here on these forums, but I COMPLETELY agree with you. It looks as heavily armored as a Zealot, and the DT's are supposed to be STEALTHY! The DT's lost the cool looking scythe they had before, the awesome flowing cloak (sorry Fenix, I just don't see one) and the lack of armor!

As for the Terran units, they look pretty bad ass (especially Thor, that thing is awesome!) but I really don't like the Viking unit. It's a complete ripoff of Transformers, and it seriously doesn't fit in with Starcraft IMO. The unit itself looks okay, but I really don't like the concept.

 

welcome to the forums

 

wow! matrix apu. did you made that?

thor should be as almost as big as a command center. 8)

and yes welcome ^_^

 

The Dark Templar are supposed to be stealthy, however their role may have changed over time as both the Khalai forces have intermingled with those of the Void.

It just so happens that the Viking appears after the movie, Transformers, was a great success. It is possible that Blizzard is following a trend to appeal to more people. Though I disagree with how it does not fit in StarCraft. The Siege Tank transforms (a simple transformation), buildings that lift off, etc. etc. What more could not fit in?

 

no, someone with far more time on their hands did

 

In the model shot, it doesn't, but in its rare appearances in-game, it looks like it has the cloak.

And the armor looks bulky, but leather armor with the same look only make the occasional squeak.

 

omg i cant wait to see Zerg

 

I can say no more, this is totally awesome.

I could fly the planetary fortress into the base and use it offensively along with my reapers ;-D
It would be great to have more info on Thor, never expected something like that.
That valk is cool. I'm happy to have it back (along with the gol), and I'm more happy to see it merged into a transformer (so I can transform when I see a collosis and phoenix).

 

My thoughts and speculations.

I think the Thor will be a powerhouse in the damage output department. Where as the MS has immense tactical potential, I think the Thor will just have raw firepower instead, though it could be a type of special property attack rather than purely high damage. And I think it will attack ground only, but really can't say for sure yet. Again, most likely tier 3, Terran already has awsome firepower at tier 2 with siege tanks.

I don't see the Viking Fighter having any overly powerful attack on the ground, for two reasons.

First is because it is a part time air unit, it can fly. If you understood the game design in SC1 somewhat, then you know Blizz limited attack potential vs ground for tactical air units due to their mobility, terrain crossing, and maneuverability. Barring capital ships like BC and carrier, or specialty siege air units including the capital ships and guardian, the rest of the air units did wimpy damage vs ground while having respectable air attacks in most cases.

It will be the same with the Viking Fighter, good enough damage on the ground, better than individual basic infantry, but nothing spectacular. But I believe it's ground attack in mech/robo/walker form will be slightly better than the tactical air units of the past(wraith, scout, muta) because it requires transformation. The need to transform means that you can't do quick swooping runs and you are commiting to your ground target. If the damage potential of the Viking Fighter is too high vs ground, then they're just asking for future abuse. But Blizz already knows this.

The second reason is that I believe that the Viking Fighter will be the direct replacement for the goliath, not the Thor. Meaning, tier 2, similar tech/time/resource req, with adjustments to justify and balance air form. The goliath's main strength was its awsome AA ability while still providing minimal ground fire support, as well as more resilience than basic infantry(bionic Terran). I believe the Viking Fighter will only be able to attack air in air form, and only attack ground in ground form, this remain to be seen. But it makes better sense to me that way.

The great AA ability of the goliath overlapped with the primary and only function of the valkyrie, but valks sucked like hell and were hardly ever used. By making Viking Fighter's air form AA, they successfully preserve the role of the goliath while at the same time eliminating the useless valkyrie all in one move. I also don't believe the air form will attack ground or the ground for will attack air, due to balance reasons. It will be simply be too advantageous and abusable.

Someone mentioned that the Viking Fighter is a ripoff of Transformers and doesn't fit into SC, but I disagree. The basic idea of it has already existed with DotT in WC3, it's just now in mech form to coincide with the rest of Terran design. If siege tanks and phase prisms can switch modes without raising a ruckus, surely the Viking Fighter can do the same.

Why do my posts always... get this... long... :-\

 

If Blizzard is going with the Norse mythology nomenclature theme, why not call the currently bland Viking fighter a Fenris fighter or even the Loki (goes along with Thor, even though they're enemies...)? And I could totally see them calling Thor's powerful cannons, or if he has a powerful special attack ability, something to do with Ragnarok, which is the End of Days in Norse mythology.
I really think Protoss are going to have the hardest time against the Terran's new and improved defense. I don't feel like any of their units give a really powerful punch besides the Reaver, which are extremely limited by their lack of mobility. It's going to take some crafty command to mount a good attack; hopefully the Warp Ray will have a very long range of fire. I'm dreading trying to take on a Terran turtled up defense.

 

...I wonder if you can liftoff the Command Center upgrade.
I'd just build a few of them with a couple Thors, Siege Tanks, and something AA.