Phase Cannon Transport Strategies

What people are saying is, due to the fact they can go anywhere in energy form you can deploy them into an enemy base (as long as theres pylon power somewhere so they can go back into solid form) but on the way or at the base they'd easily get destroyed if caught in energy form.

As for transporting them, I don't know if its possible or not.

 

The phase cannon can turn itself into a ball of energy and then move across the battlefield then resolidify anywhere you have power The main use of which is reorganising you defenses if the enemy comes from an unexpected direction that you don't have cannons at

 

Yea, you cannot transport the phase cannons, only teleport units using the phase prism. The teleporting units are extremely vulnerable to attack, so don't expect to be able to use it as an "ultimate recall" to transport an army + phase cannons at the same time. You have to protect the teleporting in units...you could however BUILD phase cannons within the phase cannons range.


Here is a Karune quote :

"Will phase cannons dissipate if they travel outside influence of pylon matrix?

No, phase cannons will not be destroyed if they travel outside of pylon power. However, phase cannons caught outside of pylon power will still be able to move but will also be stuck in energy form. They cannot redeploy until they are back in range of pylon power. Also, while in energy form, phase cannons have no shields and are extremely vulnerable to enemy fire. "

 

He never said what will make itt vulnerable to enemy fire. Everyone is assuming it will have less hitpoints but I think that is just refering to the lack of sielding. Might have less effective armor though

 

The idea of the energy form makes them be able to have some interesting offencive strategies. However, unless you are playing against another protoss player, I think the cannons are best used for defence. The ability to move around gives protoss a much easier time defending a base with multiple attack points.

However, if you are playing against protoss, if used at the right time, a phase cannon offence can be extremly useful. If you attack with your main force first, bring in the cannons from the rear and deploy them whenever they can get in reach of the enemy's power field. Doing this however can be hard since they will do all they can to stop them from reaching thier own power.

 

Well im not that big of a protoss player and i thought that you couldn't build in another players pilon energy field i doubt that will change in starcraft 2 if im right

 

Pylon energy is the same all the way around. And EonMaster pretty much has it there, but if it was used offensively you best hope they don't have an army near your base hidden ;]

 

well if thats the case i guess it might work...as long as the turrets wont get vaporised en route. and if you are worried about a nearby army, scout then if there is buf up or counter attack. if there is no army then full speed ahead, and if your still worried then rebuff your defenses your vunerable for about 30 seconds.

 

i think these buildings will be good in combination with observers, you set observers on the lookout, predict the enemies course and create a wall there

 

One counter for this would be to force attack. You could micro sieged Siege Tanks (if you're Terran), that would most likely take them out with just one shot. If a Protoss is redeploying cannons while you are attacking with lets say M&M, two or three rounds from each Marine would probably destroy a cannon. You just need to react fast.

 

how much hp does the transport mode have?

 

Moving cannons is extremely risky without some kind of protection for them like a zealot or stalker escort. But even then, your enemy could target them with thier ranged units and easily take a few out.

@ijffdrie, I'm guessing around 100 or whatever it's life is minus shield.

 

best escort is collosus i guess

 

Stalkers might work better since they can attack any incomming air units, whereas the colossus is completely harmless to them.

 

Wait Who says you can redeploy them in enemy pylon power? You couldn't build in enemy power in SC, so why should it be any different?

I think pheonixes and zealots would work better, as stalkers are better for ambushing. Maybe keep a few to the side to pincer anyone attacking the phase prisms? Then again why not just warpin DT's? Wouldn't it be more effective?

 

Hmm you have a point there, you might just need to use a Phase Prism after all. Although, if you could build on any Plyon energy it would be a decent early game tactic. As for late game you will have Phase Prisms.

 

They may change the rules so you could build in enemy pylon power. Zerg could build in enemy zerg creep, so it would seem reasonable that the same thing will happen to PvP as well for sc2.

However, even if that is changed, using phase prisms will be easier since you won't have to fight your way to thier power before deploying the cannons. If Blizzard does allow you to build in enemy power, they will throw everything they have at your army to stop the cannons reaching thier own power source.

 

Oh yes then you could do a leap frog effect into their base.

E = energized cannons
C = deployed cannons
P = phase prism
B = base

E, e, P, then E, P, e-C then C, P, C, C - B

 

Well I would think that each "tribe"'s pylon emits a different energy source, and we're different "tribes" I tihnk the only reason creep was universal is because it might get complicated if it was colored red or blue.

 

Ah yes the different colours may play a part in 'personalizing' each base.