StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 30: Map Maker Series

Going along with out monthly discussion topic about map making requests, we've sought to get more answers to help direct these upcoming discussions.

Chat with Devs: Brett Woods is back with us to answer our community map making questions. We cant stress enough that StarCraft II is going to have immense potential in the UMS (User Map Settings) area, where we hope to seriously empower the community with the tools you need, to create some awesome gaming additions to StarCraft II.

As always, feel free to give the Devs and I a w00t if you are enjoying these batches!

---StarCraft II Q&A Batch 30: Map Maker Series 3---

1) Will it be possible to code the game so map makers can make maps where people can stop incoming spell/missile?

This should be possible through customized ability data and/or triggers.

2) Will we have selectable male/female of every unit?

No, we don't have plans to include male and female versions of each unit.

3) Will we have the option to give players the option to change weapons in-game?

While we don't have any plans for a specialized interface for this, it would be possible using the highly flexible ability system.

4) Will you guys link multiplayer maps, so mapmakers can make multiplayer campaigns?

Yes, we do plan to support multiplayer campaigns and linked maps.

5) Will all buildings stand alone and also can we have the ability to disable tech trees?

The tech tree will be fully configurable through customized data and/or triggers.

6) Will research or firing a skill in a certain location be part of the tech tree enabling, for example Stim Packs could be researched to enable a Factory?

Yes, the tech tree and upgrade system will be fully configurable from the editor.

7) Will it be possible for AI to be commanded to research a skill, perform an upgrade, build a building at a location, build a unit at a location, retreat from a location?

Yes, there will be extensive AI scripting support.

8) Will mapmakers have the ability to set weather that can change the terrain and interrupt gameplay for players? Is this for anywhere or in a specific location?

Weather effect technology has not yet been finalized. However, even if weather effects do not affect gameplay normally, it would be possible to drive both the desired weather effects and associated gameplay effects through triggers.

---End of Transmission---


Bonus 400 minerals for a news post.

 

Nice found

 

Yeah man, nice find. You should submit it for news!

 

Nice batch, but nothing I didn't expect.

 

boring for me. =\

wheres the unit update? screenshots? artworks? its been too long, i want pics rather than QandAs. =p

 

The was slightly sub par. Map making info is good stuff and I'd love to hear more but none of this was all that unexpected and there was very little detail.

 

They asked too much of the same questions...

If it was in WarCraft III of course when they say the Map Editing will be greator then WarCraft III it'll already be in SC2 dev.

 

Does Anyone Know if the A.I can perform complex tactics!?????

I mean if i remember corectly (cause there been monts ago)in Starcraft I i was attacked once by A.I in a skirmish game it send Hydrilisks burned them aoutside my base, and start droping ultralisk behind me while the same time, he was attacking with the hydralisks COVERED by Diffiler's Spell!!and my aircrafts couldent hit them..

that was almost like human! anyone have ideas whould starcraft 2 not only build according to your strategy but can it perform spells and special abilities to enchance its tacticks and attacks??

 

The Starcraft 2 AI will scout, and build units out of the informations it gets...
But im sure it also will do harrasment, drops, etc...

 

meh Q&A...

 

Nice, nice but still not Zerg..

 

I don't think the answer applies to this question. The question is asking whether it's possible to dynamically enable/disable tech tree and upgrades through the use of triggers or something that runs in-game, not through the editor in a preset settings in the map.

 

the computer better not know exactly where your base is when the game starts, because i love as a terran player to randomly pick up my base after the computer scouted it and move to a new location, confuses the crap out of it.

 

I dont think it will...
And i think it will be like 3x times better then the one in SC1

 

I don't really like the Map Maker Series Q & A's. They don't actually give any new, cool information about Starcraft II. We already know that the editor is going to be baller.

 

i don't understand question 3 "Will we have the option to give players the option to change weapons in-game?" Change Weapons? this is not a first person shooter, and they said that they wont have heroes!?!?! I'm really confused.
someone please explain to me

 

like in the map maker will we be able to mix and match weapons, such as giving the zealot a marine weapon.

 

but "in-Game"?

 

ahh yes it means can you enable something were you'll be able to change weapons ingame threw the map maker.

 

ok thanx, i suppose you could make an on/off ability like the footmans shield in WC3