StarCraft2 Q&A 17

[img width=630 height=137]http://www.starcraft2forums.org/img/qa1.jpg[/img]​

First off, I want to thank everyone for sending in your feedback from our first ever Monthly Discussion Topic about the Protoss Mothership!

Chat with Devs: After bringing up much community feedback from the last Monthly Discussion, Dustin Browder filled me in on the latest role discussions about the current units in game. This is the thought that has lead to the introduction of the Firebat back into StarCraft II.

Furthermore, they have also changed the Terran Cobras abilities to take on what was previous known as the Protoss Stasis Orb (which is now removed from the game). The Terran Cobra now acts as a slowing unit, with an electrical attack. In addition, many of the units already seen in game are having their roles re-evaluated, to again make sure that every unit has a distinct role in StarCraft II.

As always, feel free to give the Devs and I a w00t if your enjoying these Q&As!

---StarCraft II Q&A Batch 17---

1. Will the defensive matrix of the Terran Nomad apply to enemy units within its AoE (Area of Effect)? (www.starcraft2forum.org)

Yes, the Terran Nomads Defense Matrix ability will affect both friendly and enemy units, thus using this ability on a position that the player can hold will be wise.


2. What helps to delineate the Thor and Battlecruiser as both being high-tier support units? Lots of concern over this duality? (www.starcraft.org)

Currently, the Thor has splash damage, whereas the Battlecruiser has direct damage in its attack. We definitely agree with most of the community that the Thors role overlaps with various other roles on the Terran Faction, thus we may modify that role or possible cut the unit.

3. Will there be any consideration of having an oceanic battle.net server? (www.starcraft2.com.au)

Unfortunately, this has not been decided yet, as many aspects of Battle.net has still yet to be implemented.

4. Will the Protoss Colossus be able to walk over Supply Depots like over cliffs? (www.broodwar.de)

This is an issue that is still being discussed quite a bit. We like how when enemy units enter your base, they are forced to deal with the layout of your base, but at the same time we are also dealing with the realism factor, where cliff climbing Colossuses ought to be able to step over Supply Depots. Many issues we face are similar to those debated amongst the community, and for this particular topic we dont yet have a final answer.

5. An obvious goal (among many) for Starcraft2 is to maintain the profile of being an E-Sport. What facet do you consider more integral to the growth of that ideal: An extremely high skill ceiling that demands years upon years to achieve mastery, or an extraordinarily large base of interested players to provide the attention that such a sport needs in order to succeed and grow? Obviously both are important, but when it comes to design ideals, what has more pull? Accessibility or Longevity? Mora (www.teamliquid.net)

I think for e-sport we need the high skill ceiling. Though really as you say, both are very important. As designers we have spent years focusing on accessibility. Ideas must be accessible to even be put into the game. So we are just not as worried about making the game accessible. That will happen. What we are focused on, what is the more challenging problem is making the game last for years and years and years. So in our development cycle at the moment, longevity definitely has the larger pull. Longevity is the harder problem to solve, so we put way more effort into making the game as challenging as possible to master. Dustin Browder, Lead Designer of StarCraft II

6. How will unit collision and stacking be handled ? Can flying units pass on top the Colossus or is it blocking ? (www.sc2blog.com)

No, the Colossus will not block a flying unit.

In terms of collision and stacking, units first always follow your order, and when it completes your order, they will stop and spread out. The area in which those units spread out will be slightly less than in the original StarCraft.

---End of Transmission---

 

Good job Lt but I'm afraid you a little late someone already posted this information.

 

Oh... I didn't see it. But I made mine appropriate for the forum front page.

 

True true, but either way I just wanted to make sure the other guy got the credit he deserves since he was first.

 

OK But I wish they put mine on the front page because I made it for it.

 

See what did I tell you. Monday. Hey and these are even good onse this time

 

Re: Starcraft 2 Q&A Batch 17

OMG people please pay attention. This is the third time this has been posted. I know you guys want to make sure everyone gets it but just copy it before you post and look to see if someone has already posted it, so we dont have 3 different versions of the same thing.

Proxy-serva was the first one to post this information incase anyone is wondering.

 

Re: Starcraft 2 Q&A Batch 17

To be honest, I haven't posted about this.

But if the post is going to the news section, it has to be colored and detailed before submitting. Copying and pasting won't work.

I have cut back down the slack from the past few questions and answers but if you really want to get your post submitted to the news section, make it detailed instead of copying/pasting it.

Thank you.

**Edit. LT posted it first with images/colors. Therefore, he gets the credit for this one. But please do remember, when LT and I are posting this, we are busy changing colors and adding pictures to it. Therefore, we might have missed proxy's post before we posted it. Like for example, when I saw the news and did a search, it wasn't on the site. So I posted it. It's after posting it that I found out LT and proxy has beat me to the punch while I was fine tuning the post.

And reminder again, if you want to get credited to be on the news section, DO NOT COPY AND PASTE.

 

Re: Starcraft 2 Q&A Batch 17

Thanks for the Batch Ych9!
Now that the Cobra is now acted as a slowing unit with a lightning attack...that's pretty damn awesome

 

is it just me or does question number 5 always suck

 

Question four, though a way simple one, is one that really interests me. It's going to be interesting to see what happens with it.

 

Chat with the developers are usually the most informative ones. Cobra getting the axe and replaced with the Stasis Orb ability sounds great because I seriously didn't like the Cobra's mechanics. I wonder what's going to replace the Stasis Orb for the Protoss. Maybe they are bringing back the unique concept of the Mothership. On top of that, they might bring back the Star relic. :good:

Thors not making the cut doesn't sound too good. Although I agree that it's role kind of overlaps other Terran units, but it does look kick ass. If it doesn't make the cut, I hope that the model remains for the unit that gets revamped.

 

you mean statis orb getting axed and replaced by cobra, right?

 

is it not important taht we have this infoamtion quickly and not how it looks like???

 

To be on the news section, you have to fine tune the post in order to meet it's standards. Copying/pasting won't get your post to the news section.

Stasis orb got the axe but its abilities are switched to the Cobras. That means, the new Cobra will have an attack similiar to what the Stasis orb had.

 

They are bringing back the star relic? Remind me what kind of unit is that?
I agree for the Thor. It just needs to be modified.

 

OOPS.

I made a typo. It's suppose to be, they MIGHT bring back the Star Relic. Not they are bringing back.
Bear with me, I only had 2 hours sleep last night and I'm in the school cpu lab right now. My brain is all fuzzy. :-\

Star Relic was a unit that has the current known Mothership cloaking field ability. On top of that, they have an ability that explodes doing AOE damage when been fired upon. The weapon does constant damage (like a laser). The bigger the unit, the larger the explosion it will get when the unit dies.

 

OK. No problem, man. Thanks :good:

 

i had forgotten all about the Stasis Orb, I guess they were planning on scrapping it for a while now. I really hope the Star Relic gets back though, I liked it's abilities and looks. Made a good replacement for the Arbiter.

I wonder if we will get to know the motives for the removal of all the units so far.

 

Looks like they've taken a lot of what our site's monthly report contained to heart.

We suggested axing the Stasis Orb, the overlapping of the Thor, the changing of the Cobra's traits/abilities, and the revival of the Star Relic.

I'm glad they used one of our questions too.