The Big Dark Templar Citadel Thingies... Hypothesis

Well, it seems to be pretty apparent that these are infact defensive structures, as in many of the recent screenshots, there have been multiple "citadels" placed near strategic choke points or around the cliffs of bases to ward off aerial attackers.. While their abilities have not been made visible in any of these screenshots, I have an educated guess..
Check out this screenshot http://media.pc.ign.com/media/850/850126/img_4704595.html and look at the "citadel" to the upper right. Notice, its crystal is a dull grey, as opposed to the vibrant blue of the others. Now, I would have to guess that we are looking at a new form of the Shield Battery... as these structures become low on energy, their crystals dim. If not, they may be some sort of "scout" tower with a long view range, as there are three heads on the sides of the crystal lattice, but that would be a pretty useless building, now wouldn't it?
Thoughts?

 

Wow dude, nice catch. That is a really awesome find.

 

I like the idea of them being sheild batteries, i think it could also be a DT pylon

 

True, but it would need to have some sort of added benefit, otherwise there would be no point in having it. Maybe a pylon/shield battery combo? That would explain why there are so many, and why the crystal is dimmed in that screenshot... we'll see!

 

Very nice find and theory too. owerup:

It really makes sense also because the screenshot you posted truely shows 2 different set of those Citadel buildings (1 is dark and 1 is blue). And yes, it makes sense that the dark one will probably be a shield battery with no energy, and the blue one will have energy. I also think there will also be some alternative abilities or upgrades through that building. That Citadel sure looks very good graphically. I'm liking it very much.

 

Hmm. Pearhaps they are upgraded Pylons with much longer range , more powerful shield and HP, that would slowly recover the shields of all buildings and units within its range ?

Maybe it would detect invisible units within its range?

 

Maybe they are stationary arbiters? I think they are shield batteries though since none of the units are concealed or look concealed.

 

I have no idea what it can be. It looks pretty much like a observation towers but that would suck, unless they scrapped the observer =S

It might just be a production building put there for front line production.

 

Nice analysis man  owerup:

It could be a new form of the shield battery, but I dunno... it looks too tall to be one haha. You make it sound so convincing tho with the dimming of the crystals

 

when i first saw it, it reminded me of that pokemon that is blue and is like one of those punching bags that you punch and it always stands up again and that always comes out in super smash bros melee when you are looking for something halfway decent

but i think that is a very feasible theory

or maybe it is unpowered - it would be cool for the buildings to look different when there is no pylon around, as opposed to just saying "Unpowered" when you click on it like in SC1

if that is the case, maybe it's a stronger air defense tower

i just checked the screenshot again, and I think that it is unpowered, check out the field of the pylon near it (that doesn't mean that you weren't correct in it's function though, kehmdaddy)




EDIT: maybe it's a shield battery or some sort of docking thing for air units

 

thats a realy good point Nikzad, the tower is outside of pylon power, it could still be a sheild battery though

 

Indeed a nice theory, however you seem to forget that the tower is outside the pylon aura, leaving it powerless. It is neat to see Protoss buildings powered down by showing a disabled state like that instead of having the words:

Unpowered

They will probably have it but actually seeing the structure dim definitely adds more to it.

EDIT - Damn it! Nikzad posted it before me..

 

bwahahahah, I STRIKE AGAIN

 

Yeah... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Anyway, it would not make sense if they were shield batteries, because why would any player build units that have no shields against air attacks and have them square off against hostile air units (referring to the IGN screenshot of the Tempests vs. Mutalisk.) Also, why would any player build shield batteries at the furthest part of their base near terrain that is impassable to ground units.

These towers must server another purpose...

 

maybe repairing air units

who knows

air defense is more feasible i think

 

I doubt Protoss would have any sort of repairing ability in StarCraft 2. The towers as air defense seems likely, however they do not seem to be doing anything against the mutalisks that are near them. Perhaps these towers are "booster" buildings. I am thinking that they give nearby friendly units a power boost or an additional defensive aspect or both.

Here is what I noticed about these towers as I have seen them in screenshots. These towers are generally placed in areas of entrance, it is possible that these let off an aura that increase damage output or the toughness of units within the buildings radius. Though no aura circle is present in any screenshot for the tower... Damn tower!

 

^ I dont think blizz is gonna add any Repair for protoss.



-Edit- ImaGiNe. Was faster than me ^^

 

I was thinking along the same lines as you ImaGiNe but I'm hoping they don't do the whole "aura" thing in SC2

 

haha good point... maybe it is unpowered

ahh we will know for sure soon

ick no aura power either

 

hmm.. i'm thinking it's some sort of a defense tower but it isn't attacking any of the units... hmm...