The zerg have a new upgarde system: there is a fantastic hands on report of sc2: http://www.starcraft-source.com/news/Starcraft_2_Hands_on_Report.htm
This should be in Zerg forum: I love this change, it really adds even more distinction to the Zerg. That's what I call evolution. This Zerg upgrading revamp will make the upgrading more useful and cheaper and will encourage players to upgrade units more often while adding some more free space for tactics since it only affects a single unit. I like that it is a zerg only thing, it just adds more to the uniqueness of the Zerg and I must say that Blizzards idea of having the three races even more distinced is coming up nicely. Although I have to mention that the Terran vs Protoss distinction didn't impress me as much as the Zerg one.
I'm also a huge fan of this change. I've often thought, especially when I've seen people's designs for new Zerg units, that they're not actually supposed to be biological weapons, they're supposed to be actual organisms. A lot of fans designs are basically just like living siege weapons, etc, which Zerg simply are not. There is one design by Blizzard that reminded me of this as well, being the Infestor. It doesn't look like an organism, unlike all the other Zerg units, instead it just looks like a living weapon, so I'm really hoping it's being remodelled. Anyway, the point I'm making is that upgrading all ranged attacks or all melee attack or all air attacks enforces the feel of them just being living weapons. Upgrading each 'specie' individually, breaks that trend and sticks to the evolution ideology much more effectively, not to mention that it allows players to specialise their playing style by just upgrading the units that they enjoy using. I'm hoping that there will still be different upgrades for the same unit as well, though. For example, in StarCraft1 you could upgrade melee attacks and carapace to improve Zerglings, but you could also upgrade their attack speed. So in StarCraft2, apart from the level one, two and three upgrades for units, there should still be additional ones on the side.
I must say I don't agree with everything you say ItzaHexGor. I think the new Upgrade-System for the Zerg is great, and it adds even more differences in Starcraft 2. The idea that instead of upgrading the weapons and armor, which Protoss and Terran do, the Zerg instead are making evolutions. I'm also a huge fan of the, speed/crack upgrades are included in the evolutions, because that's what seems more natural. That's indeed also another thing that is special about the Zerg, namely that they only have their level 1 + 2 + 3, and no extra upgrades. So Cheers to Blizzard by adding another great feature!
Why wouldn't you want extra upgrades? That's what it's like in all of Blizzard's games. In StarCraft1, you could upgrade melee damage and carapace for your Zerglings, but on top of that you could upgrade Adrenal Glands. In WarCraft3 you could upgrade ranged weapons and armour for Trolls, but you could also upgrade Troll Regeneration. There are too many things to be covered in just three levels of upgrades, so they'd need some additional ones. Adding these additional ones would help specialise your units even more than just having the three levels.
Yes, but for the first you didnt upgrade Trolls in WC3 (except troll regen), you upgraded ranged attack I think this system adds even more differences, and thats why I like it. If you add all those extra upgrades, then you would end up with 50, upgrades for Zerg, and thats a bit to much! Thats really what I dont like, even thought it would get the player even more choices. The question is really, will Blizzard be able to make this system working, or will it crap out. Remember, if you add those special upgrades too, there would be even more balance to do. And really, everyone would take speed with Zerglings early, and wait a long time before getting attack. So adding speed in the attack upgrade, and making the upgrade getting made in the Pool, wouldnt change so much. Even if the upgrade happens in the "other building", then this would be done because of balance, because many sites reported that the upgrade was a little IMBA. Conclusion: Many choices are good, but too many are not good.
You upgraded Trolls in WarCraft3 just the same as you upgraded the Zerg in StarCraft1. Now, those upgrades have been split up and distributed amongst each of the Zerg units. Effectively, it's the same as the upgrades in StarCraft1 and WarCraft3, except not all units benefit. Also, it wouldn't matter if Zerg get the option of about 50 upgrades, not that they would, because a single Zerg player would ahve to be stupid to upgrade absolutely everything. It would only be a bit much if they did upgrade all those upgrades, which would actually be a disadvantage to them because they would have wasted their minerals and gas on upgrades that they aren't using. If they end up researching as many upgrades as the Terran or Protoss, then it wouldn't really matter whether Zerg have an infinite number of upgrades, it's just another way of specifying their army. Also, if you're against giving units upgrades other than their three levels, what do you suppose will happen with the Lurker upgrade? It obviously won't be included in the three levels of upgrades, so it would need to be an additional one.
You did not ItzaHexGor. Orc´s had 3 kind of upgrades: Meele Waepon, Range weapon and Amor: http://battle.net/war3/orc/buildings/warmill.shtml Trolls (troll with doctors and HH) had the regen upgrade, but they had no special attack/armor upgrades. And the Lurker, it requires a building now! So no upgrade anymore : http://www.sc2pod.com/trackers/community/?id=611 (Jon showed the same)
The Troll Witch Doctor had two special upgrades. He could get his two spell upgrades, Witch Doctor Adept Training and Witch Doctor Master Training. The same goes for Shaman, Spirit Walkers and all the spell casters of the other teams. Not to mention Tauren's Pulverize, Raider's Berserker Strength and Pillage, and the Raider's Ensnare and Pillage. Anyway, that's the point I'm making. Lots of units had their usual three upgrades, but some also had another special upgrade. Just because each of the usual upgrades have been made specific to each unit, I don't see why it rules out the possibility of a special upgrade for them. Thanks for clarifying about the Lurkers. Do you know if a similar thing is happening with the Banelings?
Ok you are talking about spellcasters... But all "normal" units in Warcraft have a general upgrade like Protoss and Terran units. And Warcraft 3 is a completly other game, where upgrades normaly affect the gameplay on an other way. Those upgrades you are listening are like the EMP or Radiance upgrade for the SV. About the Baneling, yes. It needs the "nest".
