Zerg blind unit

One overlord for all in range. But at same time, increases the effectiveness of targeting the single overlord. one only would make for a very easily stoppable attack: just get an anti-air.

 

I like the armor idea that Gasmaskguy proposed. There would have to be some concrete, non-random penalty for not having the Overlord around. Losing armor is the best way to do it, because any Zerg unit could spot for it otherwise.

 

But maybe any other unit couldn't spot for it. I say just give the unit a vision range of 1 and disable its attack with no overlord nearby.

Also I prefer to see this as a land unit...how stupid would a blind flying unit be? It wouldn't just be able to not attack, but it would crash into the ground as soon as it strayed off.

 

yeah, it should not be aerial or a cliff climber. This should be the replacement of the ultralisk, or something very similar. And making it not able to attack is just to much, just as making it go rampage.

Remember, we are talking about a penalty that occurs when you don't have nearby Ovies. An enemy could easily focus fire on the Overlords you have, either killing them, or chasing them away, forcing the "blindlings" to constantly run back after the Overlords to be able to see. That would be to much of a penalty, since ultralisks are supposed to stay at the front.

Its sight range should be 1, and since its a melee, it can still target enemy land units.
In order to fairly make the "blindlings" less powerful without completely making them useless (like rampage/not be able to attack), the penalty has to be some kind of reduction.
Reducing armor, lowering damage/speed etc.

 

Sounds like aura, bad idea IMO.

Why not make ovies able to land on it, slowing it down but making it such that ovies die only when the unit dies. And ovies can attach immediately but take time to detach, making detaching ovies require crucial timing?

Okay this is totally whack. What was I thinking?

 

If this is aura-like, then pilon-power is also. Overlords are the control-giving "structure", why not give them an extra reason to go into battle? And about them being vulnerable on front, they had 1 extra sight in SC1 then Observers. That's some detection range, so they can still reach the units even tho they are far in the back.

About the overlords, I thought this also: if the new "Ultras" were as tall as Colossus, they would soak anti-air damage as well, posing as a protection to the overlords nearby, as well as for the fragile Zerg air-units. This way, the unit would completely fulfill its role as damage soaker, and still have the set back of the Overlord presence.

 

I like how it would be a both air and land soaker, but
1 Ultras with colossus long legs=UGLY
2 "IMBA"? Would it not be too good? Your argument is that it would make its soaking role complete, but thats just it. Its like making the siege tanks siege role complete by making it able to shoot both ground and air.

 

i think maybe it 'could' be like this, not really should, but heres my idea

You build it from the hatchery (just like everything else, unless blizzard changes this....) but it has to stay INSIDE the hatchery, or be sent to its tech building (e.g. ultralisk den) until you send an overlord over to the building that the ultalisk is loaded in and 'pick up' the ultralisk, i dont mean like loading as a transport, but like following it around everywhere to control it,so basically you have to have AT LEAST one overlord controlling the ultralisk (overlords can have a special ability to 'control' the ultalisk, where it just follows it around until you send it elsewhere, or it dies) and when u either send the overlord away or it dies, the ultalisk will go crazy and rampage around as an npc vs everyone, and it will run around the map trying to kill everything it encounters until its either killed, or taken over by another overlord, either yours OR the enemies. The point of that is that so if you mass these ultalisks with overlords and the other ZERG team brings in alot of the new zerg ATA units (if blizzard implements them, they probably will) and kill all your overlords, then use THEIR overlords to take over YOUR ultalisks and send them to attack your base

any good?

 

Like it, basicly creating the ability that could harm to one whos making them. Nice idea, I do like the part about it wandering around if you lose control of it and attacking any unit it finds, even ones on its own team. Maybe blizard would implentent something like this if they do create a power unit for the zerg, like the MS is for the Protoss.

 

Yeah, it could be TOO good. And ugly. Too bad we've got too many spiderish units already. But how about a unit like Star wars 4 legged walking machine (dunno the name)? It is huge, and walks like an ultra. AND shoots air and ground. Nah, this ain't working.

Ok, we've got the idea of a Zerg unit that can be powerful to compensate the blindness. How would we implement it?

 

Give it a special ability maybe something like this


swarm-cost 100 power: all zerg units within a certain radius of units casting this get 1.5 times more speed and 2x more attack for 10 seconds.

plague-cost 150 power: all enemies within casting range take 150 damage over 5 seconds from spell.

rage-cost 100 power: unit gains 2x attack for 30 seconds.

I was thinking it could be the replacement for the defiler from SC 1. The zerg need a powerful caster like the defiler.

 

first of all, swarm would be 50% rage, kinda stupid to have two THAT similar spells, and secondly;
what?! This is an Ultralisk replacement, not a spell caster!!

 

With the difiler gone, the only spell caster the kerg have is the queen if she's still in the game, so I though way now brainstorm a defiler/ultralisk combination. Include a few spell casting and power spell moves while it can still attack as well.

 

who said that the defiler is gone? Source? And we have already desided that this should be the new ultralisk, so you should instead make a new thread with your defiler idea, where it can be discussed.

 

the defiler is a rumor right now, many think it won't be in the game, so I'm thinking of a replacement. The idea of a better ultralisk is good, but it seems to nostalgic.

 

well, you can still make a thread about your defiler ideas, or post your idea in an already existing thread. They can lead to some interesting conversations.

 

I love the base idea. :good:
Many other's seem to be making it too complicated, thus too difficult to implement.

Blizzard already stated that they are deeply considering what to do with the Ultralisk (Karune Batch #13)

Summary provided below
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@ekulio (Blind air units)
The scourge unit is blind (stated in the manual)
I don't think ground or air unit matters much, (though I like ground better), the scourge are already blind, so it isn't too far a stretch for blizzard.

Overlord Follow Mechanics
There was already a follow unit command in SC1, so just have your Overlord follow the Overling.

Targeting Overlord
They are pretty easy to spawn, and zerg rarely send single units into battle. Send Multiples, and/or replace them.

Detection Range
Overlords could already detect for all units within its sight, so that probably wouldn't need to change.

Blindness
Cloaking is implemented, maybe without an Overlord, the blindling considers other units to be cloaked?

Overlord-less
I like the 'Run Away feature' (it would be annoying, but why would you bring 1 Overlord? there are cloaked units in SC2, Blindlings would be another incentive). Love the quoting of Ultralisk Lore "peaceful herbivores", makes perfect sense. Massive HP, allows it to run and survive until back up returns.

'Rampage' well it's not blind then is it : ) Though that is definitely feasible.
'Neutral Rampage' If the unit is no longer yours, then that it is a feature only Zerg vs Zerg can utilize. Refers to stealing unit with a new overlord.
Add-ons can be stolen too...Still that is quite complicated (which can be good and bad ???)
(I still like the run away feature, maybe no burrowing either {though I love burrowing})

Anti Air
Don't forget, the Overlords are supposed to be the Overlings Weakness. The overlord is a Transport Unit, so it can bring Hydralisks, or whatever else they make.

Height
If it became a Zerg Colossus clone, that 'could' take away uniqueness from the Protoss. Players could still target overlords instead, right?

Ground to Ground only:
The player must use strategy (strategic positioning of overlords, air escort/defense units, ect.) {Strategy is usually a good thing : ) }

Air & Ground Attack:
Possible, kill what's attacking your overlords. Though, you would likely have an army available for that.

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SUMMARY (for those who don't like to read a lot...isn't a forum designed to be read )

The beauty of this unit is that is could be so versatile, as long as it doesn't become too complicated. We don't want another Infested Command Center scenario (difficulty to achieve, not the function).

Most of the mechanics are in the game already. Detection, Follow Command, Cloaking (see above)

Air to Air units shouldn't be much of a concern, since It's supposed to be a weakness, Overlord can transport protection, Zerg Rarely attack alone, Overlords are plentiful & easy to spawn.

 

Very good post Anansi_Tragoudia! You've definitely thought about it! And yes, I agree with every sentence of yours. Make it an Ultra-like unit, tougher and stronger, but peaceful if not nearby an Overlord.

Perhaps making it usable by other zerg players could limit a lot its usage, restricting gameplay to fewer zerg units (and less variety is a bad thing imo). And you brought up well the fact that these "Ultras" would be tough enough to survive until back-up arrives. In fact, it would be nice if they were almost as hard to kill as larva, forcing the enemy to attack the Overlord <just like when targeted by a nuke, you have to find and target the Ghost, and Ghosts aren't air but require detection, which is more rare than ranged units>

Instead of making it run-away, make it only unable to attack. Other zerg units can see for him, but none can pass information directly into his mind. That would justify the Overlord presence to see for him, and hint the position of his enemies, as well as making it aggressive.

 

Awesome, I didn't even think about the Ghost idea. Running/Not Attacking, either way, is fine by me.

And the Overlord psionic communication is the exact reason I was hoping you chose the Overlord as the ''Eyes".

This mechanic could easily allow for a Fresh Ultralisk incarnation with all new gameplay mechanics, and still leave room for new units!


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I hope this could be passed onto Blizzard in one of the Karune Batches Submissions

Mods, what do you think?

 

Very good idea Overling! this would be for hardcore players which require fast micro skills!
And welcome abroad AT!