[TACeeSerps]

Dustin Browder has just released a developer's blog to update everyone on how much has changed in Heart Of The Swarm since Blizzcon 2011

More info here: http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/blog/483...4_11_2012#blog

In short
Shredder - Gone
Replicator - Gone
Overseer - Staying (for now)
Nydus Worms - Now Available in different flavours
and even more changes including looking at an "extremely long-ranged terran missile launcher that can be used to break siege tank lines".

My personal favourite line is

We have had a great deal of trouble with the terrans largely because they are such a flexible and effective race in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. - Dustin Browder, 2012

I can see the Meme's now.

Quick Comments

	Reere:	thank you for tl:dr~
	nirvAnA:	Thanks as always for the info! :)
	deL:

[Security]

I like the change to the Tempest so it behaves more like a siege unit, although deathballs with these will make for some very difficult matches lol

[dippa]

Should also mention that they're looking at cutting the Warhound.

Really hope they don't though, it would be nice to have a viable factory unit in TvP that isn't part of a gimmick/all-in/timing attack.

[Akilos]

good buff the carrier while their at it? lol

[TACeeSerps]

Originally Posted by dippa

Should also mention that they're looking at cutting the Warhound.

Really hope they don't though, it would be nice to have a viable factory unit in TvP that isn't part of a gimmick/all-in/timing attack.

Yeah, they weren't very clear on what they were planning on doing with the Warhound which is why I didn't include it as either staying or going.

They start by saying they are pretty much on the fence about it, with it not being useful as a "Mini-Thor" but then say they are looking at various factory based units. My guess is that is might make it but in some other form, especially if they are looking at keeping the original Thor.

[faithHunter]

Glad they're keeping the Battle Hellion and they removed the Replicant and the Shredder. For some reason I just hate those 2 units and also the Oracle.

[TCPLemminks]

Originally Posted by TheCSerps

looking at an "extremely long-ranged terran missile launcher that can be used to break siege tank lines".

.....Perhaps some sort of nuclear missile....

Quick Comments

Yonge:

intriguing...lol

[EveMassacrisM]

The Viper's looking really good. Dark Swarm + Abduct + Gaining mana from minerals and preventing harvesting at the same time? Sounds pretty balanced.

Quick Comments

TABottles:

[ToRSpartaz]

Getting pretty psyched for HOTS actually, cant wait until the beta is released. I reckon it has a long way to go by the sounds of it.

A question, with taking out some of the new units already will they replace them with even better new units? i.e. shredder, replicant and possibly a new warhound variant?

[Volition]

This has nothing to do with the OP, well i suppose it does, but why are blizzard wasting so much time trying to "fix" units when there is the most obvious waste of space in front of them -

Why the hell arent Bliz looking at the Battlecruiser in HoTS? It is massively underpowered and underused compared to every single other tier 3 unit out there - it's the only tier 3 unit that doesnt do any splash. Faster in flight than a broodlord, (but you cant get them en mass) and it takes 90 seconds to build as opposed to ultralisk (55) and Colossi (75). Further, it is 400/300 as opposed to the other tier three units that are generally 300/200. 3 colossi/broodlords/ultras/HTs are scary as hell. Three battlecruisers are a joke, do less dps, are obtained slower, and cost more.

Why is there so much focus on fixing the carrier, when terran has a unit that is used as often?

just my 2c

Edit: this sounds like a whinge, not my intention. my point is why are they removing the carrier when there is a terran tier three unit that gets no play (other than in 1 very specific matchup after the 25 minute mark)? Terrans just get no late game things to use, at all. all of our tier three units are terrible compared to the power levels and useability of colossi/BL/Ultra

[Daboo]

I'm just happy that the replicant is gone! As already people think toss is gimmicky race...

[DUCKVILLELOL]

Even thinking about a "long range" anti-tankline option for Terrans is stupid - while everyone claims that TvT is boring as hell and is no fun to watch... the tank v tankline battles lead to the incredibly awesome BC v BC battles! Cmon Blizzard think ahead, not about the casuals...

[ROOTPetraeus]

I think its better if they change as little as possible. Even keeping it to one new unit per race would be good. The more complex they make it, the more of these updates they are going to have to release. And its only going to prolong the eventual release...

[inFeZa]

Is it me, or does it feel like Fungal + Blind + Baneling seems so broken it's not funny?

As for still removing the carrier and replacing it with the tempest which doesn't even have the splash any more, it's now just another giant flying colossus with no splash....
T_T

Shredder removal - Good
Replicant removal - good (i hope that they bring in a real unit instead)

[mGGDrGooSe]

Originally Posted by SQL.inFeZa

Is it me, or does it feel like Fungal + Blind + Baneling seems so broken it's not funny?

As for still removing the carrier and replacing it with the tempest which doesn't even have the splash any more, it's now just another giant flying colossus with no splash....
T_T

Shredder removal - Good
Replicant removal - good (i hope that they bring in a real unit instead)

I think the only difference is that for a bunch of fungalled marines you will be able to use 3 banes instead of 6 to kill them all. I think that that would only matter for engagements in the mid game, so it depends on whether we can get these units up in time for it to matter. Is the viper still 200 gas? Unless they make it so that zerg are super safe during the early to mid game, I dont see terrans having a prblem with preventing rushes to infestor and viper tech to be able to pull this off. And against protoss, dont let your sentries get the front and I dont see it being a problem? Be pretty good against hydras, but banelings are already awesomely effective against hydras.

The main question I have with the nydus variants is, does it really matter what they do with it if it never manages to build because its made of paper? Seems like the tempest is basically the carrier without the interceptors. I'm sure they could change that if they wanted (just use the tempest stats on the carrier).

I do like the idea of using a goliath type unit to replace the war hound, but think it would be nice to see it primarily as an ant-air unit without much impact on the ground. I dont think terrans needs more damage capability on the ground (or the air for that matter, i.e. it should replace the damage capacity available, not add to it). I dont see terran ever really moving away from a marine centric race anyway. Terrans build marines, toss build stalkers and zerg build lings. Adding some factory units isnt going to change that.

[inFeZa]

imo they should remove the recall on the nexus and make the oracle higher tier and more kinda like an arbiter or something .

[x5.Revenant]

Anyone imagined a marine trying to attack with 1range yet? Stabbing lings with a gun?

Quick Comments

LennX:

Bayonets up! We are having a trench melee in the frontiers of space!

[cruxSpoon]

I made this just now

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3or2st/

no freaking clue how to post this as an image sorry

Quick Comments

xGKingdelete:

lol

[Dox]

Originally Posted by SQL.inFeZa

imo they should remove the recall on the nexus and make the oracle higher tier and more kinda like an arbiter or something .

You mean like a Mothership?

[Bash]

i like the changes they talked about there, seems they realised how stupid some of their ideas were and decided to move closer towards the genius-level that we've come to expect from blizz.

No shredder - good.
No replicant - good.
Still looking at warhound - good
"an extremely long-ranged terran missile launcher that can be used to break siege tank lines" Sounds like a Nuke without the ghost.


Keeping overseers, is good, and vipers being a spellcaster looks nice too.

[TABottles]

Are they serious about the long range missile? Why is this needed? TvT siege lines are very breakable already. It's like they need to make everything easier - seige lines aren't ment to be broken! gahhhhhh Also whats wrong with dropping a nuke?

Quick Comments

inFeZa:

[Dox]

an extremely long-ranged terran missile launcher that can be used to break siege tank lines

Sounds like LOCKDOWN needs to be reintroduced.

[|Erasmus|]

Isn't the carrier already a very long range air unit that attacks air and ground.... why replace it when you could just do something to fix the unit in that role, since it's not something remarkably different with splash now.

[inFeZa]

Originally Posted by Dox

You mean like a mothership?

Yeah but not a mothership :P

Also it wont be around in HOTS anymore !! D: so yes i'd like a mothership
i want to see more shit like this

You Tube

You Tube

and multiple arbiter recalls and stuff

Originally Posted by Dox

Sounds like LOCKDOWN needs to be reintroduced.

Lockdown + Marauders = D:

Hehe

Quick Comments

ZC.EvilSWAT:

HAI TEMPULAR

[VB_Rhuubarb]

As long as they keep battle hellions, I"ll be reasonably happy. I like most of the changes, but personally don't really see the tank problem in TvT as needing 'a long range missile launcher', I think air transitions are good enough and I think the positioning battle of tanks is a good part of the game.

[nirvAnA]

I want reavers cmon blizzard do it!!!!!!!!

[EveVendetta]

Originally Posted by SQL.inFeZa

Yeah but not a mothership :P

Also it wont be around in HOTS anymore !!

Blizzard don't take away the mommaship!

[TASlowHands]

''One example is a mass recall that allows the protoss to be more aggressive. They can move out onto the map with their slower sentry/zealot force and, if things don’t work out, recall the force back to their base if and when things go wrong.''

LOL

Ok so the idea behind this is now you can just move out at random as **** times and hope for a free win, if you dont get said free win just teleport back.

Why would recall be available since the start of the game, its always been high tech for a reason

Quick Comments

	Rageboredguy:
	Crankenstein:
	TCPLemminks:	Maybe have it require a fleet beacon?

[Bloodmyst]

Originally Posted by Revenant

Anyone imagined a marine trying to attack with 1range yet? Stabbing lings with a gun?

No different for High Templars in Z v P either. lol, kinda makes storm redundant......

Although I think so much will still change between now and release.... currently I think it's a complete joke in regards to half the crap with HoTS...

- Long ranged missile? Don't we already have nukes?
- AA Spider Mines? What? Didn't realise Mutas were still a problem.... or maybe it's meant to kinda sub in for the oracle in regards to denying mining time?

All I can say, is I'd sure love to have vultures...... they make so many Terrans happy if they gave us vultures... As a matter of fact, I'd pay $50 for the expansion just so I'd get to use the unit. LOL!

P.S - Mass Recall? Are they on drugs?

[Dox]

Originally Posted by Volition

Why the hell arent Bliz looking at the Battlecruiser in HoTS? It is massively underpowered and underused

Did you make this thread?
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/view...opic_id=327866

Quick Comments

inFeZa:

[Paroxysm]

I'd hate to say it, but the majority of these changes sound like shit..

[jayaiwhy]

thank god overseer is staying (hopefully)

[wTlzq]

just cant wait for viper ahhhh, sounds so cool

[Volition]

Originally Posted by Dox

Did you make this thread?
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/view...opic_id=327866

Not I. But I am noticing a lot of people in this thread mentioning that the tempest without splash would be completely useless and not used in any matchups. A tempest without splash is a battlecruiser. How much was the Tempest gonna be? Pretty sure it wasnt 400/300.

I have only just realised how much i hate the battlecruiser. you see all the cut scenes from the campaign, in the mission where the battlecruiser flies in to pick up raynor, pwning 102839823 zerg units, or the other cut scene with the ship fighting mutas everywhere. If only the real thing was half (or even 1/3) as good as that. Unfortunately, it shoots 1 bolt. slowly. and takes forever to build.

So as for terran, we have removal of warhound, nothing said about the battle hellion (which is cool), shredder gone, which is a good thing. exploitative terrans. Could have just been changed to be "does not harm scv's probes or drones" and then make it able to be repaired.... now that would make it interesting, and firce it to be used for board control.

[ROOT`iaguz]

BC's work in TvT when the tank lines are unbreakable. Nukes suck at this role because 100/100 is a very expensive way to lose a ghost.

They're also a kind of fun unit to get when you're at 18 bases vs Protoss and your ball just keeps bouncing off them again and again. 3/3 BC's require protoss to shift his composition entirely and can get wins where more marines will not.

Godawful vs Zerg though.

[Kepler]

Originally Posted by SQL.inFeZa

Is it me, or does it feel like Fungal + Blind + Baneling seems so broken it's not funny?

I don't think it will really apply in ZvP, as the blind effect only works on biological units. Most Protoss units used these days are mechanical, no?

I imagine they'll balance the blind ability so it costs an obscene amount of gas, has cooldown, or a small aoe effect.

[TADivinity]

"This gives the protoss army some real reach to force an engagement on their terms in the end-game."

How is Protoss not yet able to enter late-game engagements on "Their terms" ......