Starcraft 2 League

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Jan 05, 2009 - 3:43 PM - by Cotton

After a long absence, I've finally gotten around to purging all the spam. I did a pretty massive ban/prune so if you got caught in the crossfire just PM me to have yourself unblocked. If your account got deleted please go ahead and recreate it.

0 Replies | 685 Views

Zerg Defensive Structures

Apr 23, 2008 - 1:00 PM - by Cotton

Karune posted today giving us some insight on the Zerg defensive structures and hints at more news in an upcoming Q&A Batch.

Quote:

The visuals for the Zerg's defense structures have not been finalized.

The new defense gameplay mechanisms they are working with on the Zerg are actually introducing many new tactics in terms of how you build your base defense. In order to maximize the efficiency of your defense structures, players will have to place them very strategically. I am sure we will go into this in more detail when we chat with the devs about it in a future batch of Q&As.

Related Links:
Starcraft2.com - Defensive zerg structures (Karune?) (thread)

0 Replies | 1,025 Views

New Lurker Design!

Apr 23, 2008 - 12:55 PM - by Cotton

Karune mentioned yesterday that their has been a new Lurker design implemented that the public hasn't seen yet! Better than that Karune will work on getting a screen shot of it for us.

Quote:

There is already new Lurker art since the last time you have seen it. It is much more 'spiny' and has very brutal spikes when it attacks victims. I will try to take a Lurker shot as one of the upcoming ScreenCrafts.

Related Links:
Starcraft2.com - [D] The art of the Lurker. (thread)

0 Replies | 1,193 Views

Mothership: Time Bomb Returns!

Apr 18, 2008 - 2:26 PM - by Cotton

That's right, After a short notification from Q&A Batch 35 that Time Bomb and Black Hole had been removed from the Mothership, they're back! Karune confirmed today that the abilities have been put back into the game.

Quote:

Update: The Mothership has the Time Bomb ability in addition to its previously mentioned 'support' abilities.

No wonder this game isn't in beta

Related Links:
Karune, is the Time Bomb ability really gone? (note: about halfway down the first page is Karunes post)

-=Update=-

The Black Hole and abilities are now in the single player game, but removed from the multi-player game. In an update posted by Karune in another thread he says this about the Mothership.

Quote:

Abilities like the Black Hole have been removed from the Mothership in Multiplayer mode because of balance and unit design (to test a more 'support' oriented unit).

This does not mean the ability won't be seen in the Single Player Campaign or in the Map Editor.

Click here to see original source.

0 Replies | 1,060 Views

New Wallpaper: Zeratul

Apr 14, 2008 - 11:33 PM - by Cotton

I've cooked up another wallpaper, this time for the concept art with Zeratul. Came out pretty snazzy if I do say so myself. Enjoy!

1920x1200 | 1600x1200 | 1280x1024

As always let me know what you think in the forums.

Related Links:
SC2League: Wallpaper Section

1 Reply | 6,829 Views

Discussion of the Month: by Karune

Apr 14, 2008 - 2:58 PM - by Cotton

Karune has posted up a new discussion topic on the Official SC2 forums. This month he is asking for feed back about the Baneling. The baneling was initially announced as a small fast explosive mutation of a zergling. Later after feeling the unit was overpowered, increased the units size and slowed it's movement speed to allow opponents to better counter the unit. Now Karune would like some feedback on these changes, specifically what kind of strategies and counters you can think of when using this unit.

Quote:

Last month was all about the Zerg. For the first time members of the Community and the press had the privilege to test StarCraft II's third race. You could read a lot about the different units and buildings, see movies and screenshots, hear about the gameplay experiences. This month's discussion topic will be about one of the new Zerg units: The Baneling, the mutation of one of the most popular Zerg units, of the Zergling. The Baneling has undergone quite a few changes in the past couple of weeks and we'd like to hear your feedback!

Information on the new Baneling:

Now
* 190 damage per Baneling (40+150 to building)
* Increased splash range (100% damage taken throughout range)
* Can be well positioned to hit multiple buildings
* Larger & Movement Speed Slower (possible to defend with focus fire)
* Counters Zealots, Zerglings, base Marines (not upgraded) -More Narrow window of use

Before
* Fast and small- Unable to defend against (focus fire)
* Countered virtually all ground units

Questions for fans:
* How do you like the new Baneling?
* What possibilites do you see for using the Baneling, what strategies could be viable with the Baneling against the different races?
* What are the pros/cons for this new Baneling?
* Additional feedback you might have

Each StarCraft II fansite will be featuring different types of questions, so be sure to also visit those sites. All of this feedback will be compiled and sent to the dev team.

Please structure feedback as follows:
-----
-question you'd like to answer-
-your answer-

-question you'd like to answer-
-your answer-
-----
Were looking forward to seeing great discussions on the new Zerg Baneling!

Head to the Battle.net Official SC2 Forums to post your feedback about the updated unit.

Related Links:
Discussion of the Month April: The Baneling

0 Replies | 957 Views

RSS Feed Repaired

Apr 09, 2008 - 6:21 PM - by Cotton

Those of you viewing the site via RSS will be happy to know the feed is now posting correctly and is no longer double posting news items.

0 Replies | 1,018 Views

New Wallpaper: Hydralisk Reborn

Apr 09, 2008 - 12:01 AM - by Cotton

I've added a 1280x1024 resolution version of the image to the wallpapers section.
//------------------Update--------------------/!

Hey guys,

I felt motivated today and started in on my first Zerg theme wallpaper. I found a concept art drawn by Samwise that I really liked, but felt could really be presented better than it was. So I ripped it up, took out the wash, replaced the background, did some coloring and shading work. Full credit of course to Samwise for drawing the picture, I only take credit for the presentation of that picture.

Here's a before and after of the Hydralisk: (click for full size)

Then of course the actual wallpaper: (click for full size)

Hope you like it, let me know what you think in our forums.

Related Links:
SC2League: Wallpaper Page
Hydralisk (Original Concept Art)

1 Reply | 3,725 Views

Q&A Batch 34 out in the wild

Apr 08, 2008 - 2:16 PM - by Cotton

Looks like Karune has posted Batch 34 of the Q&A series. This time its all about the units and abilities check it out.

Quote:

So now that all three races are out of the bag, you may have thought you've seen it all- nope! The Dev Team is still working very hard to add even more innovation and clever balance affecting design changes that will indeed polish out the gameplay of StarCraft II that much more.

Also, if you haven't already, be a part of StarCraft history by participating in our "I <3 SC" event! Your picture will be added to a wall of StarCraft fans! It is fast and easy to join up! Info here: http://blizzard.com/us/inblizz/contests/ilovesc/

Chat with the Devs: As of recent, the Dev Team has added a new ability to the Protoss Carrier that will give it a little more Umph! versus Zerg Corruptor attacks or Viking raids. In the past, the Carrier simply had a large swarm of Interceptor fighters which you had to build from scratch. Carriers now come built with 4 Interceptors already loaded (which is also the max number of Interceptors currently). They also have the new ability to have Escorts built for a temporary power boost to focus fire. Strike Fighter Escorts cost resources to build and last only 45 seconds, but add a decent amount of firepower to a Carriers attack. A Carrier can have a maximum of 4 Escorts. Escorts are given attack orders to focus-fire on whatever the Carrier is attacking and they can be destroyed independently of the Carrier or each other. The cost for these Escorts will be significant enough to where players will not want to just have the max number all of the time, as that would bleed your economy needlessly. Thus, players will have to pick and choose their battles in where they want the full force of the Protoss fleet present.

As always, feel free to give the Devs and I a w00t if you are enjoying the batches.

---StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 34---

1. An important aspect of any RTS game is for all races to have a way to siege fortified island positions, do the Protoss and Terrans [[and Zerg]] have a unit that is capable of doing so? (sclegacy.com)

All factions will have units capable of attacking from a longer range. Zerg have the Swarm Guardian, Terrans have the Battlecruisers Yamato Cannon, and the Protoss have the Carrier (which has gotten some additional abilities since we last talked about it). However we are not at all sure that these are enough to deal with fortified islands. More testing will tell us if this is sufficient or if we need more.

2. The Infestor is a very impressive unit that enchanted the community, because we all wanted to see a unit that is able to move while it is burrowed. Nevertheless there are still pending questions. Can the Infestor even infest Zerg buildings? Are infested marines produced as fast as it is shown on the gameplay trailer? Do you have to train them manually or will they pop out automatically? Do they cost minerals?(starcraft2.4players.de)

Like many Zerg units the Infestor is still under development. It cannot infest Zerg buildings though that is something we are still discussing. The speed at which Marines are generated changes frequently as we work on the ability. Sometimes its fast, sometimes not so fast. They will (probably) pop automatically. They do not have any cost associated with them.

3. The Medivac is a very interesting Unit, but there are not many information given to us so far. Can you tell us any more details about it? At which tier can it be found? How does the healing work? Can it even heal multiple units at once and how fast does it heal compared to the medic? (starcraft2.4players.de)

The Medivac is currently available from the Starport (no add-ons required). The healing works just like the medic. We will (if we keep the mechanic) be adding a graphic of the Medivac deploying medical drones to heal friendly biological units. It will only be able to heal a single unit at one time. The speed at which it heals changes frequently as we try different balance options.

4. There are many ambiguities concerning the Roach due to the much different information that has been given to us. Many users are quite unsure about its kind of attack. Is it a melee unit or is it ranged? Or is it kind of a crazy mix of both? And most important: can it hit air as well? (starcraft2.4players.de)

The Roach is ranged. He has been melee in the recent past (hence the art with the big claws) but he is currently ranged. This gives him added utility at chokes where he really shines. We have tried it as ground only and we have tried it as being able to hit ground or air. Currently it is ground only.

5. Can a Zerg Corruptor infest lifted-off Terran buildings, Colossuses, and other Zerg units such as Mutalisks or other Corruptors? Can Corruptor infest Thors, Siege Tanks or Marines if they are lifted-off by Anti-Gravity? (Battle.net) PCBANGFT

Yes, Corruptors can infest anything that flies or is forced into the air by abilities such as Anti-Gravity. In the situation of a unit being lifted by Anti-Gravity, the unit will return to the ground when the anti-gravity effect ends and sit on the ground. The corrupted unit is only allowed to attack air units and will do so if an enemy air unit flies by.

6. What is the reasoning behind changing Colossus' 'sliding' thermal lances (from 1st gameplay movie) to an array of beams (zerg trailer)? Balance? Visuals? Will it be possible to choose such sliding or array (or is it just 'horizontal' line?) fire mode from the Map Editor (available also for any other unit)? (battle.net) Dagguh

The array of beams give a more interesting AOE template for players to attempt to micro. The sliding beam looks cool, but ultimately doesnt produce any new gameplay. The current visuals on the beam are temp to see if we like the mechanic.

---End of Transmission---

Related Links:
Q&A Batch 34
Starcraft2.com

0 Replies | 944 Views

New Unit! - The Tauren Marine

Apr 01, 2008 - 6:28 PM - by Cotton

Blizzard seems to think that Starcraft players should get a taste of the Warcraft lore and are doing this through adding a new Terran unit. The Tauren Marine takes the well known Tauren unit from Warcraft III and gives him cool futuristic armor, a glowing axe, and a gun.

Quote:

The obscure planet of Azeroth was found to harbor a dizzying selection of humans, mutants, and aliens in a state of perpetual superstition and conflict. The most physically imposing of these warrior races were the so-called 'tauren,' an anthropomorphic bovine genotype with super-human stamina, overpowered racial combat abilities, and bizarrely well-developed horticultural skills.

While most tauren were satisfied with their agrarian culture and primitive existence, the Confederacy was able to lure away large numbers of young bulls for a life of adventure and violence along the galactic rim. Other tauren referred to these adventurers as 'mad cows,' and they were ostracized from the rest of their kine. The newly created tauren marines didn't care--they got neat-looking armor and big guns to own everyone else with. These beefy new soldiers are now an integral part of the Confederate military, and have managed to horn in on the roles traditionally filled by firebats and other infantry units.

Head on over to the Starcraft II site to find out more. They have several screenshots as well as some combat and animation videos.

Related Links:
Starcraft II: New Unit the Tauren Marine
Starcraft2.com

Oh btw, APRIL FOOLS!!!!!

0 Replies | 1,058 Views