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The Carrier is quite possibly the least used unit in the game. But this is not without good reason. It is slow, expensive, and very difficult to get. I have taken it upon myself, as a fan of the game, to propose several possible fixes to the unit.
The Carchon
The Protoss on the whole are all about preservation. They are the only race that actively collects and uses coupons. An example of their cheapness is how when zealots die, they are brought back to battle in the form of dragoons or immortals. When High Templar run out of energy and become useless, they combine to become Archons.
Thus, when the Carrier is useless (always) it would make sense for it to be able to merge with an Archon. The Carchon would combine the strengths of both units while avoiding their weaknesses. It would fly around at the speed of an Archon while shooting interceptors that do 25 (+10 vs Bio) damage with splash.
+ Show Spoiler + ![[image loading]](http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/images2/thumb/b/b7/Archon.png/200px-Archon.png) + ![[image loading]](http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/images2/thumb/b/b7/Carrier.png/200px-Carrier.png) =
This might sound a really tiny bit unfair but you have to keep in mind it would cost 450/550 and be very hard to mass.
Ability: Morph Into Changeling
One of the under-discussed imbalances in the game is Zerg’s ability to spawn a unit that can get some scouting info if their opponent is terrible. This could be rectified by giving the Carrier the ability to morph into a Changeling. This would provide many benefits:
1) Provide some much needed scouting - Protoss doesn’t have any cheap flying units that detect and are invisible (because that would be imbalanced) so they have a lot of difficulty scouting. This ability would allow Protoss to see what’s up.
2) Allow the Carrier to infiltrate the backlines - The Carrier would be slightly faster in Changeling mode and it wouldn’t be autotargetted. When it gets to where it wants to be, it can morph back into Carrier mode and start running show.
3) Would allow Carriers to get into Warp Prisms, increasing mobility - You could fit four Carriers into one Warp Prism. With the speed upgrade, you Carriers could be incredibly mobile. This could also increase usage of Warp Prisms.
Naturally, this Changeling wouldn’t be the normal 5 health garbage one. It would have 450 health, like the Carrier (its shields are transformed into health because its secret would otherwise be revealed by the health bars).
Ability: Spawn Nexus
Ok this is a bit of a different idea but hear me out. One of the major problems often cited for the Carrier’s inadequacies is its small penis high cost. It is hard to do anything else while producing them. Therefore I feel it would be very beneficial for them to instantly create a Nexus. This would give Protoss the ability to expand their Carrier fleet without sacrificing their economy. There are a few key reasons why this would not be imbalanced:
1) Ability would be on a cooldown. One carrier could only create one completely free Nexus every 3 minutes.
2) Carrier isn’t that fast, couldn’t attack and spawn nexus at the same time.
Still, if this was seen as imbalanced, I have prepared an alternative. Simply let workers return harvested resources to the Carrier itself. Interestingly, this would actually be more reasonable than a Planetary Fortress. A PF costs 550/150 plus the opportunity cost of not having that extra Orbital. A Carrier costs 350/250 (+100 minerals to max on interceptors) plus the opportunity cost of the Carrier not being out killing shit. Also the carrier has a lot less health than a PF, doesn’t do splash damage, and can’t be repaired. It’s not even that much faster than the stationary PF.
I think it’s important to note that I am not seeking to have more than one of these implemented. That would be imbalanced. The last thing I would to do is introduce an imbalanced unit into the game I love so much. With that in mind, I feel like any one of these changes would be completely reasonable and totally not unfair at all. Most importantly, it would make the game more fun for everyone who doesn’t play terran or zerg!
On one final note, I would like to make it clear why I would post this on TL instead of official Bnet forums. The powers that be have very adamantly said that they have no control over these things. Too adamantly in fact. My tinfoil hat tells me not to believe this.
Make it happen Hot_Bid.
 
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Hahaha. I love the scouting/observer jab, and "to provide some scouting if their opponent is terrible."
Props!
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I loved it. Especially the morph into changeling ability. I can imagine 4 carriers entering a warp prism, getting sniped and me getting an instant heart attack
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"It’s not even that much faster than the stationary PF." I loled...
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LOL hahaha
I came in thinking it was going to be serious, but immediately after reading I knew it would be a joke post...and right after that I thought that it was too wishy-washy (i.e. just trying to be ridiculous with Carchon wtf), but as I kept reading it got better and better AHAHA
I prefer posts that get better rather than ones that come out strong and taper off after a kickass idea. Nice.
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Actually, the returning minerals to carrier part sounded nice, would add more depth to protoss gameplay while not being totally OP!
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Awesome thread, had a hard time keeping my laughter contained in public. xD
EDIT: personally I'd like to see all these changes added to the carrier, that would be so lolz.
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Well said, sir. Although I believe that battlecruisers should have an ability that throws crewmembers from the ship, and that they then become frenzied and start clawing the eyes out of any enemies in their attempt to get back inside. To make this ability more usable, I suggest having it trigger every time the battlecruiser shoots.
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your Country52797 Posts
We should nerf Carchons. Seriously, how are we supposed to mass them like bronze leaguers can if they cost so much gas?? Wahhhh, I WANT MORE CARCHONS.
+ Show Spoiler +I lol'd 
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Interceptors should double up as flying Probes. When Carriers are idling at rally point getting massed, Interceptors should be flying about collecting resources.
Protoss mineral lines being harassed by Hellions or Baneling drops is a big problem with the game anyway, but if you can make workers that fly at least the late game will be reasonable.
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Hmm maybe interceptors should be automatically replenished and for free like in brood lords...though with the added capacity for carriers. muahaha.
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United States10372 Posts
LOLOLOL!!!!
"small penis ERR i mean uh... high costs... yeah..." LOLOL!!!!
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It sounds like you guys are enjoying it but I keep getting hit with 1 stars. 
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On August 05 2011 09:19 Bibbit wrote:It sounds like you guys are enjoying it but I keep getting hit with 1 stars.
Haters gonna hate, unfortunately :O Screw them.
Unless you're a TL celeb, there are a ton of 1-starring cock-blockers out there
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On August 05 2011 09:22 Z3kk wrote:Show nested quote +On August 05 2011 09:19 Bibbit wrote:It sounds like you guys are enjoying it but I keep getting hit with 1 stars. Haters gonna hate, unfortunately :O Screw them. Unless you're a TL celeb, there are a ton of 1-starring cock-blockers out there
Heh, I just typically have better luck I guess.
*tinfoil hat back on*
I often write about BW! Maybe BW has less haters!
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On August 05 2011 09:05 Talin wrote:
Interceptors should double up as flying Probes. When Carriers are idling at rally point getting massed, Interceptors should be flying about collecting resources.
Protoss mineral lines being harassed by Hellions or Baneling drops is a big problem with the game anyway, but if you can make workers that fly at least the late game will be reasonable.
Haha that is a brilliant idea.
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Do not worry, I will 5 star you for this wonderful blog!
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One of the under-discussed imbalances in the game is Zerg’s ability to spawn a unit that can get some scouting info if their opponent is terrible.
Best part fo sho. Another great blog by the Bibs. 5/5 my friend. 5/5.
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On August 05 2011 09:19 Bibbit wrote:It sounds like you guys are enjoying it but I keep getting hit with 1 stars.
It is safer to give a blog 1 start than to post about how you dont like it.
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On August 05 2011 10:57 Mastermind wrote:Show nested quote +On August 05 2011 09:19 Bibbit wrote:It sounds like you guys are enjoying it but I keep getting hit with 1 stars. It is safer to give a blog 1 start than to post about how you dont like it.
Heh, I like the choice of the word "Safer." Its like I'm gonna show up at your house with a bat if you post something negative.
I wouldnt do that!
Edit: Dalgunoooo. Ty for the support homie.
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You know, since the game has come out, the usefulness of units that were said to be too expensive of useless has changed to much. I am convinced that in time, with more progression and maybe a bit of small changes, the carrier will have it's day to shine.
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I always knew Dragoons were cheap, and cheap, but I didn't realize they were also cheap. Fuck hiring a new zealot when the current one you have still kinda works if you get it an exoskeleton.
Can the Canetary Fortress use it's interceptors to mine?
Edit: Wow, I suck at reading.
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On August 05 2011 11:43 Kanil wrote:
I always knew Dragoons were cheap, and cheap, but I didn't realize they were also cheap. Fuck hiring a new zealot when the current one you have still kinda works if you get it an exoskeleton.
Can the Canetary Fortress use it's interceptors to mine?
Unfortunately I wasn't smart enough to come up with that. But because TL totally friggin' get's it someone proposed that on the first page. :D
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I haven't read such a good unit idea since baller's. ;D gogo patch! ^_^
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Canada6330 Posts
lol why not have carrier make probes too, it's similar size compared to interceptors anyway. then we can legitimize the mineral-collecting-self-sustainable-carrier!
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On August 05 2011 09:22 Z3kk wrote:Show nested quote +On August 05 2011 09:19 Bibbit wrote:It sounds like you guys are enjoying it but I keep getting hit with 1 stars. Haters gonna hate, unfortunately :O Screw them. Unless you're a TL celeb, there are a ton of 1-starring cock-blockers out there
I did NOT give you a 1 star for doing SC2 Balance starting with a balance addition that can even be added to BW(and should). I want a Carcon. Would be a big Black Ball that spawns small white balls that splash :3.
Also, I'm considering going on b.net east and doing a 4 gate 2 archon into 4-5 base carrier
Or maybe do a high templar drop into 3 base carrier into mass archon/zeal 
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Simpler solution:
Ability: Transform And Roll Out
Allows the Carrier to land, load into warp prisms and launch scarabs interceptors.
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On August 05 2011 12:07 OpticalShot wrote:
lol why not have carrier make probes too, it's similar size compared to interceptors anyway. then we can legitimize the mineral-collecting-self-sustainable-carrier!
Yes this is also a good idea. I feel it would give protoss a much-needed edge in base races.
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EPT
