Since I'm just kind of sitting around today with a bad cold and feeling a bit bored I thought I'd finally take some time to look at the unit silhouettes everyone's been talking about. I normally don't pay too much attention to this sort of stuff, but thought it might be fun to write down some thoughts on it.
I used the popular "level-adjusting in photoshop" technique everyone's been using to see a little bit more of the unit. I'm guessing a lot of what I'll say has already been guessed by others as well. I haven't really been reading the threads. Mostly just looking at the pics on Reddit. Sorry if this all seems re-hashed. That's why I made it a blog.
TERRAN: Messing with the levels on this once reveals quite a bit. I think it confirms that the thing on top is a flame-thrower and certainly seems to show that the round parts on the shoulders and ankles are wheels. This leads me to think that Blizz is actually going to remove the hellion and replace it with this unit, which would be a transforming Hellion/Firebat combination. I could see the "hellion mode" possibly only hitting one target now in the same way a vulture did in BW while it's "firebat mode" would be slower, but have a large-ish cone area of damage. Making a unit like this would still give Terrans harassment potential, but not in a way that could devastate mineral lines like Hellions can now. The "firebat mode" might be useful against early ling aggression and also as a part of a larger army later in the game. It wouldn't shock me at all to see them remove the Reaper from the game and have this build from the Barracks. Removing the Reaper would also cause Terrans to have to consider whether to use a mule or a scan early on which is another sort of "soft-nerf" that I could see Blizz implementing. In that case the "hellion mode" would probably be an upgrade that requires the factory. This would, however leave the factory with only tanks and Thors to produce which makes you wonder what other changes we might see...
ZERG: I think Blizz did the best job on masking this unit out of the three they've shown us. Levels don't reveal a whole lot. It seems pretty apparent that this is some sort of siege-type unit with the large cannon-like structure on it's back. This type of unit is something that Zergs have been asking for since the removal of the Lurker. For some reason Blizz seems to really not want to bring the Lurker back so I see this as sort of a compromise between them and the Zerg players. Whether it will be able to fill the spot the Lurker did or not remains to be seen of course. I wouldn't be surprised to see this as an evolution of either the Roach of Hydralisk. Most likely the Roach. The big question is if this upgrade would be available at Tier one through building a building or if it would be something trainable after Lair tech. The Zerg getting a siege unit in tier one could have a lot of implications, but I'll leave the theory-crafting for another time. Since SC2 was released I've always wanted to see the Roach and Hyrda change places in the tech tree with a slight buff to Roaches and slight nerf to Hydras along with it. A change like that would go along with a Zerg seige unit that morphs from a Roach coming in tier two. The changes I outlined earlier for Terran with their new unit would also make it much more viable to have the Hydralisk in tier one. Whatever way Blizz decides to work this I think it's going to be a big change for the better for Zerg.
PROTOSS: Levels on this image reveal a ton. We can see pretty clearly that it's a flying unit and therefore would be most likely produced from the Stargate. I can only speculate at what it does though since the image doesn't really give us any clear conclusions like I feel the other two pictures do. It appears that the three prongs on the bottom are the weapon and it looks to me like they're angled down. This makes me think it's some sort of harassment air-to-ground unit in its most basic role. That by itself seems kind of lame though so I'm sure there's more to it. It wouldn't shock me to see this have a spell or two added to it or some other function. It's hard to guess with this one. We'll have to wait and see.
So that's about it. Just my ramblings on the possibilities. I'm really looking forward to seeing what these things actually do. I'm the type of person that loves big changes so I hope they have a real (positive) impact on the competitive scene.
i'm hoping protoss is getting an air-to-ground harass style unit that's a bit more viable than the phoenix. Back in beta protoss was supposed to get more interesting air units but ended up with a weird air-to-air fighter that doesn't actually see much use in that capacity.
It'd be sweet if that last unit was like the lightning gun from Quake, and it consumes energy to fire the weapon. It fires in a fixed line to a specific spot just in front of it, so you use a hotkey to activate the weapon then micro the flyer back and forth to do the damage you can.
Seems pretty spot on with my own speculations. I like the idea of the hellion being removed in favor of this new unit. The zerg unit seems like the only thing it can really be is a siege unit (I'm thinking some sort of acid stream like those zerg towers in the campaign that were infesting human colonies). The protoss unit seems a little vague, but I agree it looks air-to-ground, whatever it does, please, PLEASE let it give me a fighting chance against EMP's.
Grats. I'm not really worried that any of them will be lame, but I'm most curious about the Toss unit since you really don't learn much from the image.
Pretty cool and thoughtful analysis of the silhouettes, Doa. I like your thinking on the terran unit, as it seems as though it would change terran enough to not really "nerf" their early game into oblivion, but to change the way terrans have to think to make the game change a bit. A combination mech/bio unit? Think of the possibilities.
Grats. I'm not really worried that any of them will be lame, but I'm most curious about the Toss unit since you really don't learn much from the image.
I hope the new protoss unit is like a flying zergling. Or something like a slightly better interceptor that doesn't require a carrier. With the new swarmling idea it would be cool to see protoss get a similar unit.
This seems pretty accurate! I do however think that the Protoss one will be some sort of morph or evolution of the pheonix... maybe like the archon i formed from 2 templars... But its just a guess lol
I think your prediction on the Terran unit is close to or spot-on. Hellions are simply to good like they are now and a "firebat/hellion - mode" would give the hellion unit more depth.
The zerg unit seems to be a lower tier siege unit wish will give zerg players a whole new level of play. They will be able to control areas much easier and i myself are not looking forward to siege lines in another matchup
The protoss unit reminds me abit of the Wraith unit in design. Might see a air-ground harrash unit or a air spellcaster. Since they have talked about maybe removing some units this might be a rework of the phoenix into another air spellcaster.
I feel that the zerg unit will change gameplay the most if these predictions are correct but we will have to wait until Blizzcon this weekend for more theory crafting
Those three prongs on the bottom of the corsair.... I mean anonymous protoss unit, give the impression that there may be a slight chance of this being a ground unit, adding stability, as it floats just off the ground.
So i wasn't the only one who thought the roach and hydra should switch places. Awesome job with the predictions DOA, makes me wonder on what you will do with the EG announcement....
On October 18 2011 21:43 nilssonen wrote: I think your prediction on the Terran unit is close to or spot-on. Hellions are simply to good like they are now and a "firebat/hellion - mode" would give the hellion unit more depth.
The zerg unit seems to be a lower tier siege unit wish will give zerg players a whole new level of play. They will be able to control areas much easier and i myself are not looking forward to siege lines in another matchup
The protoss unit reminds me abit of the Wraith unit in design. Might see a air-ground harrash unit or a air spellcaster. Since they have talked about maybe removing some units this might be a rework of the phoenix into another air spellcaster.
I feel that the zerg unit will change gameplay the most if these predictions are correct but we will have to wait until Blizzcon this weekend for more theory crafting
I was definitely thinking Wraith with that toss unit as well. Glad we don't have to wait long to find out!
So Protoss has Phoenixes, Warp Prisms and DTs and it still gets more harass units? I don't want to see that. I sincerely hope that it's not a harass unit. I think they're trying to change protoss into some harass orientated race as in BW, in which Protoss still wasn't this harass orientated. Even worse, current protoss harass units require negative micro compared to BW shuttle play.
I don't know if it's just me or not but zerg unit seems like the most useless one. I hope it's not something like mortar team from WC3. That would be like so conflicting with Zerg mechanics. But I don't see them making anything useful with it, like something we can use with lings and do stuff like ling-lurker control.
On to the Terran unit: If it's really some sort of hellion transformer thingy, I really would like to see BF upgrade removed or replaced with transform upgrade. You know, Terran mech can transform into stuff nowadays (cough *viking* cough). Also, combat shields getting replaced with marine range wouldn't be bad either.
Interesting speculations! The first two sound pretty probable on the account that the're willing to remove or switch around units. The protoss unit is in my opinion kind of hard to make anything of...
On a different note, which will rile the purists; will zerg ever get the chance in Starcraft 2 to do "creative", different openings (6 pool, woooo...) or for instance hide their intentions? (Currently OL-creeping buildings aren't really viable) I suppose we'll be enlightened a whole bit during BlizzCon, which is only days away! *cheers*
On October 18 2011 23:13 Haemonculus wrote: Zerg unit instantly reminded me of a biovore from 40k, which is basically a siege bug that shoots exploding bugs.
Baneling cannon!
Protoss already had the siege bug that shoots exploding bugs in BW.
Maybe they're making Zerg even more bw protossy. They already have shield batteries that can inject larvae, now they might score a reaver.
EDIT: The protoss flier looks like it has something to do with warping. Maybe you can use it to warp a single unit or structure from point A to B.
Maybe in a boX you can warp units to the next game.
If they do hellion transformers you should only be able to get one and it's a hero unit that gets bigger every kill it gets until it's shooting tongues of blue flame from one nat to another.
Wow, these are cool predictions, I'ma keep going.
The zerg unit could roll up into that shell and then run around crushing shit. Then it gets a cooldown where it moves slow because it's tired.
Maybe that's a big gas tank and it's like a gas mule that the queen can turn roaches into for 30 seconds.
What if the protoss unit is a time warp unit that slows down the game speed under it so you can delay enemy mining or upgrades with harass or make it so half the units in a battle shoot slow.
The thing on the Zerg unit could be a gas bag like an overlord and it just floats around all slow just ripping fuckers' heads off.
The transformer could be a super tricked out thor. Maybe you get a machine shop where you can get addons for your thors and spinners for your hellions.
The protoss thing might be a shield equalizer that makes it so none of your units under it lose shields until they all do. If it loses its own shields it explodes in a giant EMP.
I bet the zerg unit has a mini hatchery on it, so it generates creep wherever it goes and drops off a larva every once and a while.
Maybe you have to mix a marauder and a hellion together to get the terran unit and it shoots fire that slows a bunch of dudes down. Concussive preigniters.
On October 18 2011 23:13 Haemonculus wrote: Zerg unit instantly reminded me of a biovore from 40k, which is basically a siege bug that shoots exploding bugs.
Baneling cannon!
Protoss already had the siege bug that shoots exploding bugs in BW.
Maybe they're making Zerg even more bw protossy. They already have shield batteries that can inject larvae, now they might score a reaver.
But scarabs were special ed and got stuck between supply depots. Banelings would fly through the air and land perfectly in the middle of your marines!
On October 18 2011 21:43 nilssonen wrote: I think your prediction on the Terran unit is close to or spot-on. Hellions are simply to good like they are now and a "firebat/hellion - mode" would give the hellion unit more depth.
The zerg unit seems to be a lower tier siege unit wish will give zerg players a whole new level of play. They will be able to control areas much easier and i myself are not looking forward to siege lines in another matchup
The protoss unit reminds me abit of the Wraith unit in design. Might see a air-ground harrash unit or a air spellcaster. Since they have talked about maybe removing some units this might be a rework of the phoenix into another air spellcaster.
I feel that the zerg unit will change gameplay the most if these predictions are correct but we will have to wait until Blizzcon this weekend for more theory crafting
I was definitely thinking Wraith with that toss unit as well. Glad we don't have to wait long to find out!
that would be even worse than any unit they have right now
The zerg unit was at least years Blizzcon I do believe? So I think they didn't do the best job of pretending this is a completely brand new unit. Or at least it looks exactly the same as the bunker buster unit
Hi DOA, good post <3 I think the protoss one could be a lot smaller and be a floating ground unit too, like a sentry. It'll more likely be an air unit, but a floating ground unit is a possibility too imo. (even if the design is clearly air like)
For Terran, I see more of a field engineer with a mounted gun of sorts. This could mean a return of the field mine mechanic of sorts which was something I liked from BW's vultures.
For the zerg, I see a siege unit type and its abdomen does resemble the one on the current zerg queens. The only I cant foresee is in which tier and if its an evolution or its own unit.
For the protoss, I see something similar to the BW corsair, allowing for fast raids and to neutralize defenses temporarily, allowing protoss warp ins and to break through ground defense forces.
On October 19 2011 00:10 Zlasher wrote: The zerg unit was at least years Blizzcon I do believe? So I think they didn't do the best job of pretending this is a completely brand new unit. Or at least it looks exactly the same as the bunker buster unit
In my opinion the silhouette they revealed doesn't look anything like that. The way I see it, that bunker monster thing looks more like something that would be a campaign only unit.
Great analysis, I think the Terran unit analysis is pretty much a bullseye. Protoss...we'll see.. Zerg unit is definitely some kind of siege unit, but if its reaver-like or a grounded brood lord..who can say.
On October 18 2011 19:53 DoA wrote: It seems pretty apparent that this is some sort of siege-type unit with the large cannon-like structure on it's back. This type of unit is something that Zergs have been asking for since the removal of the Lurker. For some reason Blizz seems to really not want to bring the Lurker back so I see this as sort of a compromise between them and the Zerg players. Whether it will be able to fill the spot the Lurker did or not remains to be seen of course.
IMO the reason Blizzard doesn't want to just add back Lurker is because they've sorta been-there-done-that with SC:BW. As much as people like to rag on Activision-Blizzard for being money grabbers, at the end of the day I'm willing to bet the bank that the Blizz devs really want to put out something really cool and new for people to enjoy. Just re-packaging Brood War multiplayer and saying "here you go" isn't what people really want at all IMO (except maybe some BW diehards; power to you guys ). As long as Zergs get some sort of positional siege unit to help them zone out areas of the map like the Lurker did in BW, I think they'll be happy. This unit looks like it will (hopefully) fill that kind of role, without cheap recycling of old ideas.
On October 19 2011 06:29 stormfoxSC wrote: IMO the reason Blizzard doesn't want to just add back Lurker is because they've sorta been-there-done-that with SC:BW. As much as people like to rag on Activision-Blizzard for being money grabbers, at the end of the day I'm willing to bet the bank that the Blizz devs really want to put out something really cool and new for people to enjoy.
That's all well and good. But I think most people would rather have a good/interesting unit with good mechanics behind it; i.e. the Lurker's space control and set up time. Than some of the "new and cool units" they put into WoL (namely Immortal, Roach, Collosus), which are 1a units. Even the Mothership (which is basically the epitome of the "new and cool" Dustin Browder ethos) was for a long time just a giant, slow arbiter that you could have only have one of. It's better now but still...
I think the 'Baneling Artillery' idea is pretty neat, a Zerg reaver, but there could be a little too much overlap with the siege tank. It would all depend on whether it's made to be a harassment unit or not, which again I think would have too much overlap but within Zergs own arsenal. Zerg already has Ling run-bys, mutas, baneling drops and infested terran for harass. Echoing Doa said, it looks like it would be a Roach evolution, the way the legs look is very similar to Roach legs, and the chitinous armour is another pointer.
For the Protoss unit, I don't really know what to derive from it. My heart wishes for an aerial spellcaster other than the Mothership. Something that's faster, and that can possibly harass. I wouldn't care particularly if it was some rework, or replacement, of the Pheonix either.
On October 19 2011 01:51 StatX wrote: For Terran, I see more of a field engineer with a mounted gun of sorts. This could mean a return of the field mine mechanic of sorts which was something I liked from BW's vultures.
This gives me an idea.
This thing is like a hellion. No attack. 3 spider mines . Maybe upgrade required, maybe not. It can transform into a walking thing. It moves slowly. Perhaps thor speed, perhaps slower. It has a repairing cannon. (I still think mines are way imba in SC2, but I figure the expansion will shake shit up way too much anyways)
I imagine it would have a third ability. Maybe upgraded. This is a unit with a mix of map control and support, so I imagine this ability would fit into those. Maybe a scan pulse, that does like a sensor tower around it for a couple of seconds.
It's probably a transformer, but I'm thinking it has nothing to do with the hellion. Terran already has a bunch of walkers. After the anti-hover dark age, they should have a bunch of wheeled jank too. New unit with some aesthetic connection to the hellion.
I think if the Protoss unit ends up being like a medi-vac for toss shields it would be really helpfull. Maybe instead of doubling as a drop ship it has a spell or 2 similar to a Raven.
On October 20 2011 00:45 mizU wrote: Doaaaaaa what's your phone number? :o
I don't own a phone! I operate off the grid.
On-topic: Being a Terran player I'm most interesting to see what changes Blizz will have for us. There's certainly a sentiment that says that the race may be over-powered, but I don't really expect these new units to speak to that at all. The way the game evolves over time it would be silly to reveal things that address possible balance issues right now that might be a non-issue by the time to expansion hits so I'm not expecting it. What I am expecting are things that might have an effect on the fundamental playstyles of the races. That kind of stuff excites me, but I'm sure there will be some that aren't too thrilled.
I agree with the hellion morph but I don't know if the reaper will be removed. If it is i dont think you will build this at the barracks in his place. It'll probably just be a morph for the hellion as an upgrade and each mode will probably have different usefulness in each matchup. As it is now, PvT tank/vult was staple in bw, and there really isnt any mech comp that works in sc2. So this might help meat shield some damage and rape zeals while the tanks sit back and blast. Probably makes them super slow but adds lots of armor or hp and shorter but more powerful damage or something. And they can probably revert back and forth like a viking can, I dunno that might be a little too cheap. Teir 2.5 for sure. Probably somewhere around 150 hp 2 armor and 20 damage to light 8 to rest. maybe 150/150 cost for upgrade.
The seige zerg unit is a definite t2 unit maybe 2.5 because we do have the baneling as a seige unit at teir 1 (just not the speed for it until t2). I predict this will be somewhat like a reaver, but that it uses banelings or zerglings as ammunition (the lings can morph inside it slowly and safely instead of outside, and might not require baneling nest as well). The thing will obviously be armored and slow moving, OR it will be fast and must deploy like a tank or lurker do. Itll probably require a roach to morph from is my guess after you make the building. It would be cool if it also had burrow movement and could pop out and then deploy etc. probably have around 130 hp and 1-2 armor, since it fires out banes they probably do the same damage, or it has the reverse of doing more to armored and less to light in the same ratio as banes. I guess it would cost around 200/100 for the building and then like 75/75 for upgrading each roache, and then the cost of the lings or banes to go inside as ammo. Pretty expensive stuff so it must be pretty powerful.
The last one seems to be the most difficult. It doesn't look like a fighting unit at all really, since there are already pretty good fighting units in the air for toss and the only one that really seems to never get any good use is the mothership, itll probably be removed and replaced by this arbitermothership hybrid. Since the shape is kinda open, I would suspect that it has defensive abilities. Maybe even warp in abilities. cloaking, recall, stasis, vortex were the abilities of arby and mothership so we might see some stuff like that. Maybe it can deploy or lock a wormhole open sorta like a nydus worm and make a sort of warp gate where units can move through and back freely. What would really be cool is if it could be used to pick up ground units and then it gains their abilities but in the air. So like it could pick up templar to rain from the skies or even zealots and let them fight AA. There is really too many possibilities for spellcasters so its hard to judge its stats. But if it's more like the mothership and arbiter we can assume that itll come from fleet beacon and cost somewhere around 150 minerals and 300 gas. And then have upgrades at the beacon etc.
PS- originally there was the tempest that was supposed to replace the carrier which had hardened sheilds from below and acted like a fast carrier with less hp. Maybe this has some role in the design of this unit as well. Some kind of hardened shield veil for units below but not it in the air (or like a mana shield in diablo)?
EPT
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![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/wUkFr.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/0mnRg.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://oi53.tinypic.com/2nsbbyt.jpg)
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). As long as Zergs get some sort of positional siege unit to help them zone out areas of the map like the Lurker did in BW, I think they'll be happy. This unit looks like it will (hopefully) fill that kind of role, without cheap recycling of old ideas. 
