So, Hots beta is in full swing, and of course the big talk is everyone's idea that Mech has to be as viable as Bio in TvP as well.
Now, i really don't get this idea at all. Looking at Brood War Terran, they could: TvZ: Mech or Bio, standard is actually opening Bio and switching into Mech. TvT: Mech only TvP: Mech mostly, can use Bio for (rare) timing attacks and that's it.
Bio only works in one matchup, and unless you go SK Terran it's also not common to head into lategame with Bio.
Compare it to sc2, where Terran can: TvZ: Mech or Bio, both are viable. There's debate around which one is "better", but Mech has shown it can win pro matches given the right maps and builds. TvT: Mech or Bio. Both work, often it comes down to player style and map choice again. TvP: Bio. Mech has been tried and it has kinda worked, sometimes, sort of, but mostly, people agree Bio is far superior.
When you look at it, sc2 Terran actually has more playstyle options (in terms of Mech vs Bio) than BW Terran, which is more or less forced into Mech in two out of three matchups. So, again, why exactly do people want TvP mech to work so desperately (please leave balance arguments aside)? Because of the whole P deathball vs T Bio harassment thing not producing good games a lot of the time? Arguably that's a Protoss (*cough* Colossus *cough*) issue that has nothing to do with Mech Because it feels "bw esque"? Again, Mech is viable in other matchups, so i don't get this argument either.
Isn't TvT bio just as viable in hots as sc2? The warhound's been removed now (I think?), so the only different thing is widow mines, which have so far proved pretty bad.
I also don't see that bio has got harder vs Protoss. Sure, everyone was going mech, but that was because the warhound was completely imbalaned. Without the warhound, won't mech just be the same as in sc2? Not sure that the new Protoss units would make bio play harder anyway.
Because mech is far cooler than bio. Siege tanks are one of the most awesome units of all time. Period. It also has a nice dynamic in the game, being immobile and the other side having to constantly harass going up against the inherent turtle style of mech whose defensive capabilities are its strength. To me it all comes down to the marauder. It's a unit that's just so out of place. It just doesn't fit. It's tanky, does a lot of damage and has a slow spell?! It's a human being for fucks sake, not a machine. Actually the warhound makes more sense than the marauder (Can't believe I'm saying this) because it's a robot. In the end Siege tanks are just cooler than all of the above.
I never get the 'mech is more fun' argument. Bio means you're constantly attacking, harrassing, dropping, expanding, splitting and generally running around like a madman. Mech usually means you're turtling, and maybe sending out groups of hellions to try to sneak into mineral lines from time to time. Then, when the epic 1 battle finally happens, there's not much micro besides focus firing w/ your tanks, and its over in 5 seconds. Mech is boring, at least comparitively.
The BW tank is definitely an amazing unit. In sc2 it's not nearly as "indipendent" though; what i mean by that is, sc2 mech is more about getting a 3 base deathball and killing the other guy, and less about space control and positioning like bw mech. You can spread out a tank line to control multiple bases on a map in bw, while that's a lot harder in sc2. That means that bio in my opinion actually gives you more opportunities to outplay your opponent thanks to your mobility and harassment potential, while in bw you can outplay your opponent through both harassment and strong push mechanics and positioning. That part is lacking in sc2.
I do agree that mech feels more terran-esque, but for sc2 terran to play like bw terran, lots of mechanics would have to be changed (high ground advantage, siege tanks, etc etc).
EPT
