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Medivacs lower the IQ of Starcraft II by 40 points. While some theorycrafters suggested Battlecruisers able to deploy bunkers or BW ZvZ maps with Scourge on concentric patrol rings to prevent the inevitable Mutalisk shenanigans, no one suggested Medics needed to be anything else.
The original Medic was clever, one might even say sublime, in counter-intuitive and witty ways that laid to rest any doubt about its place in Brood War. There were times when we were unhappy with it. It seemed tragic for ~10 Sunken Colonies to die to a +1 Medic timing. On the other hand, there were moments of shear brilliance, a Barracks hovering over Medics on the ramp, times when walls held tough Dark Templar timings.
There were even tragi-comic scenarios like the 37 kill Firebat on Gaema Gowon, a WCG showdown between Boxer and Mondragon that could only end in tears. But all good things must come to an end.
Medivacs have replaced Medics, and the kind of sticky stasis tricks like Medic walls and Marine tango have given way to balls. There were some uncouth occurrences in Brood War, like the piquancy of Zero's Queens spawning Broodlings from 6! of Bisu's High Templar, but these singular events had a sort of dynamic charge of their own. In short, there was not good reason to remove Academy Medics.
But now we have what we have. Medivacs are dynamic enough to both ferry and heal. It makes me want to play Zerg and do nothing other than Nydus Infestor Queen rush Protosses all day (NIQ is actually a pretty funny strategy when the Infestors have enough energy to force fights).
Healing and flying transport are just one more of those dichotomies not unlike Warp Gates and Protoss ground that misstate the case when designers take a dualistic approach. The truth is you can't always use ad hoc reasoning to plug gaps. Sometimes you've got to take a two squares approach to error.
 
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Wanna play some Brood War?
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Not really. I have dedicated tonight to my demon hunter.
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I meant some time, it doesn't have to be now.
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Canada1256 Posts
I've always thought ever since Sc2 came out that Medivacs were such a stupid almagamation of 2 units that served their purpose very well.
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Where does it hurt? 
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TLADT24920 Posts
On April 05 2015 14:55 YokoKano wrote:
Medivacs lower the IQ of Starcraft II by 40 points. While some theorycrafters suggested Battlecruisers able to deploy bunkers or BW ZvZ maps with Scourge on concentric patrol rings to prevent the inevitable Mutalisk shenanigans, no one suggested Medics needed to be anything else.
Please provide evidence if you want to make that claim! 
On April 05 2015 14:55 YokoKano wrote:
The original Medic was clever, one might even say sublime, in counter-intuitive and witty ways that laid to rest any doubt about its place in Brood War. There were times when we were unhappy with it. It seemed tragic for ~10 Sunken Colonies to die to a +1 Medic timing. On the other hand, there were moments of shear brilliance, a Barracks hovering over Medics on the ramp, times when walls held tough Dark Templar timings.
yes, I agree. Original medic was great to use but ~10 sunkens? What game are you thinking of? It's likely that at that point, the terran has a gazillion marines unless its something like a 5 rax +1 all in but 10 sunkens is quite a bit to be broken through and not that common (5-6 is more common nowadays).
On April 05 2015 14:55 YokoKano wrote:
There were even tragi-comic scenarios like the 37 kill Firebat on Gaema Gowon, a WCG showdown between Boxer and Mondragon that could only end in tears. But all good things must come to an end.
Medivacs have replaced Medics, and the kind of sticky stasis tricks like Medic walls and Marine tango have given way to balls. There were some uncouth occurrences in Brood War, like the piquancy of Zero's Queens spawning Broodlings from 6! of Bisu's High Templar, but these singular events had a sort of dynamic charge of their own. In short, there was not good reason to remove Academy Medics.
But now we have what we have. Medivacs are dynamic enough to both ferry and heal. It makes me want to play Zerg and do nothing other than Nydus Infestor Queen rush Protosses all day (NIQ is actually a pretty funny strategy when the Infestors have enough energy to force fights).
Healing and flying transport are just one more of those dichotomies not unlike Warp Gates and Protoss ground that misstate the case when designers take a dualistic approach. The truth is you can't always use ad hoc reasoning to plug gaps. Sometimes you've got to take a two squares approach to error.
yes, I don't agree with medivacs. Mostly because I feel that they make drops that much more powerful and with boost, can easily negate drop defense which are static. I would've prefer that medics were still in the game because there were a lot more micro potential available and its enjoyable all around. You can pretty much say the same thing about vultures vs hellions and why firebats+vulture was much better than a hellion.
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Hong Kong9179 Posts
On April 05 2015 14:55 YokoKano wrote:
The truth is you can't always use ad hoc reasoning to plug gaps..
You might want to read that sentence again in the context of your blogs.
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Medivacs, with their boost, causes drop plays, which are supposed to be risky, to be not risky. It's fast enough to come back home in time, and it can boost out of most dangers.
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5 years later, lets complain about medivacs :D
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Medic was so good unit, that nowadays I only see mec terrans when i watch brood war Ts.
The Medivac is atleast used.
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TLADT24920 Posts
On April 06 2015 07:47 Clonester wrote:
Medic was so good unit, that nowadays I only see mec terrans when i watch brood war Ts.
The Medivac is atleast used.
What brood war terrans are you watching that don't go for medics? Sea, Hiya, Last etc... all go for MnM+tank and then (possibly unless they go SK Terran or biomech) do a mech switch.
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Nice blog Yoko, actually really liked this one. I really miss the skillful things that units like Medivacs provided StarCraft : BW that SC2 doesn't have a shred of, the things you described are why I love BW and miss it to death, now I want to play BW. The way you word things revives my passion. 5/5
#Revival
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United States10528 Posts
On April 06 2015 07:47 Clonester wrote:
Medic was so good unit, that nowadays I only see mec terrans when i watch brood war Ts.
The Medivac is atleast used.
you're probably seeing the late game where TvZ meta has evolved into bio+tank+vessel comps that transition into pure tank/vulture play later with vessel support.
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On April 06 2015 07:47 Clonester wrote:
Medic was so good unit, that nowadays I only see mec terrans when i watch brood war Ts.
The Medivac is atleast used.
Lol
You sure know what you're talking about
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EPT
