[A] Starbow - Page 338

- Bio units were completely useless in TvT (MAYBE 1 early Reaper or a few Ghosts in the late game)
- Bio could not push out in TvP (So easy for Stalkers to just kite the Marine push and dwindle it down one by one)
- Marines+Medic were the only bio units needed in TvZ (No need for Ghost or Reapers.. Maybe 1-2 early)
- Bio drops were too weak in TvT and TvP
- Stalkers with Blink were too strong, especially in TvP since T could not leave his base due to the risk of being Blinked
- Stalkers could "contain" Terran so neither T could push out, or P could push in. Led to lame games.
- Stalkers were the only core unit needed in PvP and arguably in TvP-
- Banelings could just A-move vs Terran bio (Since everything is so fragile.. And it was quite lame to watch)

First of all, all units in the game:

>>>+ Show Spoiler +<<<

The values I present is just a rough assumption. I will explain further down what it is supposed to lead too.

Changes:

Bio
- Marines + Medic slightly faster BT
- Marines start with range 5 instead of 4.
- Marine damage changed from 6 to 5+1 vs armored.
- Medics start with 75 energy instead of 50.
- Reaper can upgrade G-4 Charges, which allows them to either place a bomb on the ground, or throw a bomb at the enemy unit/Structure. After 5 seconds, it explodes and deal decent dmg vs armored units and structures.
- Upgrades at Barrack: Stimpack, Reaper bombs, Combat shield, +25 additional energy for Medics

Mech
- Vulture deals no extra damage vs light units from the start. Only 10 to all. Instead they start with higher movement speed.
- In the Factory, Vulture can research an upgrade that gives them +8 dmg vs light. (No speed bonus upgrade)
- Unsieged Tanks deal higher damage vs armored units.
- Spider mine damage changed FROM 75 vs all, 100 vs armored TO 50 vs light, 75 vs medium, 100 vs armored
(Might not be necessary)

Protoss
- Photon cannon damage changed FROM 20 vs all, TO 18 vs light, 20 vs all, 22 vs armored
- Stalker damage can remain as it currently is in the game (14 vs light and "medium", 12 vs armored)
- Maybe even stronger Archons
- Scout Phase Missile can be used on any unit. It deals ca 60-100 damage to one target. If that target has energy, ca 60-100 energy is drained AND deals splash damage to units nearby. (Otherwise the Phase Missile deals no splash) Enemy units can "run" away from the Missile, since it only lasts X seconds in the air.



Zerg
- Baneling armor changed to Light (Makes Reaper good vs them)
- When Banelings are morphed, they last ca 30-60 seconds before they detonate by themselfes. (Might not be necessary)

Lets look at the problems again:


- Slightly faster build time for Medics + Marines, better Marines from start (5 range instead of 4), better Medics from start (75 energy instead of 50) will make them more efficient early, and a larger threat vs the enemy in all match-ups.

- If we reduce their dmg from 6 to 5+1 vs armored they will not be broken vs Zerg, while still remain strong vs Stalkers/Tanks/Banshee etc.

- By adding 75 energy to Medics, it will be harder for Protoss to just dwindle down the Marine push so easily as it previously was with Stalkers.

- If Marines are slightly worse vs light units, we make Reapers more important in the army mix. (Since they now have better DPS vs light units, compared to the Marine)

- If Reapers gain back the old G-4 Charge ability, they become good at destroying static defence and enemy workers. (This makes them even stronger as harassing mobile units in the mid game.) If we make them take only 1 slot in Dropships, they can become strong to drop too, since they can easily take out Cannons etc. (Even if the enemy has a Turret ring around the base, Reapers can jump over the cliffs and destroy the Turrets, then send in the Dropship)

- If Marines have Combat shields, they will become a bit better in the midgame, and not completely hard countered as easily by Storm, Reavers, Siege tanks, Spider mines. (Still countered ofc, but not insanly weak.) Just as we try to do with the Marauder - make it still viable in the mid game in TvT and TvP.

- If Cannons deal 18 vs light, 20 vs normal, 22 vs armored, Marine drops become stronger vs Cannons since it takes 3-shots to kill them, 4 shots if Marines have Combat shield.

- If Vultures deal no extra damage vs light from start, they can not 3-shot Marines anymore. (Need the upgrade first)
But they do have faster movement speed, which would probably still make them to be efficient harassment units early, and 4-shot workers, instead of 2 or 3-shot them.

I think we all want Bio to be quite viable in the early/mid game in all match-ups. As the game progresses, it will be hard to just rely on pure Bio, and additional higher tech units must be added for Terran. We also want Bio to be strong when dropped/harassed at multiple locations.

Lets look at the remaining problems:



Stalkers are now much weaker vs armored units, and have less shields.
- At the moment, with the current values, Blink Stalkers does not seem to be a problem in the game?

- Stronger unsieged Tanks, and stronger Marines, helps Terran push out on the map vs Stalkers who "contain" Terran.

- Stalkers alone will can not handle Terran pressure. Weaker Marines vs non-armored will make Zealots play a more important role.

- If Archons become stronger, especially so they are great vs Stalkers, they might become a good alternative to Reavers + Stalkers vs Reavers + Stalkers. If Scouts get a reworked Phase Missile, so they can snipe units, Stargate play might become more important in the meta-game as a way to counter Warp Prism + Reaver

- If Banelings get "timed life", Zerg must be careful and clever how he chooses to use them. (Since it is quite lame to watch large armies of Banelings+Mutas roam the map and instanly defeat enemy Bio armies)

PvZ
Will probably remain as dynamic and fun as it is, since the only change compared to the current game state is the removal of the Immortal. One problem can be how Protoss counters Lurkers, since Stalkers are now worse vs armored?
- Better Archons?
- Scout with better Phase Missile? (Maybe also better ground damage vs armored units)
- Sentinels with Safeguard?

TvZ
Seems to be a dynamic and fun match-up too in the game atm.
Will that remain with the removal of the Marauder?
Weaker Marines vs Zerglings/Banelings might force more Reapers into the army. If Banelings get a timed life, there might not be a need for a Bio unit that "tanks" damage from Banelings?
One problem might be that early Medic+Marine pushes are too strong, but if Marine dmg is lower, maybe it is balanced.

PvT
- With Maruaders, we want to force Protoss to build Zealots, Stalkers and Immortals. (Which slows down the mobility, and makes them more vulnerable to dropplay and Banshees etc)
- With stronger Marines and better unsieged Tanks vs armored, we force Protoss to build more Zealots, which slows down the Protoss mobility, and maybe makes them more vulnerable to dropplay and Banshees etc.

Will Terran be able to play a "Bio Dropstyle"?
Will Protoss have to rely too heavily on Sentinels?

TvT
Maybe will weaker Vultures, and stronger early Bio production and Bio units, make it more risky to tech straight to Tanks. (Opens up a vulnerable spot for Terran who plays "greedy") In the mid and late game, Bio will need to transistion into Tanks + other stuff.

Will this be enough to make Terran able to play "Bio Dropstyle"?
Will this be enough to make Bio pressure viable early?

PvP

We will probably still see Stalkers as the core unit. Maybe can Zealots need some kind of boost so we see more Zealots + Stalkers vs Zealot + Stalkers, followed up by Reavers, Sentinels, Archons, Scouts and maybe Carriers. (If we find a good balance so all alternative tech routes are possible to get)

Potential boost for Zealots: The Charge upgrade for Zealots gives permanent speed, as now, but ALSO a small activated ability. (Increases speed further for 2-3 seconds, with long cooldown) Would make them stronger at engaging Stalkers, Hydras and run into Spider mines to drag them into enemy tanks.