[D] Swarm host is bad - Page 11

On September 13 2012 17:41 targ wrote:
Ramiz I see your point, and I do agree that the roach is a decent tank. I did consider that earlier, however my feeling is still that a tanky locust opens up more avenues of play than a DPS one. The reason for this is that the Zerg mid-game ground army has 3 DPS units: ling, baneling and hydra, and only one tank which is the roach.

So if the locust is ranged DPS, this overlaps with the hydra's role in a way, making it less likely that the hydra will be used. As for synergy with roaches and lings, the tactic used will be simple - once the wave of locusts come out roaches and lings run in to soak damage while the locusts do their DPS.

However if they are tanky, this opens up a wider variety of tactics, hydras will have more synergy hiding behind them, roaches and lings can go for the flank better as the locusts absorb initial colossus or tank fire. Banelings can also follow behind the locust wave which soaks up the tank fire which usually withers the baneling charge.

My reasoning is that a tanky locust synergizes with all 3 DPS units, while a DPS one only synergizes with roaches, and to a lesser degree, lings.

On September 13 2012 18:27 Big J wrote:


I have to disagree with your reasoning:
Banelings that follow locusts doesn't sound like a too good idea, as the locusts will inevitably block the pathing of the faster units (if you have many locusts that is).
Lings are great tanks (vs singlefire units). They are one of the best HP/cost units in the game.
Hydras don't provide good dps. 14.5 singlefire vs everything is not good. It just doesn't suck.

Not sure if it really matters if the locusts balancing should focus more on damage or HP, as long as they have short range and sending them doesn't cost something extra, they will be used for tanking.