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http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/forum/topic/6934193363
We've been working hard to address concerns on the Oracle. We've tried many different things on it and aren't completely satisfied with where it's at. We may need to delay the Oracle patch until next week depending on how this goes.
Just to keep everyone updated and to get more feedback on our direction here's what we're thinking:
1. We agree with our community that Entomb is not a spectator friendly ability because it's so easy to execute and is targeted at only 1 location (minerals).
2. We'd like to replace Entomb with a different ability. Something that makes use of the fast movement speed of the Oracle and serves as a constant threat to the enemy base until the enemy destroys the Oracles. This way, there can be a greater difference between amazing use of the Oracle vs. an average use.
3. Void Siphon has clarity issues in terms of how much minerals have been earned through the use of this ability.
4. Revelation we feel is in a good place. It is a powerful late game tool for checking exactly where the opponent's army is. At the same time, we feel this is more of a utility spell.
We're playing around with various ideas at the moment, and don't have specifics but our goal seems to be:
Spell 1: Keep Revelation as is as the scouting option.
Spell 2: Strong, repeatable harassing tool that has different degrees of success and makes good use of the fragile but fast movement speed of the Oracle.
Spell 3: Position dependent spell, combo with harassment spell, and/or support spell of some sorts.
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So vague. Let's give them suggestions 
I propose a Lightning shield (from WC3) + Defensive matrix hybrid spell. A single Zealot infused with Lightning-shield-matrix in the mineral line would be so awesome Promotes small group tactics.
1. We agree with our community that Entomb is not a spectator friendly ability because it's so easy to execute and is targeted at only 1 location (minerals).
At least they're catching on.
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Holy shit, they're actually getting rid of it?
#faithrestored
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I am at once astounded and filled with joy. This is possibly one of the best and yet most unexpected changes that the game needed. Kudos Blizzard!
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On October 18 2012 10:36 Blacklizard wrote:
I am at once astounded and filled with joy. This is possibly one of the best and yet most unexpected changes that the game needed. Kudos Blizzard!
We don't even know what the replacement spells are yet so don't be toooooo optimistic lol.
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Oh the Oracle. I'm also glad this is changing. There is nothing like playing against another Protoss in unranked and thinking, "This isn't doing anything, is this?" about Entomb.
Probably a .001% chance Blizz would see this, but it's worth mentioning to see what you all think:
How about a spell that takes a second to cast that cloaks/mind controls an enemy unit. After 5 or 8 seconds, it uncloaks does AOE damage (45) centered around it and returns under the enemy's control. If the unit is killed before it decloaks, no explosion.
This improves upon Entomb...
-This would mean a more permanent threat to mineral lines.
-Similar to the detection needed for battling Widow Mines.
-Micro intensive (you can see the blur of a worker that's been phased and run the heck away!)
-A way to break siege lines with heavy units
Problems
-its yet another aoe for protoss.
-If you controlled an enemy caster, it wouldn't be able to use spells- that'd be way to good.
-very good anti-air (mutalisks)
Where do I go in the beta forums to post this, lol?
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Really happy about this update. Even though there are no actual changes announced yet, all their goals for the Oracle seem like exactly what I would aim for. Keep up the good work Blizz.
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it's quite simple really.
if you want to make a midgame harass unit what it needs to do is kill workers
all the midgame harass units that have ever existed, mutalisks, vultures, reavers, phoenixes, hellions, and medivac drops, all accomplish the same thing for the same reason - either high mobility and massive burst damage (reavers/hellions), or really really high mobility to the point where literally nothing they're facing can catch them if played perfectly (vults/mutas)
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So all it takes for Blizzard to understand that their design ideas are awful is for us to beat it into their heads for months and months. People have been voicing their distaste of entomb since it was announced like what, last year? I want to remain positive but at this rate they'll release HOTS with the same number of issues WOL STILL has. Terran is still missing one entirely new unit (while toss and Zerg get 2/3 completely new units) and there have been dozens of excellent ideas on how to redesign war hound or even add something new. They need to hurry it up and listen to the community NOW instead of making changes after MONTHS of feedback, or this will never work.
#SaveHOTS
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On October 18 2012 11:29 Scila wrote:
So all it takes for Blizzard to understand that their design ideas are awful is for us to beat it into their heads for months and months. People have been voicing their distaste of entomb since it was announced like what, last year? I want to remain positive but at this rate they'll release HOTS with the same number of issues WOL STILL has. Terran is still missing one entirely new unit (while toss and Zerg get 2/3 completely new units) and there have been dozens of excellent ideas on how to redesign war hound or even add something new. They need to hurry it up and listen to the community NOW instead of making changes after MONTHS of feedback, or this will never work.
#SaveHOTS
The irony is that they removed the Warhound because they we're listening to the community.
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It's not really a problem with them listening. They do listen. They just don't know how to make good things. It's like a dumb rat you have to zap 27 times before they stumble upon something good. I jest, because game design is difficult, especially for a game like Starcraft. Yet, sometimes I do wonder how where their collective intuition of unit design goes.
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Thank god they are getting rid of Entomb and even Void Syphon! And they know what we want in place of it too! All that's left is to be surprised by the unexpected choice they make for the new abilities.
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On October 18 2012 09:46 SarcasmMonster wrote:So vague. Let's give them suggestions I propose a Lightning shield (from WC3) + Defensive matrix hybrid spell. A single Zealot infused with Lightning-shield-matrix in the mineral line would be so awesome Promotes small group tactics. Show nested quote +1. We agree with our community that Entomb is not a spectator friendly ability because it's so easy to execute and is targeted at only 1 location (minerals). At least they're catching on.
I second the Lightning shield idea, you can also cast it on enemy workers in the mineral line.
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On October 18 2012 12:43 Fig wrote:
Thank god they are getting rid of Entomb and even Void Syphon! And they know what we want in place of it too! All that's left is to be surprised by the unexpected choice they make for the new abilities.
Haha, but at least they seem to have the right concepts in mind now, so I am content.
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I would like it if the oracle were to remove detection from buildings for a short period of time.
Also, something that would be crazy but might be interesting to try out would be a spell that you cast onto a unit such that all damage done to that unit becomes splash damage in a certain radius around the target.
With these two changes the oracle becomes the super utility unit that is pretty much useless by itself but when combined with other things becomes incredibly powerful. For instance an oracle + dt harass would mean the shutting down of turrets and spore colonies so your dts would be much better. Or oracle + pheonix harass could have the spell cast on overlords or mutas making the pheonix able to psi harass as well as take care of mutas. Bad idea, good idea?
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I thought they would keep entomb for sure......looks like I'm eating my words on that one
But hey at this rate here is some more predictions, thor strike cannon will remain unchanged and useless, the raven will remain terrans go to tier 3 unit, widow mine will be nerfed again, warpgate will still produce faster than gateways, void ray and collosus will remain unchanged, gateway units will still be weak, ultra burrow charge will remain un buffed, creep spread won't be nerfed, infestor will be unchanged and stay the answer to everything, mutas will become useless,the new nydus worms will never see the light of day
COME ON BLIZZARD MAKE ME EAT MY WORDS AGAIN! I DARE YOU!
He he he but for reals they are listening some what and major props to them, hope the trend continues!
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Ok... call me crazy here... but why not make the Oracle... A FLYING REAVER. Ok, don't get your panties in a bunch, here me out. First of all the Reaver was universally loved in SC1, and any type of predecessor, spiritual or otherwise, will be received positively from the community.
But let's examine why the Reaver was so FUN TO WATCH for casuals, as from the post Blizz is clearly paying attention to spectator friendliness:
1) Did BIG TIME damage, which created tension
2) Was flukey, thus created even MORE tension
3) The ability to micro reaver/shuttle was an artform, and thus enjoyable to watch for competitive players as well
Of course the reaver/shuttle dynamic is lost if it is just put onto one unit, and there is also the balance concern with adding a reaver-like attack unit into a protoss deathball. Both these issues can be solved, and the spiritual predecessor of the reaver can remain intact by making it so that the attack is more effective at closer ranges. This can be done in many ways, such as a slow movement rate of the projectile, a failure rate the farther it is launched (e.g. random pathing like the reaver scarabs), etc. so if it is noticed it can be dodged with proper micro which creates this tension. But in a normal battle the oracle could just get instantly sniped since it would have to get too close to the enemy to use the skill.
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Flying reaver shit sounds cool prob op but cool
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EPT
