EPTI included a link to any sources I can find. Tell me if I missed something.
Thor
I agree. That [250mm strike] cannon is not awesome. We will put some effort towards new ideas for that ability.
-Dustin Browder
Second example is Thor's 250mm Cannons, very few players use it. So HOTS is a good chance for us, and we may redesign it to make more players use 250mm cannon.
-Dustin Browder
+ Show Spoiler [poll] +
Ravens
We are almost done designing the new units. Now we are considering to completely re-design several units such as Void-ray and Raven.
-David Kim
We'll take a look at the Raven. I agree, it would be cool to see more of them and there might be some balance or design changes we could do to improve the unit.
Thanks for the discussion! =)
Thanks for the discussion! =)
-Dustin Browder
I can't promise what is going to be changed. In next few weeks we will go through the units in WOL and decide either just adjust them or redesign them. For example, raven's seeker missile.
-Dustin Browder
+ Show Spoiler [poll] +
Medivacs
Another way we are currently thinking is to change the medviac so that it can heal both bio AND mechanic through different healing mechanism. Also we are thinking of preventing hellbats to change back to hellions. The change in armor types during transformation is an issue that needs more research.
-David Kim
+ Show Spoiler [poll] +
Reaper
We are seeing great improvement in the beta. Reapers will be much more viable in TvT or TvZ early game. If we believe the units are still being underused, we are willing to make it stronger. We are trying to make them more viable units for harassment.
-David Kim
+ Show Spoiler [poll] +
Carrier
There is no doubt that Carriers need to be buffed. We are still afraid that carriers being used as "a-move" units in pro level play. Therefore we are only considering to add minor buffs to it. We are thinking of making interceptors immune to Infestor's fungal growth.
However, we are focusing on the general metagame trend of the game so I believe it is too early for us decide how they will be changed. We saw a video posted by a foreign progamer comparing the Carriers from BW and WoL. We believe that we could use some of the suggestions provided in this video.
However, we are focusing on the general metagame trend of the game so I believe it is too early for us decide how they will be changed. We saw a video posted by a foreign progamer comparing the Carriers from BW and WoL. We believe that we could use some of the suggestions provided in this video.
-David Kim
Currently not as worried about Carrier as much as the new HotS units, but extra special thanks to Nony's video, we're thinking on 2 possibilities in the future:
leashing thing
Interceptor launching thing
But let's try to focus on HotS if we can. -Dayvie, from the pro forum (I think we're aloud to post this stuff?)
leashing thing
Interceptor launching thing
But let's try to focus on HotS if we can. -Dayvie, from the pro forum (I think we're aloud to post this stuff?)
-David Kim (according to goswser)
+ Show Spoiler [poll] +
Void rays
We are almost done designing the new units. Now we are considering to completely re-design several units such as Void-ray and Raven.
-David Kim
We will be looking some at the Void Ray soonish. I don't know what if anything we will decide to do with him but your feedback on this unit has certainly been heard.
-Dustin Browder
For void ray, do you mean it's too weak? However many people complains it's too strong before last patch. I want to do something crazy to void ray, but we know nothing about how to do it now. We may try something before Christmas.
-Dustin Browder
+ Show Spoiler [poll] +
Phoenix
We ran out of time, but after the interview, he told us there were changes planned for Void Ray, Phoenix, and Mutalisk. It’s unclear if these will be for WoL or HotS, but most likely will be HotS only.
-TL
+ Show Spoiler [poll] +
Mothership
Our goal with this unit is described well by Phantom. The main purpose for this unit is definitely to deal with mass colossi in PvP as well as to force an engagement vs. Zerg who is sitting back being on the defensive with mass Infestors/Broodlords. We eventually want to phase out Vortex a bit once we are sure Tempests are working well.
-David Kim
+ Show Spoiler [poll] +
Infestors
I want to be as clear as I can on our current position of the Infestor in Wings of Liberty.
- We are not going to make any changes before BWC.
- We are going to continue to watch games and gather data.
- We will discuss changes.
- We may try a balance map sometime after BWC.
- We may try some changes in Swarm Beta, using that as a test-bed for stuff we could bring back into Wings of Liberty.
At this time I could see these as possible outcomes:
- We nerf Infested Terrans, Fungal Growth or both.
- We make a change to the Infestor (hit points, movement speed, etc.).
- We do a change to how the unit is designed (add a projectile back to Fungal Growth, increase the visibility of burrowed units while they are moving, etc.).
- We buff some of the potential counters (EMP, Feedback).
- We do a combination of any of the above.
- We see something that makes us decide that doing nothing is the right answer. Obviously if this occurs we would share this data or reasoning.
For those of you who believe that this is too slow a response, I am sorry.
- We are not going to make any changes before BWC.
- We are going to continue to watch games and gather data.
- We will discuss changes.
- We may try a balance map sometime after BWC.
- We may try some changes in Swarm Beta, using that as a test-bed for stuff we could bring back into Wings of Liberty.
At this time I could see these as possible outcomes:
- We nerf Infested Terrans, Fungal Growth or both.
- We make a change to the Infestor (hit points, movement speed, etc.).
- We do a change to how the unit is designed (add a projectile back to Fungal Growth, increase the visibility of burrowed units while they are moving, etc.).
- We buff some of the potential counters (EMP, Feedback).
- We do a combination of any of the above.
- We see something that makes us decide that doing nothing is the right answer. Obviously if this occurs we would share this data or reasoning.
For those of you who believe that this is too slow a response, I am sorry.
-Dustin Browder
Currently the most widely discussed unit is BL - Infestor combination.If the dominance is present in both ZvP and ZvT, we are willing to reduce the range the fungal growth or reduce the radius. If this is only applicable to ZvP, we are willing to buff carriers by making interceptors immune to fungal growth. However, we still think that BL-Infestor composition isn't a big deal.
-David Kim
Note: Browder's quote is more recent than Kim's quote.
We are going to make a balance test map on WOL realms. On this map, Psionic units will be immune to [Fungal Growth]. On HOTS BETA, we are going to add a projectile back to Fungal Growth, just like we did in patch 1.3 PTR.
[What about infested terrans?]
That's really troublesome, and really hard to balance. We'll have to think about it somemore.
[What about infested terrans?]
That's really troublesome, and really hard to balance. We'll have to think about it somemore.
-Dustin Browder
+ Show Spoiler [poll] +
Hydralisk
For Zerg though, we're currently thinking it would be cool if core tier 2 tech options are Hydralisks (with speed upgrade at lair), Mutalisks (with buffs possible speed and/or acceleration). Core tier 3 options will still be same Broods/Ultras. And we can phase out Infestors a bit by nerfing them.
-David Kim
+ Show Spoiler [poll] +
Mutalisk
For Zerg though, we're currently thinking it would be cool if core tier 2 tech options are Hydralisks (with speed upgrade at lair), Mutalisks (with buffs possible speed and/or acceleration). Core tier 3 options will still be same Broods/Ultras. And we can phase out Infestors a bit by nerfing them.
-David Kim
+ Show Spoiler [poll] +
Corruptors and Overseers???
There are some easy things we can do and there are some hard things. If we study the game, for example, you would say that the corruptor is lame. Don't get us wrong; they're useful. If there are a lot of colossi, you need corruptors. If there are dark templars, you need overseers. They have a battle function for a situation, but what new battle strategies and tactics do they add in the game? Compare the [corruptors and overseers] to the mutalisks; a player can raid, harass. They can get board control; they can decimate opponents without antiair. Party, right? Having those guys around changes the match. Corruptors? Meh. You build colossi, I build corruptors; end of story.
There are some units we can upgrade wholesale or remove and replace with something better. That's one easy way to give better gameplay without giving so many options you don't know what's going on while also not compromising balance.
There are some units we can upgrade wholesale or remove and replace with something better. That's one easy way to give better gameplay without giving so many options you don't know what's going on while also not compromising balance.
-Dustin Browder
We have decided to keep the overseer and make the viper a pure caster. We will be taking a look at the overseer to see what we can do to make his abilities more interesting.
-Dustin Browder
+ Show Spoiler [poll] +
Poll: Should Blizzard change the Corruptor?
Yes, I agree with Browder that its current form is lame (589)
86%
No, I want it to stay as is (92)
14%
681 total votes
No, I want it to stay as is (92)
681 total votes
Your vote: Should Blizzard change the Corruptor?
(Vote): Yes, I agree with Browder that its current form is lame
(Vote): No, I want it to stay as is
Poll: Should Blizzard change the Overseer?
Yes, "make his abilities more interesting" (377)
61%
No, I want it to stay as is (243)
39%
620 total votes
No, I want it to stay as is (243)
620 total votes
Your vote: Should Blizzard change the Overseer?
(Vote): Yes, "make his abilities more interesting"
(Vote): No, I want it to stay as is
I'll update this post when new information becomes available.
+ Show Spoiler [Bonus poll courtesy of LockeTazeline] +
Poll: What other unit should Blizzard change?
Colossus (159)
53%
Battlecruiser (40)
13%
Sentry (17)
6%
Siege Tank (16)
5%
Ghost (15)
5%
Immortal (13)
4%
Hydralisk (11)
4%
Brood Lord (8)
3%
Roach (6)
2%
Viking (5)
2%
Other (5)
2%
Marauder (3)
1%
298 total votes
Battlecruiser (40)
Sentry (17)
Siege Tank (16)
Ghost (15)
Immortal (13)
Hydralisk (11)
Brood Lord (8)
Roach (6)
Viking (5)
Other (5)
Marauder (3)
298 total votes
Your vote: What other unit should Blizzard change?
(Vote): Marauder
(Vote): Ghost
(Vote): Siege Tank
(Vote): Viking
(Vote): Battlecruiser
(Vote): Sentry
(Vote): Immortal
(Vote): Colossus
(Vote): Roach
(Vote): Hydralisk
(Vote): Brood Lord
(Vote): Other
