So I did a search, and was surprised there's no thread about this feature yet. I wasn't even aware it was active on the HotS beta until today and so am unaware at how long it has been open to the public. Played a few rounds of it to give it a shot, and I have to say I'm pretty darn impressed.
In case you don't know what I'm talking about, when you click on the Matchmaker button on the HotS beta Main menu you will see a screen with 4 selections on the very top. Up until recently (again I don't know when) only the far right 2 were available in Beta, Unranked and Ranked play vs real opponents. The 2 on the left were greyed out and unclickable Training and Versus AI, though if you wanted to play VS the AI you could still do so via the Custom Games menu.
While I have not tried the Versus AI (it's supposed to use the Matchmaking system to pair you with suitably difficult AI) I have to admit I'm pretty impressed by the Training mode. This is Blizzard's way of introducing new players to the game's melee map style. It has 3 different levels, though it's really just three tiers of limitations and while they each run at different game speeds you can speed them up through the game menu once your loaded up. Stage 1 just had basic (T1) tech and focuses on building workers, supply, and an army this stage runs on Normal speed at default. Stage 2 introduces more advanced tech, macro mechanics, and research while running at fast speed. The final Stage 3 gives you access to all tech and adds scouting and Xel-naga towers and runs at the Fastest speed.
The Training mode loads you onto a HotS ladder map and starts play exactly like in a multiplayer game, with the left side of your screen dedicated you an objectives overlay. These objectives start simple (build workers) and slowly guide you through building your tech and production and eventually to build an army to kill the opponent AI (seems to always be Easy). Whats nice is that it not only gives new players a guide on what to do with their chosen race, but it gives a heads up displays when the player needs to do something. So this works like a multi-tasking trainer as the game constantly gives you things to do, telling you to build supply, when production buildings are idle, and when Macro energy is high.
While it may not be perfect for everyone (for example the Macro energy warning only came at Max energy) this seems like a fantastic addition by Blizzard to make the game easier to jump into. Not only that but the constant reminders on things to do will keep you busy and challenge your macro and multi-tasking till about a Plat-Diam level I'd say.
Has anyone else tried this Mode? What do other people think about it?
I definitely like the new training mode, but I think it could use some refining. Some things I remember asking myself when I first started playing even in BW was, "Why do I not take gas before anything else?", "Will I ever need more than one production facility, (i.e. more than one factory/barracks/starport in match)?", "Why the emphasis on building workers?", and "What sort of basic strategies can I do?" I wish the training mode addressed some of these questions that I know totally new players have (some of them are almost painfully obvious after a few matches, but regardless important to know).
Don't get me wrong, it's a nice feature that scales up in complexity that is good for new players, while still giving them plenty of space to learn. I would just like to have a few additions to it to make it feel more polished. Things like having a voice-over option to explain why these steps are important, why scouting is useful and what you need to be looking for, that sort of thing. Perhaps an advanced course option for players to select, "Okay, I want to know a basic build order for a Hatchery-first economic build as Zerg" or "I want to try a marine, marauder, medivac timing". Optional of course, the current training gives the bare bones that I think it needs to, but more options can't hurt when trying to build confidence as a new player.
All in all, a nice addition, if a bit simplistic. Blizz doesn't have all the time and money in the world to set up a pro-class training map, after all, so this one will serve its purpose well enough.
Right now, it feels really lackluster. It's just a comp stomp with objectives tacked in.
Yeah, you can click the buttons that pop up and they show you some extra "stuff", but it's not very helpful.
Slowing the game down as much as they do is unnecessary, since the AI builds 6 units over the course of 6 minutes, so players have plenty of time to check things out. They shouldn't ramp up the difficulty that slowly, its just arrrrgh and boring; you're trying to cut teeth, not bomb wiring.
I think it would be better if the first two "stages" were kind of like the challenge mode doohickeys from WoL; those were well made, especially the build-order and hotkeys-only challenges.
Stage 1 could walk you through resources and production. Perhaps they could give you a Day[9] explanation for why you shouldn't queue:
You could show a terran player with 2 barracks queueing up 10 marauders, who then gets rolled by a roach attack a few moments later. Then, replay that same scenario with 4 barracks building marauders while not queuing. You could also show the opposite problem; making too many production buildings too soon, and not being able to make use of the money you spent.
The player could then be challenged to hold off timed-waves of enemy units, using only his own units, no static defenses allowed.
There's a lot of potential, but I'm not sure how far Blizz really wants to go with this thing; they know the greater community has a bunch of stuff available for people who really want to improve / train.
The match making against the AI is kinda useless, the AI seems to be playing really poor right now. I think maybe it is because not all the AI are available yet and the so called "elite" now is actually medium?
The training mode is literally for people who just started playing the game or are in bronze so they can get a feel of what direction to go towards...For a new player that has no RTS background, this helps them understand that economy and spending money is the most important as well as there are different options you may go for and as for people who think the AI sucks blah blah blah...yeah only Cheater mode (insane) is similar to that of the AI in WoL...but there are just more options for lower level players...as for master level+ players all the AIs prolly still suck for you so don't even bother with that lol
EPT
