Q: What should I be posting about? A: Basically, anything you want to talk about but aren't sure if it warrants a topic of its own. Heard a rumour you want to share? A new video? A brilliant new idea that you want to vet, to make sure it's really as brilliant as you think it is?
This is the place.
Note: Posting standards will not be as high as if you were to make a new thread, but pointless spam will still not be tolerated. I have seen threads like these work out alright on other sites (for other games) so I figured, why not give it a shot? It's possible there's not really enough content for something like this to exist at this point in time, but no harm then, it will just die on its own.
What exactly does the merger mean? Are they just merging the accounts, or are they actually moving all the wow players over to the bnet2.0 servers. Does this mean the cross-game features are complete? will they be running bnet2.0 code? If so, then that is a big deal. If not, then it means nothing.
My ideas seem to be disliked somewhat but here is something to get the ball rolling: Blizzard should try out every combination of properties they can imagine for map objects and make these available in the editor. We've seen some really promising things in the footage of the editor with entities glued together to create the big monster.
There are some logical map elements that as far as I know are missing in SC such as a terrain effect that blocks only fliers and not ground units in invulnerable and destroyable varieties. This might be applicable to designs like Battle Royale, which if I'm thinking of the right one was made not worth playing due to the low air distance. Proper objects for some of the tricks people have devised like Battle Royale's destroyable assimilators, map routes that are permanently destroyable or temporarily.
Other left-field ideas like minerals that grow and spread like the Tiberium in C&C (farming micro \o/) would be fun but only as experimental things for the editor, not for mainstream play.
On November 03 2009 11:34 ix wrote: My ideas seem to be disliked somewhat but here is something to get the ball rolling: Blizzard should try out every combination of properties they can imagine for map objects and make these available in the editor. We've seen some really promising things in the footage of the editor with entities glued together to create the big monster.
There are some logical map elements that as far as I know are missing in SC such as a terrain effect that blocks only fliers and not ground units in invulnerable and destroyable varieties. This might be applicable to designs like Battle Royale, which if I'm thinking of the right one was made not worth playing due to the low air distance. Proper objects for some of the tricks people have devised like Battle Royale's destroyable assimilators, map routes that are permanently destroyable or temporarily.
Other left-field ideas like minerals that grow and spread like the Tiberium in C&C (farming micro \o/) would be fun but only as experimental things for the editor, not for mainstream play.
I used to think the same way, and was quite annoyed that they hadn't put in a million different "watch tower"-esque doodads. However, I've since come to believe that there will not be a distinction between melee maps and ums maps in SC2, so you'll be able to do pretty much anything you want with the editor.
Want a bunch of teleports in a melee map? Np.
Some thunderstorms blocking air units? Sure.
Basically, I think it's good if they put some more basic options into the editor, but I think we'll be able to make our own even if they don't.
On November 03 2009 11:34 Mastermind wrote: What exactly does the merger mean? Are they just merging the accounts, or are they actually moving all the wow players over to the bnet2.0 servers. Does this mean the cross-game features are complete? will they be running bnet2.0 code? If so, then that is a big deal. If not, then it means nothing.
I'm not exactly sure. I do know they've had to delay some ESL WoW tournament because of problems caused by the merge.
On November 03 2009 11:28 puttputt wrote: Beta coming shortly after Battle.net 2.0 WoW merger (November 11)? Discuss..
I dont think it will be shortly. According to my wow player friends, the main reason for the merger is hackers have been stealing wow accounts and merging them to new battle.net accounts which makes them difficult to recover. Also, i dont think that Activision-Blizzard would launch a the beta close to the nov 10 release of MW2.
However, I've since come to believe that there will not be a distinction between melee maps and ums maps in SC2, so you'll be able to do pretty much anything you want with the editor.
I disagree with this. Melee maps should remain "pure". IIRC, in Warcraft III, if you change anything beyond the basics, it becomes a melee map. Not that there's any problem with playing a competitive UMS multiplayer map.
Hm but there's not really any reason why triggers shouldn't work in a melee map is there?
As an example, many modern BW maps are made in non-Blizzard map editors, and by essentially breaking the game (or at least what Blizzard had made possible with the official editor) map makers have been able to include things like neutral dark swarms, dwebs, neutral creep, neutral buildings and so on.
I don't see this as different from being able to apply attributes to objects.
Is there any news about what the general state of the game is? I know they're not gonna set a date for release/beta but it would be nice to know what's done and what isn't. Is the game pretty much ready for beta and they're just waiting for battlenet 2?
ooo this thread sounds like a very nice idea, especially for those people who haven't been following to closely(I.E me) and don't know what is/isn't confirmed, etc.
I believe that the beta testing will start in January of 2010.
I'm not just drawing this date out of the air. i know that it's very disappointing that beta wont be out this year but if my source is right I do believe it won't be out until 2010
Your source? Hmm sounds like we may have another beta or ban me opportunity here
But as for what I'm looking forward is I thought I saw somewhere that when the beta comes out blizzard is allowing people to take video/make demos of themselves playing and post them online with no consequences. That is when I think it will get really interesting.
Speculation about beta in November/December, that guy that apparently talked to dustin at blizzcon said somewhere around there and I just checked the sc2 site and the Beta Test Opt-In FAQ has been updated and been pushed to most recent news on the sc2 homepage. http://eu.starcraft2.com/
On November 03 2009 11:54 SpiritWolf wrote: Also, i dont think that Activision-Blizzard would launch a the beta close to the nov 10 release of MW2.
Nope, I'm afraid you're right. I wouldn't expect to see the Starcraft 2 beta cannibalizing Activision's holiday season sales. But I don't think Activision has anything coming in Q1 2010 except Singularity, so there's a natural release gap there for the beta.
edit: More explicitly, I expect a beta announcement to be timed at the start of January to buoy the stock right when Activision's Q4 earning's report is scheduled to come out.
On November 03 2009 11:34 ix wrote: There are some logical map elements that as far as I know are missing in SC such as a terrain effect that blocks only fliers and not ground units in invulnerable and destroyable varieties. This might be applicable to designs like Battle Royale, which if I'm thinking of the right one was made not worth playing due to the low air distance. Proper objects for some of the tricks people have devised like Battle Royale's destroyable assimilators, map routes that are permanently destroyable or temporarily.
I had a concept for a map with short air distance. Basically, you're fighting on an abandoned world that still has parts with defensive capabilities, f.e. turrets guarding the airspace between the spawn points. In this case you wouldn't be able to send your Overlord to the other person's base in a straight line, same with your dropship, but you would be able to destroy the defensive structures opening a quicker route(sort of like destructible rocks for air).
Not allowed spamming but you are allowed to bitch you do not like?
Oh man, heaven just opened up to me, I hate the fact we have destructible shit in sc2. I hate the xel'naga watchtowers and I hate the yellow minerals.... I love the idea there are going to be new units but man, not this type of thing, I am too much a sc purist I am afraid....
My main argument.... they are way tooooo much cnc like and it reeks like any other sucky game who had them... Can't stand it, please help me understand why it is soo cool and unique to have them and not repetitive at all.
As FA said, what's wrong with these? The effect has been positive on professionally designed competitive maps although I think stacked 0 mineral patches have turned out to be the best way of doing that role, otherwise it's only really broken by lings or splash damage in a reasonable amount of time. The other two things I'll happily wager will fall out of favour very quickly. The Xel Naga watchtowers especially make gameplay worse.
Do you think there will be 3rd party mods to the game that'll be played competitively on a large scale? And I dont mean stuff like dota, but just RTS with different balance. Or will the Blizzard-made balance be the only thing played in tournaments?
On November 04 2009 03:02 Clownbaby wrote: Do we know what the voice saying "Mine more minerals" and all that stuff will be for the Zerg? Will it be Kerrigan now that the Overmind is dead?
Kerrigan still commands a few Cerebrates as far as I know.
Kerrigan still commands a few Cerebrates as far as I know.
Naw...at one of the Blizzcon lore panels, they confirmed that all the Cerebrates are dead, both because Kerrigan didn't like them, and because they couldn't survive without the Overmind. Speculation is that the Queens may play the same role in the Zerg hierarchy, though we've got no confirmation on this. As for ingame voices...well, presumably the people who've played at Blizzcon would know. Anyone?
Oh, and Blizzard has stated multiple times that Beta's going to be this year. Now, it's possible they'd delay it for gameplay or technical reasons...but definitely not for the good of Activision's sale numbers or publicity. Blizzard does their own thing with their own games.
Right now, though, I'd expect beta out in mid-December at the latest. But who knows?
are banelings still triggered by marines, etc. if they're burrowed?
i haven't heard anything on this for a while
Well, Banelings have never, ever been auto-triggering like mines. They've been able to be detonated while burrowed for a while now, but it's always required a manual command from the player to do so.
Does TL have any plans yet for if/how these forums will change when the beta is released? I'm curious if there will be as much support for strategy discussion and finding practice channels/clans as TL currently has for BW.
Edit: On another topic, ghost EMP now decloaks units temporarily (according to korean blue post)
On November 03 2009 22:43 FrozenArbiter wrote: We already have neutral buildings (destructible rocks = neutral buildings) in SC1, so what's wrong with that?
I agree with this. The only thing that bothers me is that they have not used those destructible rocks to block (semi-)island expansions (at least not yet). This is annoying, since maps such as Kulas Ravine, Scrapyard and Lost Temple will end up favouring Terrans if this is not changed.
EDIT: I do not know if I am the only one, but I would like the stock maps to be more balanced and useful in the long-term then they were in the original. Although the current SC2 maps are leaps and bounds ahead of the stock maps in the original, implimenting some of the imbalances of the original stock maps is not a good idea.
On November 04 2009 04:37 Tsagacity wrote: Does TL have any plans yet for if/how these forums will change when the beta is released? I'm curious if there will be as much support for strategy discussion and finding practice channels/clans as TL currently has for BW.
Edit: On another topic, ghost EMP now decloaks units temporarily (according to korean blue post)
Kerrigan still commands a few Cerebrates as far as I know.
Naw...at one of the Blizzcon lore panels, they confirmed that all the Cerebrates are dead
huh? are you sure? don't you "play" as a cerebrate? kerrigan specifically stated that she saved you from the drugged overmind because you were the one that cared for her in the original. i don't c why that cerebrate would randomly be discarded after bw...
What do you guys thinkg about Korean pro`s when the game releases. I keep thinking how hard it will be for them. They have to keep up on practice for at least 10hours a day + games they play. But all of them would love to play the newly released Starcraft2.
Imagine how their heads will be wanting to play a game but being pressured to play another. And STILL having to wait what will be decided about the future of starcraft or starcraft2.
Kerrigan still commands a few Cerebrates as far as I know.
Naw...at one of the Blizzcon lore panels, they confirmed that all the Cerebrates are dead, both because Kerrigan didn't like them, and because they couldn't survive without the Overmind. Speculation is that the Queens may play the same role in the Zerg hierarchy, though we've got no confirmation on this. As for ingame voices...well, presumably the people who've played at Blizzcon would know. Anyone?
The in-game zerg voice was male and sounded like what you'd expect from a race of insect-like aliens. It was horrible though so I imagine they'll have it changed before release.
Am I the only person who feels the new Macro mechanics feel really tacked on and uninteresting? I'm fine with all the other new additions, but these new mechanics feel like they cheapen the game.
Favorite unit is still the zergling, epecially with the new pathing, infinite selection and nydus worm doom-drops. My only concern is they may be useless late game due to no dark swarm...
The units I'm most concerned about are the roach the infestor and the thor. Blizzard seems to be wanting "tanking" units, while any decent micro means those tanking units don't take the hits.
I'm not sure if this has been discussed before... but will teamliquid plan on expanding their sc2 content to seperate the tourneys/vods/strategy/liquipedia etc... I mean... I know it depends on what the game turns out like and what people here are like... but to do it right... it's basically an entire doubling of the sites content. I wonder if we even have enough dedicated manpower to run that sort of thing.
Well, we will continue to offer coverage for the SC progaming scene for as long as it lives.
As far as how we'll deal with the SC strategy forum vs SC2 strategy forum, there'll probably be a tab to switch between SC and SC2 on the left, or something like that. We'll see, the actual game still wont be out for almost another year most likely, after all.
On November 03 2009 11:28 puttputt wrote: Beta coming shortly after Battle.net 2.0 WoW merger (November 11)? Discuss..
I'm guessing it would be after Christmas. When you think about it, this is the time that most Blizzard employees will be taking their holidays. They will have a nice break and come back refreshed and ready for the Beta.
On November 05 2009 11:07 FrozenArbiter wrote: Well, we will continue to offer coverage for the SC progaming scene for as long as it lives.
As far as how we'll deal with the SC strategy forum vs SC2 strategy forum, there'll probably be a tab to switch between SC and SC2 on the left, or something like that. We'll see, the actual game still wont be out for almost another year most likely, after all.
I really don't want to wait another year for SC2. I think the latest it'll come out is Q2 2010. Beta seems unlikely till early next year though. Blizzard time is almost as bad as Valve time.
Why does everyone think the beta is so far away? They spontaneously notified all the twitter contest winners after a three month wait and restarted the comic contest. They are merging WoW into bnet 2.0 in just a few days. We even have a quote from browder saying something along the lines of "it might not be until nov/dec". They've had about 4? months since they said there would be a delay. That is a lot of development time, enough to do quite a bit, actually. They will have another four+ months to work on battle.net during the beta, so they don't even have to completely finish it.
If it happened later today it would not surprise me, but within two weeks is not that bad of a guess in my mind.
On November 06 2009 05:11 onmach wrote: Why does everyone think the beta is so far away? They spontaneously notified all the twitter contest winners after a three month wait and restarted the comic contest. They are merging WoW into bnet 2.0 in just a few days. We even have a quote from browder saying something along the lines of "it might not be until nov/dec". They've had about 4? months since they said there would be a delay. That is a lot of development time, enough to do quite a bit, actually. They will have another four+ months to work on battle.net during the beta, so they don't even have to completely finish it.
If it happened later today it would not surprise me, but within two weeks is not that bad of a guess in my mind.
We have expected beta for a very long time (infact, we have been expecting for about a year now), but it has yet to manifest. I guess that after waiting for so long, people perfer to remain skeptical then get optimistic and possibily dissapointed again.
On November 06 2009 05:11 onmach wrote: Why does everyone think the beta is so far away? They spontaneously notified all the twitter contest winners after a three month wait and restarted the comic contest. They are merging WoW into bnet 2.0 in just a few days. We even have a quote from browder saying something along the lines of "it might not be until nov/dec". They've had about 4? months since they said there would be a delay. That is a lot of development time, enough to do quite a bit, actually. They will have another four+ months to work on battle.net during the beta, so they don't even have to completely finish it.
If it happened later today it would not surprise me, but within two weeks is not that bad of a guess in my mind.
I don't think it's far away Hard to get my hopes up though for the reasons Tom mentioned. I'm all hoped out >.<
It seems to me that if the beta is not released this month/the start of December, we won't see it until next year.
It doesn't make much sense to open the beta across winter break - I would assume at least some staff will be on vacation, and there will be much maintenance (both of the beta system and of game balance/content) to be done.
Hmm, do you folks think ghost drops would be a valid strategy? Using emp to shut macro mechanics and snipe some workers and such. Or is 200Gas too much for an attack that don't kill all that much.
Yeah they are insanely expensive at the moment >.< I think you'd be better off trying to nuke those mechanics and forcing the workers to run away for a while.
Q: When will StarCraft 2? A: Tomorrow (laughter). Usually Blizzard we're not talking about dates. While we plan for next year to do a beta test. As soon as we feel that the game is released we will release it soon.
Q: When will StarCraft 2? A: Tomorrow (laughter). Usually Blizzard we're not talking about dates. While we plan for next year to do a beta test. As soon as we feel that the game is released we will release it soon.
Google translate isn't exactly reliable. That could easily refer to the fact that most of the beta is next year, not that it starts next year.
Also, that's in Russia. Beta will start sooner for the U.S. and a few other areas.
Idea: Once a pylon is built by a probe, the protoss player can build any building within the pylons range without having to use another probe. The building simply warps itself into the battlefield.
On November 03 2009 11:28 puttputt wrote: Beta coming shortly after Battle.net 2.0 WoW merger (November 11)? Discuss..
Yeah totally. There better be a lot of people making vods cause god knows even if I was in the beta I wouldn't have any time for it until December. I wonder how long they'll run the beta for? I reckon much longer than the past games, I'm betting on at least 8 months, possibly over a year.
On November 03 2009 11:28 puttputt wrote: Beta coming shortly after Battle.net 2.0 WoW merger (November 11)? Discuss..
Yeah totally. There better be a lot of people making vods cause god knows even if I was in the beta I wouldn't have any time for it until December. I wonder how long they'll run the beta for? I reckon much longer than the past games, I'm betting on at least 8 months, possibly over a year.
On November 07 2009 16:22 DanceDance wrote: Idea: Once a pylon is built by a probe, the protoss player can build any building within the pylons range without having to use another probe. The building simply warps itself into the battlefield.
That would bring far, let me emphasise FAR, too many balance issues with it. Invincible proxies where the worker can't be killed and easy cannon rushes, there's just so much that would be wrong with that being implemented, unless this is trolling.
AFAIK the first game (Wings of Liberty) won't support DirectX11 initially. The other two Xpack might, and if they will I think Blizzard will patch-in DX11 support for WoL also (if it's even doable).
I have little knowledge on the subject, so if I'm talking out of my ass, please someone correct me.
I think it will be early 2010 atleast, there was just a launcher patch for World of Warcraft, a socalled "tools" update.
Some users have gotten Starcraft 2 related error messages, and i decided to take a look myself, and i found a lot of Starcraft 2 related strings(With translations, which i won't post):
Strings: SC2Title - Starcraft II OptionsTitleSC2 - When patch data for StarCraft II is available: DownloadWhileRunningDetailSC2 - Starts the Blizzard Downloader in background mode when you launch StarCraft II. The Downloader will continue running until you exit the game or until download is complete. DownloadWhilePlayingSC2 - Download while playing StarCraft II ownloadUntilCompletionDetailSC2 - Starts the Blizzard Downloader in background mode when you launch StarCraft II. Download will continue until complete, even if you exit the game. AfterRunningDetailSC2 - Starts the Blizzard Downloader in background mode when you exit World of Warcraft. The Downloader will continue running until you launch the game again or until download is complete. DownloadAfterExitingSC2 - Download after exiting StarCraft II ChooseRetailFolderSC2 - Select the place to create the StarCraft II folder. AutoPatchFailureSC2 - Cannot apply new patch to StarCraft II. Product - SC2B
Support for Expansions/Mods, new archive format, or atleast new extension: Mods/Core.SC2Mod/Base.SC2Data Mods/Liberty.SC2Mod/Base.SC2Data Mods/Swarm.SC2Mod/Base.SC2Data Mods/Void.SC2Mod/Base.SC2Data
So it looks like they'll be using the WoW Launcher, probably making it a generic "Battle.net launcher" of sorts, and for some reason they decided to push it as a patch now, unless people just never expected to find it in there
I have not been at all convinced by the supposed "2010 Beta" rumors, and this would tend to lend credence to the idea that we're going to see Beta significantly before then. Now, this in and of itself doesn't give us any definite an idea of the time until Beta...but it's definitely a good sign.
All those things we ask for where they answer "That's on our list of things to do, if we have time." They're doing those things. Things like online replays perhaps (cross fingers).
On November 16 2009 13:10 SWPIGWANG wrote: Hmmm, infestor will be critical in anti-air in the post scourge age by doing the same thing as DA against zerg.
Do we know what happens if a dropship/overlord/phase prism are mind controlled? Are the units inside stuck? Do they become controlled by the zerg who casted the spell? I can only imagine how lame it would be to have your dropship mind controlled by a burrowed infestor and then flown into enemy territory and shot down with a full load of troops inside. Atleast you can see the scourge coming and try to dodge them or pull back.
hey guyz, i made a little drawing whyle i was bored hope you like ithttp://www.mypicx.com/11222009/marine_vs_immortal/ i hope i don't offend any administrator ,i'm sorry if is not the right thread to post
On November 16 2009 13:10 SWPIGWANG wrote: Hmmm, infestor will be critical in anti-air in the post scourge age by doing the same thing as DA against zerg.
Do we know what happens if a dropship/overlord/phase prism are mind controlled? Are the units inside stuck? Do they become controlled by the zerg who casted the spell? I can only imagine how lame it would be to have your dropship mind controlled by a burrowed infestor and then flown into enemy territory and shot down with a full load of troops inside. Atleast you can see the scourge coming and try to dodge them or pull back.
I doubt they would change it from how it worked is SC1. That mechanic was fine.
On November 23 2009 04:59 grunter wrote: hey guyz, i made a little drawing whyle i was bored hope you like ithttp://www.mypicx.com/11222009/marine_vs_immortal/ i hope i don't offend any administrator ,i'm sorry if is not the right thread to post
It's fine for this thread, don't worry Nice immortal!
About visual changes after upgrades, also BC "specializations" and E Bay upgrade for Bunkers:
http://forums.battle.net/thread.html?topicId=21333737768 "Yes, I can confirm that some units get visual upgrades when you boost them through research. Zerglings, Marines and Banelings are just some examples though, as there are other units that are getting a visual upgrade.
For example, Battlecruisers have the ability to choose between three specializations: - Defensive Matrix (a shield that absorbs damage) - Missile Pods (Air to Air AoE damage) - Yamato Cannon (honestly, do I need to introduce this one? ) Each one of these specializations changes the graphic of the battlecruisers, thus making it easily recognizable. Just to clarify things up: you can only have one specialization per Battlecruiser, and once you choose you cannot switch to another one.
But not only units are affected by this visual upgrades, even buildings are being visually upgraded. Let's talk about Bunkers: when the NeoSteel Frame upgrade is completed (+2 cargo space) the bunker actually gets bigger and taller."
"In the last four Battle Reports, you've seen the following matchups: Protoss vs Terran, Zerg vs Terran, Protoss vs Zerg and Terran vs Protoss. Which race matchup would you most want to see in future Battle Reports?"
EPT
bling bling
Nice immortal!
