I as well think the replicant will be good at shutting down all-ins. I saw in a video that all you need is sight of the unit you want to copy, which means that a Xel Naga Tower vision is super good if you got replicants. Any ghost push would be slowed, and a 1/1/1 will be easier to hold if you aren't prepared for it, since if you get a raven u can nullify banshee shots, or get like 2 tanks to hold on your ledge.

infinity2k9

United Kingdom2397 Posts

October 25 2011 00:17 GMT

#502

I didn't notice the unlimited range thing before.. how stupid is that? Not in a balance way i just mean it's nonsensical that an ability can just magically turn a unit into something across the other side of the map.

RavenLoud

Canada1100 Posts

October 25 2011 00:21 GMT

#503

Yeah it shouldn't be unlimited.

I think it could be better if it is a timed transformation with a cooldown that's longer than the duration.

Antron

Belgium5 Posts

October 25 2011 00:25 GMT

#504

maybe replicating medivacs to have healing zealot drops would be a good idea, or lategame 3/3 zealot archon with medivac support, as in the very lategame the 200/200 cost doesn't matter that much i think unless you are mined out everywhere.

Nin-x

17 Posts

October 25 2011 00:30 GMT

#505

It's too bad it isn't more of an 'improved hallucination'. Pick what you want, when you want =)

Every time i try to think of a way to use it in combat, it just seems that it brings you up to where you would have been if you produced actual units. It seems like it's main purpose is to copy a unit and cheese with it.

Also, how often is the counter to what's attacking you the exact same unit? MMM at my front door, quick lets replicate some... marines? Oh no, ling counter, let me just replicate the lings?

Arco

United States2090 Posts

October 25 2011 00:34 GMT

#506

Unlimited range will get nerfed, your observer (from the same tech, lol) in enemy base replicators replicating in your main. Protoss siege expand, sup.

reking

Norway73 Posts

October 25 2011 00:41 GMT

#507

Aren't Replicators flying, from Stargate?

Dracover

Australia177 Posts

October 25 2011 00:50 GMT

#508

Sorry if this has been mentioned but I did a quick scroll through the thread and didnt see it.

When they say the replicator gets all the upgrades does that include 3/3/3. If so especially early game I probably wouldn't mind replicating an immortal or VR even for extra gas cost as it comes with upgrades that you don't pay for. In the case of VRs you can get no air upgrades for the duration of the game and have 3/3/3 VRs.

domovoi

United States1478 Posts

October 25 2011 00:57 GMT

#509

On October 25 2011 09:50 Dracover wrote:
Sorry if this has been mentioned but I did a quick scroll through the thread and didnt see it.

When they say the replicator gets all the upgrades does that include 3/3/3. If so especially early game I probably wouldn't mind replicating an immortal or VR even for extra gas cost as it comes with upgrades that you don't pay for. In the case of VRs you can get no air upgrades for the duration of the game and have 3/3/3 VRs.

I don't think anyone's confirmed one way or another (I didn't check while at blizzcon), but I doubt it gets 3/3 upgrades.

stork4ever

United States1036 Posts

October 25 2011 01:13 GMT

#510

I think after a certain point in the game, all replicators become self aware and becomes a 3rd players in game turning it into a 3 players FFA. It will be to the interest of the two human players to set aside their differences and unite to fight the replicators. The replicators will take increase damage from tier one units and will only replicate tier 2-3 units with a preference for tier 3.

This will really encourage a responsible use of replicators and add some interesting strategies in 2v2 and 3v3 as well

XerrolAvengerII

United States510 Posts

October 25 2011 01:49 GMT

#511

On October 25 2011 10:13 stork4ever wrote:
I think after a certain point in the game, all replicators become self aware and becomes a 3rd players in game turning it into a 3 players FFA. It will be to the interest of the two human players to set aside their differences and unite to fight the replicators. The replicators will take increase damage from tier one units and will only replicate tier 2-3 units with a preference for tier 3.

This will really encourage a responsible use of replicators and add some interesting strategies in 2v2 and 3v3 as well

You sir, are a born philosopher! Will you be my friend!?

whateversclever

United States197 Posts

October 25 2011 03:41 GMT

#512

Replicant is good. However, I'm not sure where it fits in strat-wise. Is it going to be better than collosus/immortal?

Terran: Ghosts seem nice but the gain seems marginal. EMP? we could just feedback. Cloak is cool, but to what end? I don't see tanks or ravens often, and while your banshee is better, Terran are less vulnerable. However, I think one Medivac is key. Any saved collosus is worth it. Ghost+Snipe against Vikings is solid as well. Again any saved Collosus is worth it. Three fully charged Ghosts is eight dead Vikings.

Zerg: Similar question. For opportunity, is it better than other robo options? Or sentries? That said Swarm is really good for you, and you are likely to see Vipers to answer Collosus. Also, hatchery and drones is a good mineral dump for the late game. Investors seem a bit expensive in my opinion' but not terrible.

MisterTea

United Kingdom1047 Posts

October 25 2011 03:48 GMT

#513

On October 25 2011 12:41 whateversclever wrote:
Replicant is good. However, I'm not sure where it fits in strat-wise. Is it going to be better than collosus/immortal?

Terran: Ghosts seem nice but the gain seems marginal. EMP? we could just feedback. Cloak is cool, but to what end? I don't see tanks or ravens often, and while your banshee is better, Terran are less vulnerable. However, I think one Medivac is key. Any saved collosus is worth it. Ghost+Snipe against Vikings is solid as well. Again any saved Collosus is worth it. Three fully charged Ghosts is eight dead Vikings.

Zerg: Similar question. For opportunity, is it better than other robo options? Or sentries? That said Swarm is really good for you, and you are likely to see Vipers to answer Collosus. Also, hatchery and drones is a good mineral dump for the late game. Investors seem a bit expensive in my opinion' but not terrible.

you realise snipe only works against biological units right?

Neb1000

United States183 Posts

October 25 2011 04:18 GMT

#514

I see this as having limited uses. You can use it for a fast switch to void rays, make from stargate and make replicators from robo so you double the production without having to make more stargates. I see them to be good to have with an army if you are not for sure what tech your opponent went becuase you can get a few units that you need right away, so it makes it easier for protoss to react to fast tech switches.

As for copying your opponents units, it is completely situational, and this is where it could become OP. If you get a few infestors with a protoss ball, it becomes nearly unkillable, which I think will make zergs afaraid to make infestors which is one thing Blizzard said they didn't want it to do. I don't see a lot with terran that is worth copying, maybe banshees or tanks but I don't see them being that useful.

Whitewing

United States7483 Posts

October 25 2011 05:10 GMT

#515

Well, the 1/1/1 all-in is dead if the replicant is put into the game as is, he'll just chrono a few out (they build way faster than immortals) and copy your banshees and kill you with cloaked banshees, or he'll copy your tanks and hold you off with siege tanks while his superior economy gets ahead.

Basileus

United States103 Posts

October 25 2011 06:25 GMT

#516

basically you will want to copy tanks, ghosts, banshees, ravens, infestors, and vipers. Anything else it is not worth the 200/200 cost or can't (since they are massive)

Noak3

United States236 Posts

October 25 2011 07:04 GMT

#517

On October 25 2011 00:37 Laurens wrote:
Can you replicate your own units?
Can you replicate a replication?
If so, protoss will never have to pay more than 200/200 for a unit. You just make 1 and then start making replicators ...

Edit: this would make Archons, colossi and tempests cheaper. It would make void rays 50 minerals cheaper, but 50 gas more expensive so you probably wouldn't do that.

Archons, Colossi, and Tempests are all massive units.

Hattori_Hanzo

Singapore1229 Posts

October 25 2011 07:29 GMT

#518

Timed transformations actually make the unit imba, as it becomes flexible in its engagements. Think how imba it would be after the replicated banshee returns and then replicates a HT for max MP & full abilities, or turn them into immortals or Vikings or ...

You get the idea. Replicators in their present form are fine. There's enough counters and strategy existing that will defeat any of the already mentioned "abuse".

I mean going robo > replicator > CC/Hatch expand would put one very far behind in army.

leova

266 Posts

October 25 2011 07:51 GMT

#519

I guarantee this will see a TON of play in team games, as the ability to play 2 races at once is disturbingly powerful

in pro games, most likely used to strategic units like infestors and siege tanks.

Still, the ability to double-race, a la Dark Archons from broodwar, seems incredibly fun and useful