I much prefer them off because I find I cannot see the battle at all. I feel like I am watching a fight between health bars instead of an actual fight. Health bars get in the way. Especially for streams that I cannot get the highest quality.

When I am playing StarCraft they need to be on so I can see which units to micro more efficiently and which ones to target but when I am watching a stream I want them off, no need to see which ones are almost dead UNLESS it is a small skirmish or like queens versus voidrays.

Smapz

Norway405 Posts

February 19 2012 03:17 GMT

#65

Healthbars always on. Only way you can tell exactly what's going on.

NasKe_

Brazil570 Posts

February 19 2012 03:18 GMT

#66

Jesus
Just watch GSL and see how a pro observer do things.

Bar off when nothing is happening, when in engage, select the units to see the heathbars.

SolidMoose

United States1240 Posts

February 19 2012 03:26 GMT

#67

I'd say either on, or turn it on during fights

Devolved

United States2753 Posts

February 19 2012 03:26 GMT

#68

Of course I play with health bars on, but I find them very distracting in broadcasts, especially when there's a ton of small units like lings, rines, or zealots. You literally can not even see the units because of all the health bars.

acrimoneyius

United States983 Posts

February 19 2012 03:32 GMT

#69

On during engagements, off every other time. You can still click on things to display the health bar.

Fuchsteufelswild

Australia2028 Posts

February 19 2012 03:37 GMT

#70

I cannot vote until Selected is an option. I agree with the general comments that in a lot of battles you really want it on, but this can be displayed by holding Alt and you most often don't need them otherwise. After an attack is held/fended off, a good observer could highlight the smaller group of units/static defence to show overall damage dealt (to what remains) and otherwise, you don't tend to need it on. Zergling swarms or sometimes large groups marines of marines can just look really messy with them all on all the time and I don't think it's really necessary to deal with, nor does it usually tell you much except whether a group of marines without medivacs have used stim before or not. Most often though, if they were always on, there wouldn't be much mess, so this might still be better than always off, unless the observer was very active about selecting units and using Alt where appropriate. It depends on observer skill really, but in an ideal world, people who are really bad at observing would not be allowed to.

Zealotdriver

United States1557 Posts

February 19 2012 03:42 GMT

#71

Healthbars ON or gtfo.

Hrrrrm

United States2081 Posts

February 19 2012 03:51 GMT

#72

I watch broadcasts to enjoy the beauty that is SC2 not to watch a fuck ton of little boxes that for the majority of the game are fully green. Playing is obviously a different matter. So only when selected would be my choice. With a competent observer it should always be off by default and using ALT and selecting units/buildings in battles to provide the information that is needed.

Every time I see a stream that leaves those Health Bars on all the time(obviously not player streams) gives me a clear indication that the observer isn't worth anything or is a lazy SOB. Good reasons to go watch something else.

pirsq

Australia145 Posts

February 19 2012 03:52 GMT

#73

On February 19 2012 10:12 BeHave wrote:
I even started watching GOM.tv with korean commentators because they always have the healthbars displayed....... Cmon Tastosis i love you but i NEED MY HEALTHBARS, I just want the information!!!!

Pretty sure it's the same observer for both streams...

Konsumed

United States30 Posts

February 19 2012 03:55 GMT

#74

I REALLY hate having to count on an outstanding observer/caster to have to select units they think are important each battle to watch hp/energy. I definitely prefer to have them always on.

As mentioned casual fans may like it off, but who is watching more starcraft, who is buying more season passes and tuning in to your commercials? The casual fan or the starcraft player...

Yip12343

120 Posts

February 19 2012 04:29 GMT

#75

New people to the game: Off, so it doesn't confuse them, but most players are used to them being on, would apply to a bigger audience.
In my opinion I would rather have it ON as it would make me understand and learn the game to a more complex level rather than just saying, why did he focus there etc.

NasKe_

Brazil570 Posts

February 19 2012 04:41 GMT

#76

On February 19 2012 12:52 pirsq wrote:

Show nested quote +

Pretty sure it's the same observer for both streams...

It's not
ST_Legend is on Eng stream (most of the time) and there's another one on kr stream

Atokad

United States204 Posts

February 19 2012 04:46 GMT

#77

I'd agree that they need to be on at all times, because I have yet to see (other than the GSL guy who does the screen capture for the games) someone who can be where the action is and have all of the relevant health bars open at the same time. If it progressed maybe a year into the future and casters/screen capturers(?) are able to see things on the mini-map and keep up with selecting all of the units that needed to be selected, then i'd be okay (like I am with the GSL) letting them keep them on selected only.

I understand and agree with points that when I play the game I need them on and that when I'm watching I'd prefer to have it more visual (less health bars everywhere) but with the current talent available to capture what we as spectators would like to know (who's really winning a battle), I'd prefer for them to just leave the health bars on. I can't watch Husky videos anymore because of his lack of awareness on the mini-map and not selecting the drones and hellions when there is a runby into an opponents base. (ex.

at ~4:50 to ~5:35 when two hellions make their way out of Supernova's base and hellions get the surround, or do they?, while he's looking at mineral patches)

bubblegumbo

Taiwan1296 Posts

February 19 2012 04:50 GMT

#78

I always play with healthbars on, but for viewing actually match broadcasts I want healthbars off because it clutters the view terribly. I personally hated when broadcasters leave healthbars on all the time it takes away the aesthetics of the game from a viewer's perspective.
The camera guy should just hold in the alt key when they think it's relevant to see unit health bars, otherwise most of the time it's irrelevant. We all know that progamers all use healthbars to see opposition HP. Well except for ForGG who only has it on for his own unit for some reason.