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qxc's thoughts: Adepts are too Strong - Page 7

Forum Index > SC2 General
162 CommentsPost a Reply
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TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10688 Posts
September 28 2015 07:18 GMT
#121
On September 28 2015 11:08 Advantageous wrote:
Adepts are strong? not even close.

Really, "not even close" is the words you chose? lol... >_<
AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
JCoto
Profile Joined October 2014
Spain574 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-28 11:01:55
September 28 2015 09:13 GMT
#122
In my humble opinion Adepts are simply poorly designed on many levels. I've wrote this in Blizz forums several times. Overall I feel that LotV started out very well with nice design ideas that have fallen into old, rooted design vices. Just look at macro and econ.

Adepts are a recipe for the fail, because they are a bunch of ideas just thrown into a bucket without being refined at all, mostly caused by the dumb ability and the dumb weapon design, which was unchanged from the original design of the unit, that has completely different uses from the original one. Did they ever test their old Adept version? It was so clunky that barely no one built them and they were very horrible, BUT they had decent firepower while attacking light units after upgrade. By toying around with the damage period/bounce attack, they almost had a good unit, quite efficient vs bio, specially marines (which is almost the core design perk of the adept).

Unit testers showed that there was some potential on it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXALm9Om1Wo) but when I tried them the unit felt too clunky, too much harass-oriented, and a bit underpowered and unrefined in most combat situations. (DPS vs armor too low, Bounce damage too unreliable/inneficient because of weapon period, and damage values needed a re-test). Let's take a look now to design perks on paper:

Original Adept conception (acceptable) - Infantry unit strong vs low HP infantry units. (marines/zerglings).

- Infantry-like unit, more similar to Bio, total HP lower than a Zealot. (60/80, 0 armor), low cost(100/25) low tech.
- High damage weapon with Bounce damage upgrade (decent DPS increase vs low HP light units since they trigger the bounce more), compensated by the slow fire rate and overkill.
- Intended to work as a harass unit early game like Reapers with the shade ability.
- Intended to work as a core unit like marauders but vs light.
- Decently vulnerable to AoE (mech/banelings)
- Complements the Protoss army mainly in terms of DPS.

Actual iteration of the Adept - Protoss Roach with Antilight dmg.

- Uberincarnation of Protoss unit, mass HP tank unit (90/90 1 armor +50shield upgrade).
- High damage weapon with low DPS and very low fire rate, no weapon/aggro upgrade).
- Still intended to be a harass unit despite the fact that HP was increased a 30% (60% with upgrade) with no cost at all.
- Actually usable vs everything because of the massive HP increase.
- Massive HP pool just shits over everything, but also tanks, mines, and banelings (units that should be good vs adepts).
- 4 range, being too short to really combat bio, meaning that there is low dps density and high exposition. (like roaches)
- Replaces Zealots in almost all instances.

I think they might just have to revert the design of the Adept to a previous stage. Ideally, an infantry unit able to deal well with bio but killable by other things, and it's not very hard to do. It's all about going over the old concept and stats, BUT with well designed weapon values and some design decisions. On short, Adepts should be some kind of Marauder for Protoss, specially because they could help rebalancing some aspects of the race that have always demanded some revision/improvement (early game vulnerability, dependency on Forcefields specially vs Zerg, Gateway inneficiency vs MMM, more tradeable armies). If the core units are acceptably strong but not broken and decently versatile, some other aspects could be balanced better.

Ideas to make fun and decent Adepts that ideally perform their best vs Marines/Bio

- Stats in line of an infantry unit. Similar HP to old concept (around the HP of a Zealot or lower).
- Increased DPS density, with higher range (5-5.5) and lower collision size (0.5 like a Zealot).
- Increased DPS efficiency, with shorter weapon periods, damage decreased (less overkill). Worth considering removal of projectile, which could be a very big buff (0 overkill, like immortals).
- Hard-countering toned down noticeably.
- Reexploration of possible bounce damage/ weapon upgrades that work well specifically vs small collision units that usually are very clumped (marines, maybe zerglings, maybe Hydras too). Zerglings naturally space out for the attack, so Zealots are still worth against them. Bio will have the option to pre-split to avoid damage, but at the same time reducing DPS density and opening gaps for Zealots = Longer, more balanced and micro heavy fights for both.
- Reexplore mobility/ability mechanics/possible mobility-related upgrade. Shade mechanic is decent, but its balance is very dependant on how good Adepts can perform vs workers.


If Adepts were to be transformed into a tank unit, then it's another question. Do we want Adepts to be Protoss Roaches or Protoss Mauraders??
kaby
Profile Joined July 2010
Russian Federation195 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-28 14:35:34
September 28 2015 14:34 GMT
#123
so what if there was an upgrade for shade in cybernetics core for, let's say, 25/25 or 50/50 and timed at aprox. 80 sec. the point is not to make protoss spend resources but to prevent him from having shade AND warpgate research at the same early time.
CannonsNCarriers
Profile Joined April 2010
United States638 Posts
September 29 2015 02:12 GMT
#124
QXC won this argument. The community feedback confirmed that Blizz is going to nerf the stats on the Adept. Blizz likes the shade way to much to mess around with it now. I expect one of the following nerfs:

(1) Armored tag

xor

(2) -1 damage
Dun tuch my cheezbrgr
aQuaSC
Profile Joined August 2011
717 Posts
September 29 2015 02:51 GMT
#125
On September 27 2015 09:42 FabledIntegral wrote:
-1 dmg to light, make shade vision like 25% of what it is now, nerf warp prism


I doubt the damage change can happen, since Drones and Probes both have 40 HP, and SCVs 45. Or maybe that's the direction of balancing PvT?
TL+ Member
Pin
Profile Joined December 2010
United States55 Posts
September 29 2015 02:55 GMT
#126
You could make this thread title with any protoss unit and it would accurately reflect QXC's thoughts.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20323 Posts
September 29 2015 03:49 GMT
#127
On September 29 2015 11:12 CannonsNCarriers wrote:
QXC won this argument. The community feedback confirmed that Blizz is going to nerf the stats on the Adept. Blizz likes the shade way to much to mess around with it now. I expect one of the following nerfs:

(1) Armored tag

xor

(2) -1 damage


QXC won this argument


It's not an argument
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
FabledIntegral
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States9232 Posts
September 29 2015 03:50 GMT
#128
On September 29 2015 11:51 aQuaSC wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 27 2015 09:42 FabledIntegral wrote:
-1 dmg to light, make shade vision like 25% of what it is now, nerf warp prism


I doubt the damage change can happen, since Drones and Probes both have 40 HP, and SCVs 45. Or maybe that's the direction of balancing PvT?


That's the point. Greatly reduces adept strength PvT only in battles, while also reducing scouting potential. Let's be real even with reduced vision they'd be good for scouting.
BoX
Profile Joined July 2003
United States214 Posts
September 29 2015 03:57 GMT
#129
They did nerf Marauders though. Originally, they were born with concussive shells. The research time and cost are low, okay, but now you have to research concussive shells.

Took a little while to get that nerf, so it should probably be on your list of points to make, since you're focusing on the 'rauder anyway.
ZAiNs
Profile Joined July 2010
United Kingdom6525 Posts
September 29 2015 04:00 GMT
#130
On September 29 2015 12:57 BoX wrote:
They did nerf Marauders though. Originally, they were born with concussive shells. The research time and cost are low, okay, but now you have to research concussive shells.

Took a little while to get that nerf, so it should probably be on your list of points to make, since you're focusing on the 'rauder anyway.

That was a change made in early WoL beta though, and things changed a lot every week back then.
FabledIntegral
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States9232 Posts
September 29 2015 04:09 GMT
#131
On September 29 2015 13:00 ZAiNs wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 29 2015 12:57 BoX wrote:
They did nerf Marauders though. Originally, they were born with concussive shells. The research time and cost are low, okay, but now you have to research concussive shells.

Took a little while to get that nerf, so it should probably be on your list of points to make, since you're focusing on the 'rauder anyway.

That was a change made in early WoL beta though, and things changed a lot every week back then.


Yeah I thought they came with conc too but didn't comment. Good to know it was actually removed during the beta. Marauder rushes were insanely strong back then!
BoX
Profile Joined July 2003
United States214 Posts
September 29 2015 04:10 GMT
#132
Right, well.. That's true. Good thing the Adept is still in beta.

Quick, Blizzard! It's never too late.
FalconHoof
Profile Joined December 2012
Canada183 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-29 04:46:56
September 29 2015 04:46 GMT
#133
On September 29 2015 11:55 Pin wrote:
You could make this thread title with any protoss unit and it would accurately reflect QXC's thoughts.

I lol'd. But seriously, even if he's 100% skewed one way or the other, the discussion is still good for the game and it's development.... Even if David doesn't listen to us, which he probably shouldn't because we're all a bunch of bigots, trolls and butt-hurt terran players...

Honestly tho I've been very disappointed with the beta so far. The coolest change for me was the removal of macro mechanics, which is by no means balanced or ok, but they should have toyed with the idea more instead of just arbitrarily throwing them back in. They need to overhaul the economy in my opinion and they have still yet to do that. I don't care so much about the units because you can always tweak and change units, but the core of this game is it's economy and I am still waiting and hoping for some sweet distant muse to take us all to that awesome RTS game we deserve.
Masturbation this good deserves it's own foreplay.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20323 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-29 05:49:43
September 29 2015 05:34 GMT
#134
That's the point. Greatly reduces adept strength PvT only in battles


Adepts are weak (zealots take over) as soon as ghosts and medivacs are with the terran main army, they're just overly strong against light units early game (and non-light anti-light options are a niche that's pretty empty at the moment)
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
FabledIntegral
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States9232 Posts
September 29 2015 13:12 GMT
#135
On September 29 2015 14:34 Cyro wrote:
Show nested quote +
That's the point. Greatly reduces adept strength PvT only in battles


Adepts are weak (zealots take over) as soon as ghosts and medivacs are with the terran main army, they're just overly strong against light units early game (and non-light anti-light options are a niche that's pretty empty at the moment)


It was meant super early game, but adepts are also extremely good for making a shade onto the enemy army of MMM, and then charging in with your other units. Allows for good positioning advantage, prevents retreating, and soaks up damage while other units deal the dmg, something zealots cannot do the same.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20323 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-29 13:37:37
September 29 2015 13:26 GMT
#136
On September 29 2015 22:12 FabledIntegral wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 29 2015 14:34 Cyro wrote:
That's the point. Greatly reduces adept strength PvT only in battles


Adepts are weak (zealots take over) as soon as ghosts and medivacs are with the terran main army, they're just overly strong against light units early game (and non-light anti-light options are a niche that's pretty empty at the moment)


It was meant super early game, but adepts are also extremely good for making a shade onto the enemy army of MMM, and then charging in with your other units. Allows for good positioning advantage, prevents retreating, and soaks up damage while other units deal the dmg, something zealots cannot do the same.


If you do that, terran can hit literally all of them with 1-2 emp's and kill them almost instantly with a stim - it's staring a fight by donating half of your army. If he doesn't have medivac, ghost or liberator support then it's much more dangerous.. but every terran has medivac, ghost and/or liberator support in the midgame. It's what makes their armies truly tick

I've always felt that adepts are really awesome (perhaps too much so) when you have 4 or 6 or even 10 of them but they do fall off quite extremely
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
always_winter
Profile Joined February 2015
United States195 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-29 15:35:55
September 29 2015 15:25 GMT
#137
On September 25 2015 22:00 Whitewing wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 25 2015 21:23 ZenithM wrote:
On September 25 2015 21:06 Whitewing wrote:
Adepts were made overly strong because the Protoss early game is atrocious otherwise.

The problem is that they have no time to tech anymore, and they are a race design based on teching. To compensate, they were given a unit that can hold them over to allow them time to actually tech, but that unit has to be very strong on almost no tech in order for that to function.

In short, the Adept is a product of the Protoss race design with the economy changes. If you want to nerf the adept in the early game, some consideration needs to go towards solving this problem.

You can always invent some pretext for a unit to be very strong, economy or whatever else, but the fact remains, if this unit is objectively too strong for its cost and its required tech, you nerf it, and buff something else instead. I can't believe that Protoss would be totally fucked beyond redemption if the Adept was slightly weaker. The adept doesn't have to be the only solution to Protoss woes. And we're lucky this time, I think adepts are pretty well designed, it's just that they're too strong, they don't need to get out of the game altogether, and they can even remain a core unit.


I'm not defending it, I'm explaining it. There are solutions, but they might be unpalatable as well. Nerfing the adept will nuke the all-ins which would be a good thing, absolutely, but you might find that Protoss can't defend expansions anymore, which was the main problem with the economy changes in the first place.

An obvious solution would be an adept nerf combined with a buff to other gateway units. A less obvious solution is an adept nerf combined with general scaling improvements to Protoss as a whole, meaning that you've decided Protoss will have a weak early game but will scale well enough that it's fine for that to be true. There are other options.

The basic gist though is that Protoss needs some kind of low tech early game option that is strong in order to be able to spend time teching. You can shift power away from the adept to other units, but remember that at any given point in time, you only have so many units out total, so splitting the adept's strength around is a net nerf (which is fine, a nerf is needed, but gotta do so carefully).

Show nested quote +
The combat stats are too high, plain as that. Blizzard still hasn't understood the importance of movement-speed mobility to secure bases and defend and are trying to make protoss take bases with raw power. Which is plainly not possible without overpowering protoss attacks. The result is a unit that is too strong early but doesn't make protoss more interesting because they still lose out on the economy front.


This about sums it up BigJ. Protoss isn't mobile enough to defend bases, and therefore needs to compensate by having raw power in their units. Typically that is provided by tech, but it can't be here because of the economy changes: Protoss doesn't have time to tech in addition to the other stuff they have to do.

Unfortunately, that means Protoss can just all-in you with those units instead of expanding.


I find it hilarious people are actually trying to justify the state of the Adept. The "we need it to defend multiple expansions" is, verbatim, the exact argument used to justify Photon Overcharge, which has had a similarly deplorable effect on gameplay.

If you do that, terran can hit literally all of them with 1-2 emp's and kill them almost instantly with a stim - it's staring a fight by donating half of your army. If he doesn't have medivac, ghost or liberator support then it's much more dangerous.. but every terran has medivac, ghost and/or liberator support in the midgame. It's what makes their armies truly tick

I've always felt that adepts are really awesome (perhaps too much so) when you have 4 or 6 or even 10 of them but they do fall off quite extremely.


It's quite obvious you've never seen this exact scenario occur, which is prevalent throughout high-level TvP. Perhaps witnessing the event is a proper antecedent to offering theorized conclusions and proposing solutions.
AmatistA
Profile Joined November 2012
Germany113 Posts
September 29 2015 15:39 GMT
#138
strongest!
This little bastard is Sieges addicted! cause I love the sound of the siege tank mode so you don't ? hear and feel my favorite sound ... didn't you hear? you realize that you have no units anymore!!!!
K_osss
Profile Joined June 2010
United States113 Posts
September 29 2015 15:54 GMT
#139
This reminds me of the roach and marauder threads from back in the day. One was changed - the other wasn't till just recently. Be interesting to see how this goes.
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20323 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-09-29 16:08:24
September 29 2015 15:59 GMT
#140
It's quite obvious you've never seen this exact scenario occur, which is prevalent throughout high-level TvP


So what level are you at that's so much better? I don't think you'd even want to build adepts (at least not as an army core) once they have their midgame army going. Have you even tried building heavy adept comps against standard mid-lategame terran armies? The support units (medivac, ghost, lib) make it impossible to blob him like that without guaranteeing losing all of your units to kill only a fraction of his.
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
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