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[Blizz] Swarm Host Update

Forum Index > SC2 General
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Jonsoload
Profile Joined October 2011
Germany62 Posts
April 19 2016 20:09 GMT
#1
In the thought of keeping everyone updated, we're wanted to let you know we've been looking at Swarm Host buffs internally. We've been busy testing various things this week, and we realized we didn't give you guys a heads up yet.

The main gist of it is to have a version of the Swarm Host that is straight up much stronger than right now, but make sure that mass Swarm Hosts aren't a thing still. We can do a straight up power buff such as a cost reduction in combination with a nerf such as supply cost nerf to prevent mass Swarm Hosts to be too effective in the maxed out army scenarios.

Let's work together on testing the changes quickly, because we'd like to aim for testing/locking down the specific changes for the actual patch to go live ~2 weeks after that.


Source
I want a TC icon,not a race icon of scII :(
opisska
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
Poland8852 Posts
April 19 2016 20:12 GMT
#2
The only real way to make the SH concept viable is to reduce the downtime between locust waves. The zerg army is already supply inefficient enough that we can't afford to have dead supply lying around (as opposed to protoss, who can have inactive disruptors because the rest of the army doesn't such so badly in the meantime). But I am afraid that would inevitably lead to the good old drawn out infinite locust stream games where nothing is really killed. I liked those, but I know that I was in a small minority.
"Jeez, that's far from ideal." - Serral, the king of mild trashtalk
TL+ Member
pr0n3d91
Profile Joined September 2009
18 Posts
April 19 2016 20:36 GMT
#3
This patch is going to be interesting........
lol
Mojzii1
Profile Joined March 2016
30 Posts
April 19 2016 20:37 GMT
#4
Talking about too effective maxed out army scenarios protoss late game air + ht should be looked into
The_Red_Viper
Profile Blog Joined August 2013
19533 Posts
April 19 2016 20:40 GMT
#5
Swarm hosts are a flawed concept to begin with, pls don't try to bring them back -.-
If you wanna use the game model then redesign it from scratch
IU | Sohyang || There is no God and we are his prophets | For if ‘Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.” | Ignorance is the parent of fear |
Bareleon
Profile Blog Joined May 2011
371 Posts
April 19 2016 20:41 GMT
#6
I wonder if this can help against Terrans and Protoss that turtle.
PinoKotsBeer
Profile Joined February 2014
Netherlands1385 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-19 20:47:35
April 19 2016 20:42 GMT
#7
Nice, stronger Swarmhosts. Now zerg can turtle harder and mech will be even worse to play vs zerg. Does Blizzard really want to see EVERY FCKING match Bio liberator? oh wait, they said once: "we see too much bio parades" so we buffed the ultralisk, and the counter to the biocounter is ANOTHER bio unit (ghost).

Epic army composition, lurker, swarmhost, broodlord (nice siege units) with ultralisk, infestor and corruptor. Try to beat that! oh wait and the endless static defence + queens

Is blizzard really forcing us to leave sc2 and start playing Overwatch?...
http://www.twitch.tv/pinokotsbeer
RoomOfMush
Profile Joined March 2015
1296 Posts
April 19 2016 20:54 GMT
#8
I dont know how blizzard could fix the swarm host just by playing with numbers. I think some kind of redesign is necessary if this unit is really supposed to be fixed. Maybe if they unburrow all their locusts die instantly? This way they would be more or less static while attacking? Or maybe make individual locusts cost money, or perhaps energy?

As it is its just a unit with ridiculous attack range and DPS potential.
Charoisaur
Profile Joined August 2014
Germany16055 Posts
April 19 2016 20:58 GMT
#9
On April 20 2016 05:41 Bareleon wrote:
I wonder if this can help against Terrans and Protoss that turtle.

There are terrans that turtle?
Many of the coolest moments in sc2 happen due to worker harassment
Charoisaur
Profile Joined August 2014
Germany16055 Posts
April 19 2016 21:02 GMT
#10
Why is it a problem that swarmhost aren't used but it's okay that cyclones/ravens/bcs/hellbats/thors are almost never used?
Many of the coolest moments in sc2 happen due to worker harassment
SetGuitarsToKill
Profile Blog Joined December 2013
Canada28396 Posts
April 19 2016 21:04 GMT
#11
On April 20 2016 06:02 Charoisaur wrote:
Why is it a problem that swarmhost aren't used but it's okay that cyclones/ravens/bcs/hellbats/thors are almost never used?

Hellbats are never used? Someone doesn't watch enough Kelazhur games
Community News"As long as you have a warp prism you can't be bad at harassment" - Maru | @SetGuitars2Kill
Charoisaur
Profile Joined August 2014
Germany16055 Posts
April 19 2016 21:08 GMT
#12
On April 20 2016 06:04 SetGuitarsToKill wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 20 2016 06:02 Charoisaur wrote:
Why is it a problem that swarmhost aren't used but it's okay that cyclones/ravens/bcs/hellbats/thors are almost never used?

Hellbats are never used? Someone doesn't watch enough Kelazhur games

When does he build hellbats?
Many of the coolest moments in sc2 happen due to worker harassment
avilo
Profile Blog Joined November 2007
United States4100 Posts
April 19 2016 21:08 GMT
#13
Blizzard, that's fine and great. But then do the same thing and fix supply cost on tempest right now is absurd at 4 supply, and fix more important issues like mech viability, cyclones, para bomb, 8 armor ultras....etc the list goes on.

I want swarm hosts to be viable too, and think they should be. But they are not top priority especially considering how strong Zerg already is atm.

MAKE MECH VIABLE please, and fix tempests supply cost.
Sup
[PkF] Wire
Profile Joined March 2013
France24238 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-19 21:11:26
April 19 2016 21:09 GMT
#14
I'm really not convinced swarm hosts have anything to bring to the game. I would say the whole concept is flawed and I really don't see a way to salvage them. I have to say recent community updates are a bit unsettling : a lot of propositions with no real direction or concrete action, I find it somewhat worrisome.
Charoisaur
Profile Joined August 2014
Germany16055 Posts
April 19 2016 21:11 GMT
#15
Mass air battles are the biggest problem atm and it's worrying DK hasn't even acknowledged it.
Many of the coolest moments in sc2 happen due to worker harassment
SetGuitarsToKill
Profile Blog Joined December 2013
Canada28396 Posts
April 19 2016 21:12 GMT
#16
On April 20 2016 06:08 Charoisaur wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 20 2016 06:04 SetGuitarsToKill wrote:
On April 20 2016 06:02 Charoisaur wrote:
Why is it a problem that swarmhost aren't used but it's okay that cyclones/ravens/bcs/hellbats/thors are almost never used?

Hellbats are never used? Someone doesn't watch enough Kelazhur games

When does he build hellbats?

HotS style timings mostly. Maybe he doesn't anymore though but a few months ago Im pretty sure I saw some
Community News"As long as you have a warp prism you can't be bad at harassment" - Maru | @SetGuitars2Kill
Jonsoload
Profile Joined October 2011
Germany62 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-19 21:23:34
April 19 2016 21:22 GMT
#17
A numbers game of the following:
-Lower the timer of Spawn locust
-Increase the HP of Locusts a little
-Increase the spawning time of Locusts a little
-Make Locusts lose HP/per second.

If you want your Siege units ( Locusts) to be powerful at soaking and dealing damage, then you need to have your siege machinery (Swarm Host) closer to the enemy, making it more risky to deploy Locusts on a "permanent" sieging position, yet more powerful if it hits, while also helping T/P be actually able to chuck away something besides free units.
I want a TC icon,not a race icon of scII :(
Musicus
Profile Joined August 2011
Germany23576 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-19 21:37:48
April 19 2016 21:36 GMT
#18
I agree with supply and/or cost changes for the SH, but honestly, the flying locusts are way too fucking slow. It makes no sense that anything that flies would be so slow, they are faster on the ground than in the air.... Please make them a lot faster and they could become a fun harassment tool.
Maru and Serral are probably top 5.
Empirimancer
Profile Joined July 2011
Canada1024 Posts
April 19 2016 21:44 GMT
#19
...what? Why?
tokinho
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States792 Posts
Last Edited: 2016-04-19 21:48:37
April 19 2016 21:44 GMT
#20
For those that don't know. Catz made a sick article that should be featured on teamliquid. Its about the swarm host, its purpose and ways to achieve that purpose. Catz also streamed several swarm hosts games yesterday. He effectively demonstrated a swarm host viper style ZvZ and ZvP and talked about why its good for the game and why it promotes healthy play. I admit i am a bit biased because i do consider catz a friend. Here's the vod of the zvz game.

Despite my thoughts about the cannon buff primarily effecting the protoss late game, the cannon buffs would be countered by this new swarm host style which would be effective. I think overall more healthy rather than just always try to mass one unit and win.
Smile
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