Community Update - December Balance Changes

ArtyK

France3143 Posts

December 07 2017 22:23 GMT

Thanks everyone for all the recent feedback. We appreciate the thoughts and are eager to continue discussions with the topics below.

Protoss

We received feedback that the strength of Chrono Boost may be too strong and it’s allowing units to come out a bit too early. We are looking into reducing the strength of Chrono Boost but increasing the duration. This should help to reduce the ability to rapidly produce a particular unit or upgrade much faster than the opponent or before the opponent can have their own opportunity to respond. Since the effects of Chrono Boost will be reduced, we will most likely revert the Oracle’s build time from 43 seconds back to 37 seconds.

Also, we received feedback that the Stalker feels a bit strong right now due to the Stalker’s base damage value. We would like to try reducing the Particle Disruptor’s damage from 15 (21 vs armored) to 13 (18 vs armored) and decreasing the weapon period from 1.54 to 1.34. Also, the weapon upgrades would receive +1 base and +1 armored damage instead of +2 base damage. This kind of change will generally increase the number of shots it will take for the Stalker to kill various enemy units.

Next, the Disruptor’s Purification Nova might be a bit strong at the moment. In order to provide the opposing player with opportunities for counterplay against the Disruptor’s Purification Nova, we are thinking about adding a 1 second charge up time after activating the ability. Opponents will have a little more time to react to the Purification Nova and this should open up more opportunities for micro. Also, Disruptors in large numbers seem to be able to shoot a constant stream of Purification Novas at their enemy. In order to reduce the number of shots that could be fired in a given period, we want to try increasing the Purfication Nova’s cooldown from 14.3 to 17.9 seconds.

Nexus
Chrono Boost strength reduced from 100% to 50% and duration per cast increased from 10 seconds to 20 seconds.

Stalker
Particle Disruptors damage reduced from 15 (21 vs armored) to 13 (18 vs armored) and period reduced from 1.54 to 1.34.

Weapon upgrade will provide +1 base and +1 armored damage instead of +2 base damage.

Oracle
Build time reduced from 43 to 37 seconds.

Disruptor
Purification Nova cooldown increased from 14.3 to 17.9 seconds.
Purification Nova has a 1 second charge up time.

Terran

The Raven unit hasn’t been used as much as the other units in the Teran arsenal most likely due to its current strength level. We want to increase the Raven’s strength a bit to try and make the unit more viable in matchups. We want to try reducing the Anti-Armor Missile energy cost so that each Raven can fire two Anti-Amor missiles. The Anti-Armor missile lock time seems a bit long right now and the initial delay could be reduced from 2.14 to 1.43 seconds to increase the chances for the ability to connect with the enemy target unit. Also, the Interference Matrix range might be too short right now and Ravens are having difficulty landing the ability on enemy targets. Increasing the range of Interference matrix from 8 to 9 should help the Raven and make it safer to cast on enemy units. Lastly, increasing the Interference Matrix missile speed would also help increase chances for the Interference Matrix to connect with the target.

Next, the Widow Mine’s build time seems like it could be reduced a bit to open up more opportunities for the unit. Reducing the Widow Mine’s build would allow players to build or replenish them faster.

Raven
Anti-Armor Missile lock time reduced from 2.14 to 1.43.
Anti-Armor Missile energy cost reduced from 125 to 100.
Interference Matrix range increased from 8 to 9.
Interference Matrix missile mover speed increased by 50%.

Widow Mine
Build time reduced from 28.6 to 21.4 seconds.

Multiplayer Map
On Blackpink, possibly adding a jumpable platform to provide Reapers with an entry or exit into the main base locations could help Terran players with scouting.

There are several esports events in the month of December so we would like to target a balance update on December 18th for now. Just to note, the exact values for the balance update may be adjusted and balance update publish date could change as well. Lastly, thanks for your continued feedback and please let us know what you think on the forums or any other community sites!

Poll: How do you feel about the Nexus / Chrono changes?

Strongly agree (244)

57%

Strongly disagree (75)

17%

Agree (65)

15%

Disagree (25)

6%

Neutral (20)

5%

429 total votes

Your vote: How do you feel about the Nexus / Chrono changes?

(Vote): Strongly agree
(Vote): Agree
(Vote): Neutral
(Vote): Disagree
(Vote): Strongly disagree

Poll: How do you feel about the Stalker changes?

Strongly disagree (199)

43%

Strongly agree (171)

37%

Agree (47)

10%

Disagree (23)

5%

Neutral (18)

4%

458 total votes

Your vote: How do you feel about the Stalker changes?

(Vote): Strongly agree
(Vote): Agree
(Vote): Neutral
(Vote): Disagree
(Vote): Strongly disagree

Poll: How do you feel about the Oracle change?

Agree (124)

39%

Neutral (72)

23%

Strongly agree (57)

18%

Disagree (37)

12%

Strongly disagree (27)

9%

317 total votes

Your vote: How do you feel about the Oracle change?

(Vote): Strongly agree
(Vote): Agree
(Vote): Neutral
(Vote): Disagree
(Vote): Strongly disagree

Poll: How do you feel about the Disruptor changes?

Agree (82)

28%

Strongly agree (80)

27%

Neutral (53)

18%

Strongly disagree (47)

16%

Disagree (30)

10%

292 total votes

Your vote: How do you feel about the Disruptor changes?

(Vote): Strongly agree
(Vote): Agree
(Vote): Neutral
(Vote): Disagree
(Vote): Strongly disagree

Poll: How do you feel about the Raven changes?

Neutral (116)

44%

Agree (68)

26%

Strongly agree (43)

16%

Strongly disagree (25)

9%

Disagree (14)

5%

266 total votes

Your vote: How do you feel about the Raven changes?

(Vote): Strongly agree
(Vote): Agree
(Vote): Neutral
(Vote): Disagree
(Vote): Strongly disagree

Poll: How do you feel about the Widow Mine change?

Agree (106)

37%

Strongly agree (53)

19%

Strongly disagree (50)

18%

Neutral (44)

15%

Disagree (31)

11%

284 total votes

Your vote: How do you feel about the Widow Mine change?

(Vote): Strongly agree
(Vote): Agree
(Vote): Neutral
(Vote): Disagree
(Vote): Strongly disagree

JimmyJRaynor

Canada16788 Posts

December 07 2017 22:26 GMT

i like how they're changing Chronoboost.

i am glad you are keeping the Raven as a support unit rather than an attacking unit. please keep the Raven's role as it is right now.

i'm looking forward to the new skins.

t0ssboy

Bulgaria681 Posts

December 07 2017 22:26 GMT

So Protoss basically gets nerfed into the ground after half a month of playing. GG Blizzard.

ArtyK

France3143 Posts

December 07 2017 22:31 GMT

WoL chrono : lasts ~15 real sec for 25 energy and 50% increase
Now : lasts 20 sec for 50 energy and 50% increase

Still nothing to bring back bio TvZ, super

StarscreamG1

Portugal1653 Posts

December 07 2017 22:32 GMT

Protoss will lose the tech switch weapon (chrono) and the late game fighting stalker (with +2 upgrades).
Congratulations on instead of buffing other races decide to make protoss boring again.

starkiller123

United States4030 Posts

December 07 2017 22:32 GMT

I like the change to the effect of upgrades on stalkers, as it is i think they scale too well with upgrades vs terran

Pursuit_

United States1330 Posts

December 07 2017 22:36 GMT

As a Terran player getting destroyed by Protoss atm, I think the stalker change is unnecessary. The real problem is chronoboost, and while this change will help vs all-ins, it wont help vs upgrades or just the flexibility of the spell, so I'm not certain it alone will be enough. I'd rather they keep the Stalker as is and nerf Chrono's actual % increase a little harder, down to ~20% (currently ~25% both pre- and post- nerf). Also I'm not sure how / what but something needs to be done about recall in early game situations. Disruptor nerf is quite welcome.

Raven change is pretty cool, I'm warming up to the unit a lot more lately and these changes would be good I'm wary of overbuffing it though. This widow mine change would be good compensation for the earlier nerf, makes it a better engagement unit in compensation for worse harass.

Quateras

Germany867 Posts

December 07 2017 22:38 GMT

Honestly not a fan, after playing the new stalker for a while i really enjoy the way it functions and acts now.
Sad that its slowly going back to the older stats.

Chronoboost change seems alright tho.

Tyrhanius

France947 Posts

December 07 2017 22:38 GMT

On December 08 2017 07:26 t0ssboy wrote:
So Protoss basically gets nerfed into the ground after half a month of playing. GG Blizzard.

Yeah, when Terran is OP, we never see double nerf in less than a month but rather 1 small nerf after 3-6months.

Psychobabas

2531 Posts

December 07 2017 22:39 GMT

#10

Much needed changes.

Psychobabas

2531 Posts

December 07 2017 22:40 GMT

#11

On December 08 2017 07:38 Tyrhanius wrote:

Show nested quote +

Yeah, when Terran is OP, we never see double nerf in less than a month but rather 1 small nerf after 3-6months.

SC2 f2p now, they dont want to scare off potential money. Before they already had your $$$

ZigguratOfUr

Iraq16955 Posts

December 07 2017 22:41 GMT

#12

Big fan of the disruptor change. The stalker and chrono nerf together might cause problems in ZvP though.

Charoisaur

Germany15979 Posts

December 07 2017 22:52 GMT

#13

hmm I don't think the stalker nerf is necessary. Stalkers are good but I don't think they are the problem with the current state of TvP.
widow mines need to be made invisible again. This change has gutted TvP early game.

Olli

Austria24420 Posts

December 07 2017 22:58 GMT

#14

Classic, triple nerf Protoss after less than one month of play, and simultaneously double buff Terran. That's not to say I dislike the individual changes, most of them are good. Just, as usual, complete overkill the second Protoss appears to be strong.

Chronoboost change I like a lot, reverting the oracle is smart as well to line up with it.

Interference matrix is cool, I guess? Ravens just aren't useful aside from TvT, and as long as they require a tech lab or become absurdly strong that'll continue to be the case. Aside from specific openings, you'd never invest into a starport and tech lab for ravens, unless you're meching, and even then vikings and liberators are generally more useful.

Disruptor change I'm fine with, they're stupidly good in some scenarios and completely useless in others. This introduces a bit of micro potential for both players and I like that.

The double stalker change is pretty stupid. Try one at a time. Especially because the widow mine change, as well as chronoboost, should help against the mass gateway style as well. So that's a triple patch concerning one specific playstyle that's currently really strong in PvT. It's not an uninteresting or turtley style of play either, so I'd like to avoid killing it entirely.

Templar openings were strong, too. Then Protoss was quadruple nerfed all at once, now they're gone. Please don't make the same mistakes again.

Spaiku

Spain1114 Posts

December 07 2017 23:00 GMT

#15

New stalker and chrono were crucial to create stable macro openings for Protoss. Add this to the msc removal and protoss early game is more volatile than ever and you have an extremely short window to react to all ins.

Boggyb

2855 Posts

December 07 2017 23:01 GMT

#16

Zerg is OP in both ZvP and ZvT but no nerfs? ZvP win rates are probably going to hit 57-58% if not higher.

Avexyli

United States697 Posts

December 07 2017 23:05 GMT

#17

Here's the Blackpink change we were considering:

[image loading]

WidowMineHero

New Zealand143 Posts

December 07 2017 23:08 GMT

#18

nothing on zerg? considering zerg is doing so well against both protoss and terran

Charoisaur

Germany15979 Posts

December 07 2017 23:08 GMT

#19

Raven will still see no play except for disabling tanks in tvt. Anti-armor missile is completely useless.

[Phantom]

Mexico2170 Posts

December 07 2017 23:10 GMT

#20

So protoss is getting nerfed into the ground? Why? I thought they are the weakest at the moment? (Not following the scene that much, but from what I've seen in a couple of streams and gameplay experience).

They are basically backtracking on both the stalker and chronoboost changes...

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