Sorry if this has been discussed already:

If you look closely, there's bayonettes on the tips of the marine's rifles. Maybe they have some kind of 'tanking' form where they use their shields (which have been added into the game for some reason) and bayonettes to fight in melee combat while other marines are in range mode shooting from behind? It would work like the footman in WC3 who have 'defence' mode.

Click the images to open a new window with a higher quality pic:

DrainX

Sweden3187 Posts

May 29 2007 07:20 GMT

With firebats out of the game(?) it might be nice to have something like that so its easier to block chokes from swarms of zerglings.

Excalibur_Z

United States12235 Posts

May 29 2007 07:21 GMT

Yeah people have taken note of this since the HQ screenshots emerged. It probably is something more similar to "melee" or "ranged" mode, most likely a researched ability. This ability, when activated, would deploy a shield and bayonet for the Marine and probably offer some degree of damage reduction in exchange for reduced movement and a melee-only attack. That's my speculation, anyway. Similar but also different from the Footman's Defend.

Haemonculus

United States6980 Posts

May 29 2007 07:25 GMT

When equipped with a massive machine gun, it seems silly to opt to poke things with a knife on a stick. Regardless, they do have shields, and I sort of think a defend-like ability would be implemented with them.

IntoTheWow

is awesome32274 Posts

May 29 2007 07:28 GMT

Is there cooldown in W3 for changing between modes? this could create some serious sick micro.

TeRRan`UseR

Canada692 Posts

May 29 2007 07:28 GMT

It's hard to fire your massive machine gun when you've got a zergling ontop of you at point blank range.

On May 29 2007 16:28 IntoTheWow wrote:
Is there cooldown in W3 for changing between modes? this could create some serious sick micro.

No there isn't, and my thoughts exactly with the micro. Imagine; one group of marines for melee mode, another for ranging; dancing your army around a swarm of zerglings switching in and out of melee/range.

To the person up top: I agree; decreased damage with melee only and decreased mobility for a nice big bonus in defence.

Zanno

United States1484 Posts

May 29 2007 07:33 GMT

On May 29 2007 16:28 IntoTheWow wrote:
Is there cooldown in W3 for changing between modes? this could create some serious sick micro.

negligible

IIICodeIIIIIII

China1101 Posts

May 29 2007 07:37 GMT

as long as marines in melee mode aren't that powerful. marines are still supposed to be ranged units that are good with range, but suck at melee.

KaasZerg

Netherlands927 Posts

May 29 2007 07:39 GMT

Not to stomp on SC2 but I liked the marines the way they were without shield and bayonet. Yeah poking with a knife seems silly unless your out of ammo. Isn't the heavy armoured suit protection enough. The simple concept of the marine in sc1 is that of a simple mobile armourpiercing gun. Flexible firepower. Guess things have changed.

TeRRan`UseR

Canada692 Posts

May 29 2007 07:40 GMT

#10

Well from the screenshots and movies; zerg seems to have been refined to more of a 'swam' style. Zerglings appear to be a lot weaker and excel only in numbers. I think this marine melee mode would fit nicely and work well.

Tusk

Canada427 Posts

May 29 2007 07:41 GMT

#11

On May 29 2007 16:37 IIICodeIIIIIII wrote:
as long as marines in melee mode aren't that powerful. marines are still supposed to be ranged units that are good with range, but suck at melee.

Like any ranged force in real life.

ShaLLoW[baY]

Canada12499 Posts

May 29 2007 07:42 GMT

#12

I'm going to repeat for the umpteenth time that the movies are not final, and the game is pre-alpha. It's futile to assume anything regarding units strengths/weaknesses at this point.

crazie-penguin

United States1253 Posts

May 29 2007 07:49 GMT

#13

On May 29 2007 16:42 ShaLLoW[baY] wrote:
I'm going to repeat for the umpteenth time that the movies are not final, and the game is pre-alpha. It's futile to assume anything regarding units strengths/weaknesses at this point.

It's just a discussion about possibilities. Let us be, otherwise if we follow your logic we won't be talking about anything "plausible".

ktp

United States797 Posts

May 29 2007 12:10 GMT

#14

Blizzard should (if they haven't already) remove Medics, Marines, and Stimpack and replace it with 3 Marine "Modes"
1. Ranged - default mode, shoots guass rifle just like they do in SC1
2 Bayonet - this would replace the use of firebat, bayonets can be effective for fighting off swarms of zerglings in melee, but weak vs protoss zealots.
3. Shield - this would replace the use of a medic, a shield reduces damage but makes the marine less mobile. To balance this with the other modes, it would be effective for defending zealot psi blades, but weak vs zerglings.

Now to mix things up...We all know a 0/0 marine vs 0/0 zergling 1v1, the zergling wins. What if the marine can quickly switch to bayonet mode at the last second when the zergling is closing in, thus allowing the marine to defeat the zergling? This would require a lot of micro, and good timing. So like in the picture, theres only a few marines facing a massive amount of zerglings, therefore its most efficient to fire until zerglings come to melee range, and micro your marines in front into bayonet mode. Would be a lot of fun.

Next, Marines can now defend against Zealot rushes by blocking their paths using their shields. Now of course they won't be able to shoot, so you will need multiple marines to do this. Some will serve has the role of SCVs in SC1 vs zealot rushes, which is to block the pathing and put up shields. If the zealots attack those marines it wont be effective because zealot damage is reduced. The marines lined up behind will be in range mode firing and killing the zealots. Or if you want to be stupid, bayonet the zealots.

Haemonculus

United States6980 Posts

May 29 2007 12:31 GMT

#15

On May 29 2007 21:10 ktp wrote:
Blizzard should (if they haven't already) remove Medics, Marines, and Stimpack and replace it with 3 Marine "Modes"
1. Ranged - default mode, shoots guass rifle just like they do in SC1
2 Bayonet - this would replace the use of firebat, bayonets can be effective for fighting off swarms of zerglings in melee, but weak vs protoss zealots.
3. Shield - this would replace the use of a medic, a shield reduces damage but makes the marine less mobile. To balance this with the other modes, it would be effective for defending zealot psi blades, but weak vs zerglings.

Yeah but is this Starcraft or is this Warhammer 40k? I mean, we've already got guys with jetpacks dual-wielding pistols. Chaos raptors anyone?

NastyMarine

United States1252 Posts

May 29 2007 13:07 GMT

#16

well it would be an intereresting ability for the marine, but im sure they would have showcased it at the WWI announcement. I mean, look at the zealot's charge (though it was inevitable that they would show it) and then look at the zerglings' baneling ability. Why wouldn't they show the melee and/or shield ability in the demonstration? Could be a design they are tooling with, or pre-alpha ability. Seems like, if they are going to give marines an ability to utilize them, that they werent ready to show it off for various reasons.

But honestly, i dont think they'll utilize it. I think it is just a matter of being in alpha stage, and the design of the marine will be changed along the way - but thats just my take on things. I would be very dissapointed if the firebat was removed. Firebat has a huge roll in fighting melee units and ripping up tightly grouped units. I think the firebat has alot of potential - and if my own speculations are right, they'll need it grouped with marines more now then ever. my own speculations leave me to believe that the shields will make it possible for the removal of the Medic, though they are a HUGE part of the Terran army. I'm not sure, but with the UED GONE (or only a small faction left), it kind of fits into the story to remove them. Just speculation though.

Lipton

United States168 Posts

May 30 2007 09:06 GMT

#17

Well as you guys can all see, you can still shoot with the shield... I dunno why everyone is trying to guess if shield mode makes a marine melee only which is dumb imo

I think the shield may be a permanent upgrade for defense... or if it is a ability they can switch on and off, they can still fire (which makes sense cause marines in SC don't run out of bullets) but move slower.

Tyrio

United States3248 Posts

May 30 2007 09:39 GMT

#18

Huh, I thought the shield and bayonet were just art changes, to make everything look prettier.

Marines are supposed to be a simple, being the first unit Terran gets. Fiving them stim and a melee mode would be too much =O

Headlines

United States482 Posts

May 30 2007 10:23 GMT

#19

Remember the Brood War intro movie? When the marine fires his last rounds at a zergling before running out and was only saved because a firebat was there? I'm sure this situation happened enough for a marine to finally say, "I'm tired of getting hacked by a zergling when I run out of bullets. Lets equip big knives at the end of our guns."

Hurricane

United States3939 Posts

May 30 2007 10:33 GMT

#20

Some marines in defense mode:

+ Show Spoiler +