• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 13:30
CEST 19:30
KST 02:30
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Tournament Spotlight: FEL Cracow 20259Power Rank - Esports World Cup 202577RSL Season 1 - Final Week9[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall15HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18
Community News
Google Play ASL (Season 20) Announced25BSL Team Wars - Bonyth, Dewalt, Hawk & Sziky teams10Weekly Cups (July 14-20): Final Check-up0Esports World Cup 2025 - Brackets Revealed19Weekly Cups (July 7-13): Classic continues to roll8
StarCraft 2
General
#1: Maru - Greatest Players of All Time Tournament Spotlight: FEL Cracow 2025 Power Rank - Esports World Cup 2025 I offer completely free coaching services What tournaments are world championships?
Tourneys
FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $10,000 live event Esports World Cup 2025 $25,000 Streamerzone StarCraft Pro Series announced $5,000 WardiTV Summer Championship 2025 WardiTV Mondays
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation #239 Bad Weather Mutation # 483 Kill Bot Wars Mutation # 482 Wheel of Misfortune Mutation # 481 Fear and Lava
Brood War
General
Google Play ASL (Season 20) Announced [Update] ShieldBattery: 2025 Redesign Dewalt's Show Matches in China BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [BSL20] Non-Korean Championship 4x BSL + 4x China CSL Xiamen International Invitational [CSLPRO] It's CSLAN Season! - Last Chance
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers [G] Mineral Boosting Does 1 second matter in StarCraft?
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Total Annihilation Server - TAForever [MMORPG] Tree of Savior (Successor of Ragnarok) Path of Exile
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread UK Politics Mega-thread Stop Killing Games - European Citizens Initiative Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread
Fan Clubs
INnoVation Fan Club SKT1 Classic Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Korean Music Discussion
Sports
Formula 1 Discussion 2024 - 2025 Football Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NBA General Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Installation of Windows 10 suck at "just a moment" Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
TeamLiquid Team Shirt On Sale The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Ping To Win? Pings And Their…
TrAiDoS
momentary artworks from des…
tankgirl
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Socialism Anyone?
GreenHorizons
Eight Anniversary as a TL…
Mizenhauer
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 777 users

Heart of the Swarm will have a Separate Ladder

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
1 2 3 4 5 13 14 15 Next All
G_Wen
Profile Joined September 2009
Canada525 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-19 07:17:33
February 18 2011 03:49 GMT
#1
http://www.gosugamers.net/starcraft2/news/14646-heart-of-the-swarm-to-have-separate-ladder

Posted by Roy "Phantom" Kwan

In an interview with games.on.net, Dustin Browder has revealed that Heart of the Swarm expansion will have its own ladder for any player upgrading to the expansion.

As with its previous RTS titles, Blizzard's StarCraft 2 will have ladders created for each of its expansions. Dustin Browder recently told games.on.net that as with previous RTS expansions, a new ladder will be created for the Heart of the Swarm. Although there will be a separate ladder for HotS, players will still be able to play the Wings of Liberty ladder without having, 'to deal with new units or balance problems or anything like that,' said Browder.

This will most likely mean that at the end of StarCraft 2's final expansion, there will be a total of three separate ladders for the game. Legacy of the Void is the second expansion for StarCraft 2, there is currently very little information on this expansion.

Dustin also stated that there are plans to release a bunch of new maps for the multiplayer experience that will address a lot of issues that fans have raised with the current map pool. These maps, he said, will hopefully be added within the next few weeks.

Other topics the interview touched on were on StarCraft 2 mod maps. Browder elaborated on the origins of the maps Aiur Chef and StarJeweled. Blizzard DotA was also discussed. 'We’re definitely trying to streamline it, but we’re also definitely trying to make it as competitive, or even more competitive,' says Dustin Browder.


mod edit: don't link poll images directly, they expire
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=191526
Here's a poll from a previous post on how the ladder will be set up.

Personally I'm fine with separate ladders since it gives players the choice to play competitively on either game. Having one global aggregated ladder would be a much needed feature. What're your thoughts on this?
ESV Mapmaking Team
motbob
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
United States12546 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-18 03:52:05
February 18 2011 03:51 GMT
#2
I vow to someday be #1 on the WoL ladder... even if it LotV gets released and I'm the only competent player left!
ModeratorGood content always wins.
tsuxiit
Profile Joined July 2010
1305 Posts
February 18 2011 03:54 GMT
#3
It definitely makes the most sense, much more than having one ladder for both games anyway. I'm sure it will be as much of a ghost town as the RoC ladder or whatever. But I mean that makes sense.
holy_war
Profile Blog Joined July 2007
United States3590 Posts
February 18 2011 03:57 GMT
#4
On February 18 2011 12:54 tsuxiit wrote:
It definitely makes the most sense, much more than having one ladder for both games anyway. I'm sure it will be as much of a ghost town as the RoC ladder or whatever. But I mean that makes sense.


Definitely. I don't see how it is possible to combine both ladders when you have new units/mechanics/maps involved.
chonkyfire
Profile Joined December 2010
United States451 Posts
February 18 2011 03:57 GMT
#5
why wouldn't there be?


unless they don't plan on adding any new units...
Just when I thought that I saw I ghost, I realized that it was the endo smoke
Spacekyod
Profile Joined December 2010
United States818 Posts
February 18 2011 03:58 GMT
#6
I was curious how they were going to go about doing this, and i was hoping they wouldn't be creating a new ladder system. Though my only concern is, what does this mean exactly? If people on different ladders aren't able to play directly against eachother, then this will likely cut into the number of active people on each ladder and cut into wait times for games.
Riders of the Plastic Groove. "When all-in fails, all-in again!" Finally... Make way for the real DONG!
LoLAdriankat
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States4307 Posts
February 18 2011 03:59 GMT
#7
Hasn't it always been like this for Blizzard RTS? Not really surprising.
Draconicfire
Profile Joined May 2010
Canada2562 Posts
February 18 2011 03:59 GMT
#8
On February 18 2011 12:58 Spacekyod wrote:
I was curious how they were going to go about doing this, and i was hoping they wouldn't be creating a new ladder system. Though my only concern is, what does this mean exactly? If people on different ladders aren't able to play directly against eachother, then this will likely cut into the number of active people on each ladder and cut into wait times for games.


It will cut into the WoL ladder for sure, but since most people will be buying HotS, the difference there is negligible.
@Drayxs | Drayxs.221 | Drayxs#1802
Combine
Profile Joined July 2010
United States812 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-18 04:00:02
February 18 2011 03:59 GMT
#9
Dustin also stated that there are plans to release a bunch of new maps for the multiplayer experience that will address a lot of issues that fans have raised with the current map pool. These maps, he said, will hopefully be added within the next few weeks.


Please be GSL maps.

Multiple ladders make sense, but they are kind of redundant. Not going to be a ton of people playing on them knowing the older versions aren't going to be very balanced.
(ಥ_ಥ)
Essentia
Profile Joined July 2010
1150 Posts
February 18 2011 03:59 GMT
#10
On February 18 2011 12:57 chonkyfire wrote:
why wouldn't there be?


unless they don't plan on adding any new units...


Well why wouldn't there be chat channels or LAN or clan support on release of Bnet 2.0........ oh wait.....
Stiver
Profile Joined April 2010
Canada285 Posts
February 18 2011 04:04 GMT
#11
What they should do is run the WOL ladder for a few months after HOTS, after which it is shut down.

Also provide a VERY cheap digital "upgrade" for anyone with WOL to get into the HOTs ladder. Bascilly just the units, and not the campaign/any other fearutres. Bare minimum for multiplayer I say.

3 separate ladders is a sure way to completely split the community completely. I can understand most people will jump to the expansions, but suddenly a bunch of people are going to be playing on a "dead" ladder ebcause WOL is all they got.
"The most difficult thing in the world is to know how to do a thing and to watch someone else do it wrong without comment."
masterbreti
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
Korea (South)2711 Posts
February 18 2011 04:09 GMT
#12
On February 18 2011 13:04 Stiver wrote:
What they should do is run the WOL ladder for a few months after HOTS, after which it is shut down.

Also provide a VERY cheap digital "upgrade" for anyone with WOL to get into the HOTs ladder. Bascilly just the units, and not the campaign/any other fearutres. Bare minimum for multiplayer I say.

3 separate ladders is a sure way to completely split the community completely. I can understand most people will jump to the expansions, but suddenly a bunch of people are going to be playing on a "dead" ladder ebcause WOL is all they got.

basically a DLC with new ladder? it might work.


we will have to see how it pans out. we cannot predict the future
tok
Profile Joined April 2010
United States691 Posts
February 18 2011 04:09 GMT
#13
I don't see a problem with this. I don't think WoL should be left to dry without a live ladder once Hots comes out and I don't think they should be combined.

When the protoss expansion comes out I think blizz has the resources to keep 3 separate ladders without much trouble.
eviltomahawk
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States11135 Posts
February 18 2011 04:09 GMT
#14
Sounds like a reasonable solution for the ladder. Almost every RTS in existence has a separate ladder for their expansions, so it's entirely reasonable for SC2 and its expansions to have them too.

Also, I don't think it should be too much of a problem for Blizzard to keep the entire WoL ladder open after releasing their expansions. The vast majority of serious ladder players will probably switch over to the expansions' ladders, and it would be unfair to kill the WoL ladder when there will probably be a small minority of people who will continue to play it for whatever reason (such as being unable to purchase HoTS for some reason). The community split caused by separate ladders would be quite negligible.

Anyways, it's also interesting to hear Browder talk about adding new multiplayer maps. Hopefully, Blizzard will present to us another set of maps besides the ones in the PTR, although the new Lost Temple looks quite good.

ㅇㅅㅌㅅ
Torte de Lini
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Germany38463 Posts
February 18 2011 04:12 GMT
#15
Does this sound any different than how Warcraft 3 and it's Expansion was?

What's going to be interesting is how Esports will shift. Will it be entirely on-board with HOTS or will it consider both WOL and HOTS?

Balance changes too, would be interesting. If Protoss just has a more advantage on WOL than on HOTS, etc. etc.
https://twitter.com/#!/TorteDeLini (@TorteDeLini)
Mastermind
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
Canada7096 Posts
February 18 2011 04:13 GMT
#16
On February 18 2011 12:59 LoLAdriankat wrote:
Hasn't it always been like this for Blizzard RTS? Not really surprising.

Ya, exactly. This was expected.
Morphs
Profile Joined July 2010
Netherlands645 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-18 04:23:47
February 18 2011 04:21 GMT
#17
Although there will be a separate ladder for HotS, players will still be able to play the Wings of Liberty ladder without having, 'to deal with new units or balance problems or anything like that,' said Browder.


Interestsing statement. When HotS releases, the new units will affect the old units, which may have to be adjusted in response. This may actually mean that unit stats may be different between both ladders (like siege tank damage, just to name something random). Currently this is already the case between single and multiplayer.

This would also imply that WoL will eventually be "perfectly" balanced without the need for expansion units. Blizzard may be getting busy with balancing, if they have to balance two (or even three) different ladders... I wonder how that will work out. Perhaps they will just stop balancing the WoL ladder when HotS is released..
Jotoco
Profile Joined October 2010
Brazil1342 Posts
February 18 2011 04:26 GMT
#18
Blizzard said we wouldn't need to buy all 3 games to play multi-player. Guess Activision got in the way of that.

Way to keep your promises, Blizzard...

I would buy HoTS anyway, since I main zerg. But I'm not sure I want LotV, since I really dislike playing protoss. The problem is that if I want to keep playing ladder with any meaningful amount of people and stuff.

I accept this if even people who DIDN'T buy the expansion can still ladder there.
aristarchus
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States652 Posts
February 18 2011 04:31 GMT
#19
I don't even understand how else they could have possibly done this. I mean, assuming that the expansions affect the multiplayer game (new units, upgrades, buildings, whatever), then obviously both players have to be on the same version, so when you click play you'd have to pick which version you wanted to play. That means you have essentially two different games. How would you not have them on separate ladders? Would people with the expansion have to keep up with the expansion-free strategies to stay high in the ladder? It just doesn't make any sense.
Turgid
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
United States1623 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-02-18 04:42:21
February 18 2011 04:40 GMT
#20
Historically, it hasn't been the case that the release of new ladders(or areas, in the case of WoW) has significantly cut into the playing population. WoW has actually gotten pretty expensive and their battle chest system is pretty bad(it never includes the most recent expansion) but I imagine some time after LoV is released the package you will be able to buy will include both expansions.

But yes, historically, people have just bought the expansion and moved on. I remember playing a little bit of Vanilla hardcore D2(by choice) a couple years after the release of LoD and there being a fun little 10 person community. They all owned LoD they just wanted to play with the smaller community.

edit:

On February 18 2011 13:26 Jotoco wrote:
Blizzard said we wouldn't need to buy all 3 games to play multi-player. Guess Activision got in the way of that.

Way to keep your promises, Blizzard...


Yeah, how dare they keep the exact same system from every other game with expansions they've ever released.
(╬ ಠ益ಠ)
1 2 3 4 5 13 14 15 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
14:00
Bracket Day 2 - Final
LiquipediaDiscussion
FEL
09:00
Cracow 2025
Clem vs Reynor
RotterdaM2522
ComeBackTV 2149
IndyStarCraft 617
WardiTV449
CranKy Ducklings215
3DClanTV 156
Rex131
EnkiAlexander 53
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
RotterdaM 2522
IndyStarCraft 617
Rex 131
Vindicta 16
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 35002
Barracks 1060
Larva 908
Nal_rA 782
BeSt 434
Shine 393
firebathero 280
Soulkey 143
Hyun 75
sSak 38
[ Show more ]
yabsab 25
Free 22
Terrorterran 15
IntoTheRainbow 7
Dota 2
Gorgc7705
qojqva3981
420jenkins387
Counter-Strike
fl0m3732
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor674
Liquid`Hasu417
Other Games
B2W.Neo515
Hui .205
KnowMe135
QueenE82
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1814
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 20 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• StrangeGG 56
• HeavenSC 36
• Legendk 10
• iHatsuTV 8
• Adnapsc2 7
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• sooper7s
• intothetv
• Migwel
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
StarCraft: Brood War
• Azhi_Dahaki17
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• Nemesis2349
• WagamamaTV746
League of Legends
• Jankos2165
Other Games
• imaqtpie437
Upcoming Events
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
30m
Bonyth vs Zhanhun
Dewalt vs Mihu
Hawk vs Sziky
Sziky vs QiaoGege
Mihu vs Hawk
Zhanhun vs Dewalt
Fengzi vs Bonyth
Wardi Open
17h 30m
Sparkling Tuna Cup
1d 16h
WardiTV European League
1d 22h
Online Event
2 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
2 days
The PondCast
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Korean StarCraft League
5 days
CranKy Ducklings
5 days
[ Show More ]
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
Murky Cup #2

Ongoing

Copa Latinoamericana 4
Jiahua Invitational
BSL 20 Non-Korean Championship
BSL 20 Team Wars
FEL Cracov 2025
CC Div. A S7
Underdog Cup #2
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25

Upcoming

ASL Season 20: Qualifier #1
ASL Season 20: Qualifier #2
ASL Season 20
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
BSL Season 21
RSL Revival: Season 2
Maestros of the Game
SEL Season 2 Championship
WardiTV Summer 2025
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
HCC Europe
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.