Constructive criticism is welcome, but no mindless SC2/Developer bashing in this thread.

Aeromi Profile Blog Joined August 2012 France 14178 Posts Last Edited: 2014-01-23 19:42:10 #1



Photon Overcharge duration decreased from 60 to 50



We’d like to try a smaller change with Photon Overcharge duration than we previously proposed because we agree that going too low on this side could negatively affect PvP. On the balance test map, we must make sure to not only test how the change works out against the other races, but also in one-base PvP play.



Time Warp energy cost increased from 75 to 100



This is another option we can go with. We hope this will decrease the effectiveness of early game Protoss strength, as well as somewhat decrease the power of Blink-based strategies, which have become a lot more effective recently.



Ghosts build with the energy upgrade built in



We believe this change will not only help Terran against Protoss, which is our top concern right now, but it’ll also help with TvP mech. Right now, we’re seeing a lot more mech usage in both TvT and TvZ, and as far as mech buffs go, we’d like to only touch TvP right now.



Hydralisk cost decreased from 100/50 to 100/25



We’re most concerned about PvZ with this change since Hydralisks are really only a core unit in that matchup. We’d love to see how the testing goes for this change on the next balance test map.



We don’t think this will be problematic for either side in TvZ right now. It’s very Zergling/Baneling/Mutalisk focused for Zerg, whereas Terran players are exploring mech play and have the already solid option to go bio. We were thinking this buff will potentially help open up some more options for Zerg in this matchup.



In ZvZ, we’re seeing a lot more Roach focused strategies than before and believe this change will allow for easier Roach/Hydra transitions.



Overall, we want to check what a general Hydralisk buff would do for all three matchups in the next balance test map.



Late game PvZ



Additionally on the Zerg front, we’re seeing a bit more in the way of super long and dragged out PvZ games in Europe. We’ve been discussing this internally and believe the main issue comes from using Swarm Hosts in a completely defensive way while taking additional expansions, massing Spore and Spine Crawlers, then continuing to play passively while using Vipers to pull key Protoss units into the forward, massed Zerg defenses. For this strategy, there are two main units involved, as well as the massing of base defenses, and we’d like a change that only hits this specific part of the PvZ game. We believe that when Swarm Hosts are not used in this manner, they aren’t an issue at the moment, especially when we see them being used in a lot of games coming from Korea. Similarly, when Vipers aren’t comboed with a mass of base defenses, we also don’t see the Viper being too powerful in other scenarios.



So the change that we’re thinking about is:



A Passive Tempest ability that allows them to deal 2-3 times more damage vs. Structures (We’re not 100% set on the actual value yet.)



Protoss players who are facing this very passive Zerg style can get Tempests without too much trouble, and they come into play late enough that we’d like to test this change. If Tempests can not only kill the Crawlers much faster, but also allow Protoss to make cost effective trades more easily in this mid-map standoff scenario, we believe there will be much less incentive for Zerg to play this way.



Again, none of this is final. We haven’t published a balance test map on it, yet. Your feedback is welcome, and if this process goes smoothly, we will look to publish a balance test map within the next couple of weeks at the latest.



Thank you.





Source :



Polls: Approve or disapprove?



+ Show Spoiler + Poll: Photon Overcharge duration decreased from 60 to 50



Doesn't go far enough (745)

62%



Good change (320)

27%



Goes too far (130)

11%



1195 total votes (745)62%(320)27%(130)11%1195 total votes Your vote: Photon Overcharge duration decreased from 60 to 50 (Vote): Goes too far

(Vote): Good change

(Vote): Doesn't go far enough





Poll: Time Warp energy cost increased from 75 to 100



Good change (777)

70%



Doesn't go far enough (177)

16%



Goes too far (160)

14%



1114 total votes (777)70%(177)16%(160)14%1114 total votes Your vote: Time Warp energy cost increased from 75 to 100 (Vote): Goes too far

(Vote): Good change

(Vote): Doesn't go far enough





Poll: Ghosts build with the energy upgrade built in



Good change (753)

68%



Goes too far (280)

25%



Doesn't go far enough (67)

6%



1100 total votes (753)68%(280)25%(67)6%1100 total votes Your vote: Ghosts build with the energy upgrade built in (Vote): Goes too far

(Vote): Good change

(Vote): Doesn't go far enough





Poll: Hydralisk cost decreased from 100/50 to 100/25



Goes too far (740)

60%



Good change (465)

38%



Doesn't go far enough (27)

2%



1232 total votes (740)60%(465)38%(27)2%1232 total votes Your vote: Hydralisk cost decreased from 100/50 to 100/25 (Vote): Goes too far

(Vote): Good change

(Vote): Doesn't go far enough





Poll: A Passive Tempest ability for bonus damage to structures



Goes too far (729)

68%



Good change (285)

27%



Doesn't go far enough (51)

5%



1065 total votes (729)68%(285)27%(51)5%1065 total votes Your vote: A Passive Tempest ability for bonus damage to structures (Vote): Goes too far

(Vote): Good change

(Vote): Doesn't go far enough

Source : http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/forum/topic/11395649563 https://twitter.com/DrAeromi | Updates on live tournaments: @StarCrafteSport

myRZeth Profile Joined June 2011 Germany 1033 Posts #2



how incompetent can you be?



hydra buff probably came up while being under Meth influence



not nerfing mshipcore vision but the other things too



what the hell is this



User was temp banned for this post. sometimes i m wonderinghow incompetent can you be?hydra buff probably came up while being under Meth influencenot nerfing mshipcore vision but the other things toowhat the hell is this

Zenbrez Profile Joined June 2012 Canada 5957 Posts #3 Oh god the hydras.



Lol @ Tempyst change. Refer to my post.

[PkF] Wire Profile Joined March 2013 France 22019 Posts #4 At last, at last. Some patch that will adress the TvP issue in a way that doesn't seem dumb.

PanzerKing Profile Joined May 2010 United States 483 Posts #5 If this is the best that they can manage, I think I'll stick with Starbow. http://tkrmx.blogspot.com/

NovaMB Profile Joined February 2013 Germany 9521 Posts Last Edited: 2014-01-23 18:27:38 #6 Tefel will become the strongest player in Europe with that Hydra buff.

My guess is that timewarp thing wont change anything, but I'll have to test that.

PO change doesnt do anything, because you can still use it on both Nexus.



Tempests: lolwut



Teoita Profile Blog Joined January 2011 Italy 11896 Posts #7 Hydra buff: competely useless and pointless. Zerg doesnt need more gas than they have now.



Mothership Core: change vision range to fix blink allins, other than that it's ok



Ghost upgrade: might bring back the ghost before medivac builds. I'm unsure what this will do to current templar builds but i doubt it'll change much honestly.



Time warp energy: what's the point of this? Why is time warp a problem? The power of blink all-ins is the vision



Tempest buff: doesnt change shit about the zerg having way more resources and, in general, making for incredibly boring games. Also it's a PvT buff, and protoss is already absolutely undefeatable when we can get tempests together with colo/templar. Moderator Protoss all-ins are like a wok. You can throw whatever you want in there and it will turn out alright.

HolydaKing Profile Joined February 2010 20320 Posts Last Edited: 2014-01-23 18:21:51 #8 Would've prefered 40 seconds for PO, but let's see!



As for the Hydra buff, it will mean an even bigger army at faster rate, which would be zergy which is cool. But I don't think it's going to be fair, I think it would be too good vs Protoss. They need another fix, maybe +10 Life?

xuanzue Profile Joined October 2010 Colombia 1628 Posts #9 hydra buff probably came up while being under Meth influence



so, you want the tempest buff for free. so, you want the tempest buff for free. Dominions 4: "Thrones of Ascension".

Whitewing Profile Joined October 2010 United States 7480 Posts Last Edited: 2014-01-23 18:16:30 #10 Oh god, that tempest buff will be insane in PvT and PvP (I play Protoss) and will not noticeably impact PvZ, the time warp nerf is okay I think, but please don't nerf overcharge at all, PvP will be completely nuked. It's barely enough time as it is. Ghosts coming with energy upgrade automatically is a little overkill I think, it's mostly going to be treated as just a slight Bio buff. As for hydras: wut? WTF!? Strategy "You know I fucking hate the way you play, right?" ~SC2John

DifuntO Profile Joined November 2011 Greece 2374 Posts #11



Time Warp and Ghost changes seem good.



Also i can't wait for the Tempest hit squads that will go one-shot Hatcheries and recall back

I don't think this Hydralisk change will actually go through.Time Warp and Ghost changes seem good.Also i can't wait for the Tempest hit squads that will go one-shot Hatcheries and recall back All I do is Stim.

invisigoat Profile Joined March 2013 183 Posts #12 I don't mind any of this personally. Imo Buffs > Nerfs so let's see what happens

Morbidius Profile Joined November 2010 Brazil 2986 Posts #13 PO nerf is insignificant, and the Tempest building damage is on queen range/oracle movespeed stupidity level. Who is it you think you see?

Storm-Giant Profile Joined March 2012 Spain 416 Posts #14 Hydra buff? Is that NEEDED? ~_~



PO nerf is little change, I can live with that.



Time Warp nerf is nice, but I wish they'd completely remove it and add something more interesting and not anti-micro.



Ghost with 75 energy...it's true that they aren't very utilized right now, but I'm not sure about this change...this will make TaeJa even stronger T_T



Tempest change, I'd rather make them a bit better vs everything and slighty less powerful vs massive, air units. <3 Rain

Plansix Profile Blog Joined April 2011 United States 15207 Posts #15 Man, I just want to be able to burn back creep with my colossi. Then I don't have to deal with spines and spores. I have the Honor to be your Obedient Servant, P.6

NukeD Profile Joined October 2010 Croatia 1604 Posts #16



User was warned for this post /FailFish sorry for dem one liners

sacade Profile Joined January 2013 166 Posts Last Edited: 2014-01-24 08:25:43 #17

first thought:



Photon Overcharge duration decreased from 60 to 50

Time Warp energy cost increased from 75 to 100

2 slight nerfs that won't break the game and make it a bit more interesting. It's nice to go with little steps.





Ghosts build with the energy upgrade built in

Moar ghosts





Hydralisk cost decreased from 100/50 to 100/25

Moar hydra

However Hydra all-in will become insane in ZvP. I like it but it needs a nerf at the same time unfortunately.





Tempest buff

Tempest are fine like they are.

It's Carrier that still get no role in SC2. A buff against buildings seems silly for them so give them a new ability or a buff to make them better vs hydra/Swarm host. edit:first thought:2 slight nerfs that won't break the game and make it a bit more interesting. It's nice to go with little steps.Moar ghostsMoar hydraHowever Hydra all-in will become insane in ZvP. I like it but it needs a nerf at the same time unfortunately.Tempest are fine like they are.It's Carrier that still get no role in SC2. A buff against buildings seems silly for them so give them a new ability or a buff to make them better vs hydra/Swarm host.

ffadicted Profile Joined January 2011 United States 3545 Posts #18 Photon Overcharge duration decreased from 60 to 50



Pointless tbh, still kills zerg and terran timings, only makes pvp more volatile. Why not photon overcharge damage nerf + bonus damage against shields? Nerf it only PvT/PvZ and keep PvP the same



Time Warp energy cost increased from 75 to 100



Uhhh... not sure where they're going with this. I guess it does help against blink stalkers, but not that much. I'd rather see a vision change honestly to make it riskier to lose the core



Ghosts build with the energy upgrade built in



Reasonable I guess, makes ghosts far cheaper to get. Terrans should be happy



Hydralisk cost decreased from 100/50 to 100/25



LOL this is complete NONSENSE. GLHF being forced to rush colossus every single game to not die to ridiculous hydra busts. GG any stargate based openings. Let's not do this. This is crazy



A Passive Tempest ability that allows them to deal 2-3 times more damage vs. Structures



Tempests attack far too slow for this to make much of a difference, and that still doesn't make the game any less boring or exciting. SooYoung-Noona!

MWY Profile Joined October 2011 Germany 220 Posts #19 Yay less upgrades more retarded buffs :D Why not make damage specific to every unit in the game?



Marine:

4 Damage vs Zealot

5 Damage vs Stalker

2 Damage vs High Templar

50 Damage vs Dark Templar

9 Damage vs Immortal

Special 100 Damage vs Observers

...

Torte de Lini Profile Blog Joined September 2010 Germany 30668 Posts #20 lol hydra buff haha! MAssing that shit asap https://twitter.com/#!/TorteDeLini (@TorteDeLini)

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