StarCraft 2

[Tokkan]

Uh, about this "they should've added a new race or two", I believe a Blizzard spokesman did say that they may consider adding a new race in one of the expansions.

They came close to it in WC3:TFT, with the Naga as a campaign-only playable race.

[krisslanza]

Originally Posted by Keroko

Around 26 to 30 missions per campaign.

For comparison, the average Starcraft campaign was around 10 missions I believe. That's triple the game. Don't mind if I drool.

Basically one 'expansion' of SC2 has as much storyline content as the full game of StarCraft or Brood War.

[Ithekro]

Such is progress....and ten years to write in one's spare time.

[Dansickle]

I don't know why they'd add a fourth race, it just doesn't make sense. The story is pretty well defined as it stands and adding a fourth race just further complicates balance issues (which have and still do plague TFT's 4 race system). I think three works best for story, game balance and still gives you variety.

[Ithekro]

It is not like they've hinted at there being one more race out there. The one responcible for the Zerg and Protoss to some extent. How they maybe a balanced playable race, or maybe they are an overpowering non-playable race. We don't know for sure.

They could be an "Old Gods/Titans" like race for all we really know.

Then there is the hybrid race...which may be the same thing...of the Protass and Zerg.

And despite is being an April Fool's joke, I sort of want Tauren Marines. Two legged chaingun using bovine tanks.

[Tokkan]

Tauren Marines have been confirmed to be available in the map editor.

[brocko]

Whao, pretty massive updates and a buttload of new info this past day. Absolutely loving the new zerg models! And all these new abilities that they've introduced (dark pylons for one) sound interesting too!

StarCraft II Q&A [Batch 49]
Multiple Forum Updates from Blizzard Staff

[krisslanza]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

It is not like they've hinted at there being one more race out there. The one responcible for the Zerg and Protoss to some extent. How they maybe a balanced playable race, or maybe they are an overpowering non-playable race. We don't know for sure.

They could be an "Old Gods/Titans" like race for all we really know.

Then there is the hybrid race...which may be the same thing...of the Protass and Zerg.

And despite is being an April Fool's joke, I sort of want Tauren Marines. Two legged chaingun using bovine tanks.

The Xel'Naga you mean? They'd be a... Unique idea to say the least. Not to mention the Protoss/Zerg hybrids.

I'd feel they might suit more as 'minor' races. That is akin to like Critters in WC. You couldn't actually play as them but they might function as an enemy force in some campaign level or some such.

[brocko]

Enemy critters worked in WC3 because of the experience and hero system. I definitely wouldn't want to see anything like that in SC2, it'd serve no point imo (attacking critters i mean). If you meant for them to be campaign enemies and campagin playable or as such i totally agree 100%, that'd be the best way to introduce a new race I believe.

[Tokkan]

Originally Posted by krisslanza

The Xel'Naga you mean? They'd be a... Unique idea to say the least. Not to mention the Protoss/Zerg hybrids.

I'd feel they might suit more as 'minor' races. That is akin to like Critters in WC. You couldn't actually play as them but they might function as an enemy force in some campaign level or some such.

You mean creeps, critters are non-combatant.

[krisslanza]

Originally Posted by Tokkan

You mean creeps, critters are non-combatant.

Err yeah You knew what I meant

@borcko: That's what I meant. You couldn't play them competitively (maybe on a custom map or something) but you could fool around with them in like single player.

[Demongod86]

These new base abilities IMO are really good. It lets casuals just sit there and mass and fight, while it still has that "micromanaging base gives advantage" that pro players so desire.

[Papaya]

Originally Posted by Dansickle

I don't know why they'd add a fourth race, it just doesn't make sense. The story is pretty well defined as it stands and adding a fourth race just further complicates balance issues (which have and still do plague TFT's 4 race system). I think three works best for story, game balance and still gives you variety.

Don't ask for source for the following, because it's super-old and I won't be able to find it.

Anyway, Warcraft III was originally supposed to have 5 races. In addition to the current 4, there was supposed to be the Burning Legion, a race of demons. Units like the Dreadlord were supposed to be with the demons, but the race was eventually scrapped. When this news was revealed, one of the devs basically said that since WC2 had 2 races, SC had 3, and WC3 now had 4, SC2 would have 5 and they'd have a happy pattern.

The real reason SC2 probably doesn't have 5 races (+Hybrids and Xel'Naga) is because the design team is totally different. The lead designer, for example, hasn't worked on any Blizzard RTS's before. In fact, he made stuff like Battle for Middle Earth... snooze.

[Tokkan]

No, Warcraft 3 was originally envisioned to have 6 races. But when they couldn't think of a 6th, they dropped it to 5. And then the 5th (Burning Legion) was scrapped because they had trouble thinking about how they could balance 5 races.

[Clarste]

Originally Posted by Tokkan

No, Warcraft 3 was originally envisioned to have 6 races. But when they couldn't think of a 6th, they dropped it to 5. And then the 5th (Burning Legion) was scrapped because they had trouble thinking about how they could balance 5 races.

I think they probably had an idea for the sixth, but dropped it early in development. I really doubt they would announce an arbitrary number of races when they hadn't even though of them yet. Also, in addition to balance issues, they decided that keeping the demons as NPCs would allow them to make them stronger and scarier for the campaign.

[Dansickle]

I know WC3 was supposed to have more races, but that doesn't really have much to do with my comment. I was just using WC3's 4 race system and its balance issues as an example for why they should stick to three.

[Demongod86]

BTW Rob Clotworthy and Glynnis Talken aren't returning to voice Raynor/Kerri.

WTF Blizz, WTF...

[Nosauz]

really? VA's for blizz games have never been what I've focused on. I hope they keep stimpacks because I just love the sound when marines use em... "tzzzz awww yeaahhh"

[yezhanquan]

Glynnis is pretty well known by Blizz fans. She's the Rogue in Diablo, for starters.

Still, English VAs don't interest me the way seiyu does. Would be looking forrward to the (probably) kick ass campaign.

[Keroko]

Originally Posted by Demongod86

BTW Rob Clotworthy and Glynnis Talken aren't returning to voice Raynor/Kerri.

WTF Blizz, WTF...

Any idea why they aren't returning? It doesn't necessarily have to be Blizzard's call, you know. It could also be that those two refused the job, or were asking for abnormal payments.