StarCraft 2

[psycho bolt]

This is just in. Preorder SC2 on gamestop or amazon and you can play the beta

[felix]

Originally Posted by psycho bolt

This is just in. Preorder SC2 on gamestop or amazon and you can play the beta

Its already old news. Check the above. Also I do believe they only have US keys.

[Alaya]

Can the collector edition be pre-ordered too? I would like to buy the collector edition one but I'm not sure if it pre-order able or not. And does Amazon also give away the beta key for the pre-order clients too? I don't live in the NA so ordering from other shops would not be possible for me, therefore my only choice for internet pre-order is Amazon...

EDIT: It seems that only the regular edition is eligible for the beta-code. Now need to check that is it also apply to the NA order only too or not...

[felix]

http://us.starcraft2.com/launcher/patch-notes.htm

[cors8]

I don't understand how you can lower Concussive Shell build time/cost while keeping Zealot charge the same.

Map editor is nice though.

[Archon_Wing]

lol, wtf? I would expect buffs to other T units and a LONGER concussive shell research time. If Terrans weren't already Marauder only enough.

Nice Battle.net features. Map editor is here, and I do believe customizable hotkeys are here as well. That's pretty good, considering the default ones seem so random.

I really don't see the need to buff crawlers. Neural parasite seems like fun.

[felix]

Its "decrease" as in slower (1.6 to 1.85). Its a slight tweak.

Originally Posted by cors8

I don't understand how you can lower Concussive Shell build time/cost while keeping Zealot charge the same.

This is going to come of rude but I mean no harm: its because you don't have 3 servers worth of data mining and dedicated team of balance testers and have not been playing though all sorts of different unit stats, abilities as well as play-testing any crazy unit composition one may come up with, for the past few years. I'd also suggest you steer away from any heavy balance discussions on forums as well. This game seem to have more then its fair share of balance super heroes.

[cors8]

Originally Posted by felix

Its "decrease" as in slower (1.6 to 1.85). Its a slight tweak.
This is going to come of rude but I mean no harm: its because you don't have 3 servers worth of data mining and dedicated team of balance testers and have not been playing though all sorts of different unit stats, abilities as well as play-testing any crazy unit composition one may come up with, for the past few years. I'd also suggest you steer away from any heavy balance discussions on forums as well. This game seem to have more then its fair share of balance super heroes.

Too bad all their wonderful data caused the first nerf, which really didn't change much as T still massed Marauders.

Now they revert it, and guess what's going to happen? Still more mass Marauders.

And it's not like Terran were lacking the Tech Labs on their Barracks to research it either.

As for balance discussions, until there's a rule that says you can't, I'll continue to discuss it if I feel like it. You can go ahead and ignore it if you want.

[felix]

Mass Marauder isn't exactly bad; you are very vulnerable to air, even something simple as a warp prism with a immortal can do unholy damage to your base. Oh and I wasn't talking about discussing here. I was talking about the 1001 threads you find on battlenet.

[cors8]

Originally Posted by felix

Mass Marauder isn't exactly bad; you are very vulnerable to air, even something simple as a warp prism with a immortal can do unholy damage to your base. Oh and I wasn't talking about discussing here. I was talking about the 1001 threads you find on battlenet.

If Protoss had any air worthy enough.......

Terran also has easy access to Vikings already since a Starport is standard for all builds.

Marines already did an adequate job too.

Air is really not a viable vulnerablity.

[felix]

But... you said he's going all-in marauder.

Protoss has Phoenix,

• it shoots 2 times faster then the Vikings, but has 2 times lower damage so DPS is the same, countrary to apearances
• has 180hp (60 of which are shields) compared to Viking's 125hp (even with emp its not exactly weaker)
• is 2 times faster then the viking, making kiting and whatever range advantage nullified
• can hit air and can hit ground with its ability (smart-casting has pretty much eliminated any skill required to use spells)
• its only 25gas more expensive then a Viking

And if that wasn't enough it does +5x2 bonus vs light. Vikings are not light so yes a Poenix's at minimum damage has the same DPS as a Vikings. This also means Phoenix will rape any light ground. Cost for cost the phoenix is the most powerful air unit in the game. Its weakness is capital ships.

I can not see how you can mass Marauder yet hope to fend of the Phoenix with Vikings. Add Mothership and you have even more trouble. You could add some marines (in your Marauder spam) but then getting some Void Rays (now that they have been re-designed to rape Light) will be the end of that.

-

Moving from one overpowered stratagy to another. On the topic of mass Roaches for Zerg, here's a tutorial on effectively creating Hydralisks:

Spoiler:

[HowTo] Origami Hydralisk

[felix]

Originally Posted by Archon_Wing

I do believe customizable hotkeys are here as well.

Yes. More importantly the old F keys are back.

[edit]

A few other un-listed changes:

• several sound effects changed and added
• some decals changed
• icons changed (see Hydralisk range)
• more buildings animate when doing stuff (in particular Zerg buildings)
• you can no longer use abilities by clicking portraits, so no more: ctrl+spawn-larva macro, or ctrl+chrono-boost macro (among others)
• some textures changed
• some animations and sound effects changed (like Hellions blue flames)

[felix]

More /dance and /cheer

[-Sho-]

The first seven minutes Singleplayer Campaign :

Omg , did i just saw Goliaths , Medics , Scouts !!
Ow a "Draken Laser Drill"
Seems promising ^^

Edit : A Cinematic here :

Zeratul ^^

For more campaign info :

http://kotaku.com/5522076/starcraft-...o-the-campaign

[felix]

On the same topic: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/view...opic_id=121072

[Alaya]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiFiQ6nI70A

Seems hotfix is coming pretty soon(tm)

[Lostdreams]

Originally Posted by Alaya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiFiQ6nI70A

Seems hotfix is coming pretty soon(tm)

lol, I was just going to post that right now.

[-Sho-]

The Firebat <3 :

http://starcraft2.judgehype.com/images.php?img=126191

http://starcraft2.judgehype.com/images.php?img=126181

[Roger Rambo]

I'd been sorta hoping that the Firebats would be more Marine sized than Marauder sized...

Suppose we'll just have to wait for mods.

[Ithekro]

Need room for all that gas.