Starcraft 2 develpers Dustin Browder, David Kim and Josh Menke took the opportunity to talk about the state of balance in Starcraft 2 and the new multiplayer units for Heart of the Swarm on the Panel Discussion stage earlier this evening at Blizzcon.
Browder started off discussion with a look at current balance in Wings of Luberty from global Battle.net data and tournament results. For the most part, according to data, most matchups were fairly even with the notable exception like Master's level Zerg vs Protoss favoring Zerg on the EU ladder and the Terrans absolutely dominating GSL Code S in tournament play.
The team has been keeping a close eye on the state of balance after 1.4, especially in the Terran vs. Protoss matchup, particularly trying to nerf the 1/1/1 build, among other things. The increase to range on immortals has helped, but they are still considering a (well desrved) nerf to EMP's range, among other things, to further improve balance.
Of course, with the coming expansion things are going to get shaken up quite alot. This gives the team the opportunity to introduce new units and of course, change thigns about the overall race design they were not satisfied with. Browder took a moment to note that the game is a work in progress and that they still need to go through the open beta phase, and nothing at this point is final.
Here's an in depth look at what the developer's feel the issues effecting current play are, as well as a more indepth look at the new units than our earlier article;
Terrans
Issues and weaknesses
Thor is too slow and clumsy
Race has difficulties in handling mass zealots in late game
New units and abilities
New "battle mode" for hellion – transforms like a viking
Battle mode hellion has more hit points, moves more slowly
Shorter, wider arc on flame attack, and stronger
Gives terran a beefy front-line fighter in the late game
Warhound
Smaller, more nimble version of Thor
Effective anti-mech ground weapon to help break siege tank lines
Anti-air attack with splash damage
Shredder
Robot that emits channeled, area of effect damage when immobilized
Damage automatically shuts off when an ally moves into range
Gives terran cheap zone control, but can't be used near main army
Is still very work-in-progress
Thor
Moved to late game, more hit points and damage
Can only have one, like mothership from Wings of Liberty
Zerg
Issues and weaknesses
Mid-game difficulties with siege and controlling areas
Missed opportunities with certain units like ultralisk and corruptor
New units and abilities
Ultralisk
Existing version is bulky and has difficulties engaging in battle
New burrow charge ability lets it dive underground and get into the fight easily
Viper
New caster unit with detection — replaces overseer
Has abilities like blinding cloud to help break entrenched positions
Abduct ability allows it to pull units to itself — pull siege tanks or colossus out of death balls
Swarm host
Zerg artillery for map control and siege
Burrows into the ground, and continuously generates small creatures to attack
Feels very zerg-y
Protoss
Issues and weaknesses
Needs more raiding options
Needs area of effect, anti-air attacks
New units and abilities
Tempest
New protoss capital ship, replaces carrier
Anti-air splash damage for mutalisks and other aircraft
Has direct air-to-ground attack as well that isn't splash
Replicant
Special unit that can clone itself into any non-massive unit
Allows protoss to also take siege tanks or infestors from enemies
Is very expensive
Still very much a work-in-progress, not-final unit
Oracle
Caster unit used for raiding and harassment
Can disable enemy structures, or prevent miningwith its abilities
Doesn't actually kill or damage anything
Mothership is cut in favor of this unit
Some other interesting changes that are being looked at right now have been glazed over;
Terran;
Reapers will be able to regenerate outside of combat, yet lose their ability to attack buildings.
Battlecrusiers will get a new cooldown based ability for a speed boost, allowing them to jump into fights more easily.
Zerg;
Banelings will be able to move underground, via a Lair upgrade
Hydralisks get a speed upgrade off-creep movement
Corruptors gain a new spell; Siphon. Usable on buildings – while buildings are Siphoned, Zerg player gains minerals for each damage.
Protoss
New abilities for the Nexus; Mass Recall, acts like Town Portal from Warcraft 3, allowing your army to quickly return to base from battle. The other is a defensive ability that turns any building into a weapon similar to a proton cannon, while regenerating shields.
Dustin Steiner is GameZone's eSports Correspondent! Follow him on Twitter @SteinerDustin
