StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 19

[img width=630 height=137]http://www.starcraft2forums.org/img/qa4.jpg[/img]​

I hope everyone enjoyed our last batch of Q&As about Map Making, which is just the beginning of a series. This batch, we have a new set of exciting community questions about StarCraft II as well as reasonings to why Devs make the decisions they do. In addition, we also have a mini chat with devs about all the new changes that they are continuing to experiment with.

I also want to wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween!

Chat with Devs: Since the Terran Cobra took over the Protoss Stasis Orbs slowing attack, the Protoss Orb got a few new abilities including the Force Field ability. This will be very interesting for early team games, as you can use a force field on a choke point to keep an opponent's teammate from arriving to help their allies. The Devs are testing out various abilities on different units as you can see, and even the Templar has received its classic Hallucination ability back.

As always, feel free to give the Devs and I a w00t if your enjoying these Q&As!

---StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 19---

1. Will the Protoss be getting any mechanism for healing their units or repairing their buildings?

There are no plans to give the Protoss any healing abilities, especially since their shield regeneration rate when out of combat, is more than twice the rate of the original StarCraft.

2. With the new physics engine, can explosions affect surroundings? (like hurt or push units, destroy doodads, etc ) (sc2blog.com)

Explosions will not be able to push units, but they can destroy doodads. In fact, destroying certain doodads will be vital on certain maps, to get access to expansions or other strategic locations. Furthermore, explosions will not be able to push units because it would affect gameplay and balance negatively, in having units be knocked off cliffs, be stuck in unplanned locations, or ultimately have units disoriented where the player cannot control them.

3. How long does a unit typically take to make from concept to playable unit?

With a finished concept piece, it could take from a few days to a few months, to create it for the game. Much of this time depends on the priority of the unit amongst other development goals, as well as the iterations necessary to perfect the unit. The Zerg Baneling is an example of a unit that took only a few days to complete after the concept, whereas the Protoss Stalker has gone through several iterations, and has taken 4-5 months.

4. Are the units on the official site finalized, or is everything still up for grabs at this point? (gamereplays.org)

We are still heavily in the development phase of StarCraft II, thus none of the units on the website are 100% final. We are also still testing out several new units, abilities, and mechanics, to create the most fluid StarCraft II experience.

5. What do the Protoss eat? (where do they get energy and mass?) (starcraftcz.com)

Protoss gain nutrition from sunlight, or at a pinch, moonlight (which is just reflected sunlight anyway) by absorbing through their skins. They can go for extended periods without absorbing sunlight. What little moisture they need is also absorbed through their skin.


---End of Transmission---




Bonus 800 minerals for a New Thread of Extreme Interest

 

LOL at the last question ;D

And grr at the first -.- Alright, don't heal them, but WE NEED THE BATTERY!

Thanks for posting this!

 

Question 5. Um....That's real useful.....

 

Hey something usefeull. (1 and 2)

Amazing.

 

wow sunlight feeds the Protoss thats just cool, they're like sentient plants

 

That's way cool! :good:
I wonder how long exactly can they live without the sunlight, and how long without the water?

 

Who said anything about them needing water?

 

Moisture = water

 

Oh missed the moisture part.

 

WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!!! what about dark templar? well? there like always in the shadows?

 

Lol @ 5th answer xD ! That's absurd, Protoss are material organisms, they cannot just live from sunlight, or it's meant they are robots running on sun batteries ? And moisturizing with water for overheating engines? Who's idea was this?

 

I think that whole sunlight info comes from one of the books or what not.

Anyways, more importantly. The High Temp now has Hallucination back and the Orb ( wow, real generic name there) has the shield wall thing. If memory serves the orb comes out sooner. However, it won't last. They said one of its main uses is cutting off help from allies early game. That is way too powerful. They are gonna have to do something about it.

 

Because earth organisms are the only way anything can live right?

 

This just in: Protoss are actually silicon based

 

They are soft as silicon implants ^^

 

That's silicone

 

That's cool, you just walk naked and get full Naked Toss Really, that theory is funniest aliens theory ever heard...

 

niice, best Q&A evar :thumbup:

 

dude... that's weird.... WOWOWOWOW do u think that protoss make chlorophyll? (or maybe chlorophyll in protoss language)

 

A pretty sweet Q & A. I had a hunch that the Protoss were a light-based energy consumer...

Also a good reminder that nothing is final, even the stuff on the website.