Unit attack range

I'm personally against all aspects of this idea for a number of reasons.

1) As a number of others have said in this thread, it would create too much clutter on the map (especially if these range circles were shown for every unit and player!). Even limiting it to a toggleable option for one player could create a mess on-screen.
2) Knowing approximate unit ranges is part of learning how to play Starcraft. Having range circles provides too much 'help' to the player. This could also tip a player to enemy positions (such as an on-cliff Siege Tank) which is a definite no-no. Part of the strategy in Starcraft is unit placement and trying to establish positions without enemy knowledge.

Limiting this to a tutorial would also be pointless. Learning how to utilize units and ranges is part of the game and doesn't need to be handed to players on a silver platter.

 

1) I agree with you completely. I've played games with range circles. Clutter definitely happens.
This feature is usually toggleable, and could be turned off and on as needed. The clutter might conceivably be reduced by making the circles dashed, transparent, etc. It could be implemented so that only units that are selected show range circles. Clutter can be made a non-issue with good UI design.

2) People have (and do) argued the same thing about automining, MBS, smart pathfinding, etc. The question should not be, "does its absence provide an obstacle for the player to overcome?" but, "is this a skill that will be fun to master?" Do note that such a feature would not detract from players utilizing ranges, as that would exist as long as units have ranges, but only from the specific "skill" involved in knowing what those ranges are on a unit-by-unit basis.

To be honest, I can't call the skill of rapid per-unit distance judgment to be particularly fun, or even interesting. I see it as even less substantial than the sill involved in keeping workers active, in managing unit construction. It's basically loading an imaginary ruler from your "muscle memory" and pasting it onto the screen. Why not give players the option to offload that mundane task to the game?

 

Why not make so that if your holding down the space bar then it gives you a transparent circle of it's range, if it's a melée then it shows no range but if it's a group then it shows thvery edge of all the units range together to reduce cluter. And as for siege tanks it will have the same thing as a group but when individualy selected they will show there range was a tank in rank mode and a seige range (even less transparent) as well as the tank range. This would help keep you tanks far enough back from the front lines to attack but allow a reasonable amount of units through. This would also be helpful for lurker placement. So thy you can put them only was far way from the battle that they can be but still be usful in a battle. Being able to see enemy's range is a crappy idea but you allies sight range would only be usful if you're working together to get the most range out all you're tanks or lurkers or whatever. This could also be something that you could turn on/off with online stuff just buy making it a "sight map" or a normal free for all. I don't see why it would be such a huge deal. If my idea of pressing and holding the space bar or some far off key so that you would have to hold it down therefore disrupting gamplay speed for you.

 

Space is already mapped to "center on last message" ... but it might be conceivable to map it to a function key.

I do agree that it would not be a good idea to give enemy unit ranges.

 

I'm glad we all agree that it is a bad idea to give enemy unit ranges .

When I think of 'being good at Starcraft' I think there are three main skills a player can work on:
-Big Picture Smarts (knowing when and how to expand, using scouting knowledge of the enemy well, etc.)
-Unit Utilization (unit placement, good micro, countering, abilities at the right time, etc., etc.)
-Physical Point and Click Ability (how well you can physically move your mouse, how fast you can type and click on things)

In my opinion, items that decrease the importance of the third skill above in Starcraft II (such as MBS, auto-mine, unit pathing, smart-casting, etc.) are OK because these are the truly mundane things involved in a PC RTS. However, I think the first two skills are the meat of RTS-playing challenges. Adding unit range indicators infringes a little bit on unit utilization, which is why I am against it.

That said, if they do put it in Starcraft II, it won't be the end of the world. I just don't think it's necessary.

 

Yea that was just my idea IF they were to implement into SC2. I acually don't support it. It would take somthing away from from the game. I also agree with others though that it would be cool on the tutorial, but just that.

 

definitely not for enemy units. how on earth can you creep up with a long range unit (like the colossus) if your enemy can see a giant red ring moving towards them?

 

exatly. you're sitting there and theres a huge ring walking into ur base. and then ur like oh crap and just mass units at that location. would be imba. very imba.

(no more sneaking in drops and muta harrases on the mineral lines. T_T )

 

I would say, only in tutorial missions to get you a "feel" for it.

 

Idk I think only only Tutorial, I think this should stay out of the capaine stuff( bad idea)

 

hmmm pretty nice idea, but only fer tutorials >=D

anyways, one way i tell range is, 12range (siege tanks) is about my vertical screen length ^^

 

......like a radius?
anyways, welcome to the forums D.Sweag!
and i have a larger pic of ur avatar as my desktop background >=d