What New RTS Elements would you like to see in SC2?

[reddbeta]

Starcraft is one of the best RTS games in history, but what things could be added to make it an even better game? any thing from other RTS games you'd like to see in starcraft 2?

Personally id like to see a formation button like in Star wars: Battlegrounds. where you can set selected troops to move in different formations. having your troops spread out would reduce losses form AoE damage. havening troops in a tight formation would be good for breaking trough tight defenses. there was 2 others but i cant remember what they did

[Faiien]

well blizzard currently stated the fact that their not trying to revolutionize the rts industry, just trying to stick to the original concept of sc1
but i would like to see the strategy level of the game taken to another level

[Protogod]

I too would like to see a formations button. That made a fairly significant difference in sc1

[Faiien]

OMG!!! thats a great idea formation buttons would be great hmmm
it sure did make a difference in aoe and different formations could counter each other

[BlackDefiler]

Well, it would look quite stupid for Zerg. Might work with Terran though. It could be an advantage for T above the other two races :P

[reddbeta]

well there was also the box formation where units would form around a hero or higher ranking unit there is also the Flank formation were your units would split into two groups and moved and attacked (i had to install the game to refresh my self on that) though a V formation would be cool for air units and may have some use to ground. as for zerg...well they are all controlled by a former terran

[Basan]

I think that they'll have a formation button, at least similar to the one in WC3-TFT which, when pressed, placed the melee units up front and the ranged ones more in the back (kinda square formation) and it kept that formation when that group was moving though the map. It wasn't totally perfect but faired pretty well.

[Protogod]

It wasn't totally perfect but faired pretty well.
It wouldnt be perfect in reael life either. I mean, we arent...spartans.

SPARTANS, PHALANX!!!!!

[reddbeta]

It wouldnt be perfect in reael life either. I mean, we arent...spartans.

SPARTANS, PHALANX!!!!!

off topic but buy marines the shield upgrade and bang! make a marine phalanx

[pytum]

Well, it would look quite stupid for Zerg.

lol, imagine the zerg with some formations... that would be out of place, well aside from the formations button(btw i like them), i also like the idle worker button (that it is in) and the gather-automatically rally point for workers

[Fiendwurm]

it wouldm't look good for zerg but it would be helpfull

i have another formation... turtle range units to the center melee on the out side. units get defence bonus and when being attack the melee will run to the units attacking then run back.

And a second: (not realy a formation) Scatter press the scatter button then press on the map and yo ur units flee from it! (Oh boy more micro i have to learn)

for zerg i think things like single file lines for moveing through tight spaces would be good

[BlackDefiler]

No thanks. Seen enough single lines in SC1 already.

[Basan]

lol, imagine the zerg with some formations...

They already have one, the swarming lines. :smirk:
Although a bit of auto' range coordination between Hydras and 'Lings (like I've stated before) would be awesome.

[reddbeta]

hmm what about moving in multiple lines? like the flank but they move in two or more lines?

possibly even having special formations for each race?

[pytum]

like "swarm formation" for zerg and the classical for terran, i dont have any idea for a special formation for protoss

[reddbeta]

V or curve?

i think formation is a must have but is there any other elements that can be added?

[TitanWing]

Formations...as long as there isn't any complicated (and useless) attack/defense/speed/LoS/etc alterations.

Essentially: no. :P
They already form into blocks when ordered to move as groups. Zerg on the other hand, should gather together in unorganized masses, not orderly formations.

[Basan]

I think that formations, if any, would have to be different from race to race. As I've implied already the Zerg would do the swarming or lines, but keeping their ranged/caster units more in the back. The Terran would perform a nice square like formation or close to it, depending on the amount of units that that group had. And the 'Tossies would probably do a V form one since their base units, the 'Lots are melee and the pointer would draw more fire power to it leaving the rest of the Zealots to charge in and get a few shots without having too much trouble.
Seems logical, but ain't sure if easily doable in game engine terms. *Shrugs, wondering*

[PrestonBurke]

Yes, the Idle Worker button would be very useful. Well, at least for low APM players like me. I wouldn't mind if they added the "automatic qeue" button from AOM into SC2.

[Protogod]

making things easy for "low apm players" isnt the intention...thats what we've been complaining about, lol.

[TitanWing]

Idle worker button: yes
"queue is full" warning with annoying buzz sound: fuck no!

[pytum]

i want to have in starcraft a zoom to see more closer a battle :]

and that the camera could be moved to the ground to see everything like being a unit

[Basan]

That is already doable with map cinematics in WC3-TFT. ;) It mostly depends on the location of the cameras you're gonna use for the cinematic.

I know that you wanted a more FPS looks but for that you might wanna wait for SC:Ghost to get resumed (and ended). Furthermore I don't think that it'd be SC'ty to do it anyway. Plus the extra strain on the game engine to pull those complete view changes and extra detail needed when in unit view mode.

[reddbeta]

what about trade and alliance screens while in battle?

[BlackDefiler]

what about trade and alliance screens while in battle?

Play Age of Empires for things like that.

[Protogod]

i want to have in starcraft a zoom to see more closer a battle

I'm sure it'll be included, but you do realise that it will be 100% USELESS in a real match, right?

You wont have time in a regular match to zoom in and watch the fireworks. You should be microing your armies and macroing your base. If you're sitting there, zoomed in, watching units shoot each other it means you are doing something wrong.

[TitanWing]

Only adds strain on the computer and won't be used at all.

[Basan]

what about trade and alliance screens while in battle?

I haven't played WC3-TFT team matches but if I recall right from the scarce rep's seen around here in those you have a board that tells ya how much resources your allies have and to which you can supply some in case of need.

[pytum]

I'm sure it'll be included, but you do realise that it will be 100% USELESS in a real match, right?

You wont have time in a regular match to zoom in and watch the fireworks. You should be microing your armies and macroing your base. If you're sitting there, zoomed in, watching units shoot each other it means you are doing something wrong.

yeah, you right. but i might help finding some units since it will be a lil bit complicated to find units since it is in 3d, and do not forget about ums

[Basan]

... but i might help finding some units since it will be a lil bit complicated to find units since it is in 3d, and do not forget about ums

Camera rotation angles for the win? :angel:

[DarkLStrike]

Zerg can only assume one formation: mob formation.

I think they should make infantry more versatile like in other RTS'es, create more upgrades and weapons for them will be a start.

[TitanWing]

I like upgrades like Combat Shield. It's more interesting than just increasing range or attack.

[Kellanved]

zoom-in would be good for observers, or watching replays

[Basan]

zoom-in would be good for observers, or watching replays

Heh... it already had similar in WC3-TFT so I believe that SC2 won't be any different. :)

[Sil3nt]

I would personally like a larger mini-map view like in Dungeon Keeper, where you could click on a map symbol next to the mini-map and the screen would just transform into the map with different features like the zoom in button.

EG: You could zoom in so close that you could see the 'What use to be a dot' unit.

[SgtHK]

Heh... it already had similar in WC3-TFT so I believe that SC2 won't be any different. :)

But the main difference with zooming in SC2 and zooming in WC3 is that the camera in WC3 only changes angle, never really moving closer

[Basan]

Heh, I recall using the mouse wheel button along with some other command to zoom in the units present at some point during my campaigns play. Therefore it must be there along side with being in the manual as well. :P

[BlackDefiler]

I would personally like a larger mini-map view like in Dungeon Keeper, where you could click on a map symbol next to the mini-map and the screen would just transform into the map with different features like the zoom in button

If you started playing with the minimap like that in SC2 you would be pwned within seconds IMO

[BlizzJK]

Yes, interesting idea that could work for the terrans. They could have this options but only for flesh units. I can't think of group of thors or tanks going in formation!

[DarkMirror]

Uh, sure they could. Planes go in formation, why not mechs?

[TitanWing]

Because they have human pilots! Just like the infantry zomg!

[Fiendwurm]

oo vikings have pilots, thors have pilots, Goliaths had pilots.

[Protogod]

Yes, the terran mechs ALL have pilots.

[TitanWing]

Terran everything has a pilot.

[reddbeta]

...i think the nukes need a pilot....like crazy guy in a cowboy hat that rides it to his death

[Protogod]

...i think the nukes need a pilot....like crazy guy in a cowboy hat that rides it to his death

I cant even tell if this is spam or not, lol.

[Kawagata]

don't the zerg swarm like junkyard dog when idled now?? Formations win battles. It stops charging in one by one just to be taken down one by one.

[BlackDefiler]

I just hope they get rid of the "move in a single line" as it was in SC.

[Thedutchjelle]

...i think the nukes need a pilot....like crazy guy in a cowboy hat that rides it to his death

+rep for that :)

I haven't played (m)any new RTSes, so i don't really know what i would want in SCII. Formations are a must, but i just hope it wont make Terran moving to easy. Like, now the Terran players has to move vultures carefully around the tanks, and with a formation button they can just move easily.

I'm not a Terran player so if ^ is not accurate w/e.
I know there are no vultures in SCII, but it was an example.

[TitanWing]

I just hope they get rid of the "move in a single line" as it was in SC.
It's fixed. They automatically move in a sort of block formation.

[sdbolts11]

Oh that's good. But are there different formations like in Age of Empire 2 for example?

[Thedutchjelle]

Oh that's good. But are there different formations like in Age of Empire 2 for example?

I don't think so.

And about the units in box-formation, I'm sure people will start to whine about that to.

'Itz to ez for splash damage!!!111'

[TitanWing]

Well, single file isn't any better.

[sdbolts11]

Hmm, there should be at least like a tight formation, then a loose formation :/

[Basan]

Hmm, there should be at least like a tight formation, then a loose formation :/

That already happens in WC3-TFT. They have a formation and then the non formation. :P

[TitanWing]

I don't care about formations...in all the games I've played, they don't make any difference.

[pytum]

yeah they make the difference... atleast that you didnt use them well...
the formations look nice how they change from one formation to another

[sdbolts11]

Back in my old AoE2 days, formations helped a hell of a lot :/

[IceSkirt]

That game has a completely different style of gameplay, something that helped in that might not help in SC.

[sdbolts11]

I guess you're right. However, at the very least an added "loose" formation would reduce casualties from major splash attacks like from the Tank or Banshee.

[SuperKiller]

formations hurt me more than helped. run your army away with a cannon in the group and see how big of a difference it makes in death count.

i don't care if they are in, just don't make it forced.

[Thedutchjelle]

I don't care about formations...in all the games I've played, they don't make any difference.

I've played a game called Myth 2. If you didn't use formations, you would die horrible and in pain.

But w/e. I'm not really bothered by formations either, i usually group my units together before i attack anyway.

[TitanWing]

I just don't really see how it fits into SC or will make even a minor difference anyways. It's just another way to throw micro out the window by just clicking a button.

[Basan]

The formations did for us in WC3-TFT was to keep your group in a more orderly fashion when moving from point A to B. That means that faster units, at certain intervals waited for the slower ones. And they tried to keep that kinda squary formation lines.

Maybe it won't be that different in SC2. :)

[sdbolts11]

If Blizz simply put it that way in WC3, then I bet they will do the same in SC2.

[Thedutchjelle]

I just don't really see how it fits into SC or will make even a minor difference anyways. It's just another way to throw micro out the window by just clicking a button.

The game has to be playable by new players as well, fyi.

[starfeeder]

I dunno about formations, in the original game unit placement was just something you did, and if you were able to get your units placed right behind that peon line, or blocking that choke point just right it added to that feeling of YES I pwn you.

I think formations would take away from that SC feel

[sdbolts11]

Well, to some extent, modern combat isn't so much formations anymore with the innovations vehicle transportation, powerful explosives to wipe out troop masses, battle vehicles, etc. but SC2 is not real life, and there are no land-based APC's, so maybe an organized march formation or two for terran units would be nice.

Zerg animals being organized is beyond anything lol, and Protoss just want to kill As fast as possible the Terrans so they won't be "infested" and Zerg for the fun of it and saving their race recovering as a victim of massive genocide.

[Kawagata]

Formation is crucial in any battle. I'm just going to list a few reasons from sc.

100 Zergling +line against FB+ medic= totally wasted
Rever in lines will make the scarabs get caught in the end tail of the forward reaver.
Spread out your mutas and ovies to avoid rape by storm or sairs.
Anyone played lurker d before?Formation is eveything here.
4 zealots side by side will live longer against 4 zealots far apart against zerglings, because together there's is less area to attack them from.

xxxxxx
x0000x
xxxxxx
That's 14 spots to atk from

xxx xxx xxx xxx
x0x x0x xox xox
xxx xxx xxx xxx

That's 32 spots to atk from.

[TitanWing]

That's just unit positioning, which is a micro skill.

[Kawagata]

positioning= formation.

except formation is all automated..

[TitanWing]

except formation is all automated..
You just disagreed with yourself. :P

[Faiien]

That's just unit positioning, which is a micro skill.
but what if i want my units to stay in that position instead of clumping again

[TitanWing]

That's formations, which is not a micro skill.

[Kawagata]

well formations includes parts of the poisionting.. Instead of moving each unit, there could be a preset.

[Tael_Zenith]

Well Don't really like the idea of formations unless done like BFME, where different formations carry both bonus' and drawbacks.

An element I'd like to see would be mineral or vespene generators, Like CnC Generals Hackers, Supply Drop Zones and Black Market. Though I'm not sure how it could translate into two separate resource.

[TitanWing]

Bonus resource generators would be interesting ingame...I like it much more than the observatories that we have now...though they could use both.

Once again, it'd be an optional feature, so no need to be shooting it down. More options = good --- more options =/= must be used thus the game will be bad.

[Kawagata]

Well formation without any bonuses. Just unit placement.

bonus resource has been done to death since AoE

[sdbolts11]

Well formation without any bonuses. Just unit placement.

bonus resource has been done to death since AoE
Set formations would be a great addition to SC2, as I have been advocating.
Bonus resource generators would be interesting ingame...I like it much more than the observatories that we have now...though they could use both.

Once again, it'd be an optional feature, so no need to be shooting it down. More options = good --- more options =/= must be used thus the game will be bad.
Bonus resource generators would be interesting until someone controls a lot of the items or w/e making the bonus resources and could do kinda well with that. It's kind of how it was for me in AoE2 when I would have 3+ relics o.O

[Ktan]

I don't remember bonus resources in Age of Empires, only marketplaces where you could buy and sell lacking/abundant resources of wood, meat and stone.

I think something like the Oil Derricks from RA2 would be quite cool. However, Yellow Minerals seem to be filling that spot instead, but thinks like Derricks would be fun to contest.

[Skydragon222]

Something I would like to see would be more options when setting up versus games.

I want to see more gtame modes ( alliance with computers, 5 on 3 stuff like that
I want to see AI skill level options (easy, medium, hard, very hard, extremely hard, deadly hard, oh look at that your already dead hard, and insanely hard

Also I want to be able to pick your color

[TitanWing]

We can already team with comps on the team melee setting. I'd like to be able to select color (white Terran ftw!).

Different AI difficulty is very likely to be in, seeing as how WC3 had it.

[Skullflower]

Being able to select your own color would be an extremely nice feature.

[Sil3nt]

Yeah! *Dreams of been OJ when playing as toss*

Personally I would really like to see more game modes like most of the people here.
Another thing I would like is that you could preview the map in the map select screen before you play it in skirmish.

Some other nice features could be:

More BattleNet Servers.
AI Skill level
Voice included, (to use in own maps)
When you click on minimap twice with the right mouse button it brings up the map to the whole screen
Computers can play in all modes and know how to play
Computers don't just attack you when your winning and then don't attack other computers.

Enough for now!:D

[smasher25]

I hope they make it less Wcish

[TitanWing]

Indeed. Goodbye cartoony graphics please. I have to get a video card upgrade for the game already, give me some damn worthwhile graphics for my money while you're at it.

Amen?

[pytum]

i would like to have in starcraft 2 a kind of audio chat, like xbox live, that would be awesome

[TitanWing]

Last I heard, it will have that. Hell, even SC1 was supposed to have it originally.

[Thedutchjelle]

Last I heard, it will have that. Hell, even SC1 was supposed to have it originally.

If SC1 would have had that, they would've been like 5 years ahead of the rest.

[TitanWing]

Yes...I know. They ran into probllems with limited technology though (I think, can't remember exactly why).

[Basan]

Yes...I know. They ran into probllems with limited technology though (I think, can't remember exactly why).

Less powerful PC's (hardware wise speaking) and available game engine tech's perhaps? ;)

[TitanWing]

Yes, the game engine is what I forgot.

I see it as a very likely feature in SC2 multiplayer.

[Tael_Zenith]

Indeed. Goodbye cartoony graphics please. I have to get a video card upgrade for the game already, give me some damn worthwhile graphics for my money while you're at it.

Amen?


Amen!!


What about the inclusion of 'General Powers' Ala Zero Hour? For those of you that don't know...

"Generals Abilities," unique abilities that range from enhancing units and unlocking new unit types to powerful airstrikes, one-shot enhancements to units, or targetable "spawn points" to drop or create groups of units anywhere on the map.

[DarkMirror]

Sound like ghosts.