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Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void Beta Thread
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Platforms: PC & Mac
Release Date: Beta - March 31, 2015, Release - TBA 2015
Price:
Standard Edition: 39.99$/39.99€/1000NTD/128¥
Digital Deluxe Edition: 59.99$/59.99€/1800NTD/188¥
Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void continues the epic saga of Korpulu Sector, after the events of Wings of Liberty and Heart of the Swarm, it is now Protoss' turn to secure their fate. But the time is not there yet...
The multiplayer beta of Legacy of the Void starts on March 31th, 2015, the end date is not yet determined.
- New units!
- Old unit changes!
- Economy changes!
- Mechanics changes!
- Archon mode!
- Automatic tournaments!
- And more!
PRE-ORDER
The changes below reflects the initial build released on March 31st, 2015, for additional changes, read further below for each iteration of new balance changes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCj401zTugk
General Changes
Altering the number of resources at each base. Half the mineral patches have 1500 minerals, and the other half have 750.
The starting worker count has been increased to 12.
Scan range for ranged units has been improved.
Game speed altered to match that of real time.
Archon Mode
Archon Mode will be available for testing out of the gate! In a fashion similiar to Brood War's beloved Team Melee, two players can team up to control one force on 1v1 maps against another team of two players.
Balance Changes
New Units
Adept
The Adept is a core gateway unit with a ground-only ranged attack and normal movement speed. This unit utilizes its Psionic Transfer ability to teleport to nearby locations.
Psionic Transfer: Sends out a copy of the Adept that is controlled independently but cannot attack or be attacked. After a fixed duration the Adept will teleport to the location of the copy as it expires.
Disruptor
The Disruptor is a light-mechanical unit from the Robotics Facility whose ability, ‘Purification Nova’, can deal a massive burst of AoE splash damage if an opponent does not counter-micro. The Disruptor is extremely potent versus any force that clumps it's units together, as well as against worker lines.
Purification Nova: Once activated, the Disruptor becomes invulnerable and gains increased movement speed. After 4 seconds, the Disruptor emits a massive blast dealing AoE damage in a circle and immediately becomes vulnerable again, also losing its speed boost.
Existing Units And Other Changes
Warp-in Mechanic
Units that are warping-in have become more vulnerable while constructing. The goal of this change is to strengthen harassing tactics versus Protoss, while also making a Protoss player’s army and warp-in positioning a more tactical decision.
Warp Prism
To strengthen the harassment options available to Protoss, the Warp Prism can now pick-up units from a distance.
Immortal
In order to create more opportunities for Terran Mech, and to increase the impact of micro, the Immortal’s ‘Hardened Shield’ ability has been removed and replaced with ‘Barrier’, an activated ability which grants the Immortal a limited hit-point shield.
Oracle
To create more diversity in Protoss detection, Revelation has been removed and merged with Envision so that any targets tagged are now revealed for 60 seconds. The oracle has also been granted a new active ability called ‘Stasis Ward’.
Stasis Ward: This ability places a cloaked Stasis Ward on the ground which, upon detonation, will explode and trap nearby enemy units in stasis for 30 seconds.
Tempest
To help incentivize action, the Tempest has had its role changed to an aerial skirmish unit – its movement speed has been increased, it can now only fire on ground units, and it has been granted an activated ability called ‘Disintegration’ which deals damage over time.
Carrier
Carriers can now activate ‘Release Interceptors’ to permanently launch all interceptors at great distance. After 60 seconds, any remaining Interceptors will perish.
New Units
Cyclone
The Cyclone is a factory unit which can lock onto a target, then deal massive damage over time while on the move.
Using the cyclone to its full potential and reacting to it well are both heavily dependent on micro.
New Terran Unit
We’re also in the process of exploring a second new unit for Terran. We’d like to avoid something from the Factory, as that building already has quite a few units already. Instead, we’re looking at adding a Barracks unit, Starport unit, or possibly even a new building altogether. Our initial idea is that we’ll see the interactions of various changes to the game, and try to locate something interesting and fun for this slot during the beta.
Existing Units
Battlecruiser
The Battlecruiser has been granted the ‘Tactical Jump’ ability, allowing it to teleport anywhere on the map (regardless of fog of war) at a very high energy cost.
Siege Tank
To coincide with Legacy of the Void’s focus on harass and aggression, the Siege Tank has been granted the ability to be lifted and dropped while maintaining Siege Mode. Doing so requires the full cargo-space of a Medivac.
New Units
Lurker
The Lurker has returned. The Lurker is a Tier 2 unit which morphs from the Hydralisk. It deals line-based splash damage, but can only attack while burrowed. The Lurker has an available Tier 3 upgrade which substantially increases its attack range.
Ravager
The Ravager is a new unit which morphs off of the Roach. While stronger than the roach, its effectiveness heavily relies on player micro due to its activated ability: Corrosive Bile.
Corrosive Bile: Corrosive Bile is a mortar-style area of effect skill-shot which, once fired, impacts after a short delay. The ability can hit both air and ground units, and also will destroy any forcefields it comes in contact with.
Existing Units
Corruptor
The Corruptor’s ‘Corruption’ ability has been removed and replaced with ‘Caustic Spray’. Caustic Spray is a channeled ability which deals increasing damage over time to the unit or building targeted. However, the Corruptor cannot move as it channels this spell.
Swarm Host
To strengthen Zerg harass, the Swarm Host has been shifted from a siege-tool, to a mobile harass tool. ‘Spawn Locusts’ can now be used while unburrowed, but it must be activated manually, and has a much longer cooldown. Locusts themselves have been buffed, and can be upgraded to fly over terrain. They must then swoop down to the ground to engage.
Nydus Worm
To enhance the diversity and strength of harass options for Zerg, the Nydus Worm can no longer take damage until it is finished unburrowing. A main effect of this change is that workers will no longer be a viable defense versus Nydus worms.
Viper
Looking at the viper, we wanted to add an ability that would counter that would counter mass air strategies. Introducing parasitic bomb. This ability places a damage over time effect on a targeted enemy air unit, dealing damage to it and any enemy units around it. If the target enemy unit dies, the parasitic bomb will remain in play for its full duration, continuing to deal damage to any enemy unit entering the targeted area.
Additional Balance Changes:
Balance Update: 4.14.2015
Balance Update: 4.27.2015
Balance Update: 5.11.2015
Balance Update: 5.21.2015
Balance Update: 6.12.2015
Balance Update: 6.18.2015
Patch 2.5.3: 7.13.2015
Official Battle.Net Beta Annoucement and Information
Beta Patch Notes
How to Play LotV Beta Offline
In-Depth Impressions by Team Liquid Strategy Team