[Interview] Dustin Browder on HotS

This interview was from last month, but I only recently found it and thought it was a rather interesting read.
I feel it gives us more of an idea into what Dustin B's direction for the game is, and why the changes are being made the way they are.

I basically paraphrased the interview, and bolded the key aspects as well as interesting things of note.

General
- UI is clunky and cluttered. Plan on cleaning it up and implmented clans, groups etc.

- Patch 1.5 will have a similar UI to that of HotS

- Beta will be released sometime after Patch 1.5.

- HotS will likely release 1 month after the beta ends.

- Kerrigan's Transportation for campaign. + Show Spoiler +

- Two new Nydus worms. The first spews creep in a single direction, so you can effectively create a creep highway anywhere on the map.
The second is basically a Nydus worm that can only attack enemy structures. This could really interesting and depending on the damage and health, could make for some interesting strategy.

- Hydra speed upgrade is hive tech, and with it, Hydra's have the same movement speed as they would on creep. There is no added bonus for hydras on creep with the upgrade.

- 20 new maps in HotS, primarily focusing on 4-player map sizes forladder.

Dustin's thoughts on the question of "why they are focusing on changing particular aspects of each of the races"

Zerg
- Zerg has difficulty pushing, and even with signifcant advantages in the mid-game, they can't push their opponent if they are reasonably defended, until they get broodlords out.

- They want to give zerg's a way to effectively kill their opponent immediately after gaining an advantage in the midgame.

- Overall Zerg has moved from being a passive, sit-back and macro race, to a more in your face aggressive, swarming playstyle.

Protoss

- Stargate is underutilized and they want to give more incentive to use it.

- Protoss has to very passive in the early game as they only have zealot, sentry's and stalkers at that point.

- The mothership core will allow protoss to pressure in the early game, without the risk of losing their high gas cost sentries.

- Protoss lacks the ability to raid, outside of the warp-prism and blink stalkers, however these only work effectively on the pro-level.

Terran

- Terran never goes factory against Protoss

- TvT is stale with tank lines, and the only way to break out of it is the sky battles.

- Wants to give Terran the ability to go mech or bio against protoss without either strategy having to be more dominant than the other, they want the decision to be based on maps, and scouting.
Widow Mine

- Want to give terran control over the map, outside of their army, or "deathball" as everyone likes to call it.

- Still having problems finding the right cost and balance for the unit.

- If the beta comes out and the widow mine is still having issues, it will be most likely cut from the final game.

Carrier

- A lot of people still want it in the game, but he hasn't seen anyone come up with a good arguement for it, besides it being cool and iconic.

Strivers United States. July 10 2012 11:58. Posts 307

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Nice

These little dudes really like the blue stuff.

Ketara United States. July 10 2012 12:02. Posts 1738

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You want a good argument for the Carrier?

Make it work like you want Tempest to work. Give the Interceptors an upgrade that sends them out at 22 range.

There. Carrier is what you want Tempest to be, but it's cool while the Tempest is dumb.

Existor Russian Federation. July 10 2012 12:03. Posts 3122

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All content is old, no new information here. Also, where you read this?

- Beta will be released sometime after Patch 1.5.

- HotS will likely release 1 month after the beta ends.

source please?

Make it work like you want Tempest to work. Give the Interceptors an upgrade that sends them out at 22 range.

Worse idea.

Last edit: 2012-07-10 12:03:46

Liquid`Jinro Sweden. July 10 2012 12:04. Posts 32587

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- Protoss has to very passive in the early game as they only have zealot, sentry's and stalkers at that point.

?????????????????????????????

tell the guy that interplanatar interaction is pivotal to terrans variety of optionitudals in the pre-midgame preperatories as well as the protosstinal deterriggation of elite zergling strikes - Stimey n Formerly FrozenArbiter

nihoh Australia. July 10 2012 12:05. Posts 937

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On July 10 2012 12:02 Ketara wrote:
You want a good argument for the Carrier?

Make it work like you want Tempest to work. Give the Interceptors an upgrade that sends them out at 22 range.

There. Carrier is what you want Tempest to be, but it's cool while the Tempest is dumb.

Thank you. The "moving factory" unit is a defining feature of BW Protoss and Dustin Browder seems to want Protoss to be about pewpew laser megabeams.

Last edit: 2012-07-10 12:06:01

Dont look at the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.

KonohaFlash Canada. July 10 2012 12:07. Posts 1590

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On July 10 2012 12:03 Existor wrote:
All content is old, no new information here. Also, where you read this?

Show nested quote +

source please?

Show nested quote +

Worse idea.

Did you read the interview?

FinestHour United States. July 10 2012 12:08. Posts 6659

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On July 10 2012 12:04 Liquid`Jinro wrote:

Show nested quote +

?????????????????????????????

looks like they still have no idea how to play their own game, whats new

thug life.

AndAgain United States. July 10 2012 12:11. Posts 2486

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On July 10 2012 12:04 Liquid`Jinro wrote:

Show nested quote +

?????????????????????????????

That's generally true against zerg.

All your teeth should fall out and hair should grow in their place!

Tachion July 10 2012 12:12. Posts 6963

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In the afternoon of Friday, June 8th, we caught up with Dustin Browder, StarCraft 2's lead designer.

This interview was done a month ago and it only now got posted on TL?

i was driving down the road this november eve and spotted a hitchiker walking down the street. i pulled over and saw that it was only a tree. i uprooted it and put it in my trunk. do trees like marshmallow peeps? cause that's all i have and will have.

KonohaFlash Canada. July 10 2012 12:14. Posts 1590

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On July 10 2012 12:04 Liquid`Jinro wrote:

Show nested quote +

?????????????????????????????

I think I expanded on this in another bullet point. Basically sentries are really gas intensive, and losing them during an early game push is pretty painful, especially when you lose them during a failed bunker bust or sentry immortal timing push.

On July 10 2012 12:12 Tachion wrote:

Show nested quote +

This interview was done a month ago and it only now got posted on TL?

Slasher waited weeks before he posted his interviews with David Kim.

Last edit: 2012-07-10 12:15:26

Chaggi Korea (South). July 10 2012 12:15. Posts 1083

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If widow mines are cut, what do Terrans have to look forward to?

University of Michigan '10 Alumni

Chaggi Korea (South). July 10 2012 12:17. Posts 1083

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On July 10 2012 12:14 KonohaFlash wrote:

Show nested quote +

Slasher waited weeks before he posted his interviews with David Kim.

If its a failed bunker bust, isn't the whole point to lose them cause realistically what does the Protoss lose then?

It bugs me that they don't address Terran late game, and still seem to focus on a 1A mech style rather than position mech style.

University of Michigan '10 Alumni

FinestHour United States. July 10 2012 12:19. Posts 6659

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On July 10 2012 12:15 Chaggi wrote:
If widow mines are cut, what do Terrans have to look forward to?

At the moment, it looks pretty damn grim. Hello new 1a mechanical marauder....this is really sad news

Last edit: 2012-07-10 12:19:26

thug life.

RiSkysc2 July 10 2012 12:19. Posts 546

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On July 10 2012 12:04 Liquid`Jinro wrote:

Show nested quote +

?????????????????????????????

zealots, sentries and stalkers suck against bio, i dont understand the ???????????????????????????????

benthekid United States. July 10 2012 12:21. Posts 123

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The fact that this guy is in charge of balance makes me want to cry. Mech was so viable vs protoss before the stupid blue flame nerf.

His points about protoss having to be passive early game is a joke. Before stim which takes forever protoss units dominate the early game in all matchups.

Does he not know about this build called the 4 gate that was the only build that they used in the matchup for like a year and a half (innovators to be sure...)

TvT is stale with tank lines are you kidding me? TvT is by far the best mirror matchup.

I seriously think this guy doesn't even watch current games or something.

"Protoss is really strong recently. Perhaps, it's time for there to be some changes for Terran." -MMA

Thrillz July 10 2012 12:29. Posts 1357

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On July 10 2012 11:56 KonohaFlash wrote:

Zerg
- Zerg has difficulty pushing, and even with signifcant advantages in the mid-game, they can't push their opponent if they are reasonably defended, until they get broodlords out.

- They want to give zerg's a way to effectively kill their opponent immediately after gaining an advantage in the midgame.

- Overall Zerg has moved from being a passive, sit-back and macro race, to a more in your face aggressive, swarming playstyle.

The issue with the thinking here is that Zerg doesn't have to be the aggressor. Zerg is a macro race and when I play Zerg I'd much rather get more ahead economically than trying to outright kill in the midgame. It's a sit-back race and macro race because it pays to play that way if you want to win. If they Zerg to be more aggressive they are going to have to give it incentive to be the attacker. At the same time this would be have be balanced, because you can't allow the best macro race to also have the best aggression/punishment.

zhurai United States. July 10 2012 12:29. Posts 5556

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On July 10 2012 12:19 Lineridarz wrote:

Show nested quote +

zealots, sentries and stalkers suck against bio, i dont understand the ???????????????????????????????

because zealot stalker does pretty well in the early game if the terran wants to go into the macro game (i.e. 1rax fe) or rather... without marauders or upgrades (stim/cs) in the early game.

- If the beta comes out and the widow mine is still having issues, it will be most likely cut from the final game.

cutting things is always retarded.

including cutting your wrist.

- The mothership core will allow protoss to pressure in the early game, without the risk of losing their high gas cost sentries.

without _any risk_ is stupid
there should be some sort of risk for things you do

Last edit: 2012-07-10 12:31:36

Twitter: @zhurai | Site: http://zhurai.com | Streamer, Translator (JP->EN) | Staff at Fuwanovel and Assistant Manager for FXO.NA SC2 |

CursOr United States. July 10 2012 12:30. Posts 5524

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Gateway units early game are never really a threat to 5 bunkers or 7 spines.

DougJDempsey July 10 2012 12:32. Posts 447

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On July 10 2012 12:15 Chaggi wrote:
If widow mines are cut, what do Terrans have to look forward to?

nothing, a fat marauder that takes more skill out of the game by killing tank lines so well positioned tanks dont work anymore.
and well, even with the widow mine, it takes 10 seconds to detonate. plus i heard on one of the SOTGs that it disappears when you kill the unit its attached to. which anyone with above 60 apm could do. so yeah... nothing. >.<

"why are you trying to eyefuck me? im worried im gonna DIE this is not the right time to hit on me." - day9