Basically, since Blizzard have this PTR (public test region) available. I was thinking, why not keep it running all the time but rotate the players who get to play on it? Use it as a virtual playground to constantly tweak, balance and try out new things for Starcraft 2 melee. In a way, this would work by separating your current League/Ranking and allowing you to play on the "vastly" or "slightly" different PTR server - at no risk of damaging your current standings. But, the current matchmaking system would still be used for matching players together.
I am not saying that SC2 is massively unbalanced. There is of course the disparity between Zerg and the other races - but that is negligible at high level play. I'm pretty happy to say that SC2 is - for the most part - 90% balanced. But, if we think how SC1 compares to SC2 - certainly there are more players and resources to spend on balancing and fine-tweaking the game?
A few things in the balance changes do annoy me - but they are warranted.
- The Reaper - first and foremost.
- Sure, 6 Barracks, Refinery, Tech Lab, Reaper was more powerful than a 6 pool in most maps. But there is absolutely no utility to the Reaper any more.
- Sure, 6 Barracks, Refinery, Tech Lab, Reaper was more powerful than a 6 pool in most maps. But there is absolutely no utility to the Reaper any more.
- The Supply Depot requirement on the Barracks
- In my opinion, this change was enough to rectify the reaper by slowing down the rate at which you could have one in your enemies base.
- It also effectively closes down any fast barracks aggression that Terran were able to do (with marginal success).
- In my opinion, this change was enough to rectify the reaper by slowing down the rate at which you could have one in your enemies base.
- The Void Ray speed upgrade removal.
- While I feel this was sort of warranted - especially since Void Rays are such a contested unit anyway - Protoss Air to me, seems quite lacking.
- Phoenix harassment is, well, just harassment, and the next step up (excluding Void Rays) is the Carrier. This irks me, as the Void Ray is both fragile and expensive. Yet does perform it's role as a glass cannon very well at all stages of the game.
- While I feel this was sort of warranted - especially since Void Rays are such a contested unit anyway - Protoss Air to me, seems quite lacking.
- Roach range increase
- This change was required. But I personally would like to see Roaches (maybe) begin with Tunnelling Claws, require Burrow, and gain a further upgrade which enhances their longevity / regeneration / armour.
- Or perhaps a flat base speed increase, and for the Glial Reconstitution upgrade to provide this longevity instead.
- Then again, Roaches with Speed are pretty devastating against most Gateway units (excluding good forcefield use - which is then negated by burrow).
- Edit: My reason for wanting Roaches to have more armour/hitpoints is because I am a Protoss player. And I find that, for the Zerg's main Tanking unit - they are easily out-damaged by most low tier units, and completely obliterated by anything higher.
- This change was required. But I personally would like to see Roaches (maybe) begin with Tunnelling Claws, require Burrow, and gain a further upgrade which enhances their longevity / regeneration / armour.
I didn't want for this post to degenerate into a balance discussion - because quite frankly I am not qualified to discuss Starcraft 2 balance issues. But the point I want to make is that it is all speculation. "What if" unit A functioned like this, and "what if" unit C was made to cost a little bit more. The other point is that balance requires a holistic view of all aspects of melee, both extensive and intensively. And that is why, I think that a constant Public Test Region, with various adjustments made every two to four weeks - will provide a better handle one exactly what works and what doesn't.
The catch 22 of this situation is that making various adjustments and then testing them for 2 to 4 weeks might not give enough depth into the balancing act. But the other option is to simply trust Blizzard, that they know what they are doing. Anyways, what do you think? Can more be done to provide better balance in SC2 Melee?
Discuss!
My personal opinion (ignore it)
None.