These are very long so I'm not going to quote the whole thing, but there is a Q/A with Dustin Browder and Chris Sigaty. http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/624/fansite-Q-A-with-dustin-browder [quote] Medic + Dropship = Medivac Dropship As we discussed different types of movement, we started talking about the new Medivac Dropship, the combination of the Medic and the Dropship into one unit. As Dustin explained before, the reason for the change was that M&Ms (Marines and Medics) would still be better than Reapers, as Medics are unable to jump with them, and they are not as strong alone as M&M combined, thus making the Reaper almost useless. This change gives a greater flexibility according to Dustin. Still, in the discussion he said he was on the fence on the issue. People love the Medic (its a girl!), and they are also unsure of where they want to put it in the tech tree. They could make it an upgrade, but that goes against the principle to make every type of action or counter as visible as possible. They would either make two Dropships, or making one that has healing from the start. No "invisible" upgrades. Still, the concept of having a ship healing ground units feel a bit silly to me, and the current graphics of a regular Dropship doing it surely does not help. Dusting said: "Looks are a minor issue, those will of course be upgraded to look more like an ambulance ship, that sends down small robots, or something, like properly animating the healing. Perhaps changing the unit's name, that is no big deal, I am more concerned about the mechanic, if that works, etc". An example that would make it really powerful is having Dropships with Marines popping out, wrecking havoc and being healed. The dev team is generally looking to have as few types of units as possible in the game, and a type of strategy similar to chess. It should be easy to see what your opponent is doing, and giving you the option on how to counter it. Having a game that clearly shows what is actually happening is what makes it most fun for everyone involved. It seemed very clear that Browder implied that combining Dropships and Medics is here to stay.[/quote] http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/634/chris-sigaty-interview [quote]Morten I have just been wondering about this entire process behind this, and I'll be damned to play a lot of StarCraft now, but I have been playing a lot of World of Warcraft and I have been following what has been going on in the Blizzard forums and all that and it is just quite interesting to see that a lot of people are complaining about that their voices are not being heard, and I suppose they are, but it seems like you're having a very long run revision process in terms of balancing and such things. Chris We're not even in the beta, when we're in beta we will be reacting even more so to what people are saying. But we are already acting, I think it was late last week we put up some screenshots that were really a reaction to what the hardcore community was thinking about the art. And we're trying our best to do all that while still moving forward.[/quote] The first one with Dustin is more of a summary of their Q/A and should be taken lightly as they may be interpreting some of the things he said or implied wrongly but the second one is a direct interview open for interpretation.

These are very long so I'm not going to quote the whole thing, but there is a Q/A with Dustin Browder and Chris Sigaty.

http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/624/fansite-Q-A-with-dustin-browder

Quote

Medic + Dropship = Medivac Dropship

As we discussed different types of movement, we started talking about the new Medivac Dropship, the combination of the Medic and the Dropship into one unit. As Dustin explained before, the reason for the change was that M&Ms (Marines and Medics) would still be better than Reapers, as Medics are unable to jump with them, and they are not as strong alone as M&M combined, thus making the Reaper almost useless.

This change gives a greater flexibility according to Dustin. Still, in the discussion he said he was on the fence on the issue. People love the Medic (its a girl!), and they are also unsure of where they want to put it in the tech tree. They could make it an upgrade, but that goes against the principle to make every type of action or counter as visible as possible. They would either make two Dropships, or making one that has healing from the start. No "invisible" upgrades.

Still, the concept of having a ship healing ground units feel a bit silly to me, and the current graphics of a regular Dropship doing it surely does not help. Dusting said: "Looks are a minor issue, those will of course be upgraded to look more like an ambulance ship, that sends down small robots, or something, like properly animating the healing. Perhaps changing the unit's name, that is no big deal, I am more concerned about the mechanic, if that works, etc". An example that would make it really powerful is having Dropships with Marines popping out, wrecking havoc and being healed.

The dev team is generally looking to have as few types of units as possible in the game, and a type of strategy similar to chess. It should be easy to see what your opponent is doing, and giving you the option on how to counter it. Having a game that clearly shows what is actually happening is what makes it most fun for everyone involved. It seemed very clear that Browder implied that combining Dropships and Medics is here to stay.

http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/634/chris-sigaty-interview

Quote

Morten
I have just been wondering about this entire process behind this, and I'll be damned to play a lot of StarCraft now, but I have been playing a lot of World of Warcraft and I have been following what has been going on in the Blizzard forums and all that and it is just quite interesting to see that a lot of people are complaining about that their voices are not being heard, and I suppose they are, but it seems like you're having a very long run revision process in terms of balancing and such things.


Chris
We're not even in the beta, when we're in beta we will be reacting even more so to what people are saying. But we are already acting, I think it was late last week we put up some screenshots that were really a reaction to what the hardcore community was thinking about the art. And we're trying our best to do all that while still moving forward.

The first one with Dustin is more of a summary of their Q/A and should be taken lightly as they may be interpreting some of the things he said or implied wrongly but the second one is a direct interview open for interpretation.

Thanks for the excellent finds!

Thanks for the excellent finds!

[color=#CD0000]Medic + Dropship = Win I guess it could be a bonus similar to Protoss' double regeneration rate when idle... When units are not attacking or being attacked, the heal drones could come down and heal...[/color]

Medic + Dropship = Win
I guess it could be a bonus similar to Protoss' double regeneration rate when idle... When units are not attacking or being attacked, the heal drones could come down and heal...

[quote=name:Hobos][color=#CD0000]Medic + Dropship = Win I guess it could be a bonus similar to Protoss' double regeneration rate when idle... When units are not attacking or being attacked, the heal drones could come down and heal...[/color][/quote] Lies, the premise behind medivac dropship is flawed. Their argument for it is: Reapers need healing. Medics can't follow reapers up cliffs. Remove medics and make the dropship heal units. However if you have a dropship at this point then what the fuck do you need it to heal when you can transport medics? Furthermore what do you need reapers for when you can move marines around for stronger attack power? Reapers do not need healing. The medivac dropship is misconceived and should be removed from the game. Furthermore I would go so far as to remove Marauders and Reapers from the game and put back Firebats with ... jetpacks and upgradeable mines (perhaps even making the jetpack upgradeable).

Quote from Hobos[MM]

Medic + Dropship = Win
I guess it could be a bonus similar to Protoss' double regeneration rate when idle... When units are not attacking or being attacked, the heal drones could come down and heal...

Lies, the premise behind medivac dropship is flawed. Their argument for it is:

Reapers need healing.
Medics can't follow reapers up cliffs.
Remove medics and make the dropship heal units.

However if you have a dropship at this point then what the fuck do you need it to heal when you can transport medics? Furthermore what do you need reapers for when you can move marines around for stronger attack power?

Reapers do not need healing. The medivac dropship is misconceived and should be removed from the game. Furthermore I would go so far as to remove Marauders and Reapers from the game and put back Firebats with ... jetpacks and upgradeable mines (perhaps even making the jetpack upgradeable).

[quote]Andreas Have you ever thought of making a "classic mode" or anything like that? Chris We have definitely talked about it, and we think that StarCraft exists to cover that and we want StarCraft to continue to do that. We are not trying to wipe it out or trying to erase it. No matter what, it's going to happen [a "classic mode"] because the editor that's shipping with StarCraft II is even more powerful than the WarCraft III editor! [color=#CE091D]We know for *sure*, that the community will create [a classic mode][/color] and we're tossing out the idea ourselves on how would we support that if we wanted to? I don't mean we have come to a decision but [color=#CE091D]i guarantee you that when the game comes up there will be classic modes that somebody will put out there. Probably within the week [laughter from all].[/color][/quote] :lol:

Quote

Andreas
Have you ever thought of making a "classic mode" or anything like that?


Chris
We have definitely talked about it, and we think that StarCraft exists to cover that and we want StarCraft to continue to do that. We are not trying to wipe it out or trying to erase it. No matter what, it's going to happen [a "classic mode"] because the editor that's shipping with StarCraft II is even more powerful than the WarCraft III editor! We know for *sure*, that the community will create [a classic mode] and we're tossing out the idea ourselves on how would we support that if we wanted to? I don't mean we have come to a decision but i guarantee you that when the game comes up there will be classic modes that somebody will put out there. Probably within the week [laughter from all].

Solution: Give Medics a mobility upgrade that makes them faster than Marines, and able to leap like Reapers.

Solution: Give Medics a mobility upgrade that makes them faster than Marines, and able to leap like Reapers.

Bump! Another Q/A with a lot of mapping information in it: http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/704/dustin-browder-interview/page1

Bump!

Another Q/A with a lot of mapping information in it:

http://www.starcraftwire.net/articles/704/dustin-browder-interview/page1

I think what would be cooler is have it so medics can heal units in the dropship with them, so to have them with reapers, just load the reapers in the dropships to heal them, or you could let the medics jump, that could be cool :P

I think what would be cooler is have it so medics can heal units in the dropship with them, so to have them with reapers, just load the reapers in the dropships to heal them, or you could let the medics jump, that could be cool

They stated that the design for dropships where: 1) Medics & Marines were a better combo than Medics & Reapers 2) Dropships were largely unused (this is debatable though) Their solution? Mix them together. 1) Marine: Yes, I like that giant needle coming from the ship and somehow healing me 2) Reaper: I feel slightly more loved 3) Medic: Oh wtf...

They stated that the design for dropships where:

1) Medics & Marines were a better combo than Medics & Reapers
2) Dropships were largely unused (this is debatable though)

Their solution? Mix them together.

1) Marine: Yes, I like that giant needle coming from the ship and somehow healing me
2) Reaper: I feel slightly more loved
3) Medic: Oh wtf...

Dropships largely unused? Biggest pile of bullshit I ever heard from Blizzard. Are you sure they said that?

Dropships largely unused? Biggest pile of bullshit I ever heard from Blizzard. Are you sure they said that?

I wish I could find a post, but thats why I stated in brackets the debatable thing. I beleive Karune posted that.

I wish I could find a post, but thats why I stated in brackets the debatable thing. I beleive Karune posted that.

"No invisible upgrades" -and- "They could make it an upgrade, but that goes against the principle to make every type of action or counter as visible as possible." That doesn't make any sense. How are researched spells communicated visually, unless used? Range upgrades? Unless we're talking about the Marine Shield, most upgrades are currently not graphically reinforced... but they could be, and if they are, so could a Medic-Jetpack or Dropship-Healing upgrade. [quote]The dev team is generally looking to have as few types of units as possible in the game, and a type of strategy similar to chess[/quote] This seems more like the real reason.

"No invisible upgrades"
-and-
"They could make it an upgrade, but that goes against the principle to make every type of action or counter as visible as possible."

That doesn't make any sense. How are researched spells communicated visually, unless used? Range upgrades? Unless we're talking about the Marine Shield, most upgrades are currently not graphically reinforced... but they could be, and if they are, so could a Medic-Jetpack or Dropship-Healing upgrade.

Quote

The dev team is generally looking to have as few types of units as possible in the game, and a type of strategy similar to chess

This seems more like the real reason.

Chess has healing units now? Where can I get a copy? :lol:

Chess has healing units now? Where can I get a copy?

[quote=name:Hercanic]"No invisible upgrades" -and- "They could make it an upgrade, but that goes against the principle to make every type of action or counter as visible as possible." That doesn't make any sense. How are researched spells communicated visually, unless used? Range upgrades? Unless we're talking about the Marine Shield, most upgrades are currently not graphically reinforced... but they could be, and if they are, so could a Medic-Jetpack or Dropship-Healing upgrade. [quote]The dev team is generally looking to have as few types of units as possible in the game, and a type of strategy similar to chess[/quote] This seems more like the real reason.[/quote] I do and don't like the 'visually communicated' upgrade thing. Its nice to know what my opponent has just by looking at him, but I can do without the extra bulkiness added to units (and I'm sure everyone's computers would agree on that). Its easy as hell to just visually show a unit has an upgrade in their stat window so drop all the extra crap and do that instead. Buildings should, however, keep changes to them whenever upgraded. They aren't widely used and often players have less time to examine an opponents base when scouting as they are more concerned about army makeup and upgrades before they look for what tech someone has.

Quote from Hercanic

"No invisible upgrades"
-and-
"They could make it an upgrade, but that goes against the principle to make every type of action or counter as visible as possible."

That doesn't make any sense. How are researched spells communicated visually, unless used? Range upgrades? Unless we're talking about the Marine Shield, most upgrades are currently not graphically reinforced... but they could be, and if they are, so could a Medic-Jetpack or Dropship-Healing upgrade.

Quote

The dev team is generally looking to have as few types of units as possible in the game, and a type of strategy similar to chess

This seems more like the real reason.

I do and don't like the 'visually communicated' upgrade thing. Its nice to know what my opponent has just by looking at him, but I can do without the extra bulkiness added to units (and I'm sure everyone's computers would agree on that). Its easy as hell to just visually show a unit has an upgrade in their stat window so drop all the extra crap and do that instead. Buildings should, however, keep changes to them whenever upgraded. They aren't widely used and often players have less time to examine an opponents base when scouting as they are more concerned about army makeup and upgrades before they look for what tech someone has.