Big HotS Patch?

[Alar]

If they just made Interceptors invulnerable or incapable of receiving fire, that would solve a lot of problems, wouldn't it? Carriers would still have to build up to a full eight, but then they could stop worrying about losing them. Blizzard could even increase the cost of the Interceptors of they think it needed to be balanced.

[Twilice]

Agreed, interceptors are a big part of why carriers doesn't work. In some siege fights you just see your minerals melting away because no apparent reason. Only to realize you've lost 400 minerals to just dead interceptors.

[flak4321]

As a mathematician, I agree with DSquid's reasoning. I do however have to add the late tech positioning of the carrier, the rate at which the interceptors come and go (both build time and volley frequency), and the base cost of the carrier, all of which make carriers difficult to get and/or use.

The rate at which the interceptors leave the carrier (volley frequency) is slower than in BW. In bw, you'd get 3 volleys in about 4 seconds before he interceptors return to the carrier. That same time frame will only get you at most 2 volleys in SC2 because they now return to the carrier after every volley, thus reducing overall dps dramatically.

If the overall intent of carrier balance is assumed to be at 8 interceptors, then the unit is relatively balanced. This is reinforced by how much more quickly interceptors remake in SC2. The remake speed is very dependent on player skill, most notably the ability to pay attention. Good players will never let their carriers have less than 6 interceptors each (unless they are harassing vs massing), thus also minimizing the flux at high levels. Even at low levels, carriers are used very little and are typically massed to 6 or 8 carriers when they are, and even low level players know to keep an eye on interceptor levels, so the flux is not as apparent as one might mathemarically think.

In truth, the carrier is indeed mathematically broken. However, if the player using them has the skill and econ to maintain interceptor numbers, the issue can be effectively masked. There is one exception.

Carriers vs terran Siege lines - aka the big no-no! With blink, collos and immortals, why the heck would someone consider carriers vs siege lines? Availble tech buildings. SOmetimes your stuck. But if you have air only, why attack the siege line when you can go around? And that's the no-no friends!

[flak4321]

In a separate note on the tempest: this is now just a bigger, slower, stronger void ray. I see it taking most of the void ray's harass usage that the oracle does not fill. I also seeing it being used vs. siege lines instead of the carrier or void ray owing to range (even reduced).

[DemolitionSquid]

The only solution to fixing the Carrier is as Alar said: to make the Interceptors invulnerable. To make the Carrier like every other unit. To make Interceptors simply the visual for the Carrier's regular attack. We could make Carriers start with 4 Interceptors, then give the Fleet Beacon an "Interceptor Capacity" upgrade to give them 8 which would just double the Carrier's damage.

[DemolitionSquid]

Who are these people who continually petition the Carrier back into the game?

Broodwar players who are suffering from extremely nonsensical nostalgia.

[Pr0nogo]

It's a bot.

[Caliban113]

Scary how often these bots choose my posts to randomly quote....

[Noctis]

Broodwar players who are suffering from extremely nonsensical nostalgia.

the carrier is a stereotype of protoss, make the unit work instead of just taking it out of the game. I dont see blizz doing that to the battlecruiser, there have been numerous suggestions on this site alone i think blizz can come up with something if they put their minds to it -_-

[DemolitionSquid]

the carrier is a stereotype of protoss, make the unit work instead of just taking it out of the game. I dont see blizz doing that to the battlecruiser, there have been numerous suggestions on this site alone i think blizz can come up with something if they put their minds to it -_-

The Battle Cruiser is not fundamentally (mechanically) broken in any way. The Carrier is. It cannot be fixed unless the life-tether between it and its Interceptors is removed. Blizzard defiantly refuses to change it, and thus its better to support just getting rid of it.