[Idea] Decentralized Proton Charge

Hmm... the forum seems swamped with topics discussing the problems surrounding Proton Charge. People seem to fear that by building X Obelisks, players could keep Probes permanently on Proton Charge, that its use is compulsory regardless of play style and that its use is tedious and mindless.

So, I thought I'd suggest a potential mechanic. My idea is to take Proton Charge away from the Obelisk (leaving its remaining two abilities to compete amongst themselves) and into the hands of the Probes themselves. Obviously, it would require research.

The way it works is something like this:

Effect: +5 minerals per trip, +50% move speed
Duration: 30 seconds
Cost: 5 hit points at end of effect

The point of using hit points is because they are a non-replenishable resource. Therefore, each Probe can only use Proton Charge 4 times (120 seconds total) before they die. Therefore, players must be prudent to know when a sudden boost in economy would be most beneficial.

Of course, you could literally work the Probes to death. However, this would result in a high worker turnover, which means you're spending a higher proportion of your resources on workers without actually raising your worker count. Also, in order to be sustainable, your ability to use Proton Charge would be limited by the number of Nexuses you own. If Probes require 17 seconds to build, you can only constantly use Proton Charge on at most 7 Probes per Nexus owned at any given time.

The reason I added a speed boost is to give Proton Charge other functions (which would in turn compete with mineral mining) such as gas mining and enemy evasion.

lol perhaps we should try and keep the discussion somewhat centralized. Lest we wake the vengeful Gradius.

Not that I dont appreciate the theorycrafting though. Lets come up with some good ideas and then maybe put together a joint proposal sponsered by multiple posters.

Er, no, I'm against any ability permanently damaging the Protoss, because unlike Marines with Stim-Packs, The Probes have no chance of regaining those Hp back later.

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Originally Posted by MattII

Er, no, I'm against any ability permanently damaging the Protoss, because unlike Marines with Stim-Packs, The Probes have no chance of regaining those Hp back later.

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Which is the basis of the idea as well as what's stopping it from being spammed. You could have a Probe constantly on Proton Charge until it dies, build a new Probe to replace it and keep the change. Or, you could have a few Probes on Proton Charge once (leaving them slightly more vulnerable to attacks) and use the minerals to build an extra Probe you wouldn't have otherwise been able to, etc.

Also, it should be pointed out that prior to BW, Marines could use Stim Packs even though they couldn't be healed.

So you thought instead of posting this in one of the already made threads you deserve your own?

*hits him with a hickery stick*

NOO! BAD ZERGLING! BAD!

Effect: +5 minerals per trip, +50% move speed
Duration: 30 seconds
Cost: 5 hit points at end of effect

Thats horrible. Now your like... its not just +5 minerals now dude. If thats 15minerals thats double that so its like 30. And it shouldnt cost HP because you cant get them back. Its just... a bad idea. The whole idea should be sacked imo.

Thank you Warsaw. I've also just realised that this thread is bad, we already have a similar one called 'Give Proton Charge Disadvantages' where this should have been posted, rather than opening up a new thread.

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Originally Posted by MattII

Thank you Warsaw. I've also just realised that this thread is bad, we already have a similar one called 'Give Proton Charge Disadvantages' where this should have been posted, rather than opening up a new thread.

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Perhaps when the thread first started. However, it now seems to have deviated somewhat to focus mainly on the idea of a shared energy pool. And as seen by Gifted's post, most other suggestions there get maybe one or two thoughts on the subject before it moves onto something else. Even if it caught on over there, I'd have hijacked another person's discussion.

While I don't think it's a terribly good idea, I believe you're heading in the right direction. There should be some permanent consequences for using photon charge

maybe they mine/move faster but if they mine 6 minerals than only 4 is added to your resource pool. You get the minerals faster but in the long run you end up getting less minerals.

I was just being a dick. Lol. Sorry. But I do think this idea dosnt work. I meen an HP loss is a good counter for such a high rate of minerals but it just... it wont work. Probes have no way of healing. I have no idea of the balance issues because i havnt played sc is so long but I agree iwth other who say that wouldnt work and more so that your giving the plus 50% speed which meens they gather x2 minerals and they get plus 5 minerals. So thats like 30minerals instead of just a normal 10. Now i could see people resulting in killing their own drones, building more then doing it again and.. well.. you can see how this gets really tedious.

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Originally Posted by Warsaw

I was just being a dick. Lol. Sorry. But I do think this idea dosnt work. I meen an HP loss is a good counter for such a high rate of minerals but it just... it wont work. Probes have no way of healing. I have no idea of the balance issues because i havnt played sc is so long but I agree iwth other who say that wouldnt work and more so that your giving the plus 50% speed which meens they gather x2 minerals and they get plus 5 minerals. So thats like 30minerals instead of just a normal 10. Now i could see people resulting in killing their own drones, building more then doing it again and.. well.. you can see how this gets really tedious.

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Well in SC:V if you used stim pack there was no way to get the marines HP back up, no medics yet. It made it so it was used less often but when it was used it was a make or break situation. PC should be like that. There should be risks so it doesnt become a needed action. The way PC stands everyone will use it, there wont be a single person that doesnt use it when they play protoss. If they dont use it then its basically an instant fail on their part