Colossus question

[Triceron]

I can't see anyone calling a Colossus a hybrid unit just because it's big enough to be hit by air units. It's as simple as being a BIG ground unit, big enough to see past LoS blockers, big enough to be targetted by air units.

If we're going to be silly and call a Colossus an air unit, or a hybrid unit, then are spine crawlers hybrids as well because they're buildings that can move around like units when not rooted (ala Lurker)? Colossus doesn't fly, and it doesn't take off into the air in any manner.

[newcomplex]

I can't see anyone calling a Colossus a hybrid unit just because it's big enough to be hit by air units. It's as simple as being a BIG ground unit, big enough to see past LoS blockers, big enough to be targetted by air units.

If we're going to be silly and call a Colossus an air unit, or a hybrid unit, then are spine crawlers hybrids as well because they're buildings that can move around like units when not rooted (ala Lurker)? Colossus doesn't fly, and it doesn't take off into the air in any manner.

Agreed. On the map editor, it'll definitely be a ground unit with some boxes checked in, not an ground/air hybrid.

[Nicol Bolas]

On the map editor, it'll definitely be a ground unit with some boxes checked in, not an ground/air hybrid.

If it is, it would only be because restricting an air unit to ground terrain was more difficult than giving a ground unit air vision and attack. Either way is a perfectly legitimate way of implementing the unit; what matters is the efficiency of implementation.

[mr. peasant]

I can't see anyone calling a Colossus a hybrid unit just because it's big enough to be hit by air units. It's as simple as being a BIG ground unit, big enough to see past LoS blockers, big enough to be targetted by air units.

If we're going to be silly and call a Colossus an air unit, or a hybrid unit, then are spine crawlers hybrids as well because they're buildings that can move around like units when not rooted (ala Lurker)? Colossus doesn't fly, and it doesn't take off into the air in any manner.

We're not talking about aesthetics but how the unit behaves. In other words, if the Colossus was to look any different (e.g. its legs removed, with its body floating at its current height) but still behaved exactly as it currently does (can be attacked by melee, can't travel over water, etc), would you still label it as a ground unit? What we're trying to determine here are the mechanics underlying the unit, in which the answer is most certainly that it is a hybrid of the two.

[newcomplex]

We're not talking about aesthetics but how the unit behaves. In other words, if the Colossus was to look any different (e.g. its legs removed, with its body floating at its current height) but still behaved exactly as it currently does (can be attacked by melee, can't travel over water, etc), would you still label it as a ground unit? What we're trying to determine here are the mechanics underlying the unit, in which the answer is most certainly that it is a hybrid of the two.

Mechanically it'll most likely be classified as a ground unit, and visually it is a ground unit. It isn't an air/ground hybrid just because such a classification does not exist in the game. Its confusing description, because it implies that it is its own unique classification as opposed to just a ground unit with boxes checked in. It may have some behaviors that resemble an air unit, but in game mechanics, it is a ground unit.

Using air ground hybrid as a informative unit description is about as apt as putting "really big" as its unit description.

[Nicol Bolas]

Its confusing description, because it implies that it is its own unique classification as opposed to just a ground unit with boxes checked in.

And what if it's an air unit with different "boxes checked in?" Or what if it's not implemented with boxes at all, but with specialized script code?

Using air ground hybrid as a informative unit description is about as apt as putting "really big" as its unit description.

Air/ground actually tells you something about its behavior. "really big" does not. Air/ground means that it has some properties of both, which is true. "really big" means nothing. A Siege Tank or Thor is "really big" by some measures. All "really big" means is that it takes up a lot of room on screen; it has fairly few gameplay implications. Air/ground has actual gameplay implications.

[newcomplex]

And what if it's an air unit with different "boxes checked in?" Or what if it's not implemented with boxes at all, but with specialized script code?



Air/ground actually tells you something about its behavior. "really big" does not. Air/ground means that it has some properties of both, which is true. "really big" means nothing. A Siege Tank or Thor is "really big" by some measures. All "really big" means is that it takes up a lot of room on screen; it has fairly few gameplay implications. Air/ground has actual gameplay implications.

Those "implications" would be misleading and redundant. And mechanically not true.

At least "really big" is completely accurate.

If it was an air unit with boxes checked in, it would be a air unit with boxes checked in. And it won't be specialized code because why would blizzard use specialized script designed for modders in their own editor instead of jusr hard coding it. They have NEVER done that, because its incredibly stupid to do so.

[Triceron]

King Kong could reach the top of the Empire State building, and was attacked by planes, but by no means did he have the ability to fly.

[DemolitionSquid]

Why'd you have to bring up large, hairy beasts?

I smell a Chewbacca defence on the way!

[Triceron]

Now Chewbacca is a possible air unit, though he navigates more than pilots.