Random Blue about D8 Charges (01/29/10)

[GRUNT]

I've always felt that D8 charges were extremely nasty, but even more so now.

On the other hand, I'm not sure many of us here have the speed to kill even a single D8 charge in 2 seconds, even if they are killable :P.

[Caliban113]

They're not static defense because they explode about 2-3 seconds after you put them down.

Think he means (if they can get close enough) they can now easily be used on static defenses (bunkers, turrets) without any real counter or risk.

[mr. peasant]

Personally, not all that surprised. I reckon it's because having them destroyable made their effectiveness too unpredictable and so hard to balance. On the one end, you might have a situation where only very few charges will survive long enough to detonate and so each individual D8 Charge needs to be fairly potent in the amount of damage dealt. On the other, if the opponent misses the opportunity and all charges make it to the end, you wind up doing disproportionately terrible, terrible damage. By making invincible, their behavior becomes a little more predictable. I also expect their damage to be nerfed, whether it be size radius or damage inflicted.

Of course, there are other possible explanations. Maybe it could be something technical. Perhaps the charges weren't stacking properly with those detonating (a millisecond) earlier were destroying other D8 Charges around it (assuming friendly fire is on)? Or, maybe in-house testing showed that the killability of the D8 Charges hardly ever mattered and the charges often went unharmed.

[Nicol Bolas]

at least give the static defenses a chance to survive

Why? Reapers are a direct counter to static defenses. That's what Reaper charges are for.

It's like saying that Immortal Hardened Shields should only reduce damage to 20, to give Siege Tanks a chance.

On the other hand, I'm not sure many of us here have the speed to kill even a single D8 charge in 2 seconds, even if they are killable

If there are a lot of Marines around, simply tell them to attack-move. The Marines will pick various different charges to shoot at, taking them all out well before the timer goes off. The charges didn't have many Hp, so they'd go down pretty quick.

[rcp181]

Think he means (if they can get close enough) they can now easily be used on static defenses (bunkers, turrets) without any real counter or risk.

Ah ok, thanks for clearing that up. Now that I think about it they sound like free banelings when it comes to taking out defenses.

[GnaReffotsirk]

Are d8's limited like vulture mines? If not, it should be nerfed to say, a certain amount that it will take at least 5 charges to take down a supply depot. Recharge rate should be to 120% of the time it takes to build a depot.

[zenner]

now only need to make them so they stick on units

[GnaReffotsirk]

now only need to make them so they stick on units

That will make d8's like that of the Zerg's kaboom thing.

[GRUNT]

If there are a lot of Marines around, simply tell them to attack-move. The Marines will pick various different charges to shoot at, taking them all out well before the timer goes off. The charges didn't have many Hp, so they'd go down pretty quick.

Oh, I was thinking more in the context of using D8 charges in a pitched battle (unless you're so on top with your surveillance that you can produce a lot of marines at every location where Reapers try to raid you). I don't think that Marines will prioritise D8 charges over attacking enemy ranged units if you ask them to attack-move.

If that's the case, then all that most of us would be able to do is to just do an old-fashioned 'run away', in which case the killability of D8 charges doesn't really matter a whole lot.

[Nicol Bolas]

If not, it should be nerfed to say, a certain amount that it will take at least 5 charges to take down a supply depot. Recharge rate should be to 120% of the time it takes to build a depot.

Why? Depots will likely be placed in front of bunkers in a hard-contain situation, to keep melee units away from Bunkers. Having Reapers who can blow them up quickly and cheaply is a substantial help.

If your concern is for Reapers doing a raid on your base, there are things you can do to stop them. Like killing them.

Zerg players have to suffer with Overlord harassment from any air unit. No reason that Terran players shouldn't be able to harass the supply of other races.

Oh, I was thinking more in the context of using D8 charges in a pitched battle (unless you're so on top with your surveillance that you can produce a lot of marines at every location where Reapers try to raid you).

I was talking about Reapers in the pitched battle. Which would also involve the Marines in question.

I don't think that Marines will prioritise D8 charges over attacking enemy ranged units if you ask them to attack-move.

The Marines behind the front-line Marines will target them. You know, the ones that are out of range of the real targets.