Simpler, more realistic Thor model?

[Gt2slurp]

Realism is not the point, the point is the lore has to be logical. We all know protoss aren't realism because the don't exist (no shit...) but they are logical has a whole race.

Terran has to be logical into the limit of the lore, even more than protoss or zerg because they are human with technology we know and somehow understand. Thor is not logical, it only follow the stupid rule of cool. Bigger -*> more cool, more cannon -> more cool, it is just pointless and stupid.

In a smaller proportion, the same apply for viking, this is not a logical unit. We accomodate more of this one because it add gameplay... and don.t take half of the screen.

[Asfastasican]

^ goliath is a low tech kind of mech. lets move on people, this is sc2 we don't want to make the terran to mediocre of a scifi race thus the thor and viking.

To the above posters, I like the other mechanical units in SC2 and they feel like Starcraft to me. The Viking is a-ok in my book and the others look good as well. A lumbering oath of a mech coming out of a japanese anime doesn't do it for me! And YES, I will compare the Thor to the goliath because it has LEGS! The goliath felt right in Starcraft and so did the vulture and tank. Nobody cared that it looked similar to a Mechwarrior at the time and nobody cares now.

[ManjiSanji]

I think the most game-related argument I can make against the current Thor is that it is so large, so encumbered, so huge, that it looks awkward, clumsy and silly as it stumbles across the field. It doesn't look right because it's proportionally out of whack.

Other large ground units, such as the Colossus, Ultralisk, Siege Tank, Archon, etc don't have this issue, because the overall look of the unit, the shape, the size, the animations, all work with eachother to make it look believable and natural.

Simply changing out the current legs for treads would alleviate this. Now it will rumble along, and it will look believable and natural (assuming the tread base is large enough and wide enough to believably support the top portion).

[Nicol Bolas]

Thor is not logical, it only follow the stupid rule of cool. Bigger -*> more cool, more cannon -> more cool, it is just pointless and stupid.

It makes more sense than Banshees.

People like big things. People like guns. People like to see something bristling with barrels on top of barrels. That's why people like old battleships, even though modern cruisers are far more effective.

People also like things that look human. Hence the Thor. A concept ridiculous and awesome enough to be made by the same people who thought that a tank that turns into an artillery piece was a good idea. Or who decided that what a space/air-superiority fighter really needed was a wing that pointed downward, just to make sure you couldn't possibly land it.

The Thor looks like a battleship with legs. Something more mundane, like tank treads or whatever, is merely a nod towards realism for a concept that comes entirely out of some guy's penile insecurity.

lumbering oath of a mech coming out of a japanese anime doesn't do it for me!

I've never understood this. What about the Thor's visual design looks at all like Anime? Anime mechs, particularly the most famous designs, are taller than they are wide. The Thor is not. The basic proportions are not even similar.

So where does this accusation of "Anime" come from?

And YES, I will compare the Thor to the goliath because it has LEGS! The goliath felt right in Starcraft and so did the vulture and tank. Nobody cared that it looked similar to a Mechwarrior at the time and nobody cares now.

I'm not sure I understand your argument here.

You say that the Goliath "looked similar to a Mechwarrior". But this is OK. Because it "felt right." But it's wrong for the Thor. Presumably because it feels wrong.

Many of the earliest and most iconic 'Mechs in "Mechwarrior" (ie: BattleTech) came from, get this, Anime! So it's OK if it looks like MechWarrior, which is derived from Anime. Because it "felt right."

Could you elaborate on what "felt right" actually means in terms other people could understand?

I think the most game-related argument I can make against the current Thor is that it is so large, so encumbered, so huge, that it looks awkward, clumsy and silly as it stumbles across the field. It doesn't look right because it's proportionally out of whack.

This is not a "game-related" argument. It has to do with how it looks, not how it plays.

[flabortast]

As I said, the Thor HAS to be big. It's part of its role as a tank unit. It absorbs splash so it other units don't have to take it. It's big so it can block the path towards your much weaker units. The Thor does not intrude with the role of other units. It's just another thread with people not understanding the Thor's role and believe that their opinion about it is correct.

[arsedestroyer]

I found this really cool fanart depicting a sleeker, sexier Thor!



... Oh... Damn, wait...

I wouldn't be opposed to the Thor looking more like an MG-R. It would make more sense, too, in my opinion, unless they can find a real excuse to keep it the size it is. =\

wow this looks really sweet.

[Josue]

I've never understood this. What about the Thor's visual design looks at all like Anime? Anime mechs, particularly the most famous designs, are taller than they are wide. The Thor is not. The basic proportions are not even similar.
[...]
You say that the Goliath "looked similar to a Mechwarrior". But this is OK. Because it "felt right." But it's wrong for the Thor. Presumably because it feels wrong.

Many of the earliest and most iconic 'Mechs in "Mechwarrior" (ie: BattleTech) came from, get this, Anime! So it's OK if it looks like MechWarrior, which is derived from Anime.

What I propose is precisely get more from the Anime proportions! make the Thor narrower! I think it's tall enough but it's too wide, like a walking wall! Make it look more like this

As I said, the Thor HAS to be big.

Precisely! keep it big, just give it "realistic" proportions that make it look and feel correct! I.E. not that exaggerated width! it looks like a damn walking wall!

[flabortast]

But how can they reduce the width if one its purposes is to be a big roadblock? You should be able to block small chokes with one Thor alone and wider ones with 2. How can they do that if you reduce it's width?

[Josue]

But how can they make it less wide if one its purposes is to be a big roadblock? You should be able to block small chokes with one Thor alone and wider ones with 2. How can they do that if you reduce it's width?

Maybe increasing it's height and making it thicker? I mean give it better proportions, make it look right, not too big nor too small! and for God's sake not a walking wall!

[Visions of Khas]

You should be able to block small chokes with one Thor alone and wider ones with 2.

Wait, the Thor was based on Roseanne Barr? o_O;


I do not think the Thor should be made to resemble an anime mech. There is no reason, however, it can't be made more sleek and efficient in its construction. The Thor is the result of years of dedicated research, mounting weaponry comparable to the most powerful battlecruisers. It is the Behemoth of the land. That said, the Blizzard art department has demonstrated, time and again, that they are capable designing superb units and structures; there is no reason in the world the Thor can't be large and intimidating, and sleek and powerful at the same time. As was said earlier by someone, at the moment it looks like a mobile box with an assemblage of guns haphazardly glued to it. Please, for the love of god, nix it and start afresh!