Terran - Planetary Fortress

[Gifted]

The situation regarding PF is not really textbook but situational I'd say. One of the most important things to remember is that many players right now are not able to handle the increased minerals they already have. While some may view this as "learn to macro more" the fact that including more mules or scans may not benefit this player all that much. For this style of player, the PF works great in some situations.

Certain tech builds that already have surplus minerals (Like the pure nuke strat) benefit SOO MUCH from a planetary fortress instead if put in the right setup.

While you guys haven't seen many replays, Command center 14 on certain maps (like LT) provides and interesting twist if you block the ramp at the BOTTOM with an engineering bay + supply depot combo. (only need 1 there) The PF covers them from melee and with upgrade, ranged.

I will admit that standard play for high skilled or many medium skilled players will involve OB 1/2... but there are options where PF is definately viable, especially after scouting the opponent and understanding their unit composition.

Besides, as I said before, with proper micromanagement, the SCVs are essentially undestructable in ways... and it's a PITA when 10+ scvs are repairing something with that much armor. (I always do the +2 if I do a PF build)

Is this revolutionary? Not really, was the ability to build a choke before your expansion involving a forge + gate + 2-3 cannons revolutionary? Not really... it was only the beginning of something that was later called "the Bisu build".

The PF will only be as undesirable statistically until someone finds a way to time it just right in the right match up.

[Norfindel]

The PF is a 1500 HP static defense. Nobody notices a problem there? Since when a static defense so hard to take down is good RTS design?

[unentschieden]

The PF isn´t hard to take down. It´s impossible to harrass though. That is a important difference.

[Nicol Bolas]

The PF is a 1500 HP static defense. Nobody notices a problem there? Since when a static defense so hard to take down is good RTS design?

Since it has critical weaknesses (ie: anything air) and costs your opponent a lot (no MULES/Scans).

[arthas]

Since when a static defense so hard to take down is good RTS design?

Generals,Tiberium wars,Red alert -series,and pretty much any other RTS...BUT still they all had counters-air,siege units,units with bonus vs buildings etc...

[Norfindel]

You must go air, or wait to mass a lot of ranged units, because he built one static defense. That isn't good design IMO, no matter how much does cost to the player. Also the initial cost is cheap for what it does, even if you lose more later because you can't get a MULE.

I have seen some videos were it's too clear that the Terran player would had been in ubeliavably deep shit if he hastn't built the PF. The PF, a static defense saved it's ass, and the enemy couldn't take him down because of this.

Tipically, the other player just refuses to attack the PF until much later, or uselessly losses a lot of units. How can that be good design?

Of course, you can Bunker, or Cannon, or Spine your base like crazy, but that costs you a lot of minerals right now, not just 150m 150g.

[Nicol Bolas]

I have seen some videos were it's too clear that the Terran player would had been in ubeliavably deep shit if he hastn't built the PF. The PF, a static defense saved it's ass, and the enemy couldn't take him down because of this.

I've seen videos where a Zerg player would have been in unbelievably deep shit if he hadn't built a few sunkens. What's your point?

Static defenses are supposed to save your ass; that's why they're there.

[Pandonetho]

I have seen some videos were it's too clear that the Terran player would had been in ubeliavably deep shit if he hastn't built the PF. The PF, a static defense saved it's ass, and the enemy couldn't take him down because of this.

Oh my gawd, a defense building that DOES ITS JOB. Oh woe is me this game is imbalanced.

[Norfindel]

The amount of HP and firepower you get for 150m 150g is ridiculous.

Sure, you can Spine your base, but one Spine Crawler has 300hp. Every one you take down, the static defense is weaker.

The PF has 1500hp, and it will continue to deal 40dmg w/splash until you reduce it to 0, and can be repaired. There's a lot of difference.

[Perfecttear]

Actualy you are not only paying 150min 150gas for a PF, since you could have an OC and mules instead of a PF.

Building an PF instead of an OC , can mean that you can lose up to 1k-3k minerals in the long term, and if that is not costly i don't know what is !

It would actualy make no difference it the PF would cost 25m 25 g instead of 150m 150g it currently does, it would make no change in peoples decision on when to make one. You only make an PF if you know that making an OC there is to risky.