Multi-player only 4th race?

[LateraLus]

I searched the threads here for anything about ideas of a 4th race that could be played only in multi-player so that it wouldn't have any effect on the lore, story, characters already in the StarCraft universe. I couldn't find any. I'm happy with 3 races, but I wouldn't mind if Blizzard made a 4th race that's playable only in multi-player. It would be like extra icing on a cake that's already good.
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My idea is an entirely robotic and digital race that are asexual and hive-mind like the Zerg.

What I have as an idea of multi-player only 4th race is a rough draft. I haven't made all their units, building, technologies, abilities, etc. yet. I haven't even thought of a name yet. I'm not an artist, so I can't draw them the way that I envision them. They should have an inherently neutral (but not passive and still capable of warfare) appearance similar to how something about the Zerg appearance is inherently antagonistic.

It makes sense to me: 2 races that are civilizations (Terran and Protoss) and 2 races that are hive-mind and "spawning" (Zerg and my idea of a robotic/digital race). This 4th race could be something like Skynet from the Terminator films and the Transformers put together. I prefer for them not have any humanoid appearance like the Terrans or Protoss.

I'll throw some ideas/concepts down:

-The main trait of this race is that that the only units for this race that are produced from a structure are the worker units (produced from the equivalent of command center/nexus/hatchery), which are called sparks. The sparks’ appearance could be something like a wisp from WC3 and a protoss probe put together.

-Sparks can transform into other units once certain structures are built and/or certain technologies have been researched.

-Some higher tier units will require more than 1 spark to merge together.

-The highest tier units will require specific units (not the sparks) to merge together.

-Once a spark(s) has transformed or merged into another unit, that unit can't revert back to a spark. This can add a strategy of not having a throwaway attitude towards sparks and thinking ahead.

-Perhaps sparks can somehow be given a rally point of automatically transforming or mering into another units once they produced out of the structure.

-Perhaps sparks transform or merge signficantly slower unless they aren't within some kind of radius or field of something similiar to a pylon.

- The cost and “food” of transforming or merging takes into account the 50 mineral and 1 food cost of the worker unit.

-Some structures will cause the spark to be lost like how the Night Elf wisp was lost after building the Ancients.

-Sparks can team-up and build structures more quickly, but maybe only after researching the ability to do so.

- Their structures must be connected to each other by a "power line" which begins at the main structure from which the worker units are produced and bring back resources. Each structure gives out a power line, and other structures must be built within the reach of those power lines. This causes the race to not proxy build their defensive structures (or any other structures)...like a bunker rush/cannon rush. A disadvantage for them perhaps...since they can produce units anywhere on the map by transforming sparks and/or merging other units.

- The only structures that can be built outside of a power line are the equivalents of command center/nexus/hatchery and refinery/extractor/assimilator.
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[Jabber Wookie]

There have definitely been several threads about fourth races...

However, I would have to say I want the exact opposite of what you're proposing. I wouldn't mind a playable fourth race in single player, but don't think it would work too well in multiplayer. The three races right now are incredibly unique and well balanced (or getting there), and I don't want anything to interfere with either of those factors.

Whereas in single player, you could have RPG-esque missions similar to the ones in SC1 and BW in which you only have units but no base building or macro, and fourth races (e.g. hybrids, Xel'Naga) could be incorporated without too much trouble.

[Triceron]

Galaxy editor's readily available.

Mock it up and see how it plays. Don't worry about custom models or anything, that's not as important as getting the gameplay working and seeing how well it plays up against the other races.

[Hawki]

If anything, a 4th race would really work better in singleplayer. There's a plenthora of sapient species in the StarCraft universe, but we're only able to play with three of them. Fair enough given the balance issues, hence why singleplayer is the logical realm of inclusion.

[TheEconomist]

Things like this should stay in UMS. StarCraft 2 would fail so fast our heads would spin.

[Jesusreport]

Meh, I don't think starcraft would fail if they added another race. All that would be needed is 3-6 months worth of beta testing

Honestly, I think the human immagination can overcome some balance and content issues. There will always be cheese, and part of the fun in RTS Multiplayer is finding those quirky ways to beat your opponent, IMO. When something is so effective it becomes a sure win, all that is needed is an update.

[Quirel]

Meh, I don't think starcraft would fail if they added another race. All that would be needed is 3-6 months worth of beta testing

Honestly, I think the human immagination can overcome some balance and content issues. There will always be cheese, and part of the fun in RTS Multiplayer is finding those quirky ways to beat your opponent, IMO. When something is so effective it becomes a sure win, all that is needed is an update.

The biggest problem is keeping the races balanced yet distinct. Sure, your race is quite different on paper, but I'd also like to point out that the biggest differences between the races at the beginning of StarCraft II were cut for balance. Endgame Mothership and Lord Marshal Zealots? Gone. Drop pods and recyclable buildings?? Gone. Rapidly-deploying Nydus worms and Corruptors that could turn your own aircraft against you? Gone.

So, yeah. It's possible to include a fourth race, but whether the races will be completely distinct at the end of the day is the question. Not something you can do this late into production, even with "Six months of beta testing".

[ArcherofAiur]

[minerals]

Christ, not another one of theses threads. I thought they stopped making these after the beta started. *sigh*

[Hav0x]

Blizzard said the reason they didn't do a fourth race is because of multiplayer. Not singleplayer and lore. They thought the current three races covered all the bases and didn't overlap with each other.