Idea: Give Proton Charge Disadvantages

[kxr1der]

That still doesn't solve the problem of obelisks being so cheap that you can have a whole bunch each of which is dedicated to one ability.

Maybe we could just make the obelisk just as or more expensive as nexus. Or giving the ability to the nexus instead. I was thinking about it and creating a downside to the ability probably is not fair since none of the other macro abilities have penalties. The other abilities do however have limitations on their use. You can only have as many queens as you do hatcheries and same with orbital commands. Therefore you could do either suggestion above or, limit the number of obelisks. Maybe 2 obelisks can't be in pylon range of eachother and then limit the casting distance of proton charge to within pylon range.

[Noise]

Yes! Not a bad thought there. I suggest giving it an ability that increases production speed to compete with the proton charge, and that these 2 abilities be moved to the nexus. Obelisk has it's energy and shield recharge abilities, and if necessary it could get it's cloak ability back.

[Aldrius]

You guys are proposing making it so if you use Proton Charge you lose base security. That is already the case. If you are spending all your money on Proton Charge you dont have shield or energy recharge if your base is attacked.

They're not really that useful against harassment, though... I mean energy charge maybe, I guess you could use some hallucinations and force fields to get in the enemies' way. But shield recharge wouldn't be so hot on probes. At least if it's single-target and depending on how the spell works.

Disrupter=50 min, 100 gas

Obelisk= 150 min

Pylons cost 100 minerals. It'd take maybe 2 or 3 to block off a choke point. I'm gonna go ahead and guess that the number of nullifiers it'd take to permanently block off a choke point with force field would not be worth it.

Unless you need to micro or have more minerals than your spending.

When would you 'need to micro', and the 'need more minerals than your spending' thing doesn't really work either. You use Proton Charge when it becomes available and the Probes aren't charged. There's no alternative to that.

Their is still no maximum number of times you can cast it. I dont see how it costing 150 gas makes this not so?

Because he can get killed easily. It's something that requires focus, skill and interaction with the enemy.

Proton Charge just takes no skill. It's repetitive and menial.

I suggest giving it an ability that increases production speed to compete with the proton charge, and that these 2 abilities be moved to the nexus.

Meh. Too much like Orbital Command I think.

[ArcherofAiur]

A better idea would be one that actually competes with proton charge for in-base usage, for example you can target a nearby production building and it warps in units a lot faster or something like that. Then you have to choose between extra minerals or extra production. That still doesn't solve the problem of obelisks being so cheap that you can have a whole bunch each of which is dedicated to one ability.

This is something to pursue. If we can find another way for protoss to increase thier warmachine prodution through an inbase action centered at the obelisk hmmm that might be it. I like your thinking.

[ArcherofAiur]

But shield recharge wouldn't be so hot on probes. At least if it's single-target and depending on how the spell works.

Shield batteries were AOE. Im kinda lost on some of the other things we are argueing. Maybe I just dont understand you but in Starcraft 1 their is always tension between microing and macroing. If your army is about to be turned into pancakes by siege tanks you can bet your not going to be worried about making more probes.

[MattII]

I don't know how well this idea would play out, but a while back I suggested that instead of PC the Obelisk could warp back all the minerals (and gas maybe) gathered by specific probes, allowing said probes to continue gathering without having to move away from the mineral patch.

[Caliban113]

What if the Probes cannot construct buildings during Photon Charge, when carrying a crystal or cube?


-Psi

I'd prefer a new mechanic - but if PC stays, I think this will fix - Good one.

[Lucius_Raecius]

I would think that perhaps Proton charge means that during its Duration, the Drones cannot be controlled, the automatically harvest resources.

This means that while it gives an economic advantage, it makes them highly vulnerable to base raids, as they cannot flee or defend themselves.

[MattII]

I dislike the idea, heck, I dislike any idea that removes absolute control from a unit (I'm not fond of Neural Parasite either, but at least there the unit just switches control, it doesn't go automatic).

[Operatoring]

I think Proton Charge should be a way to get a lot of Minerals fast when you need them. Make it so when you cast it on the Probes, they mine really fast and you get a bunch of Minerals all at once. Than, when the Charge fades, the Probes actually mine slower, balancing it out. I think the gain should balance out to be even, this way it is only used when Protoss need Minerals RIGHT NOW. This is just my opinion though. I hate this ability and would rather see it scrapped, but if it must stay, I think it should work they way I described.