Further distinction for Terrans: Munitions instead of energy

[Blazur]

So many abilities require energy as a limitation when it's illogical to do so. I'd like to propose a very simple idea to further distinguish the Terrans from the other races. Make many of their abilities be based off a set number of ammunition rather than energy.

Examples:
- Each ghost is armed with 10 sniper rounds.
- Each reaper is armed with 5 D8 charges.
- The Raven doesn't use energy to drop a droid. Instead, it must purchase any of its 3 abilities at which case it becomes armed in its hull and ready for deployment. Only one of each can be armed at a time.

When either the ghost or reaper has depleted their supply, they must return to a barracks to rearm themselves with additional rounds. If a cooldown is deemed necessary for balance then keep it. But with limited rounds it adds some risk and decisive action to make the most of them before you need to retreat.

In the case of the Raven, it can simply re-arm itself in the air whenever its dropped a droid. But it costs money and takes a few seconds to build once the cooldown has completed.

They already have this mechanic with the battlecruisers, to a certain extent. Right now I believe the upgrade path you choose for each BC is constant. Anotherwords, when you upgrade a BC to use Yamato it's always got that ability, and must now use energy to cast it. But imagine instead that you purchased a yamato shot, in turn giving it the visual upgrade to denote this. Once fired the BC returns to normal giving you the option to purchase any upgrade path you want...once you're beyond the cooldown.

Thoughts?

[Pandonetho]

I like the distinction of it.

But I think it complicates things too much. Requiring a caster to go back to a building to restock I think makes things too complicated.

What if I just float a barracks and keep it besides my casters then?

[Blazur]

But I think it complicates things too much. Requiring a caster to go back to a building to restock I think makes things too complicated.

True. What if it requires additional resources to rearm them, eliminating the need to return to the barracks? You simply pay for more ammunitions and they get it instantly. The price can be insignificant, but it adds another decision for players and again adds distinction to the race.

[PsiWarp]

This could create some cool ability with the Orbital Command's Drop Pod mechanic...

However, I think only 1 caster should possess this trait, any more than that will cause a lot of unwanted and unnecessary complication with abilities.

Though, it seems to me that it will infringe on the Auto-build Interceptor ability.


-Psi

[DemolitionSquid]

So we're purposely making Terran require more needless micro because... ?

Protoss and Zerg get to bring casters along who can regenerate their energy, and Terran have to retreat to resupply.

Yeah, that seems balanced and fun.

[sandwich_bird]

I love it. I also approve the restock mechanic. This could also be a way to stop auto turrets spam.

[Blazur]

So we're purposely making Terran require more needless micro because... ?

Protoss and Zerg get to bring casters along who can regenerate their energy, and Terran have to retreat to resupply.

Yeah, that seems balanced and fun.

Not necessarily requiring more micro, but rather changing how the money is spent. Right now all these abilities need to be presumably researched. Instead of researching the ability, I'm proposing you individually pay for the ammunition to arm each of the units instead of a one-time research. The money can be the regulator, instead of energy which doesn't make sense for abilities like snipe or "throw a charge".

Maybe having to return to base to recharge is a little silly, so paying for extra ammo once depleted makes more sense.

To me this unique method of decision making sounds fun. But I get it...you're completely against micro. No need to belabor the point with me.

[DemolitionSquid]

To me this unique method of decision making sounds fun. But I get it...you're completely against micro. No need to belabor the point with me.

Except its not unique. See: Reaver.

And I'm not anti-micro. I'm anti-stupid-mechanic.

[PsiWarp]

Hehe, time to take this to a new level.

What if the Sensor Tower can deploy a Drop Pod (to restock ammunition in an AOE, or single target) to any friendly unit within its radar scan radius, once it detects the unit has 0 ammunition left? Can be on auto-cast, but costs you resources or probably energy.


-Psi

[Nicol Bolas]

The Terrans are already the most micro-heavy race. Almost every unit has a special activated ability. Adding this on top of that doesn't help.

Ammo makes more sense for the Protoss.