Variation in Units

[GeneStarwind]

Females?
I don't see why not.

Why not? It'd be nice to see virtually every unit have variations after each production, like some randomizing element that is purely cosmetic and doesn't hurt the gameplay.

Age of Empires II had this element for their villagers. Albeit women practically only appeared as Villagers in that game on multiplayer.

I'd like to see Black female Banshees, white male Scottish dropships(although they already exist in one way), Indian male SCVs, Black female Marauders, etc.

Prison don't discriminate.

And why stop there? Why not male and female Protoss units? Selendis is a pretty good Carrier.

Female Dark Templar? Female Furinax Zealot? Male Sargas Phoenix?
Help me if I'm wrong, are the Protoss tribes different in appearance?

I don't think it's a bad thing to add, assuming that it doesn't affect game mechanics.

Besides, if the story involves the potential destruction/assimilation of all three races, shouldn't there be a combined effort, universally, to overcome this threat? Kerrigan can't do it by herself.


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EDIT: If you don't like the idea, how about the game has an option to have varying or non-varying units? So that if you like this idea you can play with this setting, and if you don't, you can play with non-varying units.

It would be nice if it could be done so that this addition does not adversely affect anyone who does or doesn't like it.
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I realize after searching female units that this kind of thing got people riled up at one point and then they started not caring anymore. I just hope that it doesn't happen here and there is some thoughtful discussion.

To make my point clear - I think it would be nice, but I know it's not necessary.
So if you're going to troll be my guest, just know you're wasting your time.

[GnaReffotsirk]

I want to keep my women sweet, beautiful, and out of combat making life less gruesome as it is.

Seriously, in a game it's about character, imo. Let the real girls decide. Tom-boys can join in anytime, but keep the Thatcher cute. I love the Thatcher.

[Wankey]

Iconic units are more memorable.

[Keeganomical]

Iconic units are more memorable.

Why not make the variation iconic? While I admit certain units are more interesting being simply male or female, plenty of other units would be interesting to see mixed. This could become a Blizzard way of doing things. Imagine the option to choose your sex in Diablo 3 for all classes. The mind boggles!

[The_Blade]

Protoss seem to share the same characteristics, but Shakuras and Aiur protoss are different due to their lifestyles. Protoss tribes also have different traditions and cultures. A good example out there is the Zer'atai and the Lenassa tribe from the Dark Templars.

[Articorse]

I was actually a little disappointed that there were no other units that varied, apart from the Dark Templar. I realize this would probably take time and effort to do, but it would be incredibly cool.

Maybe they could add variations just for the more basic units. Like have a few different models for Zealots, Stalkers, Marines, Marauders, Reapers, Zerglings, Roaches and Hydralisks. Hell, there are already a bajillion portraits for Marines, why not make a few for the other basic units?

[GeneStarwind]

Protoss seem to share the same characteristics, but Shakuras and Aiur protoss are different due to their lifestyles. Protoss tribes also have different traditions and cultures. A good example out there is the Zer'atai and the Lenassa tribe from the Dark Templars.

Ah right, of course!

Iconic units are more memorable.

I agree, but what about iconic classes in general? You can usually tell unit classes apart from their garb, quotes and obvious function, no?

A big Scandinavian woman driving the Thor would be pretty iconic imho.

I want to keep my women sweet, beautiful, and out of combat making life less gruesome as it is.

Seriously, in a game it's about character, imo. Let the real girls decide. Tom-boys can join in anytime, but keep the Thatcher cute. I love the Thatcher.

Thatcher?

[Wankey]

The less there are the more iconic it is. Diablo and WoW are role playing games so those are bad examples.

Starcraft has to be easily readable and each unit has to have character. Adding genders will only dilute that character.

Imagine if there was a choice of male and female versions of every character in starcraft, would anyone even remember Kerrigan as a guy or a girl?

Characters are what they are, and genders define them. Each unit in Starcraft ins't just a unit or a role, it's an character and that's why SC does so well compared to other RTSes where each unit is just a role.

[ooZer0]

I remember back in Alpha when blizzard was trying to decide weather to use the Zer'atai or the Lenassa. People then thought it would be a good idea to use both, but also include a Male/ Female version of Ghosts for Terran. Makes sense IMO.

Also fairly feasible, they already have that cool looking Nova model. They could even completely cop out and just throw that in with a small code string that gives a 50% spawn rate upon Ghost creation. Same as they did with DT models. They already have a cool model, it would take an hour... two at the most for a single programmer to put such a thing into action. The only actual work they would have to do is get a female voice actor to read all the ghost lines.

Which would take... maybe a day... two tops? IDK, if they were so willing to put in different random DT's but leave out random different Ghosts... feels kinda silly to me...

I don't really think male/female versions should be made for ALL or even MOST of the Terran/Protoss units. As Wankey said, recognizably is the key, having marines that look different would be strange to look at. But units that are highly specialized and you don't see in large numbers, like DT and Ghosts, would be kinda nice IMO. Especially since the Ghost archetype itself has the largest variety of strong female characters compared to any other role in the Terran army, they would be the shoe in for the male/female model split, if one should occur.

[JackhammerIV]

Considering the concept art they showed for HoTS with jungle adapted zerg maybe they're considering introducing some variation in the models. Probably not the portraits or voices. Same like they did with the DT. Maybe we can get some variation in the models but it seems to be the extent that Blizzard is willing to take it. More voices and portraits that are randomised seems to be something they are reluctant to do. I'd be happy for some small cosmetic variations in units.