Yesterday, Blizzard broke their typical tight-lipped silence and released a glut of new information and artwork for what is widely considered the most anticipated game of 2009, Starcraft 2. The release reveals a significant overhaul made to the existing artwork and character models for the Zerg faction. These new images suggest a darker, dirtier new direction taken by the design team, departing from the vibrant palette of the original game.

Art Updates
The StarCraft art team have been making massive updates to the Zerg faction, adding various new animations and improving even further on the textures of Zerg units and buildings. A picture is a thousand words so check out the updates for yourself!

Zerg Drone (Before/After)
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/UpdatedDrone.jpg

Zerg Overlord (Before/After)
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/UpdatedOverlord.jpg

Zerg Hydralisk (Before/After)
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/UpdatedHydralisk.jpg

Zerg Overseer (Before/After)
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/UpdatedOverseer.jpg

Zerg Baneling (Before/After)
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/UpdatedBaneling.jpg

Throughout the development process, the team is constantly reiterating and improving on the game in every way. As mentioned before, the Infestor too is getting a makeover, becoming much creepier and intimidating – you definitely don’t want to end up helpless at the will of this thing!

Zerg Infestor Concept Art
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/InfesterArt.jpg

Not only does Blizzard reveal a new look for existing models, but they have also provided some details about new building-specific abilities available to players of each race. Specifically, the Protoss Dark Pylon, Terran Orbital Command, and Zerg Queen will each have access to 3 unique support abilities that can easily turn the tide of battle. Also, look closely at the description for the Zerg Queen’s Razor Plague functionality–it suggests that units will be classified as either being biological or mechanical in game terms, an important distinction that will probably be important to a number of units besides this one.

The same Blizzard poster who revealed this information later added that the Protoss Dark Pylon currently costs 150 minerals (50 more than the normal Pylon), with the Gateway as a prerequisite. It was also remarked that the Orbital Command is the game’s equivalent of the Surveillance Station from the original game, requiring a Barracks as prerequisite, and if you upgrade to a Planetary Fortress you will not have access to the Orbital Command’s abilities. The Planetary Fortress requires an Engineering Bay to be built.

Protoss Dark Pylon
Long used only by the Dark Templar of Shakuras, the Dark Pylon is now used by all as the Protoss war for survival becomes more desperate. In addition to providing supply and giving power to nearby Protoss structures, the Dark Pylon has several unique abilities that require energy to use.

Proton Charge: an area-of-effect ability that gives all targeted Probes additional charge for their Proton-Cutters. Probes that have an additional charge gather additional minerals per trip when collecting resources. The Proton Charge lasts only a short time before dissipating.

Null Shield: a single-target ability that causes a Protoss Shield to shimmer and warp, cloaking the targeted Protoss unit. The Null Shield lasts only a short time. (Note: this also works on non-Protoss allies.)

Argus Link: a single-target ability that transfers energy from the Dark Pylon to any energy-using Protoss unit.

Screenshot: Proton Charge in Action
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/PROTOSS_DroneTarget.jpg
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/PROTOSS_DroneHarvest.jpg

Terran Orbital Command
The Terrans rely not only on the troops they can train on the battlefield but also on troops called from deep space. The Orbital Command allows the Terrans to make use of their orbital assets to support their fight on the ground. As an upgrade to the Command Center the Orbital Command can create SCVs and serves as a drop location for collected resources. In addition it has several abilities that require energy.

Calldown Mule: sends a single automated mining robot by drop-pod that assists SCVs in collecting resources by working around current SCV mining operations. Unfortunately the Mule is still in the prototype phase and has a limited battery supply (timed life).

Calldown Extra Supplies: sends additional supplies to a targeted Supply Depot. Generally used by Terran commanders only in an emergency to allow them to support additional troops.

Scanner Sweep: using a satellite in high-orbit, the Terrans reveal a large area anywhere on the map and detect all cloaked units within the target area.

Screenshot: Mules Everywhere!
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/TERRAN_Mules.jpg
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/TERRAN_MuleVariations.jpg

Zerg Queen
The Zerg Queen has continued to evolve over the last few months. She is a fierce defender of the Zerg Hatcheries and can often be found in small groups defending the larger Zerg infestations. In addition to defending her Hatchery from ground and air threats, the Queen has several special abilities that require energy to use.

Build Creep Tumor: with a mighty push from her bowels, the Queen creates a cluster of organic tumors that generate additional creep. In recent months the Zerg have mutated to move more quickly on creep, making this an important function for the Queen.

Spawn Larva: by injecting Queen ichor into a Hatchery, Lair or Hive the Queen can cause the Zerg structure to undergo a startling metamorphosis. The Hatchery starts to throb and green sacks swell up on the structure. Eventually four additional larva burst out of the Hatchery and land next to whatever larva are already wriggling around nearby. While a Hatchery hosts more than 3 larva, the Hatchery will not spawn additional larva, until that number drops below 3.

Razor Plague: with a great breath the queen exhales a cloud of tiny Zerg creatures that create a vast swarm nearby. These creatures attack all enemy creatures within their swarm, doing additional damage to biological targets. What makes it worse is the Zerg player can control the swarm, moving it around to attack whatever enemies he wishes until the swarm becomes exhausted and dissipates.

Screenshot: Incoming Swarm!
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/ZERG_TumorLarvae.jpg
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/ZERG_MutaHatch.jpg
http://www.battle.net/images/misc/09-02/ZERG_Attack.jpg

—StarCraft II Q&A Batch 49—

1) I am very curious… previously, SCVs, Drones, Probes, Vultures, Archons, and Dark Archons hovered above the ground so they were not hit by mines. My question is simple: Are there any hovering units in Starcraft 2? If there are, can they hover over shallow water? -Ancientdefender (Battle.net)

If Spider Mines stay in the game, then there will be hovering units. Shallow waters are currently just a visual effect and will not ‘play’ differently.

2) How does the Mutalisk attack work in StarCraft II, what defines its bouncing pattern? Is it random or not? If not, what is the criteria that defines how it bounces? -Kain175 (Battle.net)

Regardless of the position of the Mutalisk, when its attack hits a target, it will then acquire the next target based on proximity to the first target. The attack will always bounce to the next closest target.

3) Is it possible to toggle off Multiple Building Selection (MBS)?

No.

4) Balancing of 2v2 team play: Roaches + Medivac are too over powered for 2v2 team play unit combinations?

The regeneration rate of the Roaches and the healing of the Medivac will not stack upon each other.

5) What is a good counter for Zerg against Marines, which are upgraded from the original StarCraft?

Zerg actually have a few options that are quite effective. Zerglings can catch Marines out in the open and surround them relatively easily. Secondly, Banelings with the burrow ability are also very effective. There is nothing more gratifying than watching a group of Marines walk over a burrowed Baneling. When it unburrows – BOOM! Another counter that can be used are Roaches with burrow. A player can burrow a Roach at low health for it to regenerate back to full health in seconds, at which point it can unburrow and begin attacking the Marines again.

In late game, Infestor’s with their fungal scourge ability, which causes a biological unit to take damage over time until the unit explodes and does an area of effect damage, decimating groups of Marines easily if the opponent is not fast to react. Additionally, Ultralisks with their new cleave attack as well as 200 more hit points from the original StarCraft also make them an excellent counter to massed Marines.

6) How do you keep the Baneling from exploding on targets that you don’t want them to hit?

The Baneling now has an ‘attack building’ ability now which allows players to have more control over what the Baneling attacks. Players no longer need to worry about Banelings accidentally exploding on a building when they actually wanted it to hit a unit.

Misc.) What tier are the lurkers? Are they still late-game units?

Lurkers are tier 3. The Lurker Den requires a Hive. Banelings are much better for earlier AoE, and Lurkers are a good siege type unit in addition to its previous uses. They have a range of 9 which outranges Protoss cannons and have an attack of 15 + 15 to armored (including buildings).

Misc.) Are hydralisks still better anti-air than anti-ground? What are their damage stats?

Hydralisks are still slightly better against air, with air to ground attack stats of 10 + 6 armored and ground to ground attack stats of 10, both with range 6.

Misc.) I’d like to know how much energy the Dark Pylon has, how much those abilities cost, how long their duration is, and their CD. The energy transfer and cloaking abilities sound really cool

Dark Pylon has 200 energy.
Proton Charge costs 50 energy and lasts for 30 seconds.
Null Shied costs 50 energy. No cool time, as long as you have enough energy, you can use this ability.
Argus Link drains 75 energy per second from the Dark Pylon.

Misc.) Does the infester move at the same speed when burried or is it slower? does it move faster when burried on the creep?

Infestor moves slower when burried. And all Zerg units move faster on the creep.

Misc.) Does the Dark Pylon’s and Orbital Command abilities have a cast range or can they be casted on the entire map?

Dark Pylon’s abilities has a cast range.
Orbital Command’s abilities technically don’t have a cast range, since MULEs can be dropped any place on the map and Extra Supplies only can be dropped on the Supply Depot. And as you know, Scanner Sweep can be used on the any map location.

Misc.) Does these new awesome abilities replace that weirdo gas mechanic that no one liked or are both in the game?

Some changes for the gas mechanic: there are still two Vespene Geysers and workers will harvest Vespene Gas until the entire gas is exhausted. Once the gas is depleted, workers will stop harvesting gas, which means there is no deplete gas mining like the original StarCraft.

Misc.) Did the queen lose her heal?

Queen doesn’t have a heal ability.

Misc.) Does the dark pylon cloak lasts long enough for a probe to walk from his base to the back of the enemy base? Or long enough for an early ~3 zealot rush with a proxy dark pylon at the enemy’s door to do some economic dmg before the enemy can do anything?

Target unit only can be cloaked for a short time.

Misc.) Can you cloak air units such as phase prisms?

Yes, you can cloak air units through Null Shield.

Misc.) Does the queen creep tumor can be build off creep or only expands existing creep?

Creep Tumor only can be created on the creep.

Misc.) How advantagous would it be to have 2 or 3 Dark Pylons next to your workers to constantly vitalize their efforts? Is that possible?

It is possible.

Misc.) Also, for Terran Mules, can they mine a mineral patch with an SCV simultaneously? Or will they have to wait their turn? Do they carry the same minerals as an SCV or more or less?

MULEs can mine a mineral field with a SCV simultaneously. MULEs carry more minerals than a SCV.

Misc.) Does the null shield work on buildings?

You can’t use Null Shield on the structures.

Misc.) Are the HP/shields of the dark pylon the same as those of the regular pylon?

Dark Pylon has 200 Life and 100 Shieds, but Pylon has 200/200 Life/Shields. So the Dark Pylon can be destroyed little bit easier than Pylon by enemy units.

Misc.) Karune, does the proton charge ability affect gas collection in any way, or does it only affect minerals?

It only affects minerals.

Misc.) Can Argus Link be set to auto-cast? or: Can I right click it from another unit to access this? (I have a High Templar selected and right click the nearby Dark Pylon for mana, much like a moonwell in WC3)

You can right click Dark Pylon from High Templar for energy.

Misc.) Also, as someone else mentioned…will it be possible to say like set up about 3-4 dark pylons around your gatherers and (assuming you are macro-intensive enough) constantly switch between them and keep the field up?

Possible.

Misc.) Does the effect on the probes only work for minerals, or vespene gas as well?

Only for minerals.

Misc.) Is 50 energy the initial amount out of a new Dark Pylon?

Yes, the initial amount of energy is 50.

Misc.) How much does [Calldown Extra Supplies] cost?

Calldown Extra Supplies costs 50 energy.

Misc.) How much supply does [Calldown Extra Supplies] grant?

Extra Supplies increases the supply output by 2.

Misc.) Can depots that have additional supply called down still drop into the ground?

You can still lower/raise your Supply Depot after calldown Extra Supplies on it.

Misc.) Is the extra supply [from Calldown Extra Supplies] permanent or temporary?

It is permanent and looks different from the Supply Depot, which means you’d better take out this Depot first when you attacking the enemy Terran base.

Source

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