A Call to Action was announced in 2012 by Blizzard Entertainment. It involves a focused playtest which doesn't use the PTR system.
The changes are tested on variant maps.
Blizzard believes all matchups below pro-level are balanced, but that pro-level zerg are struggling to scout early and defend against all-in rushes; Blizzard needs to improve the situation without making them overpowered. Blizzard wants to test only small adjustments that will affect pro-level play.
As of January, 2014, Blizzard began testing a new balance testing extension mod, which allows other maps to be tested. In order to activate the mod
- Navigate to Browse Maps on the Custom Games menu,
- Select a map and click the Create with Mod button in the lower right corner,
- Choose to sort by Blizzard Mods from the dropdown list at the top of the screen.
- Select the “Balance Test Mod” Extension from the list and then hit Create Game.[1]
Change Log
Edit
Deadwing LEEdit
March 5, 2015Edit
Balance Test Map Changes
Balance Test Map: “Deadwing LE (2.1.8 Balance v1.1)”
This is an update. For a complete list of changes please also reference our post regarding Balance v1.0.
Zerg
- Locust
- Locust duration decreased from 30 seconds to 25 seconds
- Viper
- Blinding Cloud range increased from 10 to 11
Protoss
- Tempest
- Bonus damage versus massive air units removed[2]
January 29, 2015Edit
Balance Test Map Changes
Balance Test Map: “Deadwing LE (2.1.8 Balance v1.0)”
Zerg
- Swarm Host
- Cost modified from 200 Minerals and 100 Vespene to 100 Minerals and 200 Vespene
- Supply cost increased from 3 to 4
- Movement speed increased from 2.25 to 2.95
- Swarm Hosts now require the Burrow research in order to burrow
- Swarm Hosts no longer collide with Locusts
- Spawn Locusts – This ability has been reworked
- Auto-cast removed, Spawn Locusts must now be manually cast.
- Spawn Locusts cooldown increased from 25 seconds to 60 seconds
- Casting Spawn Locusts no longer requires a Swarm Host to be burrowed
- Locust
- Weapon speed increased from .8 to .6
- Locust duration increased from 15 seconds (+10 seconds with Enduring Locusts) to 30 seconds
- Infestation Pit
- Enduring Locusts – This upgrade has been removed
- New upgrade: Flying Locusts - Allows Locusts spawned by Swarm Hosts to fly. Flying Locusts can use Swoop to land and attack
- Requires Lair
- Cost is 200 Minerals, 200 Vespene, 160 seconds
- Allows Locusts spawned by Swarm Hosts to fly. Flying Locusts can use Swoop to land and attack
- Swoop: Orders the Locust to land at the targeted location, allowing it to attack
Terran
- Raven
- Point Defense Drone duration decreased from 180 seconds to 20 seconds[3]
December 15, 2014Edit
Terran
- Widow Mine
- Widow mine splash damage decreased from 40 +40 shields to 40 +20 shields.[4]
Overgrowth LEEdit
July 17, 2014Edit
Terran
- Widow Mine
- Splash radius is now 1.75. There are no longer 50% or 25% damage zones.
- Splash damage is now 40 (+40 Shields) for the full 1.75 splash radius.
- Thor
- Changed to prioritize their AA weapon over the AG weapon
Protoss
- Mothership Core
- Time Warp duration decreased from 30 to 15 seconds[5]
July 11, 2014Edit
Terran
- Widow Mine
- Splash radius increased from 1.25/1.5/1.75 to 1.5/2/2.5
- Thor
- Changed to prioritize their AA weapon over the AG weapon
Protoss
- Mothership Core
- Time Warp duration decreased from 30 to 15 seconds[6]
Merry Go Round LEEdit
May 21, 2014Edit
Terran
Zerg
- Brood Lord gains the Frenzied ability
- Frenzied is changed to also be immune to movement altering abilities[7]
May 14, 2014Edit
Terran
Zerg
- Spore Crawler damage decreased from 15 + 30 vs biological to 15 + 10 vs biological
- Hydralisk damage against air increased from 12 to 12 + 4 vs biological[8]
May 5, 2014Edit
Terran
Frost LEEdit
The following Calls to Action were sounded for Frost LE.
February 13, 2014Edit
Protoss
- Mothership Core
- Vision radius decreased from 14 to 9.
- Stalker
- Blink cooldown increased from 10 to 15.
- Tempest
- Damage increased from 30 to 30 + 30 to structures.
Terran
- Widow Mine
- Splash damage now deals 40 + 40 shield damage.
Zerg
- Hydralisk
- Delay between attacks decreased from .83 to .75.[10]
January 31, 2014Edit
Protoss
- Mothership Core
- Photon Overcharge duration decreased from 60 to 50 seconds.
- Time Warp energy cost increased from 75 to 100.
- Tempest
- Resonance Coil ground weapon damage increased from 30 to 30 + 30 vs. Structures.
Terran
- Ghost
- Starting energy increased from 50 to 75.
- The Moebius Reactor upgrade has been removed from the Ghost Academy.
Zerg
- Hydralisk
- Cost decreased from 100/50 to 100/25.[1]
Explanations for the testing changes were given by David Kim.
Bel’Shir Vestige LE, Yeonsu LE and Alterzim Stronghold TEEdit
The following Calls to Action were sounded for Bel’Shir Vestige LE, Yeonsu LE and Alterzim Stronghold TE.
October 23, 2013Edit
- Bel’Shir Vestige LE (2.0.11 Balance v1.1)
- Yeonsu LE (2.0.11 Balance v1.1)
- Alterzim Stronghold TE (2.0.11 Balance v1.1)
Protoss
Oracle
- Movement speed increased from 3.375 to 4.0
- Acceleration increased from 2 to 3
- Units that burrow or cloak while under the effects of Revelation will once again be revealed after unburrowing or uncloaking.
Terran
Armory
- Vehicle and Ship Weapon upgrades have been combined
Siege Tank
- Siege Mode attack period decreased from 3.0 to 2.7
Widow Mine
- Sentinel Missiles now deal reduced damage to units caught within its splash radius based on their distance from the target:
- 40 damage within 1.25 radius
- 20 damage from 1.25 to 1.5 radius
- 10 damage from 1.5 to 1.75 radius
Zerg
Roach Warren
- The Tunneling Claws upgrade now increases burrowed Roach movement speed from 1.41 to 2.25.[11]
Bel'Shir VestigeEdit
The following Calls to Action were sounded for Bel'shir Vestige
October 17, 2013Edit
Bel'Shir Vestige LE (2.0.11 Balance v1.1)
Protoss
- Oracle
- Revelation casting range has returned to 9.
- Units that burrow or cloak while under the effects of Revelation will once again be revealed after unburrowing or uncloaking.
Terran
- Widow Mine
- Sentinel Missiles splash damage radius has returned to 1.75.
- Sentinel Missiles now deal reduced damage to units caught within its splash radius based on their distance from the target:
- 40 damage within 1.25 radius
- 20 damage from 1.25 to 1.5 radius
- 10 damage from 1.5 to 1.75 radius[12]
October 2, 2013Edit
Bel'Shir Vestige LE (2.0.11 Balance v1.0)
Protoss
- Oracle
- Movement speed increased from 3.375 to 4.0
- Acceleration increased from 2 to 3
- Revelation casting radius increased from 9 to 10
Terran
- Armory
- Vehicle and Ship Weapon upgrades have been combined
- Siege Tank
- Siege Mode attack period decreased from 3.0 to 2.7
- Widow Mine
- Sentinel Missiles splash radius decreased from 1.75 to 1.25
Zerg
- Roach Warren
- The Tunneling Claws upgrade now increases burrowed Roach movement speed from 1.41 to 2.25.[13]
August 19, 2013Edit
Bel’Shir Vestige LE (2.0.10 Balance v1.1)
Terran
- Armory
- Vehicle and Ship Weapon upgrades have been combined into just one upgrade.
Zerg
- Overseer
- The Pneumatized Carapace upgrade now increases Overseer movement speed from 1.88 to 3.375 (previously 1.88 to 2.75.)
- Ultralisk
- Health increased from 500 to 550.[14]
August 15, 2013Edit
Bel’Shir Vestige LE (2.0.10 Balance v1.0)
Terran
- Armory
- Vehicle and Ship Weapon upgrades have been combined into just one upgrade.
Zerg
- Overseer
- The Pneumatized Carapace upgrade now increases Overseer movement speed from 1.88 to 3.375 (previously 1.88 to 2.75.)
- Viper
- Starting energy increased to 200.[15]
Derelict WatcherEdit
The following Calls to Action were sounded for Derelict Watcher
June 14, 2013Edit
Derelict Watcher TE (2.0.8 Balance v1.1)
Protoss
- Warp Prism
- Movement speed increased from 2.5 to 2.953 (previously 2.5 to 3.375.)
- Acceleration increased from 2.125 to 2.625 (previously 2.125 to 3.25.)
- The Gravitic Drive upgrade has returned to the Robotics Bay and will increase movement speed to 3.375 and acceleration to 3.25 when researched.
Terran
- Hellbat
- Attack damage decreased from 18 +12 vs. light to 18.
- The Infernal Pre-Igniter upgrade increases attack damage from 18 to 18 +12 vs. light.
- Banshee
- Cloaking Field research cost decreased from 200/200 to 100/100
- Cloaking Field research time decreased from 110 seconds to 90.[16]
May 30, 2013Edit
Blizzard proposed the following changes to a version of Derelict Watcher.
Protoss
- Warp Prism
- The Gravitic Drive upgrade has been removed from the Robotics Bay.
- Movement speed increased from 2.5 to 3.375.
- Acceleration increased from 2.125 to 3.25.[17]
Akilon WastesEdit
The following Calls to Action were sounded for Akilon Wastes
May 2, 2013Edit
Blizzard proposed the following changes to a version of Akilon Wastes.
- Spore Crawler damage increased from 15 +15 vs. biological to 15 +30 vs. biological
- Burrow research cost decreased from 100/100 to 50/50
- Oracle movement speed increased from 3.375 to 4
- Oracle acceleration increased from 2 to 3[18]
Antiga ShipyardEdit
The following Calls to Action were sounded for Antiga Shipyard
January 11, 2013Edit
Antiga Shipyard (1.5.3 Balance v2.0)
- Infested terrans no longer gain weapon and armor upgrades.[19]
November 30, 2012Edit
Blizzard proposed the following changes at Antiga Shipyard:
- Raven seeker missile no longer requires an upgrade.
- Infested terran egg health reduced to 80 (was 100).[20]
November 20, 2012Edit
Blizzard proposed the following changes at Antiga Shipyard (1.5.3 Balance)
- Fungal Growth no longer affects Psionic units.
- Raven Seeker Missile no longer requires an upgrade.[21]
August 8th, 2012Edit
Another Call to Action was sounded for patch 1.5, again on Antiga Shipyard.
- Creep tumor build radius, vision radius, and creep spread radius decreased from 10 to 8.
- Raven movement acceleration increased from 2 to 2.25.
- Raven movement speed increased from 2.25 to 2.5.[22]
May 4th, 2012Edit
Blizzard proposed the following changes:
- Queen anti-ground weapon attack range increased from 3 to 5.
- Observer build time decreased to 30, down from 40.[23]
Most of the changes made it into the special balance update issued later that month.[24]
May 2nd, 2012Edit
Blizzard proposed the following changes:
- Overlord movement speed increased to 0.586, up from 0.4687. Upgraded overlord movement speed unchanged.
- Queen starting energy increased to 50, up from 25. (Blizzard later removed this change.)
ReferencesEdit
|
