Drop pod
From StarCraft Wiki
The drop pod is a terran atmospheric insertion craft.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
In use by 2502,[1] the drop pod is shaped somewhat like a rounded cylinder, with two rounded ends: one boasting an orange-yellow engine, and the other equipped to slam into a planetary surface. On the engine end, there are four flaps that extend outwards from the engine and two vanes, one to either side of the engine.[2] Developed by the Terran Dominion, the pod degrades a few seconds after landing in order to prevent its technology from falling into enemy hands.[1]
Drop pods are used to covertly insert ghosts,[1] deploy marines,[3] resupply ground forces,[4] and aid mineral mining operations with MULEs.[5]
[edit] Game Unit
In StarCraft II, drop pods are used by the orbital command's abilities[5] to deploy MULEs, and in the usage animation for increasing the supply output of supply depots.[4] The drop animation takes 5-10 seconds.[6] Drop pods may be deployed anywhere within line of sight.[7]
[edit] Development
The drop pod started as a ghost ability. This ability was removed[8][9] because the ghost had too many abilities and there were few uses for it.[10] In addition, the medivac dropship filled their role even better.[11]
The drop pod was used to transport 12 infantry units, including SCVs, anywhere on the battlefield from the shadow ops.[12] The units were loaded at the shadow ops.[13] A ghost was required to target the landing spot.[2]
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 DeCandido, Keith R. A. (November 28, 2006). StarCraft: Ghost: Nova. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 0-7434-7134-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2007-09-13. Gameplay Video - Terran. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2007-09-14.
- ↑ 2007-05-19. Cinematic Trailer. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2007-08-12.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Karune,Cavez,Cydra,anybody! answer plz :D. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-02-25.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Karune. 2009-02-18. StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 49. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-02-18.
- ↑ Karune. 2009-02-18. StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 49 (page 3). Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-02-18.
- ↑ Karune. 2009-02-18. StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 49 (page 2). Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-02-18.
- ↑ Zetaras Xal'Kurat. 2008-03-16. StarCraft 2 Korean and Chinese Build Summary. SC2 Blog. Accessed 2008-03-18.
- ↑ Exclusive Karune's answers for StarCraftCZ.com. StarCraftCZ.com Accessed 2008-06-03.
- ↑ Drop Pods were "one more thing" on the Ghost. The Ghost had a TON of powers for a while and when we were looking at it we decided we had to be simpler/cleaner with the unit design so cuts had to be made.
More importantly, when we played with them in-game we really struggled to find a good use for them in a lot of situations. They had some narrow-use cases of course, but just weren't that fun. They were balance-able.
As our unit mix changes we may find a use for them again, but today they are out. Cavez. 2008-06-04. So what's the deal with Drop Pods? Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forums. Accessed 2008-06-04. - ↑ The role of the drop pod fit very closely with what Medivac Dropships already do even better. Overall, through testing, it was far better to build Medivac Dropships to drop off reinforcements or raid, especially since drop pods still needed to be loaded with infantry as well. Karune. 2009-03-05. Y were Drop Pods cancelled in the 1st place? Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2009-03-05.
- ↑ Karune. 2008-01-11. StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 25. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2008-01-11.
- ↑ Karune. 2008-02-26. StarCraft II Q&A - Batch 31. Battle.net StarCraft II General Discussion Forum. Accessed 2008-02-26.
| Terran Units and Structures of StarCraft II
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Infantry | ||
| Land Vehicles |
MULE · Hellion · Siege tank · Thor | |
| Air Units |
Viking · Medivac dropship · Banshee · Raven · Battlecruiser | |
| Basic Buildings |
Command center · Refinery · Supply depot · Barracks · Engineering bay | |
| Automated Defenses and Explosives |
Auto-turret · Defensive drone · D-8 charges · Missile turret | |
| Support Buildings |
Orbital command · Planetary fortress · Sensor tower · Bunker | |
| Add-ons | ||
| Advanced Buildings |
Merc compound · Ghost academy · Factory · Armory · Starport · Fusion core | |
| Other |
Drop pod · Nuclear missile | |
| Campaign-Exclusive Terran Units and Structures of StarCraft II | Infantry | |
| Mercenaries |
(Kel-Morian Mercenaries — Elite marines) · (Devil Dogs — Elite firebats) · (Hammer Securities — Elite marauders) | |
| Land Vehicles |
Cobra · Diamondback tank · Goliath · Transport truck · Vulture | |
| Air Units | ||
| Automated defenses | ||
| Scrapped | Removed Units | |
| Removed Buildings | ||
| Terran Starship Classifications
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Transports | Cargo |
Barge • Cargo ship — Giant-class • Freighter • Recovery vessel • Space-hauler • System runner |
| Personnel |
Escape pod • Orbital dropship • Orbital spacecraft • Planet hopper • Puddle-jumper • Salvage vessel • Shuttle • Supercarrier • Tour ship • Yacht | |
| Military |
Drop pod • Escape pod • Quantradyne APOD-33 dropship · Assault dropship · Heavy lander · Hercules dropship · Medivac dropship • Grizzly • Hawk • Mammoth-class personnel carrier | |
| Strike Craft | Starfighters | |
| Transforming | ||
| Support Ships |
Exploration vessel • Raven • Science vessel — Elite science vessel · Kang science station • Scoutship • Utility vehicle | |
| Warships | Light |
AH/G-24 Banshee • Destroyer • Gun cutter • Gunship • Frigate — Valkyrie • Class 4 Interceptor • Wanderer |
| Cruisers | ||
| Battlecruisers |
Leviathan-class · Behemoth-class · Starcruiser · Hercules-class · Minotaur-class | |
