StarCraft Wiki
StarCraft Wiki
mNo edit summary
Tag: sourceedit
Line 54: Line 54:
 
====Development====
 
====Development====
 
[[File:Spire SC1Dev Game1.gif|An alpha version of the spire|thumb]]
 
[[File:Spire SC1Dev Game1.gif|An alpha version of the spire|thumb]]
During the [[StarCraft alpha]] and [[StarCraft beta|beta]], the spire possessed a different appearance from their final version which had its model borrowed from the [[scotia]], a canceled [[zerg]] structure.<ref>[http://home.planet.nl/%7Eaggel005/alphabeta/beta/beta56.jpg]</ref>
+
During the [[StarCraft alpha]] and [[StarCraft beta|beta]], the spire possessed a different appearance from their final version which had its model borrowed from the [[scoria]], a canceled [[zerg]] structure.<ref>[http://home.planet.nl/%7Eaggel005/alphabeta/beta/beta56.jpg]</ref>
   
 
{{clear}}
 
{{clear}}

Revision as of 18:08, 14 October 2015

Spire SC-G Cncpt1

The spire

The zerg spire is based on the towering spires of the mantis screamers, although altered to be sustained with creep. It holds the genetic code of the mutalisk.[1]

A feral spire can support up to 60 mutalisks.[2]

Game Unit

StarCraft

The spire produces the genetic code that allows larvae to morph into mutalisks or split into pairs of scourge. It is capable of mutating into a greater spire after a hive has been developed, enabling the hive cluster to produce guardians and devourers.[1]

Researched Upgrades

Acquisition
Purchased from
Hotkey A
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 267seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 300seconds
Required Lair
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 333seconds
Required Hive

+1 bonus to armor per level for overlords, mutalisks, guardians, devourers, scourge and queen.

Acquisition
Purchased from
Hotkey C
Level 1
Cost 150 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 267seconds
Level 2
Cost 225 Minerals 225 Vespene gas 300seconds
Required Lair
Level 3
Cost 300 Minerals 300 Vespene gas 333seconds
Required Hive

Building Abilities

Greater Spire SC1 icon
Mutate into Greater Spire

Transforms a spire into a greater spire.

Usage
Hotkey G
Cost 100 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 120 seconds Spire
Acquisition
Required Hive

Development

Spire SC1Dev Game1

An alpha version of the spire

During the StarCraft alpha and beta, the spire possessed a different appearance from their final version which had its model borrowed from the scoria, a canceled zerg structure.[3]

StarCraft II

The spire appears in StarCraft II. It functions identically to its predecessor.

The spire can be transformed into a greater spire.

Researched Upgrades

Acquisition
Purchased from
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Lair
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Hive
ve

Increases armor of zerg air units.

Acquisition
Purchased from
Level 1
Cost 100 Minerals 100 Vespene gas 160seconds
Effect +1 armor
Level 2
Cost 175 Minerals 175 Vespene gas 190seconds
Required Lair
Effect +1 armor
Level 3
Cost 250 Minerals 250 Vespene gas 220seconds
Required Hive
Effect +1 armor
ve

Building Abilities

SC2 Greater Spire icon
Mutate into Greater Spire

Transforms a spire into a greater spire.

Usage
Hotkey G
Cost 100 Minerals 150 Vespene gas 71 seconds
Acquisition
Required Hive
ve

Development

Spire SC2 DevRend1

An early render of the spire

The spire was a simple update of the original game's sprite artwork. The challenging aspect of creating the spire in 3D was conveying the height of the building. StarCraft II has height limitations for building models, especially for multiplayer artwork due to the altitude flying units move at. Buildings exceeding certain heights either require air pathing blockers so flying units don't clip through them, or height adjustments so they're lowered under the flight elevation. Air pathing blockers are not an option for multiplayer art, so the spire was lowered for the sake of functionality. Another consideration was making this building somewhat humble so the presence of a greater spire would be more significant.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  2. Bogdanove, Kal-El. "Frenzy." (Feb. 28, 2013). Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft Lore: Frenzy Accessed 2013-02-28.
  3. [1]
  4. 2010, SC2: Zerg Spire. Deviantart, accessed on 2011-07-01