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Heroes of the Storm Technical Alpha Thread: [Artifacts Removed]
- Thread starter fluffydelusions
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That is one of the main differences and opens up the game to other roles. It's my main draw actually as that encourages better team play.
Yep. My only real gripe so far.
KojiKnight
Member
There is definitely some inherent "lag" built into the system (likely as an anti-lag mechanic ironically). Even with "reduce mouse lag" option enabled it takes about 1 second for any command to register which is horrendously bad.
Well I would hope it's not intended and will be addresed. If moving your hero doesn't feel "right" you won't retain players. Blizzard of all developers should no this. So many wow-clone mmos fail to grow and sustain players because the character control isnt as fluid and responsive as wow's.
Definitely some kind of server lag. In the tutorial and "try a hero" matches, I was noticing like no lag at all.
KojiKnight
Member
It's a little bit of both. The server is lagging a bit, but to prevent the type of popups you see in Starcraft 2 (you know, the ones that freeze the whole game for everyone till the lagger "catches up") they have an 'anti-lag' system that delays actions for what APPEARS to be .5-1 seconds.
Anyone that is lagging heavily will go through "player has left the game" "player has rejoined the game" cycles where a bot will temporarily take control.
So starting tomorrow a guy named CyaSteve will be hosting weekly HotS tournaments with the prize being nothing but glory. There's no spectate mode still, but I think a few of the players will be streaming their point of view anyway. At least I hope.
Information: http://www.reddit.com/r/heroesofthe...gs_of_the_storm_1_matchups_stats_and_results/
Information: http://www.reddit.com/r/heroesofthe...gs_of_the_storm_1_matchups_stats_and_results/
KojiKnight
Member
For anyone that quit because of all the lag issues they were facing, they should be mostly or completely fixed now.
Alright, I spent my first batch of gold on Sgt Hammer (I know, I know) and I'm finally winning games regularly instead of losing games regularly. Still at level 7 though (need those extra talents...).
Proven#1342 to add me. We should start up a list.
Edit: These are all the other GAFfers I've seen in the thread that have given out their tags. Not many...
Blitz#1757
Turdburger#1474
Ferny#1238
Lyrick#1895
arcstrike#1175
Mazre#1960
Proven#1342 to add me. We should start up a list.
Edit: These are all the other GAFfers I've seen in the thread that have given out their tags. Not many...
Blitz#1757
Turdburger#1474
Ferny#1238
Lyrick#1895
arcstrike#1175
Mazre#1960
Can just pick a night, send out PMs, and use the GAF mumble. I'd say tomorrow night since it's hero reset day but it's also maintenance day and I don't know how long that usually takes. Anyone else want to try tomorrow?
Edit: So I just sent around 15 PMs after going through thread again. A lot of people didn't leave their battle tags out. If anyone knows when maintenance ends I can pick a time for us to all get on. Otherwise I'll just say 8:30pm EDT.
Edit: So I just sent around 15 PMs after going through thread again. A lot of people didn't leave their battle tags out. If anyone knows when maintenance ends I can pick a time for us to all get on. Otherwise I'll just say 8:30pm EDT.
Alright, game is down for maintenance. Patch notes are out now too: http://us.battle.net/heroes/en/forum/topic/12673657749
Biggest thing is that Custom Games are disabled (dammit, no tournament this week) and Bribe was severely nerfed. Raynor also got a few nerfs, but not to damage.
As for this coming week's free Hero rotation:
Week of Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2014:
Barbarian
Brightwing
Demon Hunter
Illidan
Malfurion
Sgt. Hammer
Raynor
I'm a little sad that Sgt. Hammer is free just a few days after buying her with my first batch of level up gold, but I'm glad I can now try out Brightwing and I have Demon Hunter to try and use for any "Play a Diablo Hero" dailies. I also just started to become enamored with Tychus' playstyle, so I might spend my next batch of gold on him.
Biggest thing is that Custom Games are disabled (dammit, no tournament this week) and Bribe was severely nerfed. Raynor also got a few nerfs, but not to damage.
As for this coming week's free Hero rotation:
Week of Tuesday, Apr. 29, 2014:
Barbarian
Brightwing
Demon Hunter
Illidan
Malfurion
Sgt. Hammer
Raynor
I'm a little sad that Sgt. Hammer is free just a few days after buying her with my first batch of level up gold, but I'm glad I can now try out Brightwing and I have Demon Hunter to try and use for any "Play a Diablo Hero" dailies. I also just started to become enamored with Tychus' playstyle, so I might spend my next batch of gold on him.
ChoklitCow
Member
Are any of you jumping into a game solo? What is your wait time?
I haven't had much time to play, so I usually cancel after not too long. I was playing a lot of custom matches the past weekend because I could set their AI high and have a lot of fun.
I haven't had much time to play, so I usually cancel after not too long. I was playing a lot of custom matches the past weekend because I could set their AI high and have a lot of fun.
Alright, I'm jumping in game now. Come find me and I'll whisper you the Mumble information if you need it.
Solo queue times for me have been 1 to 5min on average to get into a game, then 15-25 minutes of game time.
Was Brightwing really gutted? They targetted a specific talent that I'm not sure was used often, rather than her actual passive.
Solo queue times for me have been 1 to 5min on average to get into a game, then 15-25 minutes of game time.
Oh whoops. I thought it was the actual passive. The changes to this patch are really light.
TurtleSnatcher
Member
I think I've been in a few games agst you Proven. Haha
Then you saw all of my embarrassing losses. I queue'd up with a few guys (not even a full team!) and it felt we were out matched against premades all night. It doesn't help that there's only one easy to use Support hero, and the other one is far out of most people's leagues (including mine...).
TurtleSnatcher
Member
For F2P heroes this week?
Malf is my favorite and easiest for me to use. Brightwing is difficult as hell for me but fun to use cause he can dish out a decent amount of dmg but he relies on a lot of micro on his E skill to keep individuals being targeted alive.
Nearly a total moba rookie, but got into the alpha today. It appeals to me from what I've heard through friends into the genre and the general description of things dumbed down that have kept me from ever really getting into LoL or Dota 2 (like items), plus I'm quickly realizing that recognizable Blizzard characters as playable heroes is kind of rad.
Looking forward to giving it a fair shot in the days ahead.
Looking forward to giving it a fair shot in the days ahead.
I got in this week, too. It's pretty fun; feels somewhat more relaxed than League of Legends to me. I enjoy not having to worry as much about my character build or at all about last-hitting, denies, etc. The map variety and side objectives are generally fun, too. The hero pool isn't bad, and I'm sure they're going to keep adding more over time.
The only thing I'm a little bit wary of so far is the rate at which you earn gold (the free currency) and unlock heroes. Like Hearthstone, it feels pretty slow after the tutorial bits. Maybe it's not all that different from unlocking stuff with IP in LOL... it's been a while since I played that.
My tag's zashga#1802 if anyone wants to look me up. I usually play a few games in the evenings (Central time).
The only thing I'm a little bit wary of so far is the rate at which you earn gold (the free currency) and unlock heroes. Like Hearthstone, it feels pretty slow after the tutorial bits. Maybe it's not all that different from unlocking stuff with IP in LOL... it's been a while since I played that.
My tag's zashga#1802 if anyone wants to look me up. I usually play a few games in the evenings (Central time).
TurtleSnatcher
Member
I'm sitting on tons of gold now. Like 16,000. I've spent some for about 3 characters and have stayed around the 10-16k range before I spend on new ones.
Okay, so someone told me that they hadn't added chat channels yet. This is patently false. When you log into the game, just type /join GAF. There we go, GAF channel for all 20ish of us.
Were they all from leveling up? I'm worried about gold at cap.
Were they all from leveling up? I'm worried about gold at cap.
Yes. They have and they will again.
KojiKnight
Member
This has been confirmed, specifically when they finished the last wipe (they also talk about "wipes" in their store, on the topics that discuss their bundles, etc)
Awww dratz!!!
It seems to me that this game has recived the modern blizz treatment of games: cut absolutely everything that can be cut, making the game so simple and one dimensional it's almost comical. They argue that what they are doing is refining and emphasing whats important, but in my opinion they remove all the personality from the game. Same happened with WoW and D3.
It seems like blizz are so desperately convinced that people think everything in games is tedious. "Items? Thats tedious. Less time spent doing funfunkillkill. Denying, last hits? Tedious. Less time pressing the terribleterribledamage-button." They couldnt be more wrong about gamers. Gamers love a bit of tedium; love having small tasks to do all the time. At least thats what I believe. Some games are built solely around that fact, like management or farm/sim games.
It seems like blizz are so desperately convinced that people think everything in games is tedious. "Items? Thats tedious. Less time spent doing funfunkillkill. Denying, last hits? Tedious. Less time pressing the terribleterribledamage-button." They couldnt be more wrong about gamers. Gamers love a bit of tedium; love having small tasks to do all the time. At least thats what I believe. Some games are built solely around that fact, like management or farm/sim games.
So, have you actually played the game or?...
It definitely let's the 'bad guy' in your team sort of keep up cause of xp, but that causes your actual team to be hugely disadvantaged. The level of teamwork possible in this game is pretty ridiculous already, just like every other moba. Except you can do it from level 1 to an extent.
TurtleSnatcher
Member
So.. I just had the most epic snipe with Falstad and his ultimate on a Zeratul. Streamed it so you can see the highlight here.
Got the ultimate just in time. Loved it. Max range.. even beyond it I think
http://www.twitch.tv/pezradar/c/4166893
YouTube Video of highlight is here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pAqd8FDkX8
Also just had my longest game in Heroes. 35 minutes. We won with me running into their town and doing Hyperion with Scorching Shots on their base to take it out. They had all 5 pushing into our base right at the end.
Got the ultimate just in time. Loved it. Max range.. even beyond it I think
http://www.twitch.tv/pezradar/c/4166893
YouTube Video of highlight is here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pAqd8FDkX8
Also just had my longest game in Heroes. 35 minutes. We won with me running into their town and doing Hyperion with Scorching Shots on their base to take it out. They had all 5 pushing into our base right at the end.
KojiKnight
Member
Yep... they completely destroy games, which is why the still have the largest subscriber based MMO, top streamed RTS, and the top streamed 3rd person RPG.
What I interpret posts such as these as "Blizzard didn't just remake Dota 2 with Blizzard characters, it's dumb downed and lacks all things great about all games everywhere and they are terrible."
Wait, so WoW and D3 have not been financial successes for Blizzard?? That's news to me.
KojiKnight
Member
Reaper of Souls sold 2.7 million copies it's first week. Not the 3.5 mil of Diablo 3 on launch day, but I'd imagine most big name publishers would kill for first week sales that high, especially since that's only an expansion pack.
(edit) To be clear, I knew you were being sarcastic, I was just backing up your point with data
Reaper of Souls sold 2.7 million copies it's first week. Not the 3.5 mil of Diablo 3 on launch day, but I'd imagine most big name publishers would kill for first week sales that high, especially since that's only an expansion pack.
(edit) To be clear, I knew you were being sarcastic, I was just backing up your point with data
Haha thanks broski!
Hydranockz
Member
I appreciate games like DOTA and LoL, I do. I also appreciate that they require a looot of time to learn and even more to get good at. I tried playing LoL. Got a handle with a few champions but had no idea about the many, many, many other champions. Even less knowledge about item builds or team strats. Same thing with Dota. Sure, I will hold up my hands and say that I only put around 10 hours into each but the whole process was so 'tedious' to even get to a point where I felt as if I was playing well that I decided to just give up.
HOTS, to me, is taking that same appreciation of what already exists and just simplifies it. I play Hearthstone over MtG for the same reason. I still believe that there is room for highly competitive play in both games but it feels really nice to just hop in for brief stints, feel good, and either keep playing... or not.
I am not in the alpha yet for the record.
HOTS, to me, is taking that same appreciation of what already exists and just simplifies it. I play Hearthstone over MtG for the same reason. I still believe that there is room for highly competitive play in both games but it feels really nice to just hop in for brief stints, feel good, and either keep playing... or not.
I am not in the alpha yet for the record.
When you get going with Brightwing and everything clicks... While she doesn't have any talent synergies I think are worth taking (or I can even handle...) her kit gives her a lot of options and come at a pace such that I can make decisions based on my team and the opponent's composition before the talents come up.
And it's funny when you play with an Abathur, so no matter where your other three teammates are they can always have one or two people suddenly jumping in to help.
I know there was a new invite wave recently, or I'm getting teamed with a number of 3 or 4-man premades, because the last few games have felt like pubstomps.
And it's funny when you play with an Abathur, so no matter where your other three teammates are they can always have one or two people suddenly jumping in to help.
I know there was a new invite wave recently, or I'm getting teamed with a number of 3 or 4-man premades, because the last few games have felt like pubstomps.
TurtleSnatcher
Member
Seriously nothing more satisfying then winning after 2 people call you a total noob in the beginning and say you are playing the game wrong and leave. They turn into AI and then you still end up winning the game. Feels good man.
What am I seeing there?
Bribe needed to be dealt it, it was way too dumb. At the clear speeds people have at least _maybe_ you use it for golems or something.
HAHAHAHA SUFFER WITH ME
Nice
Cat face
TurtleSnatcher
Member
The fix for bribe is genius
Still allows to cap ogres immediately but not totally nerfed so that you can still cap a few knights. Smart thinking.. I would have been more harsh as a designer because i wouldnt have thought that through.
Still allows to cap ogres immediately but not totally nerfed so that you can still cap a few knights. Smart thinking.. I would have been more harsh as a designer because i wouldnt have thought that through.
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