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Heroes of the Storm |OT2| Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
- Thread starter Nirolak
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GOOD NEWS EVERYONE WE CAN HAZ BANS
also lol @ Syfadious bodying Milly on news breaking. GET REKT MILKY
Blizzard said:Ranked play will use the “Mid Ban” method, which works in much the same way that bans do in official Heroes of the Storm tournaments. This method features two bans per team during each ranked draft: One round of bans before hero picks begin, and a second after three hero pick rounds have elapsed.
Whichever team wins the coin toss before drafting begins will receive first ban, and the player with the highest matchmaking rating on each team will automatically be selected to issue bans for that team during ranked games. You can identify the ban issuer on each team by the crown icon that will appear over the hero portrait.
Each team will receive 45 seconds to select a hero during the first ban round, and 30 seconds during the mid-ban round. If a hero is highlighted, it will be automatically banned when the timer expires. Also—and this is very important—if no hero is selected or highlighted before time runs out, the ban will be skipped.
We wanted to make sure the drafting phase remained relatively quick and impactful, even after bans and ban timers were added. In order to help accomplish this, we decided to reduce hero pick timers from 45 to 30 seconds so that you can get back to brawling in the Nexus as soon as possible.
Ranked now requires 14 heroes but no longer requires level 30 to play. SMURFS REJOICE...kind of.
Additionally, the row of buttons weve added above your favorites will help you sort heroes by role, and the search bar will allow you to find heroes by name, universe, and other keywords.
It's beautiful ;-;
Lots of good stuff there.
But at this point, with so much in the next patch, is there really any chance it releases tomorrow? At this size, we're starting to think it would be on the PTR first, right?
Personally, I'd prefer they just quit with the PTR if the time-spans are so short. Having it open for 1 or even 2 weeks is just so short and doesn't provide much benefit to anyone, regardless of what they're testing. Very little of anything reported on the PTR, whether it's balance problems or even bugs can be tested and fixed by Blizz themselves before the full release of a patch a week or two later. In the end it simply becomes a patch-preview, and might as well just be released in full.
It might be different if the philosophy was to put it up on the PTR and release after all quickly-reported bugs were fixed internally and incorporated into the patch on release. But when you announce the release date for the patch ahead of time, it kind of defeats the purpose.
Edit - not that it makes me upset or anything. I just don't see the point.
It might be different if the philosophy was to put it up on the PTR and release after all quickly-reported bugs were fixed internally and incorporated into the patch on release. But when you announce the release date for the patch ahead of time, it kind of defeats the purpose.
Edit - not that it makes me upset or anything. I just don't see the point.
Oh shit, PTR is going up today boys. PATCH NOTES!!
Yep aren't they on record saying they can't implement changes found to be necessary on PTR before going live? Basically PTR is live, really.
Granted with their more frequent patching they can theoretically get to it quicker once it's live.
Very little of anything reported on the PTR, whether it's balance problems or even bugs can be tested and fixed by Blizz themselves before the full release of a patch a week or two later..
Yep aren't they on record saying they can't implement changes found to be necessary on PTR before going live? Basically PTR is live, really.
Granted with their more frequent patching they can theoretically get to it quicker once it's live.
GAZLOWE
SYLVANAS
This Hero has received significant Talent changes
Demolitionist (Talent) removed
Promote (Talent) removed
Calldown: MULE (Talent) removed
First Aid (Talent) removed
Burning Rage (Talent) removed
Stoneskin (Talent) removed
Fury of the Storm (Talent) removed
Hardened Shield (Talent) removed
Salvager (Trait) and Break It Down (Talent) tooltips have been updated to match their live functionality.
New Talent (Level 20): It's Raining Scrap
Activate to create 1 Scrap every second for 5 seconds near Gazlowe. 60 second cooldown
Rock-It! Turret (Q)
Mana cost increased from 60 to 70
Range increased by approximately 27%
Long-Ranged Turrets (Talent) removed
New Talent (Level 16): Superior Schematics
Rock-It Turrets deal 25% more damage when Gazlowe is in their attack range
Deth Lazor (W)
Goblin Fusion (Talent) moved from Level 4 to Level 16
Hyperfocus Coils (Talent) moved from Level 16 to Level 7
New Talent (Level 20): Firin' Mah Lazorz
Firing a Deth Lazor now causes each Rock-It Turret to fire its own Deth Lazor as well.
Charging Deth Lazor to its second and third power levels increases the range of turrets’ Deth Lazors, but not damage.
Xplodium Charge (E)
Mana cost reduced from 70 to 60
Cooldown increased from 12 to 14 seconds
New Talent (Level 4): ARK Reaktor
Reduces the cooldown of Xplodium Bombs by 2 seconds, and adds 2 charges of Rock-It Turret when hitting an enemy Hero with Xplodium Bomb
New Talent (Level 13): X-Tra Large Bombs
Increase the cast range and radius of Xplodium Charge by 25%
Kwik Release Charge (Talent)
Cooldown between Xplodium Bomb charge uses reduced from 2 to 1 second
Robo-Goblin (R)
Functionality has been added
You can now press R to manually target active Turrets
SYLVANAS
This Hero has received significant Talent changes
Basic Attack damage increased from 74 (+4% per level) to 85 (+4% per level)
Envenom (Talent) removed
Blood for Blood (Talent) removed
Will of the Forsaken (Talent) moved from Level 16 to Level 13
Remorseless (Talent) moved from Level 7 to Level 16
Damage bonus increased from 25% to 40%
New Talent (Level 7): Possession
Turn the allegiance of a non-Catapult enemy Minion. Stores up to 3 charges
Black Arrows (Trait)
Corruption (Talent) removed
Overwhelming Affliction (Talent) moved from Level 13 to Level 16
Slow amount per stack increased from 5% to 6%
Paralysis (Talent) moved from Level 4 to Level 1
Duration bonus reduced from 100% to 75%
New Talent (Level 1): Mercenary Queen
Nearby non-Boss, allied Mercenaries deal 50% more damage
Withering Fire (Q)
Damage increased from 39 (+4% per level) to 48 (+4% per level)
Corruption (Talent) removed
Splinter Shot (Talent) removed
With the Wind (Talent) moved from Level 1 to Level 4
Barbed Shot (Talent) moved from Level 1 to Level 7
Evasive Fire (Talent) moved from Level 13 to Level 16
Overflowing Quiver (Talent)
This Talent’s functionality has changed
Now releases a free Withering Fire shot whenever a nearby enemy Minion dies. The free shot can only hit non-Heroic targets
New Talent (level 4): Withering Barrage
Gain an additional charge of Withering Fire, and charges fire 33% faster
Shadow Dagger (W)
Life Drain (Talent) moved from Level 7 to Level 13
Lost Soul (Talent) moved from Level 1 to Level 4
This Talent’s functionality has changed
Now reduces the cooldown of Shadow Dagger by 1.25 seconds for each enemy Hero hit
Cold Embrace (Talent)
This Talent’s functionality has changed
No longer reduces Shadow Dagger’s range
Only the initial Shadow Dagger target becomes Vulnerable
Haunting Wave (E)
Ranger’s Ambush (Talent) removed
Shade Form (Talent) removed
Windrunner (Talent) moved from Level 16 to Level 13
This Talent’s functionality has changed
In addition to casting Haunting Wave twice, Withering Fire charges now refill after teleporting
New Heroic (R): Mind Control
After channeling for 1 second, gain control of an enemy Hero’s movement for 2.5 seconds
Dark Lady’s Call (Talent)
This Talent’s functionality has changed and now affects Mind Control
Now increases target’s Movement Speed by 100%
I'm going to assume they have a tournament set-up and potentially be not shocked when they don't.
Whatever doe. Fuk those pro dudes. This patch has some meat and should be fun.
Death recaps. Several hero reworks. Bans. New UI in draft. Hotkey changes. Garden of Terror changes.
This stuff cray here:
Whatever doe. Fuk those pro dudes. This patch has some meat and should be fun.
Death recaps. Several hero reworks. Bans. New UI in draft. Hotkey changes. Garden of Terror changes.
This stuff cray here:
Dragon Shire
Dragon Knight
Now immune to Attack Speed slows applied by attacks from enemy Forts and Keeps
Savage Charge (W)
Targets punted by Savage Charge will no longer be stunned after landing
Garden of Terror
Garden Terror (Player Controlled)
Basic Attack damage reduced by 15%
Basic Attacks now deal 50% damage to nearby non-Heroic enemies
Basic Attacks now instantly kill Minions
Overgrowth (W)
No longer affects Minions or Mercenaries
No longer deals damage to Structures
Garden Terror now deals 100% bonus damage to Structures disabled by Overgrowth
Maximum duration increased from 15 to 25 seconds
Cooldown increased from 15 to 25 seconds
Health increased by 100%
Fine Ham Abounds
Member
Gonna take me 2 days to read all these changes
Rebuilding the game one character who didn't an overhaul at a time
What the hell at some of these character changes
Block change practically makes it a requirement against autoattack assassins now
Rebuilding the game one character who didn't an overhaul at a time
What the hell at some of these character changes
Block change practically makes it a requirement against autoattack assassins now
Sothis Krieg
Member
Hmmm am i reading this correctly chain bomb integrated to living bomb ?
There are other things about KT.
Living Bomb (W)
Explosion radius increased by 10%
Explosions now spread Living Bomb to all nearby enemy Heroes not already affected by it
Can no longer be cast on targets already affected by Living Bomb
Chain Bomb (Talent) removed
Pyromaniac (Talent)
Cooldown reduction decreased from 2 seconds to 1 second
Fission Bomb (Talent) moved from Level 7 to Level 13
No longer increases Living Bomb damage
Bonus to Living Bomb’s explosion radius reduced from 30% to 20%
Backdraft (Talent) moved from Level 16 to Level 13
Movement Speed slow reduced from 50% to 30%
New Talent (Level 16): Sun King's Fury
Basic Attacks deal 190 (+4% per level) damage to targets affected by Living Bomb
New Talent (Level 20): Master of Flames
Living Bomb can now spread indefinitely between enemy Heroes
There are other things about KT.
Fine Ham Abounds
Member
Dat envenom removal tho
Worst change is making Garden the worst map again by making the terror work more like a Dragon Knight, preventing drive-by W Terrors and prolonging an already too-long map
Not sure how badly they've fucked Jaina's survivability
Worst change is making Garden the worst map again by making the terror work more like a Dragon Knight, preventing drive-by W Terrors and prolonging an already too-long map
Not sure how badly they've fucked Jaina's survivability
Hero Portrait
Players can now right-click through the in-game Hero Portrait.
Yes, yes, this is good
Dat envenom removal tho
Worst change is making Garden the worst map again by making the terror work more like a Dragon Knight, preventing drive-by W Terrors and prolonging an already too-long map
I think it may actually work the opposite of that. At the very least you will have to push as a unit like the other maps even if it prolongs the map. The map was actually only just barely longer than any other after the W on core changes. A negligible amount compared to the like 1 min-2 min or more + on average in the past.
The chase and drive-by mechanic are the biggest parts of why the map is widely considered the worst one still going.
Not sure how badly they've fucked Jaina's survivability
That is the only change I'm confused about.
Dat envenom removal tho
Worst change is making Garden the worst map again by making the terror work more like a Dragon Knight, preventing drive-by W Terrors and prolonging an already too-long map
Not sure how badly they've fucked Jaina's survivability
Garden is already the worse map by a long stretch though - these changes seem to be about making the terror stick in one spot and fight rather than the dumb as hell Benny Hill chase that happens everytime a terror spawns. Will be interesting to see how it plays oui.
Brawndo Addict
Banned
These Illidan changes are pretty substantial, seem to be really encouraging the lifesteal and chase elements of the hero. And basic attack damage too, damn, this is crazy. Just a sample of the changes:
New Talent (Level 1): Unending Hatred
Permanently gain 0.1 Basic Attack damage for each enemy Minion killed nearby, and 1 damage for each enemy Hero killed nearby
Upon reaching 20 bonus Basic Attack damage, gain an additional 20 Basic Attack damage.
Reflexive Block (Talent)
No longer triggered by Evasion
Casting Dive now provides 3 Block charges. Each charge reduces damage taken from the next incoming Basic Attack by 75%
Betrayer's Thirst (Trait)
Healing received increased from 20% to 40% of Basic Attack damage dealt
Thrill of Battle (Talent) removed
Thirsting Blade (Talent) redesigned and moved from Level 4 to Level 7
Increases Betrayer’s Thirst healing from 40% of Basic Attack damage to 60% of Basic Attack damage while Sweeping Strike is active
New Talent (Level 16): Blades of Azzinoth
Hitting an enemy Hero with Sweeping Strike grants 1 Blades of Azzinoth stack, up to a maximum of 5.
Upon earning 5 stacks, Blades of Azzinoth can be activated to gain 50% Basic Attack damage for 8 seconds. Activation consumes all stacks.
New Talent (Level 16): Fiery Brand
Every fourth consecutive Basic Attack against the same enemy Hero deals damage equal to 6% of the target’s maximum Health
Sixth Sense (Talent)
Ability Damage reduction increased from 50% to 75%
Now only affects the first 2 Abilities that would deal damage while Evasion is active
Fine Ham Abounds
Member
Garden is already the worse map by a long stretch though
Benny Hill chase
I take back anything bad I may have ever said about you
Good news is I have an excuse to try Gaz again after more than a year
Ultralisk still garbo until 20, Kerrigan weeps
the real mvp of today
A dark smudge has been removed from the background art on the main loading screen.
So talents that require you to do something are now called "Quest" talents, and a lot of them now come with a permanent bonus if you reach a certain level.
E.G. Kael gets Arcane Barrier from collecting 25 mana globes, or a permanent +50 damage to his flamestrike if he gets to +100 damage with it.
E.G. Kael gets Arcane Barrier from collecting 25 mana globes, or a permanent +50 damage to his flamestrike if he gets to +100 damage with it.
Brawndo Addict
Banned
Arcane Barrier (Talent) removed
Bolt of the Storm (Talent) removed
Mana Addict (Talent)
Upon gathering 25 Regeneration Globes, Kael’thas gains the Arcane Barrier Ability.
Activate Arcane Barrier to receive a Shield equal to 100% of Kael’thas’ maximum Mana for 4 seconds. 45 second cooldown
Huh, will we see more mechanics like this in the future I wonder. Illidan has that custom Seasoned Marksman where once you stack to 20 you get another 20 bonus.
So talents that require you to do something are now called "Quest" talents, and a lot of them now come with a permanent bonus if you reach a certain level.
E.G. Kael gets Arcane Barrier from collecting 25 mana globes, or a permanent +50 damage to his flamestrike if he gets to +100 damage with it.
Ah, okay so there is a new mechanic/name. Very interesting.
The KT one is a little weird because you lose the bonus dmg if you die. It's only permanent if you can get to 100.
hope he is if only because his master skin cloak is too fabulous to not have him out thereArcane Barrier back to 100% in that change. KT getting chain bomb baseline...is he coming back?
Brawndo Addict
Banned
Illidan and Gazlowe had 8 talents removed and Tychus had 11 talents removed. Talk about overdue pruning, Tychus basically had 3 tiers worth of talents excised.
And wow did they change Tychus:
Also
New abathur mines ahoy.
And wow did they change Tychus:
Minigun (Trait) (D)
Minigun has been redesigned
No longer requires wind-up
Activate to cause Basic Attacks against Heroes to deal bonus damage equal to 1.5% of the target’s maximum Health. Lasts 3 seconds. 12 second cooldown
Also
Crippling Spores (W)
Let Them Wither (Talent)
The Slow amount applied by Crippling Spores no longer decays over its 3 second duration
Slow amount reduced from 60% to 50%
New abathur mines ahoy.
FWIW, there's a tweet thread between Dunktrain and Bakery implying that this patch won't be live in Seoul...whether that means it's coming out after or Blizz has an alternate setup I dunno.
https://twitter.com/DunkTrain/status/711975348578037760
https://twitter.com/DunkTrain/status/711975348578037760
jaundicejuice
Member
So many generic talents getting removed. So, so good.
I can't wait to try Kael'thas and Gazlowe out.
I can't wait to try Kael'thas and Gazlowe out.
It was always pretty liberal.Was Taste for Blood on Azmodan always 1.5 seconds? That's what the talent now says, but I'm sure it was more like 0.5 seconds on the current patch.
It was always pretty liberal.
I checked , and on live it says 1 seconds and on test it says 1.5. Might be one of those unmentioned changes that often creeps into a patch, but I'll happily take it - I love me some Azmodan! ;-)
Didn't catch if anyone mentioned this but:
That's pretty interesting. And this:
Will be fucking hilarious in QM.
Nydus Worm (R)
While inside a Nydus Worm, Health and Mana are now restored at a rate equal to the Hall of Storms
Nydus Worm can now be cast while inside another Nydus Worm
Zagara now exits Nydus Worms instantly, and can also exit by right-clicking the minimap
That's pretty interesting. And this:
The Hunt (R)
Nowhere to Hide (Talent)
Now also passively reveals all enemy Heroes who are below 25% Health
Will be fucking hilarious in QM.
jaundicejuice
Member
Illidan is now Bloodseeker.
That change to Iceblock does and doesn't make sense. It makes sense in that it shuts down so many things early in the game and is the dominant pick at that talent tier but it doesn't make sense when Jaina has no mobility, and it's her lone survivability talent. Also does she now only have two talents at level 13?
She does have Stormfront still while KT lost Flamethrower, so you can play her a little more safely, I guess.
I missed that Jaina and KT had bolt removed. Overall I think that's a good thing, though I'm not keen on the Jaina Ice Block change. Now they need to tone down Li-Ming's blink.
That change to Iceblock does and doesn't make sense. It makes sense in that it shuts down so many things early in the game and is the dominant pick at that talent tier but it doesn't make sense when Jaina has no mobility, and it's her lone survivability talent. Also does she now only have two talents at level 13?
She does have Stormfront still while KT lost Flamethrower, so you can play her a little more safely, I guess.
That's my fear with Ice Block moved + Bolt gone too now.
IMO she was always the hardest to play of the mages. Her combo required you to get right in their face or be very strategic and that becomes much harder to do for the whole game now without getting gibbed.
EDIT: Zoia going over patch notes right now on Twitch if anyone is interested.
IMO she was always the hardest to play of the mages. Her combo required you to get right in their face or be very strategic and that becomes much harder to do for the whole game now without getting gibbed.
EDIT: Zoia going over patch notes right now on Twitch if anyone is interested.
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