Blizzard has released three brand new StarCraft 2 screenshots via the Korean gaming website, GameMeca. The screenshots include multiple new and interesting details. Blizzard’s RTS community manager, Karune, has posted some clarifications in this Battle.net thread.
The first screenshot features a massive Terran versus Protoss clash, with the Terran holding the high ground against the Protoss onslaught.

* Click for big

Notice the small turret next to the bunker, under the Terran Nomad? Karune clarifies:

Q: What is the mysterious turret that is in the screenshot that has yet to be revealed? We’ve seen this before…. can you tell us what’s behind this?

 

Karune: The turrets are dropped by the Nomad (using energy), acting as decent defenses, and even better harassment, if used by a skilled player.

Another interesting detail is that the Colossi are shooting at the brand new destroyable doodads, as confirmed by Karune.

Q: What are the colossus shooting at in screenshot 1???

 

Karune: The Protoss Colossi are attempting to destroy the rocks blocking the Protoss forces from advancing up the ramp

The infantry you see standing right on ground Zero, in front of the Protoss Colossus’ beam, is none other than the recently reintroduced Firebat.

Q: Also, does the Firebat have any special abilities for instance one that makes a wall of fire and is channeled? Is there anything fresh that we haven’t seen for the firebat?

 

Karune: The Firebats are back with the same fire loving attitude, but with added Hit Points to help them get real close to their enemies. Firebats also must be produced from the Factory rather than the Barracks from the original StarCraft, since their suits are larger and able to sustain more enemy fire.

The second screenshot shows a clash between opposing Protoss forces and includes a group of High Templars attacking and casting Force Field to block a narrow passage between platforms.

* Click for big

Q: In pic2, the High Templars (which look awesome, btw) appear to have an attack coming from their hands. Do they now have an attack of their own, or are they channeling the barrier spell?

 

Karune: We are currently experimenting with giving the High Templars a standard attack, just enough to keep him out of trouble, but not actually powerful enough where you would want to use them as an offensive attack unit. The High Templar’s primary role is still to be a caster of special abilities.

This sort of implementation is similar to some of the caster types seen in WarCraft III. A moderately weak, short-ranged attack will allow the Protoss High Templar to be useful even after being hit by an EMP or while being harassed by Zerglings.
Karune also explained the exact mechanics of the Force Field, the High Templar’s defensive spell:

Q: About the force field, it is channeled? if so how long does it last, and what exactly it does, I mean you can’t pass through it or it acts as a barrier or something…

 

Karune: The Force Field is currently an instant cast, costing energy from the Protoss High Templar. This Force Field prevents all units from passing its perimeter.

And last but not least – the beautiful Terran Thor, deployed and ready for action.

 * Click for big

Right up to this very moment, Karune has been providing additional information and clarifications regarding these new screenshots – the thread is already 5 pages long.

Related Posts:

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• » StarCraft 2 Beta: Protoss Strategies Overview
• » StarCraft 2 Beta: Yo Mommaship Got Nerfed
• » One Week Into The StarCraft 2 Beta: New Patch, Blizzcast

17 Comments to “Brand New StarCraft 2 Screenshots – Firebat Inside”

1. Ken — November 12, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
   

   Oh yeah, fire it up! Firebats are back… From the factory?!? woah!!! I wonder if he has abilities up his sleeve… doeas he have stimpack? changes happen every week at Blizzard. Their testing this game to the max.

   the Thor wasn’t scrapped either, so this will mean a lot more strategies are coming for Terran.

2. Anonymous — November 12, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
   

   glad to see the thor is still in action, woo!

3. Dill — November 12, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
   

   I wonder if/how they adapted firebat damage to make it more useful.

   Overall though, I think I’m getting “update hunger” where I check every day for updates, but with none available, I just start flicking through anything starcraft 2 related to find something new of any kind. (Than I go on to doing something else.)

4. Ken — November 12, 2007 @ 9:19 pm
   

   I love it here since this is the only site so far wherein you can get the latest SC2 news, then comment on it on the spot!!! wOoT!!! keep it up SC2 blog team! you rock!

   you guys can also check teamliquid.net for kick-ass forums and up-to-date VODs on ongoing tourneys! Bisu is still number 1 in th power rank FYI.

   Long live Kim Taek Yong!

5. Lipton — November 13, 2007 @ 12:07 am
   

   These are great screenshots… glad Karune talked about them on the forums… after deleting all that spam

6. bomberman — November 13, 2007 @ 12:45 am
   

   Do you guys see it? The Thor is actually walking and FIRING!!!

7. Anonymous — November 13, 2007 @ 9:19 am
   

   Anybody know what those green protoss units are in the second screenshot under the force field? They look kinda like stalkers but their legs are too thin and their heads are shaped differently.

8. Phil Alford — November 13, 2007 @ 9:37 am
   

   those are templars

9. Ken — November 13, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
   

   Quoting bomberman:

   “Do you guys see it? The Thor is actually walking and FIRING!!!”

   no they’re not. Thors are using their bombardment ability. When this ability is cast, the Thor kneels and the guns on its shoulders fire continuously upon an AoE. Better look at the animation shots at the official blizzsrd site to see it for yourself.

10. Ken — November 13, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
    

    HEY GUYS, WAKE UP! Q&A BATCH 21 IS OUT!!!

11. whiteknight — November 15, 2007 @ 10:15 am
    

    So firebat can’t put in bunker ?

    i wish he has some ability like dragon tank in c&c general

12. Ken — November 15, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
    

    Quoting whiteknight:

    “So firebat can’t put in bunker ?

    i wish he has some ability like dragon tank in c&c general”

    If you’ve read the Q&A batch 21, the devs stated that firebats can still occupy a bunker. they didn’t say how many though but it was confirmed.

13. whiteknight — November 16, 2007 @ 5:23 am
    

    http://www.sc2blog.com/2007/11/14/qa-21-the-sound-of-150-nomads-casting-auto-turret/#comments

    where ?

14. Ken — November 17, 2007 @ 12:14 am
    

    click the thred – 5 pages long

15. whiteknight — November 17, 2007 @ 8:55 am
    

    THX KEN

    Since the Firebat is larger than the Marine now, does he count as a Medium unit in terms of armor type? What about bunker/dropship capacity?

    Karune
    They do nothing like watching those flames from a Bunker…keeping them Zerglings at bay

    Q u o t e:
    Since firebats are now from the factory, are they still considered as infantry?

    Can medics heal them?

    or do SCV’s repair them? or what?

    Also, since firebats look much bigger now, do they take up one or two slots in transports or bunkers?
    ——————————————————————————–

    Firebats are still healed by Medics. If I was a Firebat, I don’t think I’d want it any other way.

16. Ken — November 18, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
    

    hehe i bet they’re as large as goliath’capacity in a dropship. for bunker cap, i don’t really know. I think Bunkers are spacious inside, don’t you think? I even think there’s a bathroom and kitchen inside it! hahahahaha

17. Em0 — February 14, 2008 @ 5:06 am
    

    I hope they bring back more old units from the brood war because I think that all races are imbalanced, especially terran’s air force……..