Heroes of the Storm II: Thread. Augmented. Logical Decision

[CarpeGuitarrem]

My first guess is that Taunt is really really strong, because:
1) It's effectively a Silence
2) Enemy can't escape
3) Enemy is (probably) forced in a bad position.
4) Low CD

Don't forget that you can activate Parry immediate afterwards to make it effectively do nothing. (Or you could take the damage to fuel someone like Zarya.)

[Gandariel]

Yeah, but generally you cast Taunt on people whose basic attacks barely tickle.

[Keltest]

Yeah, but generally you cast Taunt on people whose basic attacks barely tickle.

Er, what? There are plenty of AA damage heroes where you don't want them poking your squishies.

[ryuplaneswalker]

Hey Varian is in the game lets se

*Varian has a shield*

.............

*Sees Varian is either using his two handed sword in one hand or is only using one half of his signature weapon and no reference to his magical weapon's ability to shoot fireballs*

I..why?

[ChaosOS]

Varian has 4 weapon models actually

Single handed wield: From levels 1-9

If you pick Taunt, he gets a Shield for his off hand

If you pick Colossus Smash, he moves to a two-handed grip

If you pick twin blades of fury, he splits the sword in two (Like you see in any cinematic he's in) and starts swinging with both

Also, PTR notes are up: http://us.battle.net/heroes/en/blog/...2016-11-7-2016

Highlights:
Zeratul rework - Clears his tree of all the random generic talents he has, brings it up to modern standards
Kharazim rework - Makes bruiser Kharazim much more of a possibility, seems pretty slick.
Xul - Skeleton mages now use vector targeting (As you're casting it you can spin the wall around to get the angle you want)
Thrall - Sundering stun nerfed again (1.25->1), Earthquake now does a small amount of damage to heroes every time it ticks (Damage is super low but significant because it procs his passive healing)

[CarpeGuitarrem]

I am sooooooooooooooooooo hyped about that Zeratul rework. Gonna have to try him out on PTR now.

Kharazim's rework includes a change I'm not sure how it feels. He loses Cleanse at 7, but can pick up Cleanse on his Q at 16. Which means his lategame power is absolutely nuts, but the midgame gets a good bit worse for coordinated play.

[Grytorm]

Wait, they buffed Earthquake? I love that ultimate, strong disengage. Amazing shields at twenty. And now healing from the Passive? What is not to love.

Edit: Overall I'm not certain what I think about removing generic talents. It just seems ideally that generic talents would be building blocks for basic functions of utility or survivability. I guess it makes sense that they don't like it. Just, I guess I liked some of those options.

[ryuplaneswalker]

Varian has 4 weapon models actually

Single handed wield: From levels 1-9

If you pick Taunt, he gets a Shield for his off hand

If you pick Colossus Smash, he moves to a two-handed grip

If you pick twin blades of fury, he splits the sword in two (Like you see in any cinematic he's in) and starts swinging with both)

That is really dumb. Like if it were Anduin Lothar who is an older character with no real "Spec" to draw from..but Varian is pretty much the Signature Fury Warrior in the setting.

[CarpeGuitarrem]

Edit: Overall I'm not certain what I think about removing generic talents. It just seems ideally that generic talents would be building blocks for basic functions of utility or survivability. I guess it makes sense that they don't like it. Just, I guess I liked some of those options.

I feel like generic talents start to feel more and more out of place as their hero design develops. Plus, hero-unique talents let them not only rebalance on a per-hero basis but also tweak the talents in ways that are hero-specific.

So, to talk about the new Zeratul specifically--I'm really happy that the Vorpal build now got bumped back a tier.

Previously, it started at Level 4 (pick up Vorpal Blade, you can make a few plays), got strong at Level 7 (pick up Follow Through for some great burst), and peaked at Level 13 (Wormhole is the capstone, letting you blink in, nova, blink out, vorpal back with lots of Follow Through procs along the way).

Now, it starts at Level 1 (pick up Vorpal Blade), gets strong at Level 4 (Zeratul's version of Follow Through), and peaks at Level 7 (pick up Wormhole or the two-charges talent for Blink). That's huge for Zeratul! Lets him really define the early game, and he doesn't have to wait for the midgame to start really coming alive. I'm really gonna want to play around with him some more.

Interesting note: if he picks up the Blink-to-W-target ability, he gets a huge ton of gap closing. Literally nobody will be able to escape from him. Not sure if it's better than Wormhole, though. But let's look at it step by step, seeing what you can do with Rewind at Level 20.

You attack someone. They get away. You Vorpal back to them (1) and stick them with Singularity Spike. They get away. You reactivate W to blink back to them (2). They get away. You Blink to them (3) and hit Rewind. They get away. You Blink to them again (4) and stick them with Singularity Spike. They get away. You reactivate W to blink back to them (5). They're probably dead, but if they get away again...I wouldn't be surprised if Vorpal Blade was off cooldown at this point to let you get back to them again (6).

[Gandariel]

Er, what? There are plenty of AA damage heroes where you don't want them poking your squishies.

I guess, but I feel like you'd probably want to cast Taunt on Mages or Supports mostly, to prevent them from casting their abilities (and maybe get them to misposition for a free kill)

That is really dumb. Like if it were Anduin Lothar who is an older character with no real "Spec" to draw from..but Varian is pretty much the Signature Fury Warrior in the setting.

Why would it be dumb?
I never played Warcraft or WoW, but i'm given to understand that Varian has used all 3 styles (dual wield, sword+shield, two handed sword) at some point?

Plus I think it's really interesting and fun in terms of character design

[Spore]

I never played Warcraft or WoW, but i'm given to understand that Varian has used all 3 styles (dual wield, sword+shield, two handed sword) at some point?

I don't recall him ever carrying a shield. He has a magical greatsword that is composed of two ancient elven blades. But other than the Legion cinematic he hasn't even been seen able to separate them.

So even his dual blades are a Stretch. He might have gotten the shield to differentiate him from Sonya.

[Binks]

So I've been searching for the answer to this but haven't found anything. Has anyone seen how Ragnaros behaves on Towers of Doom? Obviously there aren't any destroyed forts for him to replace but can he replace allied Bell Towers? And, if he does, what happens when the cannons go to fire? Does a Ragnaros Bell Tower count towards firing at the enemy's core? Just curious.

[ChaosOS]

Rag isn't on PTR yet sadly, he's coming in December so we aren't really able to test things.

[ChaosOS]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_1vmDm7uF4

Skin previews

[Spore]

I laughed loudly at the Special Snowflake mount and the Gingerdread pun. Great work.

[GolemsVoice]

The new skins are really cool. Altough I'll be seeing Gingerdread Nazeebo's face in my nightmares.

Also, I really like how they have themes, like Starcraft-themed non-Starcraft characters.

[Gandariel]

Yeah, Muradin looks pretty sick (although a bit too ... excessive. There are too many things in there)

[Spore]

Also, I really like how they have themes, like Starcraft-themed non-Starcraft characters.

I could not make it out but is Marauder Muradin's Hammer a (concussive) grenade?

There are too many things in there

This is a thing that ruins MANY skins for me. Take one of my favorite Warriors, Chen. His basic skin is good. Lunar Festival version is ruined by the stupid hat. And Warmaster Chen is ... what? Why?

Also most Master Skins get a ridiculous headgear and are otherwise just discolored standard skins. Why should I buy them for gold unless I have ALL heroes?

[GolemsVoice]

Master Uther is boss, though. #SWAG and all that.

What really dissapoints are most master portraits, though.

[CarpeGuitarrem]

The new skins are really cool. Altough I'll be seeing Gingerdread Nazeebo's face in my nightmares.

Also, I really like how they have themes, like Starcraft-themed non-Starcraft characters.

There's also the "Sunday Morning Cartoons" skins (Eagle Eye Tyrande/Knight Owl Medivh/Super Sonya/Space Lord Leoric/Star Princess Li-Ming), the "Kaiju vs. Mecha" skins (Mecha Anub'Arak/Mecha Tassadar/Mecha Dehaka/Kaijo), and the Sky Temple desert-themed skins (Desert Queen Zagara, that one Xul skin).

[GolemsVoice]

I really like the Superhero ones, they are mostly pretty well done, but I couldn't care less for the Kaiju/Mecha thing. Rollerderby Nova is cool, by the way.

What's your favourite skins?

[Keltest]

I really like the Superhero ones, they are mostly pretty well done, but I couldn't care less for the Kaiju/Mecha thing. Rollerderby Nova is cool, by the way.

What's your favourite skins?

Master Tyrael is pretty cool, but overall I'm going to go with Master Xul. D2 necro ftw.

[ChaosOS]

I've got quite the skin collection, but as for Master Skins I own Valla, Tyrael, Tychus and Nova

[Gandariel]

The mecha skins are some of the best for me (I really like Tassadar and Anub'arak)

Other than those... Azmodunk, Pajama party Vikings... I love the atack animations of Super Sonya (with the comicbook POW!).

(However i never bought anything and probably never will)

[ChaosOS]

So the Nexus Challenge is up, as are everything else: http://us.battle.net/heroes/en/blog/...016-11-15-2016


Patch Highlights: Free stuff by playing with friends through the Nexus Challenge! New Hero: Varian Wrynn, High King of the Alliance, our first multiclass hero. Kharazim and Zeratul talent reworks.


Initial thoughts after a day of playing: Varian's arms and protection builds need a lot of help (Colossus Smash and Protection respectively). Prot more than Arms. Also, Shield Wall is hampered by how terrible base charge is, they need to move some of the CD reduction provided by Warbringer into the base ability. Yes, spammable protection is strong, but Parry already negates all AA damage so you're only looking at spell burst. Problem is that it doesn't matter how much damage you mitigate if you can never gapclose, a 16 second cooldown is absurdly punishing, let alone you're missing out on a 1 second spammable stun.

Kharazim and Zeratul reworks both feel pretty strong, although I will admit for the former I haven't tried out Iron fists yet.

[Gandariel]

I agree on Charge being pretty sad in base form.

Even in his Highlight video he uses it and barely gets one AA before his target just walks away.

Also, the difference between Base and lvl4 charge is WAY bigger than what the parry talent gives you.

I think they should buff Base Charge to be smething like a 80-90% slow. This way, the upgrade given by the level 4 is not as enormous and there is a reasonable choice to be made.
(Also I'm given to understand Varian is kind of bad in the early game, so a buff wouldn't hurt)

[ChaosOS]

http://us.battle.net/heroes/en/blog/...er-5-12-5-2016

Another set of PTR patch notes, with Chromie and Rehgar Buffs, a rework to the Haunted Mines Map, and a revamp of Artanis, Dehaka, and Diablo.

Oh, and RAGNAROS THE FIRELORD!


How has people's experience of this past patch been, now that everything has settled in?

[Gandariel]

Still refusing to download PTR, so I can't say about those.

I just hope Diablo is OK, he's one of my favorites.

Other than that, business as usual. Varian builds all look decent now, with GWAAAAAAHHH! Varian being the most annoying

Our team in Heroes Lounge, Agents007, got their first game, a loss. But it was cast by Khaldor!

[Keltest]

Artanis is going to take some getting used to. Aiming the swap is a bit difficult with the new speed on his Q, but man when it works right its really cool to see.

[Spore]

Artanis is going to take some getting used to. Aiming the swap is a bit difficult with the new speed on his Q, but man when it works right its really cool to see.

Love Artanis lorewise but his kit and viability in the game is currently mediocre at best. Having to play on half health for his trait to kick in severely hampers his ability to mitigate damage and his Q is either too risky (if interrupted) or just no real engage (if not interrupted). Everything else is very nice but these problems make almost every other tank hero more desirable.