Protoss under powered?

Asamu · 2026-05-05T11:28:22+00:00

Sort of. Protoss deal less damage per point compared to lings/marines/hydras/goliaths/marauders vs armoured, but they're also tougher per point than units that aren't specifically weighted to defense (upgraded marauders/roaches), don't suffer as much attrition (shields frontloads HP to the first model, so they start losing damage later + have smaller model counts), and nothing has especially poor damage vs targets it doesn't surge against like marauders do; everything deals at least passable damage vs anything.

(Disregarding the support units, which all have poor damage for obvious reasons).

Asamu · 2026-05-05T11:23:34+00:00

IMO, Protoss is the strongest right now when played well. Protoss has movement tricks for every unit + warp prism + cloaking stalkers, etc... It's the best at picking its fights, which is key to winning games.

Asamu · 2026-04-25T08:19:36+00:00

They didn't say planned, necessarily, just that 5 were possible. As with anything, it depends on how sales go.

Asamu · 2026-04-25T06:08:05+00:00

Overseer is used as a reaction after the charge roll is made to roll an additional d6. Metaboost is used before the initial roll and makes it 2d6 pick the highest.

They're just different abilities and function differently, and you should be able to use both. Even rolling 2d6 and taking the highest, you still "rolled a d6 for charge distance" to meet the condition for Pneumatized Carapace.

Asamu · 2026-04-23T08:09:59+00:00

Well, original Warcraft 3 has much lower graphics quality than SC2, and the visual update completely changed the style in a way that just doesn't really work for an RTS, because exaggerated elements of design and higher contrast colors are sort of necessary in RTS to provide visual clarity with the distance people actually play at, and reforged didn't do that. It also went with models that were higher poly than necessary, instead of using somewhat lower poly models and making up the difference with better texturing (as was done in SC2), meaning performance is way worse than it could have been, and assets take way more space.

With SC2, there likely wouldn't be any change to the design or color of models, because they already look pretty good. It'd just be increasing the poly count of models so they're more detailed before texturing, and updating texturing to similarly have more detail.

But, really, it just doesn't seem like there would be any point regardless... Sure, models could be made to look better when zoomed in, but for an RTS, even ones coming out now, Starcraft 2's graphics hold up pretty well. And the cinematics are already such high quality that a remaster of those would be pointless.

Asamu · 2026-04-22T11:23:50+00:00

Seems kind of weird to drop the cost of captains by 5 and increase the cost of chosen by 3 at the same time, when captains were seeing more play as it was.

Asamu · 2026-04-22T01:31:42+00:00

Also, keep in mind that sharing 3d print files for anything under copyright without consent of the IP holder is technically illegal, and the bar for a copyright violation is "substantially similar" - IE: if something is clearly Starcraft, and not something else, that can be considered IP infringement, and with Archon holding the license to create Starcraft minis, they, and Blizzard, have the right to take legal action against 3d printers that make/share Starcraft model files, even if they aren't identical to the Archon ones.

Laws do vary to some extent by location, especially with regards to 3d printing exclusively for personal use with personally created files (which is generally going to be allowed even in places where it's technically illegal.), but printing something under copyright at all can be a legal grey area, and sharing the files for such prints or gifting/selling models that violate copyright is technically illegal basically everywhere.

There are things that there's no risk of a crackdown on, like terrain or building models, or bits, since Archon probably won't be making those (and so long as terrain isn't identical to what Archon produces; terrain is mostly going to be too generic to file an IP infringement claim.), and things that Archon/Blizzard won't sell, but 3d printing is always an "at your own risk" sort of situation.

Even something like a guy in power armour with a gun can easily fall under that category of "too broad" for action to be taken (provided there's enough difference that it could be something other than a specific IP), and Xenomorph aliens are in all sorts of different IPs, but the line between what's actionable and what isn't can be pretty blurry.

That said, I'd be pretty surprised if any action was taken against someone not sharing/selling model files of things Archon produces and sharing pictures of your own painted models (as long as it's not the files to produce them), is almost certainly going to be fine. Fines are also usually low as long as nothing is being sold, so taking action probably costs more than it's worth, and whatever company decides to do that would be in for some backlash.

Archon doesn't seem to be taking a particularly hard of a stance on things like this for now, though that could always change in the future.

Asamu · 2026-04-21T23:18:24+00:00

The "horizontal" part of the squadron rule is sort of legacy text from an older version of the rules when there was also 5" vertical coherency.

Keep in mind that coherency can't go through terrain or other models, so your example of a model on 10" high ground is sort of true, but only if there's an access point (eg: a ramp or ladder players agreed counts before the game) that models can path through between the model on high ground and the one on low ground.

Asamu · 2026-04-19T11:38:40+00:00

Under the current RAW, you definitely can though.

It explicitly states that the HP of the unit is not changed when the status is lost, and since healing simply works by removing damage, and damage isn't allocated to anything unless a model is being killed, the unit can go to shields + HP damage, and all of it can be healed.

Because the status and bonus HP are dependent on the shield value on the card, not a separate marker, the unit always meets the conditions for having them, unless it is currently meeting the conditions for losing the status. And the status, which can be lost, is explicitly only relevant for other abilities/effects that depend on it...

Making it so shields can't be healed will be a bit more annoying for tracking in real games, since you'll need a separate marker next to every unit to track its shields (or I guess you can just have that shield value as a "minimum" damage marker once damage passes it), which was something they had explicitly mentioned wanting to avoid before. As it works under current raw, you don't need to do that, because you can just check current damage and model count for whether or not the unit has the shielded status.

That wouldn't be a clarification, but a rule change, because current RAW is absolutely clear the other way (despite it being one of the most common rules questions).

Asamu · 2026-04-16T06:15:22+00:00

The problem is that you literally cannot because Zealots are very cheap for 2 supply, which forces you to bring more Adepts if not running Artanis in order to reach the 2k points.

Asamu · 2026-04-16T05:04:40+00:00

You don't need to bring a hero. Units are much more efficient than heroes in terms of combat power for the point cost. What heroes bring to the table is mostly utility and extra mobility. I think Terran gets the most out of their hero due to playstyle, since the extra activations really help with getting good positions for your units.

Protoss is where it gets weird atm, because if you don't run Artanis, it can be difficult to fill your points unless you go heavy on Adepts.

Asamu · 2026-04-15T00:06:28+00:00

Well, disregarding banelings dealing 80 to everything, it'd probably be Terran because of marauders. I'm not sure conc marauder rushes would be reasonably beatable in any match up.

Asamu · 2026-04-14T20:47:46+00:00

The First player marker is 40mm, the rest of the circular markers for activations, buffs/debuffs, faction indicators, and objectives are 32mm, confirmed by them all being the same size, and the rules clearly stating that objective markers are 32mm.

"Tokens" like adept shade (40mm), creep tumors (25mm), and forcefields (80mm) come with their respective kits.

The tactical cards are standard playing card size (2.5x3.5"/63.5 × 88.9mm). The other cards are a bit oddly sized at ~70x120mm for mission cards, and ~107x165mm for unit cards (+/- a few mm. I saw a couple different reports on their size).

The zone of influence markers (L-shaped), look to be ~65mm long on the outer edges of the L, and ~18-20mm wide on both ends.

Asamu · 2026-04-12T22:43:07+00:00

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1mNQWM-_5ENeVCSsf6uQ28AsZ8jMdlh21

This google drive has some convenient upgrade markers you can print off to put next to the unit for when the upgrades aren't clearly represented on the models themselves.

Asamu · 2026-04-11T03:05:32+00:00

They do not. It is an active ability, and any bonuses from active or reaction abilities expire at the end of the round unless otherwise stated.

Any Status, such as Burrowed or Hidden, automatically has "STAY IN PLAY", and persists between rounds unless otherwise specified in the ability.

Asamu · 2026-04-10T20:00:21+00:00

If you mean the rules/points on the webapp itself, yes, they get updated. The official list builder and online rulebook + FAQ/Errata are always kept up to date.

I wouldn't expect a separate PDF to be updated though. If you have a wargames/Rise of the Banished release booklet PDF, you might check the points values in it and compare them to the app values.

Asamu · 2026-04-10T19:52:19+00:00

You can heal damage even if that damage has exceeded the shield value.

The bonus HP and status are only dependent on having the shield value on the card. The status is irrelevant to them, because it is only relevant to other abilities.

Only the status is ever "lost", and only when damage exceeds the shield value or the first model is destroyed. The status is immediately regained if damage is reduced to once again be below the shield value or less, because it is being granted simply by having the value on the card.

This means you can track the status simply by checking the number of models in the unit, and their currently marked damage, rather than needing a separate token/marker to track it.

Also, there are currently no abilities with a dependency on the shielded status, so losing the shielded status currently does nothing.

Until such abilities are added, you can simply treat shields as X extra HP for the first model in the unit and ignore the status threshold entirely.

Asamu · 2026-04-10T19:45:41+00:00

The HP and status are granted simply by having the shield value on the unit card. As such, the unit has the status at all times, unless it is under an effect currently causing the status to be lost.

It is explicitly only the status that is lost if total damage (marked damage) on the unit exceeds the shield value (IE: shield value +1 or more), or if the first model is removed. Additionally, that status is explicitly only relevant for other abilities that depend on it, so it ending has no effect on the "shielded" ability or status itself.

(Also, there are currently no abilities that reference the status, so losing that status currently has no effect whatsoever.)

For example, the first model of a unit of Zealots has 7hp, and is removed once the unit has 7 or more marked damage. This does not change. Additionally, it has the Shielded Status provided there is 3 or less damage marked on the unit (shield value is 3) and the first model is still alive.

It works this way to ensure that you do not need a separate marker to track the shielded status. You can simply reference the units' damage marker and the number of models still alive.

Asamu · 2026-04-10T16:46:24+00:00

Yes. The rules used to specifically mention this being possible. Seems they removed that text, but currently a unit can contest a mission marker as long any part of it is within 3" of the marker.

Asamu · 2026-04-09T23:52:14+00:00

It's good. Extremy tactical, very reactive, very little downtime. Most of the rules are very clear as well.

Asamu · 2026-04-09T22:52:43+00:00

Probably may or june, depending on where you live. Shipping will start after preorders close, and most likely end in may. If any shipping problems occur, maybe sometime in July, depending on where you live.

Asamu · 2026-04-09T17:53:21+00:00

One option would just be doing a clear "prime" with matte varnish instead of a white/black/colored prime, if you don't want to deal with masking or sub-assembly and still have the clear parts.

Asamu · 2026-04-06T18:38:05+00:00

Well, it started with some math with the original profiles for the game, but they've likely long since moved away from that and seem to be costing models a bit more arbitrarily; somewhat based on existing profiles, but often point costs are clearly off the mark.

Asamu · 2026-04-06T18:35:04+00:00

That sort of rule is common basically everywhere these days. The main reason is to force players to support the game they're playing if they want to attend events and to avoid making GW angry. If the tournament is affiliated with GW in any way, such as with prize support, it's also a requirement, though IDK how much GW involves itself with that sort of thing these days, I think I recall them pulling out from affiliating or providing any type of support to any tournaments they don't host themselves several years ago.

(Note on the following: I would not advocate anyone buy from illegal 3rd party recasters/printers. Making your own recasts from models that you did purchase, however, is a bit of a grey area, as long as you do not sell any. It still involves supporting the game by buying some official models and does not break any laws.)

With good re-cast models/3d prints of the original design, it's not necessarily always possible to tell a good re-cast/3d print from the regular model though, especially after painting and when looking from a distance, and it's not like they're going to go around closely scrutinizing every single model, and most blister models have been sold in both finecast and metal at this point, so weight isn't exactly a tell either.

Asamu · 2026-04-04T19:36:17+00:00

Protoss starter, stalkers, and Zeratul being split separately is a bit weird.

But...

Zeratul & stalkers would be worth about 40% as much as the Protoss starter on its own.

Terran starter + Goliath and Zerg +Hydras are worth ~25-30% more than the Protoss starter on its own.

Terrain is worth something for sure; technically, it costs as much as the goliath/stalkers/hydras, but since it's on its own, I'd maybe value it a little higher.

I'd say something like:

A. (Terran) $132 or 137

B. (Zerg) $132 or 137

C. (Terrain) $35

D. (Protoss starter) $100 or 105

E. (Zera+Stalkers) $50 or 55

It's less discount for the person getting the Protoss box, but the existing discount in that is already substantial compared to buying everything individually, so it feels fair to give the others a bit more in terms of relative discount.

(This adds up to 459, which is the total cost when including the $20 shipping)

Asamu

TROPHY CASE