Predator's possible uses

[Eye_Carumba]

I was thinking, we don't know yet the most detailed information, but with what we've got, I've thought something up:

It's said the predator can shift from a defensive to an attacking form, right? So if we picture a group of predators and a group of vikings. And supposing the vikings would tear the predators apart in atk mode. All but one predator stands on atk and face a viking alone. 1 viking doing dmg would take longer to kill each predator than a group toghether. Thus even if this predator looses, it will have done more dmg than it should. The next one gets off of the defense and finishes killing the viking. It will be killed by the one it stoped nullifying, but will have time to do some dmg to it. The next one comes off and faces 2 vikings. And so on until all the predators are gone and vikings still won. But since they had to be picked apart, no focus fire made the vikings job easier.

Predator's defense could work like the Arbiter's stasis field, but restricted to air, and nullifying the predator's atks aswell. Yet, if the vikings were able to focus-fire the predators, the battle could have had a diferent score, in the example I invented.

Unless of course, predators act as a mass defensive matrix that works on the entire group. In this case, only a few predators beeing turned to defense instead of atk would suffice. And a group of mixed predators could have more power than the vikings group, even if predators in atk mode weren't as good as vikings.

This topic is just a suggestion, based on the shallow information I've seen about predators so far. It's obvious that once we're certain, and Blizzard confirms it's real mechanics, the debates will stop beeing how it will work to how we're going to use this mechanics. ;-)

[Ghost]

Nice strat taking into consideration that the defense works like that, I wonder how it really works. It might be like a transfer damage kind of thing, like if a viking of your gets shot, insted of taking the whole dmg some of it getsabsorbed by the predator.

[FlyingTiger]

Nice eye-carumba. A lotta micro (which I can't handle ^_^) but it's a good one. We will see about the mechanics of the predator. I heard it does use a laser to intercept but what does it intercept? And what is the rate of interception? We will know soon...

I have something to add. For example, if you want to assault a terran base with missle turrets, you can use predators as a "corsair" meaning that the predators come up first, go into interceptor mode and then bring your **** in like dropships or vikings. I don't know if this goes the same with phase cannons or whatever defensive structures the zerg has but it could work.

[Eye_Carumba]

Yeah, FT! It would surely work to nullify the enemy turrets just in time for your vikings to land and get out of their range. Best thing about viking is that anti-air only cannot take them if they land, like the turrets. So if you do it like this, the enemy's anti-air turrets will be useless, and the base-raiding will become much easier. You could use this to quickly destroy the detectors and turrets, and then take your vikings away again, leaving their entire base vulnerable to invisible Banshees. Way to go! ^^

[JudicatorPrime]

You can piss people off by leaving a mass of Predators and a Starbase hidden within them, (So you dont lose lol) in the middleo f a huge open space or ocean, set them all to defense mode and voila

Perfect annoying strategy, you might stock up on resources before relying on a starbase to win.

[Nikzad]

That's a great idea, I wonder if they will build in turret AI so that they will automatically attack targets other than the predators and how long the cooldown is for the lasers that destroy missiles...

[brc9210]

I was thinking what if the flurry attack is sorta like the Mutalisk's attack in that it hits multiple targets perhaps without a damage reduction since its already weak. The name fits with that I think and that would make the unit pretty deadly in large numbers.

[Unentschieden]

Certainly interesting. I think the Intercept mode will destroy a set number of projectiles per minute in his "area", but it will be limited and have a cooldown. Lika a inverted Overload.

[Nuclear Launch]

If it´s called predator, i think it should be a more agressive ship.

[Unentschieden]

I think so too thats why the intercept ablility seems a bit strange. The Predator is the unit most likely to join the Soul Hunter out of the Terran arsenal right now imho.

[zeratul11]

no, the predators looks great. the soul hunter got axed because its UGLY.

the problem with the predator would be its ability and attack etc. anyway i think they are strongest air to air terran unit.

[StarCraft144000]

What so there is a defensive one to I bet I know what it would be to the Wraith because it can have less damage that would work.

[hillzagold]

soul hunter wasn't ugly, they couldn't figure out how to balance it's power. and besides, people like you were *****ing too much.




the predator would be a very effective meat sheild. say that an air battle is going badly. you have 5 predators go to defensive mode. interceptor,w hatever you call it. and have the rest fall back. if all of them are attacking your predators, you practically saved you fleet. if half or a portion of them attack the predator, and the rest give chase, you now have to deal with a smaller enemy force. if they all follow(which they most likely will) then...at least you have a few ships to get them from behind.

1) that's how you use it to retreat





then you could use it in battle. you lead predators in a little bit earlier then the rest of your fleet and turn on interceptor mode. a little bit latter,t he battle begins. the particles effects and such make it hard to see things, from what i've seen at least. with luck, a good portion of enemy fire will be drawn to the interceptors.

2) that's how you use it for battle






for assaulting enemies, as FT said, you send them in first to soak up damage from missle turrets.

3) that's how you use it for assualt





then there's defense. in SC2, they seem to want there to be more then one way to attack you base, as opposed to the old SC, where there were at most 3 ways into your base, and a few places for dropships.
now, you can get attacks from the front door, from the outskirts of your base with warp-in, from cliffs, from long range with the thor, and still from dropships. so, assuming that the predator isn't extremely overpriced like the scout was, you could place a few of them surronding your base. if enemies come, you turn on the interceptor mode. they'll probably just run past when they see it isn't working, so then you turn it off and get in some shots. if possible, you turn it back on, but whatever you can manage.

4) how to use it as an early warning for base attacks







by the by, what does interceptor mode actually do?

[Hunter]

Your ideas are good.. I wish we knew more about the Praedator..

[hillzagold]

predator shoots many lazorz

[[LightMare]]

what is a predator?

[Hunter]

You can read a bit about it on the main page, I think it is a replacement for the Valkyre to defend capital ships.

This is not too much, but I didn't find screenshots..
http://starcraft.incgamers.com/wiki/index.php/Predator

[freedom23]

(carumba) I think were still on the verge of discovery and none is final but for what the predator gives us now.. it might seem that the vikings will win against the predators but i think that if we look at the large scale the predators will serve its purpose better in massess not just by using 2 or 3 of them..

what i had in mind is this... 12BC & 12preds vs. 12BC & 12vikings

now the 12 preds will be fully converted to interceptor mode... while the vikings in fighter mode
obviously the BC & vikings grp will have more firepower but wid the 12 preds as interceptors it will be much difficult for the vikings to take down the preds grp... considering that we let them fight w/o skills and focus targetting....

it will all come down to how much the interceptor preds could intercept.... IMO ^_^

[Protosscommander]

Is anybody of you can post the Image of the Predator, because i dont really have an idea about it, please.

PEACE :thumbup:

[Hunter]

http://www.gamereplays.org/starcraft2/task.php?nameid=terran_units#predator

Here is a link. A small image.. I am searching for bigger ones now

[hillzagold]

(carumba) I think were still on the verge of discovery and none is final but for what the predator gives us now.. it might seem that the vikings will win against the predators but i think that if we look at the large scale the predators will serve its purpose better in massess not just by using 2 or 3 of them..

what i had in mind is this... 12BC & 12preds vs. 12BC & 12vikings

now the 12 preds will be fully converted to interceptor mode... while the vikings in fighter mode
obviously the BC & vikings grp will have more firepower but wid the 12 preds as interceptors it will be much difficult for the vikings to take down the preds grp... considering that we let them fight w/o skills and focus targetting....

it will all come down to how much the interceptor preds could intercept.... IMO ^_^
it actually depends on who micros BCs better, because intercept will negate the vikings, but do nothing to the BCs

[Ych9]

I think Predator would be a unit that would be used to counter the Protoss's combo of mass carriers + phoenix.

When you think about it, nothing in the Terran arsenal will be able to fight back against Mass carrier + phoenix fleet. BC's won't work because Carriers will just do hit and run on your BC's all day long. Vikings will eat Carriers for breakfast cost for cost, but with Phoenix support, Vikings wouldn't get the job done. In SC1, Goliaths would be able to handle that combo because Phoenix's overload ability won't be able to damage the Goliaths. But in SC2, Vikings would need to transform into air-mode to engage the Carriers meaning that they are gonna get pwned by the Phoenix.

The question lies in that would the Predator be able to intercept Phoenix's overload ability? If they can, then the Carrier + phoenix combo would indeed, be counterable. If not, then from analyzing the 2 races, Carriers + Phoenix could prove to be unstoppable against the Terrans.

[Joneagle_X]

Don't forget the Cobra's ability to move while shooting and its effectiveness against armored units. I assume that includes air units as well since it has a GTA attack as well.

Terran players could also use a combination of Predators + Vikings + BC + Nomads to get the job done well enough. They might even be able to pull it off with a lesser force if they use a correct combination. Unfortunately it's really impossible to know and a little too early to speculate on the possible counters for units, let alone combinations of units.

My personal view on the Phoenix is that it's supposed to be the revised version of the Scout when they should really be getting rid of that type of unit for the Protoss. It didn't work well in SC1 and I doubt it will work well in SC2. Just because they're successful in balancing this type of unit doesn't mean it's going to be all that useful in overall gameplay.

[Ych9]

From BlizzCon, many people complained that the Phoenix were extremely overpowered. They are cheap, build fast, moves fast, have a decent firepower, etc... They got everything.

I heard that people started massing these suckers up and there wasn't anything you could do about it. All they do was hit and run everyday and screw up your econ. The only valid counter to it was Twilight Archons, but you have to basically camp like 2 of them in your base. Blizzard is well aware of the Phoenix issue and I believe in their current build, it would be more balanced.

Good point Jon about the Cobras. I never thought about that. But I'm not very sure if it would work against Carriers. You have to remember that Carriers have a range of 8. Carriers can do hit and run all day long against the Cobras. Not to mention, Cobras don't move very fast. So I'm not very sure if Cobras would counter the Carriers.

[univ2045]

I really want to know more about the Predator, common Blizzard give us some info!