Tempest
- unknown -
- unknown -
The first designation of the TEMPEST was supposed to be a highly armored troop transport.
"
Other units include the tempest, a flying troop transport with an underside energy shield that protects against ground-to-air fire, but leaves the unit vulnerable to air-to-air attacks..."
Later on, it was then clarified that the TEMPEST is actually the replacement of the formidable Protoss Carriers.
"
In a previous Starcraft 2 E3 interview post, the Tempest was called a “flying troop transport.” Since then it has become clear that it’s not a troop transport, but rather a replacement for the venerable Protoss Carrier. Some more information on the tempest has been revealed. So far it will only create one type of drone. In addition it will cost less minerals and gas to build but the shield mechanics have been changed. While it boasts a powerful undercarriage shield, protecting it against ground to air attacks, the aerial shield has been significantly weakened, resulting in a high vulnerability to air units. As a result, an assaulting force of Tempests will require protection from other air to air or even ground to air units."
(Click for larger image)
It is weaker and cheaper, and also had a version of the Hardened Shields ability. It is located in its underbelly, and if ground units attempt to attack it, the shields activate and reduces its damage.
In the released E3 Protoss Review Trailer (link above), there was a fleet of Tempests approaching a Terran encampment. The first of the Tempests to reach the Terran Turret's line of sight was unfazed as it shields could even protect a it from over 1O attacks by Terran Turrets.
Seeing as the Tempest is in the shade of Dark Templar-mauve, it can be assumed that these new warmachines were contributed by the Dark Templars.
Just like the Dark Templar Stalkers.
Related Media:All quotes are from
http://www.starcraft2galaxy.comSoul Hunter - unknown -
- unknown -
"These include the soul hunter, a hovering ground unit that can attack both air and ground opponents. ""
“What’s interesting is that every time he scores a killing blow, his weapon gets more powerful,” Colayco says to the sounds Protoss Soul Hunters beating up on a Terran base. As the hovering hunters fire away at a barracks, their yellow-green beams begin to thicken noticably, until the building explodes with a shower of particles. “There’s not going to be an infinite progression of power; there will be a cap to it.”"
The philosophy behind the unit is quite contradictory to the Protoss' philosophy of asceticism and enlightenment, seeing as the unit grows more powerful when it sustains its violence. Along with the unit being in a shade of purple, it can be safely assumed that the Soul Hunters are from the Dark Templar faction.
"
Sometimes units will get cut. For example, the Soul Hunter is not going to show at Blizzcon. He appears to have failed his training period. He was kind of cool, but not cool enough. Some other units that you have seen are going through some significant changes. They have adapted and may yet survive. Thats how we do it. Being able to try units out before we decide if they are going to be in the game or not is a huge advantage for our development process and its an opportunity that not every developer gets. Well give you more specific information on the Protoss as we figure it out. Even what you see at Blizzcon will be work-in-progress. After Blizzcon things will most definitely continue to evolve."
Related Media:All quotes are from
http://www.starcraft2galaxy.comMothership - unknown -
- unknown -
The Protoss Mothership has 3 known special abilities that would wreck terror and havoc in the battlefield. It will still appear as a unit in Starcraft 2, but most of it's abilities have been removed.
Time BombAble to wield the power of time and space, the Protoss Mothership can protect itself in a curtain that displaces time for all units and weaponry caught within. Attacking units slow to a halt, as well as missile barrages. While in the curtain, the Mothership can retaliate freely without much threat from devastating anti-air missiles and other amassed ground forces.
This skill has been removed.Once the time-displacing curtain fades, all missile-type munitions which were caught in stasis would then fall inertly to the ground.
Planet CrackerChanneling devastating psionic energies, the Protoss Mothership is able to sow carnage to anything underneath its shadow by raining 4 sustained energy pillars from key points beneath the ship.
From 4 energy blasts, it was reduced to only 1.Black HoleTearing a whole in the very fabric of the universe itself, the Protoss Mothership can unleash power parallel to that of a collapsing star.
Opening a Black Hole, all air units within it's massive range are instantly absorbed and removed from existence.
This skill has been removed.Star Relic - unknown -
- unknown -
It was said that the Star Relic was supposed to be the replacement for the Protoss Arbiter. With its advanced Cloaking Ability, it can not only cloak units, but buildings aswell.
It has a special attack, a laser which deals damage over time. And when an unit is destroyed in this manner, it causes splash damage on surrounding units. The stronger the unit, the more powerful the damage.
The Star Relic has been completely revamped and was changed to the
Stasis Orb.
A ground unit with the ability to slow enemy units down.
