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#390 - Into the Nexus: “Hammer of the Storm”

• Garrett • Kyle • Mochrie

Tracking Link:

https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/

Sponsors:

Our Patrons support Into the Nexus at Patreon.com/ITN. If you enjoy the show consider supporting it with 25 cents, a dollar, or however you would like! We thank all our Patrons for their support!

MochrieTV is here and we are diving past the tip of the Iceberg. Tips and tricks, bugs and features. Mochrie is here to reveal the inner workings of Heroes of the Storm for your benefit. Kyle and Garrett have questions, Mochrie has answers. Naturally Nazeebo still reigns supreme, but have you heard of Hammer of the Storm?

This episode is sponsored by Bombas socks. Go to Bombas.com/nexus today, and get twenty percent off your first order. That’s B-O-M-B-A-S Bombas.com/nexus for twenty percent off. Bombas.com/nexus.

Intro:  Welcome to Into the Nexus! The Heroes of the Storm podcast!

Top of the Show Chat

How’s Heroes Going?

Patreon Mention: Patreon.com/ITN

Thanks to our Patreon producers Declan H, Chris K, Shawn B, & Mike R!

Patron Thanks Doc for keeping track

Sponsor: Bombas

Blog Blurb:

Give a pair of Bombas socks when you buy a pair, and get 20% off your first purchase at Bombas.com/nexus. Definitely check out their performance socks for maximum comfort while working out!

Strategy

Mochrie’s Tips, Tricks and Settings

Text

https://www.reddit.com/r/heroesofthestorm/comments/lqv396/hots_tactics_depth_chart/

Emails

Valkamer

[Mochrie Question] How has playing in EU lately felt different than NA, if at all?

[Mochrie Question] What drove you to this EU pilgrimage?

Your voice has been compared to Corpse Husband more than once, when do we get a collaboration between the two of you?

Divock

What hero has consistently been your adversary the longest (the hero that you have hated facing against the most)?

Michael

Heya guys!

Thank you as always to your commitment and passion for games in general, HoTS in particular, and healthy gaming/spreading joy at large.

Item the First:

In regards to "Mochrie's Mood Meter" (MMM) from last week: given my IRL role in working with the mental health of US Veterans (BTW, PLEASE shoutout to all the servicemembers in our community!) I found this very interesting, and it has my full professional and gaming approval ;). Having more refined tools and using them skillfully is true for any game, and refining our way to actually talk about our emotions is truly an asset in all realms of life. Thank you and thanks to CavalierGuest and Mochrie for putting this out there to allow others to hopefully be more precise, and therefore more heard, and hopefully understood. In my workplace, many times people don't even have words for the "feels" they got and we have to start with "Happy, Sad, Angry, or Fearful" to help nail down "I feel bad" more precisely. Precise speech leads to greater understanding, and therefore at least a HOPE of addressing for growth. So.... Thanks for that!

Item the Second:

Also from last week's show, the "disheartening" and somewhat "sullen" feels on Zag. I come from an SC/BW/SC2 background, exclusively Zerg player since Broodwar, and recently re-played Zag in Co-Op. Had some thoughts about the fantasy of her as a "swarmy summoner" to run past you. Hopefully thematic and entertaining, hopefully not TOO broken (but with many knobs to possibly theoretically adjust?)

1. Zag does NOT Hearth. Within the Hall of Storms is permanently a Nydus Network entrance (use asset from SC2). Upon pressing "B" on battlefield, Zag is summons a Nydus worm which she can channel and enter, then pop out within the Hall of Storms. The Worm remains on the battlefield for set time (also has health) and Zag can then re-enter the Nydus entrance and pop out the summoned worm on the battlefield. The Nydus can of course be targeted and destroyed; then obvi Zag will need to waddle back into battle. Gives Zag a unique and thematic way to get back to base. Downside: she can no longer really "b-step"? If a new "B" worm is summoned while another exists, the prior worm immediately dies, so I GUESS if someone spams "B" there will just be continual worms spawning and dying in the same spot?

2. Remove Nydus Worms as an Ult. Make Nydus Network a baseline trait that automatically becomes available at Level 13 (ala Stitch Hook "quest"). Press "D" to summon a Nydus worm, max 2 worms (plus your "B" worm for total of 3) active. You can go between any worm AND the entrance at the Hall of Storms. Creep tumors are now on the "1" key. We can tweak duration of worms, cooldown between ability to summon (except the B of course) and health/armour of worms.

3. New Ult: Zerg Rush - Summon a Nydus Worm that continually spits out random zerglings and roachlings until the Worm is destroyed (or expiration timer). Zagara cannot enter this worm. Zerglings prioritize Heroes/Monsters/Minions, roachlings prioritize Structures. Can tweak speed at which Nydus vomits out the zerg army, Nydus health/life timer, etc. When the freaking Nydus erupts, it does the characteristic shrieking roar, shows up on minimap.

4. Level 20: Apex Evolution (upgrades Zerg Rush) - All roachlings are now full Roaches (larger, more health, +15 Armor). All zerglings are now Raptors and can jump over narrow terrain and walls in pursuit of Heroes. Can summon up to 2 Zerg Rush Worms

5. Level 20: Overlord Drop - Vector target a drop path and 5 (3? tweakable amount) Overlords slowly fly down and through, dropping random assortment of Hydras, Zerglings, Roachlings. Overlords can be targeted and destroyed to mitigate the drop. Overlords also drop temporary creep that slowly recedes as they travel across and away. Path length can be tweakable.

So just IMAGINE being able to "Hearth" back to base after split push, Nydus to a flank position, call in an Overlord Drop behind the enemy army, Nydus to other part of the map, pop a Zerg Rush Worm to take out a keep, Nydus back to the fight! Kinda makes up for not having "So Many Banelings..."

Anyway, just my weird thoughts on how to turn our favourite Broodmother into a true Summoning Queen!

FOR THE SWARM!!! And again, thanks for everything guys!

Outro

Patreon Shout Out

ITN is supported by our badass Patrons. You can become an ITN Patron by going to Patreon.com/itn.

Thanks to our Patreon producers Declan H, Chris K, Shawn B, & Mike R!

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Thanks to Gorath for our intro music and briangriffithmusic.com (@briangriffith) for our outro..

Personal Stuff

Garrett

Kyle