Blizzard, the developer of Heroes of the Storm, will host a series of Reddit AMAs as a way to show players and fans what is in store for the future of the game.
In a post on a Blizzard Forum, the development team wants to focus on the game's balance and matchmaking. The first AMA was scheduled to be done in February but with the Lead Balance Designer out on vacation, the first question and answer session is scheduled for March 6 at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST. In addition to balance and matchmaking, the team also plans to discuss ranked play.
The second AMA will focus on art and design and will be held on April 4 at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST. The third AMA is slated for May 9 at 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST, with hero design as the central topic of discussion.
Here’s a look at our upcoming Reddit AMAs:
— Heroes of the Storm (@BlizzHeroes) February 28, 2019
▫️March 6: Ranked Play, Balance, and Matchmaking
▫️April 4: Art and Design
▫️May 9: Hero Design
More Info: https://t.co/t0lDRHHYmO pic.twitter.com/BvU8JiNCWU
The team also revealed that they have seen concerns raised on how recent changes affect the AI of the heroes. The team mentioned that while the objective was to introduce improvements, "things don’t necessarily go as planned." Hotfixes are being implemented to repair the AI but the development team will continue to work and find way to have a better AI.
Heroes of the Storm released a Balance Patch last February 27 which buffed some heroes while also nerfing others. Looking at the various changes, it appears that the development team want to buff some of the heroes to entice players to choose them. Some hero abilities were balanced as they have proven to be too strong during gameplay. Ana, for instance, received positive changes, while Li Li experienced a general downgrade to most of her abilities.
The Balance Patch included comments from the development team on why that particular change to each hero was implemented, making it easier for players to understand the updates. While there is no assurance that they will continue to do this moving forward, it shows that the team is indeed aware of the concerns of the community.
Heroes of the Storm Heroic Deals are still ongoing, with the offer set to expire on March 5. Three heroes are offered with a 50 percent discount. Both Uther and Kerrigan are now at 250 Gems with Leoric priced at 312 Gems.
