Blizzard released SC2 Beta Patch 9 today, and there is a ton of goodies included. The patch released the much anticipated SC2 Map editor! The achievements and decals were enabled on the beta servers as well, which means a lot of new fun is open to all the beta players! The full patch notes as well as a small review of the changes and additions are after the break.



StarCraft II Beta – Patch 9 (0.11.0.15097)

The latest patch notes can always be found here:

General


  • The StarCraft II Editor is now available!
    • Players will now be able to begin creating trigger maps in preparation for map publishing which will be made available in an upcoming beta patch.

    • Achievements & Decals are now live!
      • Players will now be able to earn achievements, browse the list of available achievements, and view achievements earned by friends.

      • Players will be able to highlight favorite achievements in their Showcase.

      • Earning certain achievements will unlock portrait and decal rewards.

      • The updated Homepage now includes a Recent Broadcasts panel and a News & Community panel.

      • A new Match History page is now available which will allow players to browse and filter their last 1,000 games played.

      • A new Community page is now available which features an in-game version of RSS news feeds.

      • A new Friends-of-Friends feature has been added, which allows players to easily find and connect with more real life friends on Battle.net through existing friends.

      • Additional friends’ presence details are now available from the Friends’ list.

      • Improvements have been made on the Voice Chat system in game.

        • Please use the new voice chat and provide feedback via the StarCraft II beta forums.

        • The score screen now features a new graph tab.
        • The art for many parts of the user interface has been updated.

        • Hotkey templates have been added.
          • In the gameplay options menu select from standard name based hotkeys for right and left-handed players, grid based hotkeys for right, and left-handed players, and classic StarCraft keys.

          • Several hotkeys have been changed to avoid conflicts with the "Select All Warpgates" UI button:

            • The Set Worker Rally Point has been changed from W to R.

            • Build Sensor Tower has been changed from W to N.
            • Terran Infantry Weapons have been changed from W to E.
            • Terran Vehicle Weapons have been changed from W to E.
            • Weapon Refit has been changed from W to R.
            • Burrow has been changed from W to R.
            • Spawn Larva has been changed from R to V.
            • Neural Parasite has been changed from R to E.

            • Balance Changes

              • TERRAN
                • Marauder
                  • Concussive Shells research cost decreased from 100/100 80 seconds to 50/50 60 seconds.

                    • PROTOSS
                      • Immortal
                        • Build time increased from 40 to 55.
                          • ZERG
                            • Infested Terran
                              • Damage increased from 5 to 8.
                              • Speed decreased from 1.5 to 0.9375.
                              • Queen
                                • Speed off creep decreased from 1.5 to 0.938. (Speed on creep unchanged.)

                                • Spine Crawler
                                  • Attack period decreased from 1.6 to 1.85.
                                  • Infestor
                                    • Neural Parasite range increased from 7 to 9.
                                    • Fungal Growth projectile removed; Units in the target area are now instantly hit.


                                    • Maps

                                      • We've made a change to the (2)ScrapStation map to make the natural expansion easier to defend.

                                      • New maps have been added to the ladder rotation while others have been removed as follows:

                                        • 1v1
                                          • Added (2)IncinerationZone
                                          • 2v2
                                            • Removed (4)LostTemple
                                            • Removed (4)Metalopolis
                                            • Added (4)AridWastes
                                            • Added (4)Coalition
                                            • Added (4)Decena
                                            • Added (4)ScorchedHaven
                                            • 1v1(Novice)
                                              • Removed (4)NoviceKulasRavine
                                              • 2v2(Novice)
                                                • Removed (4)NoviceKulasRavine
                                                • Removed (4)NoviceShakurasPlateau
                                                • Added (4)NoviceDecena
                                                • Added (4)NoviceScorchedHaven
                                                • Added (4)NoviceTwilightFortress