Battlegrounds and the Return of The Lost VIkings

        Possibly the most important aspect of Heroes of the Storm is their battleground system. By moving away from the traditional three lane setup of DotA-like games they're allowing themselves to make every map seem like it's own game. Even more important is that they're committed to bringing in new battlegrounds and retiring old battlegrounds on a regular basis which allows for them to experiment without having to make sure something will have enough mass appeal to be played for the lifespan of the game.



        While most people will probably be thinking about seeing their favorite places from Blizzard's big three IPs, what about their older settings? We already have confirmation that we'll be seeing heroes based on characters from The Lost Vikings, Rock n' Roll Racing, and Blackthorne. It seems almost a certainty that a dev will get the itch to make a battleground out of them as well.

        With an incredibly flexible engine at their disposal these battlegrounds could draw more from their games than just familiar art and sounds. If we take The Lost Vikings as an example then we could see them really get outside the box with a side-scrolling battleground. Mappers from Starcraft 2 managed to realize the concept as soon as the game launched so it certainly shouldn't give Blizzard any problems.
 

 
        But what else would be important to a Lost Vikings battleground? One of the game's more unique aspects was coordinating the three characters with different abilities to solve puzzles. That draws a very obvious parallel to MOBAs in general with their huge rosters of characters with unique abilities that must rely on their teammates to overcome their enemies. A maze-like battleground that requires teamwork to navigate traps and pitfalls while also having to worry about a team of enemies lurking about would certainly shake things up.
 
        I'm sure after the presentations during Blizzcon everyone's imagination is stirring with the possibilities of what can be done. What's certain is that we're definitely going to see some game-changing ideas from Blizzard now that they're free to break from the mold set by DotA and every other DotAlike.

Heroes of the Storm Fact Sheet (Blizzcon 2013)

 

What is Heroes of the Storm?

Heroes of the Storm is a free-to-play online team brawler starring your favorite Blizzard characters. In Heroes, the epic battles between the champions and villains of Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo aren’t settled with last hits and kill-stealing—players are distinguished through the accomplishments of their team.

Whether you’re a hardcore WoW raider, a demon-slaying Barbarian, or a Bronze league Terran, you’ll find a customizable hero from across the Blizzard multiverse to suit your play style. Grab your buddies and engage in fast-paced mayhem across varied battlegrounds that impact strategy and change the way you play every match. When the mightiest characters in gaming history clash, only you can decide who’ll come out on top!

Who Are The Heroes?

Characters like Thrall, Kerrigan, Diablo, Arthas, Zeratul, Tyrael—powerful warriors from Azeroth, Sanctuary, the Koprulu sector, and beyond—have been sucked into the Nexus, a transdimensional storm. Stranded in a strange limbo of clashing universes, these combatants are joined by the same fate—to engage in pulse-pounding combat, to team up in a deadly struggle for survival . . . and to answer the age-old question. . . .

Who Would Win?

Heroes represents more than 20 years of Blizzard gaming history, settings, and iconic characters, all mashed up into an epic, action-packed team-based strategy game. Fight out classic showdowns such as Tyrael vs. Diablo, or settle those late-night debates you've had about who's the stronger leader—Raynor or Thrall? Could Kerrigan and Zeratul take down the Barbarian and Demon Hunter from Diablo III? Could Uther in his prime give Arthas the punishment he deserves?

Each customizable hero offers a wealth of tactical options and unique strengths that reflect their abilities in their respective games. Bringing these considerable powers to bear in the same setting opens limitless possibilities for previously impossible matchups and mind-blowing team combinations.

What Is The Nexus?

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill transdimensional vortex! The Nexus plunges the greatest warriors and strategists of the Blizzard multiverse into one of several unique battlegrounds for a no-holds-barred melee. Conquer mercenary camps to recruit powerful allies to your side, such as siege giants. Unlock the mysteries of each battleground, including ghostly pirate ships, the fickle Raven Lord, and massive grave golems to achieve a glorious victory.

Smash Your Enemies In Style!

Distinguish yourself and your team in battle with dozens of unique heroes, skins, and mounts. Then choose from among multiple heroic abilities, enabling you to dish out ruin in the form of orbital bombardments, strafing frost wyrms, or all-consuming hellfire—to name just a few of the many ways you’ll be able to visit destruction upon your enemies. Good players win. The great ones make it look good, too.