Heroes of the Storm

Subject: Heroes of the Storm Tue Feb 28, 2017 6:25 pm

Heroes of the Storm (HotS) is a multiplayer online battle arena video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment for Microsoft Windows and OS X. The game features heroes from Blizzard's franchises including Warcraft, Diablo, StarCraft, The Lost Vikings, and Overwatch. The game uses both free-to-play and freemium models and is supported by micropayments, which can be used to purchase heroes, visual alterations for the heroes in the game, and mounts. Blizzard does not call the game a "multiplayer online battle arena" or an "action real-time strategy" because they feel it is something different with a broader playstyle; they refer to it as an online "hero brawler".

Game modes
In non-draft modes, players choose their heroes in a party before entering the game or knowing what map they are playing. In draft modes, teams cannot play the same heroes as the opposing team. However, they can base their decision around the map that is announced during the draft period. Draft mode allows each team to ban two heroes each (a total of four heroes banned), removing them from the match.

Tutorials - The tutorials are composed of three scripted 'levels' that are aimed at new players with the intent of teaching them movement, use of abilities and other basic controls. The player controls Jim Raynor, who is teleported from the StarCraft universe into the Nexus, receiving instructions from Uther Lightbringer from the Warcraft series.
Training - A reduced XP mode where a player plays with four AI teammates against five AI opponents set at the Beginner difficulty.
Versus A.I. - Players face off against five AI opponents. Before beginning, the player can choose to have human-controlled or AI allies. Like in StarCraft II, the AI difficulty can be chosen prior to initiating a match.
Quick Match - This mode sets two teams of five human-controlled heroes against each other on one of the twelve maps in Player-Versus-Player style combat. These teams are selected based on the player's past performance (a somewhat hidden statistic not available in-game) to create a level playing field, as well as the roles of heroes chosen. For example, if a player queues without other party members as a Support, they are extremely unlikely to be matched with four other Support teammates.
Unranked Draft - Draft mode. Players will get the same experience of drafting as in Ranked Play, but without the additional stress that coincides with Ranked Play. Unlike in Hero League, there is no limitation of maximum party size in this mode.
Ranked Play - Draft mode. There are two Ranked Play modes:
Hero League - As players compete in these matches, they will be awarded ranked points which will progress their League Rank within their community and begin to place them in more challenging match-ups. Hero League is unlocked at Player Level 30 and the player must own at least 14 heroes at level 5 or higher to participate. Player rank is expressed in the form of League Tiers and Divisions. The tiers are, in ascending order: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master, and Grand Master. League Tiers gives an idea of that player's general skill level. Each tier from Bronze through Diamond is further divided into five divisions, with 1000 ranking points each. The lowest division within a tier is 5; Division 1 is the highest. For example, a player in Platinum 1 (Platinum tier, Division 1) has a higher ranking than a player in Platinum 4, and that Platinum 4 player is ranked higher than a Gold 2 player. When the player reaches 1000 ranking points, they will need to play a promotion match, for if won, they move up to the next division or tier. On the other hand, if their ranking points drop to zero, they risk going down a division or tier through a demotion match. The Master Tier has neither divisions nor ranking point cap. The top 200 point earners in the Master Tier enter the Grand Master Tier. Maximum party size in Hero League matches was 2 players, but starting from Season 3 in December 2016, Hero League only allows solo queuing.
Team League - Players who choose to play competitively as a team can queue in a Team Ranked match to be matched with other five-man teams in their region. The League Rank gained by these teams are assigned separate to the ranks gained within Hero League. Team League is unlocked at Player Level 40 and also requires ownership of a minimum of 14 heroes at level 5 or higher to participate. Player rank is expressed in the form of League Tiers and Divisions with the same Bronze-Grandmaster system like in Hero League. As of Season 3, Team League allows for a party of two or three players, in addition to a full party.
The first official Ranked Play season began on June 14, 2016 and ended at August 23 Each Ranked Play season is set to last for approximately 10-14 weeks.

Heroes Brawl - Added on October 18, 2016, this game mode has three different subcategories with varying rules:
Arenas - Players pick one of three randomly selected Heroes and try to complete the objective. The first team to complete the objective will claim victory. The first to win two rounds wins the match. There are multiple arena maps exclusively designed for this mode.
Mutators - Unique mechanics change the way you play on the already familiar Battlegrounds.
Single-Lanes - One-lane Battlegrounds with no objectives, Mercenaries, or Hearthstone.
The rules of Heroes Brawl change every week.

Custom Games - Often used for tournament play, players can create a lobby and make a predetermined match-up of up to five players versus five players, with the ability to choose the map, enable or disable draft mode, and whether to add AI-controlled heroes and/or allow up to six observers.

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