I’ve been thinking about a concept that could potentially be implemented in Co-op (although we all know this never happens).
Enter the Special objectives.
Like Bonus objectives, they are optional and can be skipped.
Like Bonus objectives, they award bonus XP upon completing the mission.
What makes them different is:
- They can be done only by some of the commanders, but not by others (amplifying uniqueness of each commander).
- Upon completion, they award a neat bonus for the rest of the mission (potentially making Mutations easier).
Dead of Night
The infested have made an isolated structure with an enhanced hardened carapace. Only a direct nuclear strike can destroy it.
Special Objective: Destroy the Stank Cavern/Nydus Network with a nuclear strike.
Location: Northwestern corner of the map (isolated area, inaccessible by ground).
Can be done by: Nova (Nuclear Strike), Tychus (Big Red Button), Han&Horner (Space Station Reallocation), Mengsk (Nuclear Annihilation)
Ingame Reward: Stank/Nydus Worms will no longer spawn.
Rifts to Korhal
Amidst the chaos, a prototype observatory droid has escaped the science facility. It’s a valuable piece of technology, and we need to save it by driving it into a containment cell.
Special Objective: Take control over the Observatory Droid. Move it into the containment cell.
Location: Southeastern corner of the map, to the south of the 2nd Pirate Ship.
Can be done by: Karax (Accelerators’ ability), Vorazun (DA Mind Control), Tychus (Vega’s ability), Zeratul (DA calldown), Stukov (Aleksander calldown)
Ingame Reward: 5000 minerals, 2000 gas for each player.
Part & Parcel
Moebius Corps have a supercomputer that helps their forces to disrupt out intel network over the area. It’s located in a fortified bunker that can withstand any bombardment. Our only option is to melt it with some strong chemicals.
Special Objective: Destroy the Moebius Supercomputer with acid weapons.
Location: Northeastern corner of the map.
Can be done by: Kerrigan (Mutalisks), Zagara (Banelings), Abathur (Roaches, Ravagers, Mutalisks, Brutalisks), Stukov (Volatile Infested), Dehaka (Ravasaurs, Roaches/Igniters, Mutalisks), Stetmann (Banelings)
Ingame Reward: Fog of war is removed.
Void Thrashing
Void Thrashers have damaged the bridge which connects Sgt. Hammer’s Fortress to the mainland. Help to repair it — and Sgt. Hammer will be able to support you.
Special Objective: Repair the bridge to the Fortress.
Location: Southwestern corner of the map, in between the main players’ bases.
Can be done by: all Terran commanders (SCVs), also Stukov (Infested SCVs) and Stetmann (Drones can repair)
Ingame Reward: Both commander get maximal supply cap.
Miner Evacuation
A portable Psi Matrix deployed by Moebius Corps has let the Hybrid come and ravage the area. Someone should put an end to it.
Special Objective: Destroy the Portable Psi Matrix. Only a powerful hero with psionic abilities can do it.
Location: Northeastern corner of the map, on the highground above one of the ships.
Can be done by: Kerrigan, Zagara, Nova, Alarak, Tychus (by using Nux or Vega), Zeratul
Ingame Reward: Hybrid will no longer spawn.
The Vermillion Problem
Dominion Prospectors have discovered Jorium deposits in a lowground valley. Despite being occasionally flooded by lava eruptions, these crystals remain intact. Harvesting them could provide technological advantage.
Special Objective: Harvest 1000 Jorium minerals from the lowground.
Location: Southwestern corner of the map, near the highground where one of the Xenon crystals spawns.
Can be done by: Theoretically any commander, but it’s definitely much easier for those who can move their bases — all Terran commanders, Stukov and Dehaka. Also can be done with usage of Nydus/Omega Worms.
Ingame Reward: Workers that carry Xenon Crystals get resistance to lava.
Mist Opportunities
Stetmann has discovered an isolated valley with some local wildlife that behaves chaotically and unpredictably. He wants to conduct an experiment by fusing it with Zerg infestation, which could advance his research.
Special Objective: Bring Zerg infestation into an isolated valley.
Location: Western part of the map, inaccessible by ground.
Can be done by: Any Zerg commander by spilling creep from Overlords, spawning Nydus/Omega worms or placing Toxic Nests. Stukov can also use his “Infest Structure” ability.
Ingame Reward: Stetmann’s bots move and harvest gas 50% faster.
Temple of the Past
Amons forces use a fleet beacon to coordinate their aerial assaults on the temple. If you destroy it, that will make their coordination nigh impossible.
Special Objective: Destroy the Fleet Beacon.
Location: Northeastern corner of the map, at the isolated base inaccessible by ground.
Can be done by: Any commander that can use flying units, transports or top panel with vision.
Ingame Reward: Enemy attacks from the northeast, drop-pods and warp-ins are disabled.
Lock & Load
Ulnar’s Power Link can be overloaded to make our campaign easier. But for that we must provide it with sufficient plasma shields.
Special Objective: Recharge the Ulnar Power Link. Any unit with plasma shields can work as donor, by transmitting their shields to the Power Link.
Location: Southwestern corner of the map, right near the main players’ bases.
Can be done by: Any Protoss commander who can place units with shields at a designated area. Mengsk’s Aegis Guards and Imperial Intercessors are also applicable. And, of course, Karax’s Shield Batteries and Zeratul’s Xel’Naga Shieldguards will be most useful here.
Ingame Reward: Each reclaimed Celestial Lock provides vision, detection and a power field.
Malwarfare
A local recharging station has been disabled by the rogue Tal’darim. We could reactivate it by providing sufficient power source.
Special Objective: Repower the Recharging Station by placing 6 objects of power in the marked areas nearby.
Location: Center of the map, in the passage between 2nd and 4th Terminals.
Can be done by: Any Protoss commander except Zeratul (Pylons), also Stetmann (Stetellites also count)
Ingame Reward: Aurana gets a hardened shield that gives her +1000 shield points and makes her resistant to Suppression Towers’ interruptions (they still can damage her though).
Void Launch
The terraforming project aimed to bring Kaldir’s flora and fauna back to life requires a source of fresh water. We could help them by melting one of the local icebergs.
Special Objective: Destroy the Iceberg using fire or laser weapons.
Location: Northeastern corner of the map, behind one of the enemy bases.
Can be done by: Raynor (Firebats), Swann (Hellions/Hellbats, Laser Drill), Vorazun (Void Rays), Karax (Solar Lance, Colossi), Alarak (Mothership’s ability), Nova (Hellbats), Fenix (Colossi), Dehaka (Scorching Breath), Tychus (Blaze), Han&Horner (Hellions/Hellbats), Zeratul (Void Ray calldown), Mengsk (Troopers with flamethrowers)
Ingame Reward: The Eastern Shuttle Launch Bay is disabled.
Those are not all missions, but I think by this point you get the idea.
Maybe you could think of some special objectives for the other missions as well?