The above example of a base surrounded by high cliffs is a great example of StarCraft II´s introduction of new units like the Protoss Colossi or the Terran Reapers, both of which will climb a cliff, even moving horizontally and diagonally, and attack a fortified unit as if it had no walls at all. When Blizzard designed the new maps they paid special attention to the new abilities of the brand new units. The above units can change the whole strategy for both offense units and defensive areas. Offensive units are much more flexible and defenses have to be set up to compensate for the new areas of weakness. These new units have truly added a new dimension to the game, giving it a truly 3-D atmosphere.

Not only do the new cliff-walker units completely ignore challenges like elevations but other new units like the Terran Supply Depots and Protoss warp-ins make it much easier to defend against and respond to completely unexpected raids and scouting forays.

Terrain and Materials

Blizzard, in redesigning the maps, has added both new terrain features and new materials to help add new elements to the game. Pathing is a very important feature in any RTS and the addition of things like the Terran Mods, which include ramps, shrubs, destructible rocks are of great assistance in developing a good pathing structure in your strategy. In a real combat situation is important, even when the enemy has air support, because it slows down a ground assault. The new maps have made the high ground even more important by adding elevation features that actually matter. The physics of the new graphics, taking into account things like elevation when considering trajectory, make the game very visceral.

How fast you are able to build units and defensive structures is very important. Blizzard has added new high yield mineral fields that increase the amount of materials your units are able to deliver per trip and do not require the high number of nodes as the original StarCraft. This means that you will need far fewer workers to gather the same amount of materials, increasing the speed of you development. If you have a hard time keeping your worker units at full capacity having a group of high-yield mineral fields could just be your solution.