To force such a dynamic as one you're suggesting to function only as a single unit teleport would be stupid. Why not expand that to allow any number of units to traverse through and have the portal open for X seconds?
That's not a bad idea, I was thinking the same thing really. It would only enforce the concept of fitting the mechanics of spells to the cosmetic explanation, and fitting that to the hero model.
If this is the case, then you shrouded your point in such ways so that I had no clue what you were talking about, nice. I'm not beating up the topic at all, I'm beating up what I perceive that you're saying with which I strongly disagree.
Nobody is claiming that animation use, hero cosmetics, spell effects, and spell mechanics do not culminate into if the hero is well designed or not. My argument is that these are the only things that are relevant, not whether your demon hunter hero has the ability to blink.
Even unit skins change things dramatically, I'm sure many people wouldn't associate antihero's theoden skin with a dedicated healer. Even look at the blazeguard, I'm pretty sure nobody is expecting him to throw envenomed spears or go berserk.
What if the pit lord only has enough magical potence to open the portal long enough for him self to jump through and nothing more? The pit lord does have a nice fast walk animation. This and if you are able to make a abilities that make sense you can make anything fit any role. It's just harder and requires more creativity with some models. For instance, I doubt any of us have the creative genius to create a melee archmage tanker, but theoretically, it would be possible.
That still sound very contrived. I can imagine the disappointment of the players that they cannot use the portal in more flexible ways.
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