GameSpot's Guide to Starcraft

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The Protoss Conclave - Units and Stuctures

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STARCRAFT
  Race Overview
    Terran
    Zerg
    Protoss Units
    Protoss Structures
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  Contents

Go to GameSpot's Guide to Broodwar

Forge

The Forge is where the Protoss enhance their ground weapons, ground armor, and all plasma shields. These upgrades are all very time-consuming and rather expensive and increase performance only marginally in most circumstances. For these reasons, you should delay constructing a Forge until your defenses have already been established. Know that a Forge is required before you can build Photon Cannons, though early on, Photon Cannons are primarily useful for cloak-detecting purposes rather than base defense.

Hit/Shield Points 550/550
Time to Build 40
Cost 200m 0g
Requires Gateway
Special Options Upgrade Ground Weapons
  Level 1 100m 100g Time 266
  Level 2 150m 150g Time 298 Requires Templar Archives
  Level 3 200m 200g Time 330

Upgrade Ground Armor
  Level 1 100m 100g Time 266
  Level 2 175m 175g Time 298 Requires Templar Archives
  Level 3 250m 250g Time 330

Upgrade Plasma Shields
  Level 1 200m 200g Time 266
  Level 2 300m 300g Time 298
  Level 3 400m 400g Time 330

Prioritize Ground Weapons upgrades above all else. Your Zealots, Dragoons, and Archons all greatly benefit from upgraded weapons. Armor upgrades are of far lesser import, and expensive Plasma Shield upgrades less important still. If resources permit, though, you will want to upgrade to maximum in every category, and to this extent, you may construct multiple Forges, each of which may work toward one of three upgrades simultaneously. You'll need a Templar Archive before you can research second- and third-level weapons and armor.