EPTWith the new season we see some maps that are new, some improved and one who is just frigging whack!
Newkirk Precinct
... has gone through some huge improvements. Start position area has been shrunk considerably which favors scouting and drops. Bottom mid bases now have 2 ramps and there are no longer any Xel'nagas in the middle to give you complete vision of ground army movements.
Thumbs up!
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The old:
![[image loading]](http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/images2/thumb/a/ae/Newkirk_City.jpg/400px-Newkirk_City.jpg)
The new:
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/605_Newkirk%20Redevelopment%20Precinct.jpg)
Red City
This map has some interesting architecture and it is a map that has been used in GSL and other tournaments. It remains to be seen if I veto it, but I have to say I am favoring it for now. It seems like a fun map.
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![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/598_Crux%20Red%20City_thumbnail.jpg)
Korhal Sky Island LE
This is probably the worst map I have seen. Aside from the fact that I hate it - It is clearly a work in progress. The map has no surrender button (only quit) and there is several of the destructible debris that doesn't have a name - so it shows a variable name instead.
The architecture of this map is unique and horrible. I really really really dislike this map. Top left and bottom right bases have their natural UP a ramp. Between natural and main you have two ramps going down with destructible debris/sensor tower(!)/rocks.
"Luckily" you are only stuck with this map until season ends. Which is what - November? I believe the seasons are now running parallel with WCS seasons.
FYI: "Pursuit_" has pointed out that this is a Proleague map.
A quote from Blizzard:
At this time, Korhal Sky Island is exhibiting some behavior that players won’t expect:
The “Your Ranked Season Average” information on the Performance tab of the Score Screen does not show at the end of the game.
Play on this map does not count toward some economy, ranked/unranked, and melee combat achievements.
The “Surrender” button is a “Quit” button.
We’re working on solutions for all of the above, and we will fix them in a future patch. We decided that it was better to publish the map with a few issues now, so that everyone can enjoy playing it, as we don’t have any concerns that should affect gameplay, balance, or performance. And again, these are only issues with Korhal Sky Island. No other maps are affected.
The image shows a lot of space around the map. There is NONE. No open areas to fly medivacs or overlords.
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![[image loading]](http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/images2/thumb/6/67/Korhal_Flating_Island.jpg/400px-Korhal_Flating_Island.jpg)
I have an idea for Blizzard
I'm all for trying to switch things up and trying new things (thinking specifically of Korhal Sky Island). But I don't like that an experimental map with architecture we have never seen before is in the 1v1 map pool. There is no doubt I will 100% veto this for all time. Thus I am left with one less veto for the maps that are actually tested and balanced.
But I still want the opportunity to try these wacky new maps. I would love if the map preferences for 1v1 showed a section called "Experimental maps" where you could veto for free. It's a nice way to encourage testing new maps, but at the same time for the die hard ladderers out there they can choose to veto them all.
I think this idea would give Blizzard some freedom in publishing new maps as well as leaving the players with the choice of whether or not they want to be guinea pigs.
