[Contest] Map Design Contest! - Page 16

On January 24 2010 21:18 dyren wrote:
incoming wall of text... proceed at own risk...
edit: you can find replays here: http://www.panschk.de/mappage/comments.php?mapid=4003


+ Show Spoiler [Center Expo???] +
Muessoloc III


So while playtesting I had a range of different people giving me feedback on Muessoloc III and I made a lot of necessary little changes like fixing misplaced doodads, geyser placement, mineral count at natural matches colo (6 patches), small but important stuff like that.

But I had one stubborn but helpful tester who really attacked this map in his analysis causing me to have to really think about and defend some of the decisions I've made. So I would like to just take a second to talk about how I see my map and the balance on it. Needless to say I've largely based it off the map Colosseum II which in my opinion is both a great map and pretty unique. It features a low ground main, protected natural, and close third with a wide ramp near the main choke and small back door ramp. There's a neutral sunken at the choke providing creep for a sunken rush or defense and it creates a smaller choke. Colosseum features an open flat middle with 4 compound walls forming an oval around a central expansion. I really think this map has a lot going for it. It promotes fast expansion builds with the in-base natural and that opens up the possibility of fast aggression to punish a greedy fast expander. Also, building placement is critically important in this map to prevent run-bys and being sieged from the high ground above your choke. The presence of this high ground is clearly deliberate and creates the need for Protoss to have good map control early in PvT.

My keen tester was adamant that protoss fast expand was not viable on Muessoloc because he ran lings by some noob protoss in one game. He insisted there was something wrong with the map because he was able to run lings in and harass the natural and main. I had to explain that the layout of the choke and the short-medium length rush distances mean building placement is critically important as well as constantly scouting your opponent (a feature I like very much in a map.) So as usual if your opponent isn't scouting you well you have the opportunity to surprise him ... this is even more deadly on a map like Muessoloc.

It was brought to my attention that T imbalance might exist due to cliffs (what a surprise,) I tried to make the center such that if T is slow pushing through the middle there are other ways to move your army and counter or surround him. As far as siege tanks at the third, well I think you shouldn't let him get tanks up there! This means map control and scouting.

Another imbalance that was brought forward was Guardians. Someone pointed out that the 2 and 5 o clock bases are extremely succeptable to guardian rape. While I agree that they are vulnerable, and besides the fact that the 9 o clock base does not suffer from the same vulnerability (this sucks,) I think the answer is SCOUT and have something prepared. If you see your enemy muta harassing and then his mutas fly over the dead zone and don't reappear, suspect guardians (also scout his base) and if T get your wraiths up asap, if P sairs which you should have anyway and guards are dumb in this match up. There have been two games recently where flash has had several wraiths prepared when or before guards pop.

Someone pointed out that the naturals are small. Yes. Should I make them larger? I didn't think it was necessary but I am interested in hearing other people's opinion.

I've had two people out of like 40 tell me to change the checkerboard pattern on the naturals. Yes? No?

Some people are telling me to put an expo in the center of the map. Anyone have thoughts on this? I'm inclined not to however I have seen many games finish with no one using the center. However in the one decent TvT it was used a lot. I think having a mineral rich expo in the center would force a certain amount of awareness on both players and create movement through the middle. However I just don't feel like the map needs another expo.

So, in short, the layout and features of Muessoloc III create the need for 1) keen and proactive scouting. 2) near perfect building placement. 3) map control. This map punishes 1) noobs who don't scout. 2) bad mechanics (BO loss/win.) 3) bad building placement!

If you would like to see my map I'll be on ICCUP as much as possible and would love to chat about sc and the contest with any and all of you. Username: dyren