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United States10325 Posts
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United States10325 Posts
Looks like the only change to Sylphid was reducing the extra patch in the natural from 720 to 360. Neo Sylphid had a huge issue with TvZ, looking to see if anything else will be done to change that.
Jane Doe looks interesting, its a Crossing Field variant but I'm worried about all the buildable Terrain. Rush distance looks short, PvT is gonna be a nightmare.
Hellbound feels like a 2009/2010 map with no real easy 3rd. Could be a push back to 2 base style gameplay. The outer ring concept with a small hill to secure the center seems interesting, but the map is extremely chokey with no real large area to assist with flanks.
Attitude is quite literally just Polypoid without the high ground mineral only.
Octagon seems similar again to Polypoid, but curiously has the entrance to the 3/6/9/12 right next to the natural, making those bases a little easier to take, but also brings in issues of rotational imbalance from spawns. Also curious that they've gone away from the mineral patch at the main ramp and instead are using a chrysalis.
Overall, map pool seems a little bland, and it's curious we aren't reusing the Knock Out ditch on any of these maps. Feels like it would be easy enough to add to Hellbound at the very least.
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Hellbound seems kinda cool with the center thing. Pseudo reminiscent of 76 with potential shenanigans. But could use a bit of cowbell. Also looks like someone sat on a frog.
Attitude needs more attitude.
Not sure what I'm lookin at with Octagon. Looks like one of those things at the doctor's office that determines if you're a serial killer. Is the middle open?
A little bland indeed but I need to watch someone go through it and partially adopt their opinion as my own. Also need a snow map to piss everyone off. Perhaps even an entire season of snow maps. Maybe next time.
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United States10325 Posts
On January 14 2026 04:14 RogerChillingworth wrote: Hellbound seems kinda cool with the center thing. Pseudo reminiscent of 76 with potential shenanigans. But could use a bit of cowbell. Also looks like someone sat on a frog.
Attitude needs more attitude.
Not sure what I'm lookin at with Octagon. Looks like one of those things at the doctor's office that determines if you're a serial killer. Is the middle open?
A little bland indeed but I need to watch someone go through it and partially adopt their opinion as my own. Also need a snow map to piss everyone off. Perhaps even an entire season of snow maps. Maybe next time. It's big ramps into the center, sort of like Empire of the Sun. And yes it's completely open.
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51548 Posts
am i the only one finding these maps pretty uninspiring? seems like the direction this season was to appease the players so there's nothing wacky like what we had with death valley or roaring currents last year which is such a shame.
one of the big reasons of me watching these days is to see how players adapt to new conditions/maps and if the pool is as dry as this one, i might pass on watching the season for the first time in a long time.
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Overall nothing innovative. They are not even good maps to watch . I can tell Hellbound is not making it from that list already. Why bring sylphid to make 1 mineral patch change ? This mp also spoils that Roaring Currents is most likely coming back next season. Since they usually use 2 2 players map and litmus is not coming back next season.
From the look of it Attitude making a comeback from the last season candidates is good since is one of the maps that you can see most of work was put into it. But for the rest we will have to see.
Jane doe also look like a really good substitute for Litmus.
Octagon looks big and boring. overall is a really mediocre MP that doesnt bring anything fresh and still make me miss the times of Old OSLs with more interesting designs.
It seems the trend for ASLs Mp has been set to go worse each season. Hoping for next season to Go full on classics and try something different if Map makers cant really bring something fresh.
After watching queen vs Snow on Octagon i have to said a ton of work has been put into this map too. But it doesnt change my opinion that is a boring map.
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I really hope Jane Doe and Hellbound get in. Jane Doe looks super fun and Hellbound looks pretty boring but I miss that tile set so much that I'd love to see it nevertheless.
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On January 14 2026 07:21 G5 wrote: I really hope Jane Doe and Hellbound get in. Jane Doe looks super fun and Hellbound looks pretty boring but I miss that tile set so much that I'd love to see it nevertheless. Same.
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Probably the most boring potential set of new maps.. ever, actually.
Bummer.
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On January 14 2026 05:59 [sc1f]eonzerg wrote: Overall nothing innovative. They are not even good maps to watch . I can tell Hellbound is not making it from that list already. Why bring sylphid to make 1 mineral patch change ? This mp also spoils that Roaring Currents is most likely coming back next season. Since they usually use 2 2 players map and litmus is not coming back next season.
Why is Litmus not coming back but Roaring Currents is?
On January 14 2026 07:21 G5 wrote: I really hope Jane Doe and Hellbound get in. Jane Doe looks super fun and Hellbound looks pretty boring but I miss that tile set so much that I'd love to see it nevertheless.
Same.
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On January 14 2026 03:42 FlaShFTW wrote: Looks like the only change to Sylphid was reducing the extra patch in the natural from 720 to 360. Neo Sylphid had a huge issue with TvZ, looking to see if anything else will be done to change that.
Jane Doe looks interesting, its a Crossing Field variant but I'm worried about all the buildable Terrain. Rush distance looks short, PvT is gonna be a nightmare.
Hellbound feels like a 2009/2010 map with no real easy 3rd. Could be a push back to 2 base style gameplay. The outer ring concept with a small hill to secure the center seems interesting, but the map is extremely chokey with no real large area to assist with flanks.
Attitude is quite literally just Polypoid without the high ground mineral only.
Octagon seems similar again to Polypoid, but curiously has the entrance to the 3/6/9/12 right next to the natural, making those bases a little easier to take, but also brings in issues of rotational imbalance from spawns. Also curious that they've gone away from the mineral patch at the main ramp and instead are using a chrysalis.
Overall, map pool seems a little bland, and it's curious we aren't reusing the Knock Out ditch on any of these maps. Feels like it would be easy enough to add to Hellbound at the very least. Looks like a map pool to ensure T advantage in TvP (on top of the current advantage), paving the way for Flash's return.
The new 4p maps all have a 3rd base that tanks can shoot from main, narrow paths to help engagement, then on top of that the 4th and 5th are just right next to the 2nd/3rd and easy to defend.
The 2p map, which normally is bad for TvP, is compensated by a backdoor base to ensure a free 3rd, then on top of that, tanks from main can also shoot to the 4th, which is on a high ground. It's almost like Terran doesn't have to break a sweat to secure 4 bases here.
The 3p map also has a close 3rd gas and no good area for engagement for P. At best it's 50/50 here.
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I actually jope Litmus is staying in the pool. I love Neo Sylphid being brougth back in. Hope we don't lose Dominator though, but given we'll have two 3 spawn maps if both Hellbound and Neo Sylphid make it in, Dominator is likely out. but if Hellbound doesn't make it in, I can see Dominator remaining in the pool. Attitude looks great. Always loved Polypoid games.
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Hellbound looks freaking awesome IMO. Looks like an aggressive map.
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ALLEYCAT BLUES50637 Posts
octogon looks like if Beltway crash landed on empire of the sun and left a crater.
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On January 14 2026 08:33 Miragee wrote:Show nested quote +On January 14 2026 05:59 [sc1f]eonzerg wrote: Overall nothing innovative. They are not even good maps to watch . I can tell Hellbound is not making it from that list already. Why bring sylphid to make 1 mineral patch change ? This mp also spoils that Roaring Currents is most likely coming back next season. Since they usually use 2 2 players map and litmus is not coming back next season.
Why is Litmus not coming back but Roaring Currents is? Show nested quote +On January 14 2026 07:21 G5 wrote: I really hope Jane Doe and Hellbound get in. Jane Doe looks super fun and Hellbound looks pretty boring but I miss that tile set so much that I'd love to see it nevertheless. Same.
Well from all the new maps there is not crazy map proposed. So there is a chance Roaring currents is coming back. Specially when Litmus and Jane Doe are in the same line.
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Netherlands5224 Posts
My first thought is skip, but I will watch Mini, YSC and Shine, possible classics and Ro8 onwards just to get my fix. Attitude looks boring all match ups. Octagon ugly, Neo Sylphid meh.
I would have liked to see another map with islands and/or ditches instead of defaulting back to standard and remain in status quo.
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On January 14 2026 11:36 RJBTVYOUTUBE wrote: I actually jope Litmus is staying in the pool. I love Neo Sylphid being brougth back in. Hope we don't lose Dominator though, but given we'll have two 3 spawn maps if both Hellbound and Neo Sylphid make it in, Dominator is likely out. but if Hellbound doesn't make it in, I can see Dominator remaining in the pool. Attitude looks great. Always loved Polypoid games. Changing Dominator for Hellbound is an insane downgrade.. At the same time Dominator building placement for terran top and bottom has been hell. So idk Im actually curious What maps are coming back from Metropolis/ Pole Star / knock Out / Radeon. Well is yet to see if Octagon is making it aswell. I have the feeling the most safe bet is alttitude to be included in the MP.
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Netherlands5224 Posts
Imo you need at least one map with a new concept (or not seen in a long time), then another map that takes a previous new concept map, preferably from last season, that didn't do terrible and develop it further. Then the rest can be fillers. This way you can keep innovating and keep BW fresh for both the players and viewers.
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On January 14 2026 19:50 Peeano wrote: Imo you need at least one map with a new concept (or not seen in a long time), then another map that takes a previous new concept map, preferably from last season, that didn't do terrible and develop it further. Then the rest can be fillers. This way you can keep innovating and keep BW fresh for both the players and viewers.
I completely agree, and there is no reason to not do it this way. If it's players pushing back then it's like actors telling a director what to do on a movie set. If it's not the players but Afreeca, or the map makers, then I truly wonder what the thinking is. If anyone knows what the deal is, I'd love to be enlightened.
What we really need is a snow map. Just a giant plain of snow with no pathing or ramps or anything. With polar bears roaming around that maul your ass and random spots where you fall into an ice lake. And then every few minutes someone at the studio shakes your chair violently and screams and like covers your eyes and calls you terrible, maybe even unplugs your keyboard. Propose this knowing that the compromise is more interesting maps. It might be the only way.
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On Jane Doe there's a neutral medic and a marine on the ramp leading from the main base to the outer natural expansion
you need to kill one of them before leaving your base or scouting your opponents main
it seems like someone is absolutely convinced that gas steal in PvT on 2-player maps is big enough of a problem to warrant this type of artificial balance patch lol
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