• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 07:42
CET 12:42
KST 20:42
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT29Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book19Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8
Community News
Blizzard Classic Cup - Tastosis announced as captains3Weekly Cups (March 2-8): ByuN overcomes PvT block4GSL CK - New online series14BSL Season 224Vitality ends partnership with ONSYDE20
StarCraft 2
General
GSL CK - New online series Weekly Cups (March 2-8): ByuN overcomes PvT block Blizzard Classic Cup - Tastosis announced as captains Weekly Cups (Feb 23-Mar 1): herO doubles, 2v2 bonanza Vitality ends partnership with ONSYDE
Tourneys
[GSL CK] Team Maru vs. Team herO Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2) RSL Season 4 announced for March-April Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament PIG STY FESTIVAL 7.0! (19 Feb - 1 Mar)
Strategy
Custom Maps
Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026] Map Editor closed ?
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 516 Specter of Death Mutation # 515 Together Forever Mutation # 514 Ulnar New Year
Brood War
General
ASL21 General Discussion Recent recommended BW games BSL 22 Map Contest — Submissions OPEN to March 10 BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BSL Season 22
Tourneys
IPSL Spring 2026 is here! ASL Season 21 Qualifiers March 7-8 [Megathread] Daily Proleagues BWCL Season 64 Announcement
Strategy
Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2 Fighting Spirit mining rates Simple Questions, Simple Answers Zealot bombing is no longer popular?
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread PC Games Sales Thread Path of Exile No Man's Sky (PS4 and PC) Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Mexico's Drug War Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread YouTube Thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [Manga] One Piece
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion General nutrition recommendations Cricket [SPORT] TL MMA Pick'em Pool 2013
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Laptop capable of using Photoshop Lightroom?
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
FS++
Kraekkling
Shocked by a laser…
Spydermine0240
Gaming-Related Deaths
TrAiDoS
Unintentional protectionism…
Uldridge
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 3572 users

[D] "Perfect" Map Symmetry - Page 2

Forum Index > SC2 Maps & Custom Games
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 Next All
AtomicTon
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
United States103 Posts
July 19 2010 06:01 GMT
#21
Holy crap, this is why I leave map making up to the pros, I seriously could care less about perfect symmetry on a map. Good luck man!
There is no heavier burden than great potential.
semantics
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
10040 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-07-19 06:32:06
July 19 2010 06:24 GMT
#22
I thought about this but in relation to bw alot, overall I'm come up with this as positions are randomly assigned and games are playing usually best 3 out of 5 or 2 out of 3 minor advantages and disadvantages are a way of life.

With that they create position specific things which changes the game play which i love because else i'd see a lot more identical starting builds and positions and get bored. Things that are different are interesting.

It's nice to think about a perfectly balanced game, but i think that game would only be played by computers.

nearly is good enough
triumph
Profile Joined July 2007
United States100 Posts
July 19 2010 06:29 GMT
#23
On July 19 2010 15:24 semantics wrote:


It's nice to think about a perfectly balanced game, but i think that game would only be played by computers.

Then it's not a game.
semantics
Profile Blog Joined November 2009
10040 Posts
July 19 2010 06:31 GMT
#24
On July 19 2010 15:29 triumph wrote:
Show nested quote +
On July 19 2010 15:24 semantics wrote:


It's nice to think about a perfectly balanced game, but i think that game would only be played by computers.

Then it's not a game.

not if the game is to create an ai to win on your behalf.
[Agony]x90
Profile Blog Joined September 2009
United States853 Posts
July 19 2010 06:44 GMT
#25
I know the perfect solution. Top down play! no more of this perspective bullcrap!

But seriously, i'm sure its something to keep in consideration for those who are better players than I :D.
JF dodger since 2009
a176
Profile Blog Joined August 2009
Canada6688 Posts
July 19 2010 07:14 GMT
#26
To answer your concerns:

1) Doodads

Map makers should, and usually do, never rely on ornamental doodads as part of map balance. Doodads on the map will first and foremost provide a map with eye candy. But because it also interacts with the pathing, doodads must be used sparingly and intelligently to prevent imbalance.

I made a map called clover in which I tried out using masses of trees as a main feature of the map. In the end, it made little to no difference to the overall balance of the map and just got in the way of the player making proper decisions such as "can i walk my units there or not?"

2) Terran Add-ons

In the map maker, if you show the pathing layer, you will see the building grid. The "standard" ramp is a ramp that can be blocked off by 3 supply depots, or 3 buildings that are 2x2 in size. Because the addon is 2x2 in size itself, terran players must organize their buildings in such a way to utilize the addon as a ramp blocker. The barracks/factory doesn't always have to be situated inbetween two depots.

A map that does not allow for a barracks/factory+addon to be utilized in addition to depots can be considered ... I won't say unfair, but more difficult for a terran player because it breaks from standard thought process of what terrans expect from the map.

3) Minerals

Because minerals are 2x1 in size, map makers should strive to have mineral lines in vertical, horizontal, or diagonal orientation to the cc/nexus/hatch to have the easiest time mirroring bases. Though, I highly doubt there would be much issue if the minerals were on some weird angle - as long as its mirrored, the distances remain the same. The only issue is with zerg hatcheries in that drones always spawn at the south, and have to travel an extra distance when spawning if the minerals are to the north. Nexus/CC, the workers will appear at whatever closest point is to the minerals.

Gas is the big problem - there was an excellent thread a while back with gas resourcing that described the much lower rate when gas are diagonal to the base. Because of that thread, I strive to make my gas placements due N/S/E/W rather on the diagonal.

4) The trapezoid is a non issue. Your angle of view of your base has no physical effect on the building placement and etc.
starleague forever
figq
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
12519 Posts
July 19 2010 07:32 GMT
#27
On July 19 2010 15:44 [Agony]x90 wrote:
I know the perfect solution. Top down play! no more of this perspective bullcrap!
Even this won't solve it, because:
- all screen resolutions are rectangular, meaning that depending on the base area shape, you get a wider horizontal view than vertical view. Despite this, maps with rotational symmetry (which isn't even central symmetry) exist in the standard pools for BW - eg: Neo Moon Glaive.
- objects further from the center of the screen are slightly smaller due to perspective; so depending again on the base shape, orientation and position of the mineral line, you could have slightly better or worse view of your base within a single screen.
If you stand next to my head, you can hear the ocean. - Day[9]
Vei
Profile Joined March 2010
United States2845 Posts
July 19 2010 07:39 GMT
#28
The game itself isn't anywhere close to being perfectly balanced so I really don't see why maps should be expected to be either. Anything glaring or obvious/easy-to-fix should be, but I disagree with your OCD-level of nitpickingness (respectfully). I don't think it's a huge deal, although I do think like if you spawn at 6 your workers have a slightly shorter walk to the minerals than if you start at 12, no? Not sure what else to say about that : D
www.justin.tv/veisc2 ~ 720p + commentary
Randomaccount#77123
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States5003 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-07-19 22:39:52
July 19 2010 22:29 GMT
#29
--- Nuked ---
Randomaccount#77123
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States5003 Posts
July 21 2010 22:54 GMT
#30
--- Nuked ---
InfiniteIce
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States794 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-07-21 23:08:35
July 21 2010 23:06 GMT
#31
A very good OP. I'm still considering the ramifications of what this could all mean, and evaluating your thoughts as to the same.

I definitely like and appreciate these sort of underlying "metagame" (if you will) principles that go far advanced past the "TANKS ARE IMBA OMG" threads.

I await further discussion on this topic, but I voted to stick with VARS, because
1) I believe you are onto something, and
2) I don't believe we have the maps available in the style your post reflects to make the judgements necessary to validify the implications suggested. Thus I would like to see you continue on this path!
(Sorry, did I use too many big words? )

Also @ anxiete
On July 19 2010 14:56 AnxietE wrote:
EDIT: Meh, the image didnt work. Can someone link me to someway how to post images on TL, or tell me?

Use this tag:
[img]www.someimagelinks.com/image.jpg[/img]
i keep going back to my response to chill's fake PM and laughing, then immediately getting a feeling that i assume i'd get if i had an orgasm and the girl said "hahaha guess what i have a dick" -FakeSteve
Superouman
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
France2195 Posts
July 21 2010 23:06 GMT
#32
Rotational symetry allows more aggresive play whereas your "VARS" maps are just "i take my part of the map, let's macro"
Search "[SO]" on B.net to find all my maps ||| Cloud Kingdom / Turbo Cruise '84 / Bone Temple / Eternal Empire / Zen / Purity and Industry / Golden Wall / Fortitude / Beckett Industries / Waterfall
Randomaccount#77123
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States5003 Posts
July 21 2010 23:08 GMT
#33
--- Nuked ---
Randomaccount#77123
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States5003 Posts
July 21 2010 23:11 GMT
#34
--- Nuked ---
Maginor
Profile Joined May 2010
Norway505 Posts
July 21 2010 23:27 GMT
#35
Rotational symmetry may cause issues with 1v1s on 4 player (or some 3 player) maps if there is a close spawn, because if the two players want to expand away from each other, the accessability/defendability of their expansions will be different for them. And for instance, one's main may be close to two's natural, while two's main will be behind his natural and far away from his opponent's main. This may lead to some severe positional disadvantages for one player. This issue doesn't occur on 2-player maps, though.
Randomaccount#77123
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States5003 Posts
July 21 2010 23:30 GMT
#36
--- Nuked ---
dimfish
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States663 Posts
July 21 2010 23:37 GMT
#37
Let me echo the oft posted "it doesn't matter too much" sentiment that has already been argued quite a bit here, but since I got called out I gotta back up my man Barrin: mineral fields as rectangles yes look nice but also we gotta think it over to make nicely-balanced maps.

Since this is topical, I'll preview that I'm adding a mineral patch/geyser distance analysis for every base like CheeC[h] calculated by hand to the next version of map analyzer. Maybe we'll find out maps without reflection symmetry all have the worst possible MULE layouts!
Zaphid
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Czech Republic1860 Posts
July 22 2010 00:18 GMT
#38
Perfectly symmetrical maps are probably the most terrible thing a map maker can create. Look at Broodwar, almost every single map has something that makes it "work" some kind of doodads or positional difference that makes you adapt to your current spawning position. Refer to JD vs Fantasy semifinals game 4 in OSL as a perfect example of that. If you could just copy/paste strategy that works on every single "balanced" map, the game would lose a lot of it's flair. People ultimately want to play a game that's fun, not a game that's balanced to the T.

Also, your trapezoid thing is BS, it's trapezoid because you are looking at a square from an angle, it's called perspective. Even the editor has the option to create map snapshots from top-down view, I don't see why should you limit yourself to only vertical symmetry.

Yes, I believe you are full of shit:p I think your creative energy is better spent on making maps that are nice to look at and interesting to play on.
I will never ever play Mech against Protoss. - MVP
k!llua
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
Australia895 Posts
July 22 2010 00:23 GMT
#39
i'd like to see some more maps produced using this as a base theory. i think it'd be unfair to really judge one way or the other without seeing it put into practice.
my hair is a wookie, your argument is invalid
Chriamon
Profile Joined April 2010
United States886 Posts
July 22 2010 00:24 GMT
#40
When I posted in the thread about your map I sort of stumbled upon this, but I feel that the whole VARS style map is very suited towards a particular style of play, that is, mech, or any turtle and harass style, which is pretty much terran dominated.

Basically, On any VARS map, the two players will always be expanding towards each other, or they will be expanding to unoptimal locations. The optimal expansion path is going to be symettrical to my opponents, thus we expand towards each other. I believe this is why a lot of maps have the "rotational symmetry" style seen in steppes and blistering sands. VARS just isn't suited to balanced play IMO, at least in its current state. I say this because it is generally agreed that Zerg (or anyone using a mobile army) wants to expand away from its opponent, and Terran (siege tanks really) want to expand towards its opponent. The best compromise is the rotational symmetry seen in blistering sands and steppes style maps.
http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/profile/274906/1/Blaze/
Prev 1 2 3 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
GSL
10:00
GSL CK - Day 1
CranKy Ducklings SOOP99
herO (Afreeca)46
Rex32
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
ProTech121
Lowko48
herO (Afreeca) 46
Rex 32
TKL 25
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 17174
Bisu 1550
Jaedong 1476
Flash 1029
Shuttle 873
Mini 372
EffOrt 234
Leta 210
Stork 191
Soma 173
[ Show more ]
Light 169
Rush 161
Last 161
JYJ 141
Pusan 125
Snow 103
hero 99
ZerO 99
Mong 96
Sharp 79
Hyun 71
Mind 66
ggaemo 64
ToSsGirL 53
soO 41
Backho 30
Nal_rA 24
sSak 24
sorry 23
Noble 15
GoRush 13
SilentControl 8
Dota 2
Gorgc769
XaKoH 434
XcaliburYe171
canceldota69
League of Legends
KnowMe99
Counter-Strike
olofmeister2060
shoxiejesuss971
x6flipin147
byalli1
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King61
Other Games
singsing992
B2W.Neo888
Pyrionflax208
Fuzer 194
crisheroes146
ToD90
ZerO(Twitch)15
Organizations
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream10309
Other Games
gamesdonequick981
StarCraft: Brood War
lovetv 13
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH355
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• iopq 15
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Jankos2316
• Stunt914
Upcoming Events
WardiTV Team League
19m
TKL 25
The PondCast
22h 19m
WardiTV Team League
1d
Replay Cast
1d 12h
Replay Cast
2 days
CranKy Ducklings
2 days
RSL Revival
2 days
WardiTV Team League
3 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
3 days
BSL
3 days
[ Show More ]
Sparkling Tuna Cup
3 days
RSL Revival
3 days
WardiTV Team League
4 days
BSL
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Wardi Open
5 days
Monday Night Weeklies
5 days
WardiTV Team League
6 days
GSL
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Spring Cup 2026
WardiTV Winter 2026
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Jeongseon Sooper Cup
BSL Season 22
RSL Revival: Season 4
Nations Cup 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual

Upcoming

CSL Elite League 2026
ASL Season 21
Acropolis #4 - TS6
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
CSLAN 4
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Bellum Gens Elite Stara Zagora 2026
NationLESS Cup
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.