This is looking really good. There's not much I can see that looks imbalanced.
My primary concern is how easy it is to hold 4 bases. I feel that it is very possible to lean towards Protoss and Terran because of how easily they can turtle up on 4 bases, and just push with a deathball. On the other hand, it might be okay since Zerg can essentially turtle up just as easily- they just need to be 1 expo ahead of the opponent almost all the time.
It might be beneficial in your future maps (not sure if its possible on this one) to make the 3rd and 4th slightly harder to hold, and allow more aggression/harass from the opponent. Notice how in Destination, taking a 3rd opens up a large ramp, and forces you to spread your army out a lot. The mineral only can be taken as a 3rd, but it forces you to break down a backdoor into your main.
So, if its possible, it would be good to discourage turtling on the 4 bases in Antiga Prime, possibly by making them more open. You could also reduce mineral count/gas count as a last resort.
Do you have any suggestions or ideas on how to break a 4-base turtle? I think it's more of a 3-base because the low-ground corner base is heavily vulnerable (assuming your army was on the higher ground). You can't really split your army up in two open areas that are relatively far apart from each other because that guarantees not only a lost base, or a lost army, but perhaps the game.
I've been trying to experiment with the ramp between the nat and 3rd but it's really difficult to implement something without it getting in the way of the 3rd, so that's the best option. Other wise, if you look at the bases pics, you'll see the old natural ramp version. In that version, the ramp made it very hard to reinforce the corner base if it was under attack. It guarantees a lost base. If you built in the corner with that version, it's a risk. I had to make it easier for this one, and this is how it looks as of now.
I'd leave both open. The small ramp into the natural does not make the natural as vulnerable as you'd think, I tried it on Hysteria, and to my surprise, it didn't tend to favor rush tactics.
I will give it a try and test it out. Then. I think it would make it more dynamic.
@Barrin:
The map overview in the OP is the only image that is up to date. I am not doing any base pics until it's really final (wastes picture space on my imageshack and stuff).
It is of the opinion of a couple master zerg players that they "felt favored" and that I should add destructible rocks at the high ground 3rd base. What does the community think? These 4 bases are all fairly close. I think there has to be even a little limitations.
I put some rocks at the high ground 3rd because I've had several master zergs tell me it was too easy to expand when the bases are this close, so it's appropriate to have rocks at the nearest 3rd base. There is still a low-ground 3rd around the back of the natural.
I did a little aesthetic work in the main base with decals, and around the map as well.
I also put some water pockets in various places to kinda make it feel more natural instead of just trees and grass.
I've been experimenting with lights in the trees (like scars of aiur) but it looks a bit funky because this is a desert/rugged area, and any lighting would look awkward with the general look and feel of the map, but as I said I am still experimenting. I plan to do a little doodad work in the near future once I square away the overall map balance and mechanics.
This is my 3rd real map. My second one was Scars of Aiur, and my very first one was Bel'Shir Walkway. My experience with the map editor has increased tenfold since I've made that map, so you will find bel'shir walkway a little out of place as far as doodading and architexture.
One thing that concerns me is how easy it would be to turtle up on three bases. I'm not sure if this is possible but I think adding more space around the edges of the map would improve this a lot. The threat of drops and air harrass like banshees, Phoenix and mutalisk would force static defense or divert units for defending the main. This would make it harder to simply camp the death ball at the third.
Hey guys if you would like to see a game in action on IronMan's man check out RNSstarcraft on youtube i just casted a game with this map! here is the link TELL YO FRIENDS BOUT IT -PART1
EPT![[image loading]](http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/404/possiblesetup.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/771/newramp1.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/68/newramp2.jpg)
