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![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/vfWmX.jpg)
Overview for dummies: + Show Spoiler +
Rock Bottom - by Johanaz
version 0.9 - published on EU
144x122
12 bases (2 gold)
In light of recent events I figured I need to start over. I want to move away from "map makers map" towards more of an "easy to read - fun to play" approach, or as Plexa put it: "easy to learn - difficult to master". With that in mind I set out to create a 2 player map where the layout can be understood at a glance. I stole the main-nat-3rd setup from Havens Lagoon by Timetwister22 and built it into a rotational symmetry map with XNC-like golds.
Yeah I know, "golds on XNC - PF - imba imba!!" yeah well, that´s why I post this early concept here so that you guys can comment and I can learn.
Angled:+ Show Spoiler +
Analyzer:+ Show Spoiler +
Tileset is based on Xil but with just about every rock texture from other tilesets.
Lighting is "Mar Sara night test" with slightly heightened contrast.
So far zero doodads - I didn´t want to spend too mcu time on texturing yet but I guess I cant help myself 
My plan is to keep posting-changing-testing until the map is rock-solid and provide excellent gameplay.
Version 0.8:+ Show Spoiler +
Version 0.6+ Show Spoiler +
VOD of a test TvZ casted by Destructicon: link
Changelog:
+ Show Spoiler +v 0.9:
map size 144x122
changed far NW/SE bases into low ground
remodeled high grounds
added crystal clusters in center (LoS/pathing blockers)
tinted low grounds darker blue
v 0.8:
shrunk map to 144x120
changed center layout - towers - gold bases
tightened natural choke
v 0.6 original post
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Hi Johanaz
I think it is a good approach to show maps early on instead of discussing everthing in a small public (chat).
First I want to comment on the general layout. While one expands toward the enemy, one always expands onto higher cliff levels - nevertheless the area of control turns around. The map kind of twists in itself if you follow a linear progression, making a mapsplit very difficult. For controlling four regular bases, I have basically to watch over four chokes that all are positioned along the middle or the diagonal axis.As an alternative, one could take third, gold and the first base on the ccw direction (together with the tower) - but nobody would be comfortable sitting so close to the opponent's gold/fourth and his army. So the last way to look at the expansion pattern is nat > gold and the predictable discussion around imba-golds/mules/CC.
must difficulties are produced early on with a third that has one (far) away entrance, the ramp towards the nat and the conjunction between gold and nat that has four paths leading into.
another difficulty comes from the XNWT positioning. It comes in a bit late in mid/lategame when you should be able to scout anyway.It helps with the fourth/fifth, but it is a bit odd.
Th central lowground has some nice terrain. I like how it narrows down on one side (the dialonal of the cliffs/holesl is not parallel to the diagonal of the highgrounds on the sides). Maybe it should be the other way around? leaving a bigger area infront of the nat and fewer space infront of fifth? this could also allow to move the third a bit closer to the nat's choke.
interesting concept here with the long valley, but thin look a bit too complicated, difficult to play and also a bit big/open.
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These golds are really horrible!
Other then that quite solid. Very defensive and macro oriented ...
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Aotearoa39261 Posts
This is really hard to predict how it will play out. I think my preference as a player would be to take the third and then the gold as my 4th. I don't think the golds are too bad as they dont control important terrain, but they are still vulnerable. I can only identify two 'weaknesses' from my perspective;
- The XNTs seem a bit misplaced, as samro pointed out
- The double highground expo seems a bit weird; mostly because the highground doesn't need to be there. Other than holding the base, it doesn't provide any strategic advantage to have as most of the action would be focused on the lower grounds.
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I actually think this map may play out quite well. It seems to be well balanced in terms of chokes and openess. For example, the 3rd base is quite defendable but would also stretch the defender reasonably and open up other areas for access. The golds are nice bases to take in a push but there is another path for counter attacks.
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Thanks for the feedback guys!
Back to the drawing board
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I love it.
I'm not sure if it's balanced. As a zerg: I'm afraid that there isn't that much room for surround, but there is much room for back stab.
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The 1 o'clock and 7 o'clock bases will never really get taken I think. The opposite third is much closer and more defensible, and then the gold and high ground blue bases will serve as a fourth and fifth, but then those last 2 bases are too close to the opponents natural to take and hold well without leaving one's own main base area undefended...
Otherwise this map seems very nice. Solid idea, and good execution.
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Update!
Did a complete rebuild of the center, plus a lot of minor tweaks. I think the layout has improved overall. What I am worried about is that the map might be harder to read now. You tell me! Thanks.
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It seems, as a protoss player, that I could quite easily take the golds as my third or fourth in PvZ or even PvP if it makes it to that point. Which, certainly mixes up the game play, however i think golds should be a bit more difficult to take. The simplest thing you could do is to remove the downfall between the minerals and the high ground. Thus a single stalker or roach/hydra could deny mining from the high ground as well as expose it to high templar. colossus or infestor play, much like the 3rd on XNC. Quite simply, i'd need to control much more of the map to hold the golds, making it a bigger investment and greater risk. Not sure if that would exactly fix the golds, as you might have to widen the opening to make Sim City more difficult so zerg has a better chance against terran PF fortified positions.
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As a Terran, it seems pretty straightforward to take the gold as my fourth base, but for some reason I see Zerg taking the gold as their third? It just has a bigger attack surface with plenty of paths to get behind any opponent who tries to take out the base, and then you can double expand backwards with relative ease.
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Updated to v 0.15:
map size 144x122
changed far NW/SE bases into low ground
remodeled high grounds
tinted low grounds darker blue
added crystal clusters in center (LoS/pathing blockers) + Show Spoiler +
As always I appreciate all feedback. Thanks.
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Is the pathing between minerals smooth or are there smal blockers? what about creep?
I think it is a great fun feature, but it needs to be communicated well, so that people know that there are some dark templer hidden behind the crystal.
terrain could be naturalized a bit. looks very bubble-designed, e.g. non pathable highrounds connecting areas.
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On November 20 2011 05:29 a176 wrote:
looks great!
Thanks! ^^
In the current layout you can put a pylon on high ground 3rd and warp into the natural behind the wall-off. Does that break the map? It makes the nat kinda hard to defend against early 4gate pressure, but there is room to defend. I´m not sure if I should remove this feature or not. Check out the pics and let me know. Thanks.
+ Show Spoiler +
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On November 23 2011 18:44 Johanaz wrote:Thanks! ^^ In the current layout you can put a pylon on high ground 3rd and warp into the natural behind the wall-off. Does that break the map? It makes the nat kinda hard to defend against early 4gate pressure, but there is room to defend. I´m not sure if I should remove this feature or not. Check out the pics and let me know. Thanks. + Show Spoiler +
people will complain anyways so i suggest you change it
in theory though it will not be an issue because i think most people the wall would be from ramp -> nat and the proxy pylon could be just placed anywhere
if you want to keep it, how about making thirds low ground?
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Looks cool but how far away from natural are the thirds?
I feel like it is really promoting 2 base play.
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The thirds are about 14 seconds from the natural like most ladder maps 
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Are the nats siegeable from the thirds?
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On November 28 2011 10:35 Conquerer67 wrote:
Are the nats siegeable from the thirds?
Nope. Too far.
The high ground in between is unpathable.
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Update:
Removed gimmicky crystals in the center; they were a bit annoying for Zerg in particular in large battles.
Speaking of battles, I have been hosting some testgames again. The map seems to play well except I´m not really a good judge of that (biased/incompetent). Please watch this replay and tell me what you think.
Rock Bottom - PvZ - DLMredBullX vs EpicnamE.SC2Replay
I use "Mar Sara night test" lighting, with slightly heightened contrast, which looks really atmospheric, however pylon fields and Archons look too gamma´ish but I can´t seem to fix it in the lighting editor. I wonder if anyone can help me identify the cause of this. But, please watch the replay to see exactly what I mean.
Thanks.
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Top notch stuff. The layout is great. You have bases toward the center, fun LOS areas, just enough bases, just enough space, etc. How cool is this map?!
EDIT: You're at the test point. Get some replays for me to watch!
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There seem to be a general consensus towards phasing out gold bases. Even if I did spend a lot of time adjusting this layout to avoid the gold bases being terran auto-win and more accessable to Zerg, they still leave protoss with a problem.
Ragoo suggested I might try a 6 min 3 gas expo instead, so that´s what I´ll do. I´ll go and test it as well and post some more replays. In the meantime take a look; I removed 2 mineral patches and put a high yield gas instead. I placed it further away, so that it takes 5-6 workers to saturate it and right next to the cliff, so that it can easily be shut down by roaches. Kinda like the one on LSPrime´s starship map.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/XLOON.jpg)
edit:@mikey - I posted one replay above, more will come later as I get more testgames
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How is it that this map isn't blowing up the forum?! I'm super retarded for this map. It's so good!
I'm always skeptical about different takes on resource gathering, aside from subtracting a few piles or a geyser. So, I'm not fond of the 3 geyser 6 mineral set up. I would make them regular blue bases.
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Still testing 
Current version has a super-wide open center. I litterally felt fear on behalf of the protoss player when he moved his deathball into those creeped up killing fields.
+ Show Spoiler [screenshots] +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/huR49.jpg) AAaaaaahhrrrhhaaarrghhh Wish I had more Sentries :O ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/sFXCH.jpg) Noooooooooooo!!!
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Ooo, I like those screen-shots. I wish there were more showing different parts of the map in action. I'm still super excited about this map. I think it's great! You should enter it into one of the map contests.
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