[M] (2) Prophets Passage - Page 3

I like this. It's turning what we were originally thinking of as the natural into a third. That justifies making it so much harder to hold.

My only concern right now is the 6th base (yeah a little late-game I know). The natural is now safely tucked in the back, and the third is right out front. But the 4th and 5th are both in a line from the natural, which leaves the 6th awkwardly stuck on the far side of the map.

Not sure if I have a solution for you right now, but I'm imagining that that 6th would be mighty underutilized...

I actually like those dynamics less than the old. With the minerals being moved, I see them coming into play much later in the game now, at a time players are likely to have that third already, removing a lot of the excitement/danger of them. I think its still an awesome map, and I havent the faintest what to do myself, but my gut reaction is that a lot of the danger is lost with the new configuration

Assuming you can't gain vision past the minerals, I like the change. The backdoor's no longer an issue early game but it's a viable means of, for example, busting a FFE as zerg. The Protoss sees the mineral fields dropping and has to get cannons there in time. In principle, that's great.

In practice there are still problems. If the defending player only has the main and the back door expansion, it's faster for the attacking player to get from ramp to ramp. The defending player has to go nearly twice the distance with their units to be able to hold off the attacker. Much like the back door on blistering sands. It's getting better but it still needs some work.

i like the mineral block, but unsure if it will really be of any use.

but i really like the map. i think the only thing to change is make the outside natural 1 gas and 5 patches so you cant just camp off 3 bases.

This is considerably different and also very interesting for new reasons. I like it, and I like it much better I think. ^^

The new ramps with rocks are a good addition for better flow in the lategame to compensate for the somewhat tight areas at the hotspots. The general twistiness of the pathways is just right for the map's style, and doesn't take it too far.

That was kind of a bold choice to add that water ditch to cut off the low ground connection to the back door ramp. But it's definitely the right call. I love the tension now between the front small 3rd (which feeds you into the center small 4th) compared to opening the back door and taking a full fledge 3rd that is farther away from the enemy but also more distant for you, and more vulnerable spatially.

The progression of expansions has a nice curve of more demanding map presence, and there are lots of interesting places for army dances or army standoffs throughout the phases of a game.

The only little thing I'd like to see changed (that I can think of)... since the towers currently don't cover the main route, it'd be nice if there was a small high ground pod where you could park a unit to watch for enemy push coming through the middle. You already have those pillars with crystals on top next to the watch tower. This makes them bad overlord spots because tower vision will just reveal them anyway. Why not make these pathable with a small ramp? That way it becomes useful tactical terrain, as well as an excellent place that gives you a lookout spot over the middle path -- like a mini watch tower, but significantly apart from the tower vision despite the proximity.

Okay I lied there is one more change except it's not a nitpick, it's pretty important. You need to adjust the choke to the backdoor natural somehow, because right now it's automatic cannon walloff spot in PvZ. Maybe the whole choke + 1-2 tiles around it should be unbuildable (but allow creep)? Or just use checkerboard LosB around there? I think I like those better than a parade of sunken depots.

Really curious to hear what other people think about the new version, nice work. ;D