[I] Mapper's Index

iamcaustic

Canada1509 Posts

October 23 2014 00:18 GMT

UPDATE Oct 22, 2014: With SigmaFiE no longer active in the mapping community, I'm going to work on updating this thread to be relevant for today's mappers. Thanks for all the hard work getting this started, Sigma!

Introduction

This index is an ongoing compilation of mapping references, documentation, and tools to help anyone who wants to be creative in the SC2 Editor. If anyone has good content/references that should be in this post, please PM me.

+ Show Spoiler [SigmaFiE's original foreward] +

This index is not yet complete, and is still a work in progress. However, I felt it had reached a point where all people could use it. You may view the original word document HERE.

This index could not have been completed without the amazing work put forth by the many members of this community. As such, each person deserves praise. Without you, this compendium of knowledge would not exist. I would especially like to thank Barrin for his previous work in this same vein with his Mapmaking Links Compilation thread.

Omissions exist that have not been corrected as of yet. I am awaiting a time where-in it would be appropriate to include these.

To any new mappers, I would emphasize the Patch 1.5 Changes, Guides, Tools, and Assets sections.

If there is a thread you feel that should be added or that I have overlooked, please send me a PM with a link to the thread. I am working on actively updating this index but I do miss things on occasion -- so please help keep this index updated by staying actively involved. Together, we can do this.

Furthermore, please keep the following in mind.

Knowing how to make maps is great, but knowing how to make the best maps takes knowing how to play the game. - Barrin

Enjoy.

Mapmaking Essentials

Foundational Information

Blizzard Legal
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Battle Net Terms of Use
Blizzard Entertainment Online Privacy Policy
Blizzard FAQ Copyright Notices
Blizzard Copyright Infringement Notice
Legal FAQ
Starcraft II Eula
Intellectual Ownerships of Your Maps vs Blizzard

Blizzard Arcade

Official TeamLiquid Links
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Simple Questions Simple Answers
Custom Maps Forum Guidelines
Strategy (Liquipedia)
Definitions (Liquipedia)
SC2 Recommended Threads

Where to find maps

Liquipedia
(Wiki)

SC2 Maps Portal - (Wiki)

Ladder -

Tournaments - (Wiki)

Full List

BW Maps Portal - (Wiki)

Full List

Other Websites
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SC2 Mapster
Nibbits
Broodwar Maps

Guides

101 – Official SC2 Elements
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Blizzard Map Making Tutorials
Map Elements
Choke Points
Resources
Wall-In
TeamLiquid List of Map and Play Elements

101 – Layouts
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Mapmaking For Beginners Part 1
Tutorials for New Melee Mapmakers
Proportions
Using Map Space Well
Examples of Expansion Layouts
Map Design Considerations

101 – Texture/Aesthetic Design
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Basic Texturing Principals
Basic Texturing Blending Video Tutorial

101 – Miscellaneous
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Process of Making an Official Map (Written by KeSPA map makers)
Proper Mineral Placement
Melee Map Release Checklist
How To Post Map Thread
How To Set Spawn Positions
Mapmaking Tips and Tricks
Beginner’s Video Tutorials

102 – Advanced Layouts
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Creating a 3 Player Map
Symmetry In 3 Player Maps

102 - Advanced Texture/Aesthetic Design
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Foliage Overview
Adding Textures
Campaign Dependence in Melee Maps
Tutorial: Use Any In Game Model as a Doodad

201 - Expert Mapping Guides
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Full Vision
How To: Green Tea AI
Range Indicator In Editor
Custom Texture Thread
Changing The Xel’Naga Watch Tower
Water, Illustrated
Using Invisible Cliffs
How Geysers and Refineries Block Pathing
Creep Webbing (Patch 1.5 Changed This)
~8% More/Less Gas Mining (Gas Placement)
Glitchable Mineral Walls
Collapsible Rock Towers

202 - Liquipedia Race Strategy
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Protoss
Terran
Zerg

Miscellaneous

Judging Maps (Tournament Organizers & Mappers)
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Judging a Melee Map
Map Pool Creation Guide

Tools
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Galaxy Editor Wiki
Useful Editor Hotkeys
Chart of Map Textures
Texture Catalog
Official Examples of Tilesets
Compendium of Editor Doodads

Assets
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Warcraft Model Library (MOD)
ELO Rating (MOD)
Save and Load in multiplayer (SALT) (MOD)
iGrok’s Lighting Packs
Add SC1 Units/Tech Tree

Mapping Supplemental Information

Active Map Teams
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Crux
Team YeouL
AVEX

Retired/Inactive Map Teams
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Alloy-E Mapworks (AEM)
(Wiki)

Dream Forge (DF)
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Release Thread

Esports Vision (ESV)
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Major Thread

Galaxy eSports
iCCup
LoS
Map Crafting Lab
(Wiki)

The Planetary Workshop (TPW)
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Major Thread

Team Six

Known Editor & Map Bugs
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Header File Dependencies Not Available
Metropolis Bug
iCCup Heartbreak Ridge Bug

Aesthetic Threads & Contests
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Map Art Thread
Weekly Aesthetics Challenge Alien Jungle
Weekly Aesthetics Challenge Molten

Ongoing Map Contests
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Map Jam & Challenge
(Wiki)

Map of the Month
(Wiki)

TeamLiquid Map Contest

Historical Map Contests
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Starcraft 2 Custom Map Contest
DYESL
Mapper’s Monthly
IPL Map Contest
CSL NYU FallCraft Map Jam 2013
CSL NYU FallCraft Map Jam 2012
MorroW’s Custom Maps

High Publicity Arcade Maps/Mods
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Aradia
Ling Ling Rocket
MorroW's Marine Control
Peepmode
Pure CTF
Raynor’s Party
Snipers Pro Mod
Star Battle
The Summoners

High Publicity Competitive Mods
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Starbow
Starcraft 2 Brood War
WCS Gameheart

Noteworthy Inactive/Unfinished Arcade Maps/Mods
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Fewer Resources Base
High Ground Advantage
OneGoal
Trollobattles
YABOT

Community Melee Mapping Spotlights
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2011
Community Interview: prodiG
Maps and Mods Page Now Live
Poll: Melee Map Madness (May 6, 2011)

2012
A New Mapping Type of Show
Apollo Analyzes the New Season 6 Maps
Custom Map Spotlight (Monobattles)
ESV’s Anniversary Map Pack
Foreign Map in GSL
In The Spotlight with IronManSC
New Maps In. Old Maps Out
Season 7 GSL Map Poll

2013
Galaxy eSports Team Announcement
2013 Ritmix RSL gNations uses community maps
Climbing The Ladder #54: State of the Mapmaking Community

2014
StarCraft 2 Community Team League (SC2CTL) uses community maps made by Galaxy eSports
Community Map Spotlight: AEM Mutiny
Community Map Spotlight: Moonlight Madness

Community Mapping Discussions

Caution: Not All Threads Up To Date and/or Relevant to Modern Mapping Practices
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Community Organization
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Melee Mapmaking Union
Raising Awareness to 1.5 Melee
Forum Purpose
Mapping and Reddit
Community Mapping?
MeleeMapTesting Channel (EU
Unifying the SC2 Map Community

HOTS Discussion
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HOTS Beta Maps
HotS Non-Ladder Melee Maps

Mapping Competition Discussions
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Monthly Aesthetics Contest?
Map Jam Contest #1

Base Design
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Alternative to Neutral Supply Depot
Third Base Design
Different Natural Design
Neutral Supply Depot No Longer A Necessity
The Obvious Third Base
Circle Syndrome
Resource Saturation
Base Vulnerabilities and You
5/6 player 1v1 maps
Diversified Expansions

General Map Features Design
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Team Maps (2v2, 3v3, etc…)
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Competitive 2v2 Maps
Fixing the Concept of 3v3 and 4v4
Ladder Team Maps

Map Design Series
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Map Design Understanding Choke Points
Map Design Understanding Map Feedback
Map Design Understanding Circle Syndrome
Map Design Understanding Main/Nat/Third
Map Design Understanding Air Space
Map Design Understanding Concepts

Computational Design Limits
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Can Maps Lag

Balance Issues
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Brood War
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Brood War Damage Model
Map Size Compared to Brood War
Understanding Starcraft: Map Control
Making Starcraft Maps (BW)
Map Making (BW)

Blizzard Issues
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Obtaining Rightfully Owned Locked Maps
Breaking Up Units
Ads/Logos in Melee Maps
I Can’t Put My Finger On It…
Map Pool Suggestion To Blizzard
How To Identify and Open a Blizzard Map in Editor
Low Popularity Maps?
Blizzard Standards
Map Pool Rotations
Dynamic Unit Movement

Self Improvement
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Mapping Skill Level
Map Making Strengths and Weaknesses
Mapmaking Skill
Mapmaking Progression Philosophy

Miscellaneous
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Stronger Team Color Mod Works On 1.5.3
Melee Maps Your Favorite Tileset
The Spectator Factor
High Level Design Decisions
Perfect Team Liquid Map
Your Ideal Map
Desired Map Characteristics
Positioning, Formation, and Tactics

Ratings and Rankings Systems
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F.L.A.S.H. Rating
Matchmaking for Custom Melee Is What We Need

Fatam

1986 Posts

November 14 2012 04:26 GMT

Looks like an awesome start

, good work.

+ Show Spoiler +

noticed a typo, TWP should be TPW under the map teams

HypertonicHydroponic

437 Posts

November 14 2012 04:40 GMT

@ SigmaFiE -- You were missing the closing tag to the first url in the following section (which breaks the parser for the rest). See below.

Ladder Map Pool Updates

Season 8
Season 7
Season 6
Season 5
Season 4
Season 3
Patch 1.3 Map Changes

This is a great initiative, btw. I'll add some suggestions if I think of any.

Namrufus

United States396 Posts

November 22 2012 03:14 GMT

thanks for this, it looks like it took a lot of effort.

I think that the LOS map team should get a mention under the map teams section: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=274185 I can't find their announcement thread though (I don't remember, maybe there isn't one)

edit:

I'm in favor of stickying this or at least incorporating it into the existing mapping link thread, seeing that Barrin has been inactive lately.

SigmaFiE

United States333 Posts

November 24 2012 14:59 GMT

On November 22 2012 12:14 Namrufus wrote:
thanks for this, it looks like it took a lot of effort.

That is a very good suggestion. I missed that one. If anyone else has other suggestions please feel free to post them in here.

IronManSC

United States2119 Posts

November 25 2012 22:28 GMT

WOW... great thread! much kudos

OxyGenesis

United Kingdom281 Posts

November 27 2012 19:57 GMT

Yeah, this is awesome! Thanks Sigma.

Perhaps this should be stickied?

Barrin

United States5002 Posts

November 27 2012 23:15 GMT

Perfect!

Poll: Sticky "[I] Mapper's Index"?

YES (16)

94%

NO (1)

6%

17 total votes

Your vote: Sticky "[I] Mapper's Index"?

(Vote): YES
(Vote): NO

iamcaustic

Canada1509 Posts

November 27 2012 23:23 GMT

Heck yes sticky this thread. :D

IronManSC

United States2119 Posts

November 27 2012 23:59 GMT

#10

Why would you not sticky this?

SigmaFiE

United States333 Posts

November 29 2012 23:18 GMT

#11

I most definitely would not mind this being stickied

SigmaFiE

United States333 Posts

December 02 2012 21:32 GMT

#12

Updated to include the following:

Added Map Team: Galaxy eSports to "Map Team" section
Added thread: "2 Different Map Pools" to Community Discussion Subsection "Imbalance"
Added Category: "Hots Beta Editor"
Added webpage "Comprehensive Editor Updates" under the category Hots Beta Editor

Fatam

1986 Posts

December 05 2012 08:55 GMT

#13

I found a somewhat complete set of map analyzer images of major SC2 maps, posted by a176. Thought it was pretty interesting http://a176.imgur.com http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=272855.

I knew the mains on Entombed were small, but I didn't realize before how small the Antiga mains are (big nats help w/ that, of course). And how incredibly varied the sizes of the mains are on Metalopolis lol, idk why Blizz is so lazy w/ symmetry on their maps.

SigmaFiE

United States333 Posts

December 06 2012 02:21 GMT

#14

On December 05 2012 17:55 Fatam wrote:
I found a somewhat complete set of map analyzer images of major SC2 maps, posted by a176. Thought it was pretty interesting http://a176.imgur.com http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=272855.

I knew the mains on Entombed were small, but I didn't realize before how small the Antiga mains are (big nats help w/ that, of course). And how incredibly varied the sizes of the mains are on Metalopolis lol, idk why Blizz is so lazy w/ symmetry on their maps.

This is already on the list under "Assets". And yes, those are small mains

More Updates:
Topics Added
- "Matchmaking For Custom Melee Is What We Need" -- added to section "Community Discussion" subsection "Ratings and Rankings Systems"
- "Obtaining Rightfully Owned Locked Maps" -- added to section "Community Discussion" subsection "Blizzard Issues"
- "Stronger Team Color Mod Works On 1.5.3" -- added to section "Community Discussion" subsection "Miscellaneous"
- "Drachen's Color Mod for Patch 1.5.3" -- added to section "Assets" -- refer to "Stronger Team Color Mod Works On 1.5.3" for more information

Fatam

1986 Posts

December 06 2012 13:31 GMT

#15

Oh ok thanks. I looked for it before I posted but obviously missed it :O

SigmaFiE

United States333 Posts

December 12 2012 17:13 GMT

#16

Updated To Include Following:

- Flat Maps added under section "Community Discussion" subsection "General Map Features Design"
- Heart of the Swarm Licenses and Dependencies added under section HotS Beta Editor
- Forum Changes Incoming added under section HotS Beta Editor
- Proper Mineral Placement added under section "Guides" subsection "101 - Miscellaneous"
- Category "Thread Updates" Added -- Will be most recent changes at top of list -- this has content coming but not yet delivered

Furthermore I will be trying to work on refining some of the organization of the thread -- such as alphabetizing certain section headers (specifically the Community Discussion section) to make them more easily found/understood. Specific threads will remain in their current position as they are ordered most recent down. This will take me some time though before this particular updates becomes real due to other time constraints.

SigmaFiE

United States333 Posts

February 20 2013 14:50 GMT

#17

This is mostly for me so ignore

Update:
- Foliage Overview by ragoo added to Advanced Aesthetics

Needs Update:
- Map Jam #3 moved to historical and Map Jam #4 moved to current.
- High Publicity Mods needs updating for past ~2 months of front page publicity by blizzard (i.e. NOTD)
- Star Tools Beta threads need posting
- Ladder map pools need updating
- Add MM Success Stories MM Success Stories

MarlieChurphy

United States2062 Posts

May 08 2013 07:49 GMT

#18

2 things:
Does the stronger color mod still work (is there an updated version, or some other mod that does a similar mod)?

Also, I created this 'map gimmick' guide that would be nice for mappers to utilize:

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=410052

Ahli

Germany343 Posts

June 07 2014 19:47 GMT

#19

Scbroodsc2 aka Fenix made pictures of all doodad models. I think that this is amazingly helpful and should be appear somewhere in here.

iamcaustic

Canada1509 Posts

October 23 2014 03:15 GMT

#20

Bumping this thread to let people know that I'll be working on updating this thread to bring it into 2014. Please PM me with content that you feel should be included in the index.

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