[M] (2) AVEX - Synchestra

(click to enlarge)

Analyzer seems broken, will add when it's fixed.

This map was originally an attempt to utilize a tileset that would mirror the look of the Ice tileset from Brood War. I ended up accidentally replacing some textures and ended up with this really nice muddy look, and with it pouring down like all hell in California, it felt really right to use that feel. I'm happy with this map, I like how the XNTs are well spaced, but have blindspots in the middle of the main paths, opting for less reliance on them (and they don't reveal air paths either). Onto the main.

I was on skype with a few people over the past 2 days talking about inbase expansions and what rules they often follow. A question of mine was "Why can't the inbase be the main? In other words, swap the natural with where you actually spawn. So in Synchestra, your main is really cramped and serves little purpose past being your starting economic area, your natural is safe and wide, allowing you to place way more buildings and properly wall. Past that, you have what used to be a very wide open third with an exposed rear position (that can be abused with siege units like Tanks, Broodlords, etc) that can also serve as a harassment option with destructible rocks behind the path. There is also a hidden path along the west and east sides of the map, trailnig from one side all the way to a hidden path right into the natural. Past the third, the game becomes very aggressive, with the Detox-like fourths available, or a highground fourth exposed slightly to the ground below it. From then on, the bases are relatively normal, featuring "syndromic" island bases at the opposite corners.

Name is inspired by Devin Townsend's album "Synchestra"