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I know I've already commented once, I'd just like to say that I think this is the best map pool I've seen out of GSL/Blizz Ladder/Iccup/anything else. Very stoked, as a Terran player I always felt my wins on Shakuras close positions weren't even remotely as satisfying as my wins cross positions, and I just enjoyed the gameplay more. I really dislike maps where they have narrow paths directly between bases with two breakable rocks... just felt like it destroyed the awesomeness of flanking potential.
I've gotten so much more excited for SC2 lately on the proscene (even though Terran is still dominating, I personally think Zerg has had much more opportunities but are just fucking up their hive tech transitions when they have advantages midgame). As a player who recently switched back to Zerg from Terran (I was originally top 200 Zerg around up til November, where I hovered around 125th spot), I am amazed to find out the game is so different post MKP! It's weird, I dominate terrans in the early-mid game and am LOSING the lategame when I have 6+ bases, tons of larvae stored, and 3k min / 2k gas and I can't stop marine tank.
Spoiler of a recent GSL game below
+ Show Spoiler +Kinda like what happened to Ret game 2, where he had a massive advantage supply wise and shit, but as he lost his army he couldn't efficiently get it back together nor pump out enough broodlords to delay. It's what's happening to me EVERY lategame, so weird that I had it convinced in my mind as Terran that it was at a disadvantage lategame. Anyways, ending my rambling now, sorry I just took a ton of adderall and got distracted 
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I really like this map pool, and the seemingly passive aggressive changes on shakuras and metal.
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TBH i'm beginning to feel that in a few month blizzards maps will die out and all that's left in tourneys are iccup+gsl+other popular map maker's maps.
Anyway, GOGO MLG, <3 them for doing this.
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I'm blown away on how good this map pool is plus the forced spawns+ the ramp blockers for lame wins. Maybe one day the ladder maps will look similar to this pool
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OP should have a poll, "Overall, do you like the modifications that MLG did to the maps (ie. forced cross positions, no walling in bottom of ramp, etc.)."
I feel like there's an overwhelmingly positive response from the community!
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Seems good, I'll be interested in seeing how this plays out!
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279 Posts
We do listen. Really, we do. :D As a league, I know we will always be under scrutiny, but hopefully this goes a little way to showing the community that we pay attention and that we often have reasons for the things that we do.
Along those lines, I see a lot of questions about why we chose Crossfire vs some of the other GSL maps. Personally, I love Crevasse, but we're also under some serious time constraints due to our bracket size and format. The average time in all the major competition replays we could get our hands on showed Crevasse exceeding our cut off. Unfortunately, so we really couldn't risk having a map that might delay the progress of the tournament. 5mins more every round ends up being a 3hr+ delay by the end of the weekend. And the schedule is already REALLY long for the players.
Crossfire, while not as good in allowing the macro-game to be played out as some of the other larger maps these days, has some really exciting elements to it that I'm looking forward to seeing on the main stage at Dallas.
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MLG guys, you're awesome. Testbug is an excellent addition.
I honestly would have liked to seen more iCCup maps; specifically, Braxis in lieu of Scrap Station and Fighting Spirit... well, just generally in there because Fighting Spirit's fucking awesome. That said, the map pool's pretty judicious. Well done, MLG. I'll be there.
As a spectator, silly. The guy with the absurd signs? Oh, yeah, that'll be me.
EDIT: Neglected to note this:
On March 01 2011 12:00 eviltomahawk wrote:
Nevertheless, the biggest part about adding Testbug is that we now have a 3 player map. Tau Cross had its moment to shine in BW, now it's time for Testbug to shine in SC2 as well.
3 player maps. Not only is it inherently :awesomeface:, as far as rotational imbalance goes for Z, it's pretty well-insulated short of a ridiculous sort of viking-banshee attack. It's a fantastic map.
*IdrA air-five*
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Awesome map pool will lead to awesome games. The adjustments make to Shakuras, Metalopolis, and Shattered Temple are just as good as the new additions of Crossfire and Testbug IMO. Close positions makes them crappy maps, but cross positions make them among the best maps currently available.
It's awesome to see iCCup Testbug being picked up by MLG. I do recall that ESL Europe has begun using iCCup maps, and with MLG also using them, things are only going to get better. My only problem with Testbug is that I preferred them using the Badlands tile set in the top right 1/3 of the map instead of the current Twilight world one (or whatever it is).
Nevertheless, the biggest part about adding Testbug is that we now have a 3 player map. Tau Cross had its moment to shine in BW, now it's time for Testbug to shine in SC2 as well.
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I think it's important to note that there are seven maps. MLG sets up all their games so that a full extended series runs through all of the maps. That way, your win is less dependent on getting maps that favor you and more dependent on being good at every map in the map pool.
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United States5162 Posts
The only reservation I have is forcing cross spawn on Shakuras. The backdoor rocks into your main, while annoying, never seemed game breaking imo. Besides that,<3 MLG
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Holy cow. This is excellent news! Yay MLG! :D
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No love for Rush Hour III
:p
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What an awesome map pool. MLG is really showing that they're on the ball with map changes this year. Looking forward to watching them soon.
On March 01 2011 11:56 MLG_Lee wrote:
We do listen. Really, we do. :D As a league, I know we will always be under scrutiny, but hopefully this goes a little way to showing the community that we pay attention and that we often have reasons for the things that we do.
Along those lines, I see a lot of questions about why we chose Crossfire vs some of the other GSL maps. Personally, I love Crevasse, but we're also under some serious time constraints due to our bracket size and format. The average time in all the major competition replays we could get our hands on showed Crevasse exceeding our cut off. Unfortunately, so we really couldn't risk having a map that might delay the progress of the tournament. 5mins more every round ends up being a 3hr+ delay by the end of the weekend. And the schedule is already REALLY long for the players.
Crossfire, while not as good in allowing the macro-game to be played out as some of the other larger maps these days, has some really exciting elements to it that I'm looking forward to seeing on the main stage at Dallas.
Pretty understandable. Any GSL map is miles ahead of many of the ladder maps anyhow, e.g. Delta Quadrant, etc.
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not sure if anyone will be against these rules. if they are, they probably arent the biggest fan of starcraft 2. very awesome to hear.
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This is fantastic. Great map pool, probably going to buy MLG tickets just to show my support. But, since the comments in this thread are going to be overwhelmingly positive anyways, I think I'll voice some concerns.
- I don't really like how they force cross positions on Shakuras. Why not just make it a 2 player map if there's only one true spawn configuration? I agree that horizontal positions could be rough on zerg sometimes, but I feel another solution would work better. Why not remove the inner four expansions, add ramps up to where the semi-island currently is, and remove the mains' secondary ramps?
- The triple texture scheme on Testbug irritates me. I know it's all preference, but I figure I'll say it so other people don't think they're alone. The map layout is great, but the aesthetics are distracting.
- Scrap Station could probably be replaced with a better map. It's one of Blizzard's better ones, but it really sucks for a few matchups. I think Terminus or Pawn would have been good choices instead.
Not trying to be too negative here though. Love this decision by MLG.
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Odd to see them make such an informed and wise decision with the map pool and yet a seemingly short-sited and destructive decision with the tourney format.
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United States6046 Posts
On March 01 2011 11:58 RHMVNovus wrote:
MLG guys, you're awesome. Testbug is an excellent addition.
I honestly would have liked to seen more iCCup maps; specifically, Braxis in lieu of Scrap Station and Fighting Spirit... well, just generally in there because Fighting Spirit's fucking awesome. That said, the map pool's pretty judicious. Well done, MLG. I'll be there.
As a spectator, silly. The guy with the absurd signs? Oh, yeah, that'll be me.
live on my legacy!
+ Show Spoiler +
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EPT![[image loading]](http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/2572/vlcsnap2010110618h34m38.png)
