Now that 2013 Ladder Season 4 is officially locked, let’s talk about maps.
We’ve previously mentioned our goal of bringing the StarCraft II 1v1 ladder map pool into alignment with the maps being used in the World Championship Series. With 2013 Ladder Season 5, we’re taking this goal to a whole new level by mirroring the WCS and Ladder map pools exactly. This season, you’ll be able to ladder with the exact same collection of maps your favorite pro players are using in the WCS. Further, we think this may help matchmaking become a more effective practice tool for both aspiring and pro WCS competitors.
The 1v1 Map Pool
We're adding three maps to the 1v1 pool in Season 5, and as always, making additions to the ladder pool means we’ll be removing a few of last season’s maps. Since we’re making an effort to mirror the WCS pool, Ladder Season 5 will feature seven 1v1 maps in total. Here are the maps we’ll be removing, followed by the new additions:
1v1 Removals Korhal Sky Island LE Neo Planet S LE Newkirk Precinct TE Red City LE Star Station
Frost placed first in the Team Liquid Map Contest for both the pro player and public votes.
We were looking for a four player map to add this season that was not only solid overall, but different as well. We wanted to try Frost LE because of the variety in play styles it will provide depending on each player’s start location.
This is a new map created by EastWindy for WCS Korea GSL. We believe Polar Night LE will create some interesting choices for players when deciding how to best take advantage of Destructible Rock and Line of Sight Blocker positioning. We think these map features will help make for some exciting games.
Yeonsu placed second in the Team Liquid Map Contest public vote, and third in the pro player vote.
Although the base and expansion layouts on Yeonsu LE are quite standard, we believe this map’s cool factor lies within the flow of its ground paths. The ways in which the various ramps by the natural and third bases interact feel unique, and seem to be a standout feature on this map.
Now that we’ve unveiled the new maps you’ll be playing on this season, we’re pleased to show you the complete 1v1 map pool for 2013 Ladder Season 5 and WCS Season 3:
Complete Ladder & WCS Season 3 Map Pool Akilon Wastes Bel’Shir Vestige LE Derelict Watcher TE Frost LE Polar Night LE Whirlwind LE Yeonsu LE
In addition to the changes being made to the 1v1 map pool, we are also making changes to the 2v2 map pool. Below are the maps that we’ll be removing, along with descriptions of two new 2v2 maps that we’re adding.
This fortress map is easy to macro on and has a very long rush distance. However, once the Destructible Rocks toward the center of the map are destroyed, the attack path between teams will become much shorter. The goal on Isle of Slaughter should be to macro up while keeping a close watch on when the combat starts, since reaction times will need to be much quicker during the mid to late game.
Resupply Tanker has an easy to take fast expansion, but allies can’t easily assist each other on this map, so be careful not to grab this expansion too soon. The two attack paths along the sides of the map are good for focusing attacks on one opponent, but taking some time to clear out the center Xel’Naga Watchtower area before initiating an attack will often be a much safer way to engage on this map.
All five of these maps are already published to the custom games list in order to give you a chance to check them out before the season roll. Feel free to fire up a few games on the new maps and let us know what you think in the comment section below. Once Ladder Season 5 begins at Monday, Aug 26 7:01am GMT (GMT+00:00), they will then appear in matchmaking queues for competitive play.
Good luck and have fun in the 2013 Season 5 ladder!
Attention, StarCraft II ladder competitors! 2013 Season 4 is now locked.
At the end of each ladder season, leagues are “locked,” which means players can no longer be promoted or demoted out of their current league or division, and bonus pools will stop growing. That’s no reason to quit playing: even after leagues are locked, players will still be able to play out their remaining bonus pool and compete for standing within their divisions until the season ends one week later. The matchmaking skill ratings which determine league promotion and demotion will also continue to update during the lock, so games played during the lock still count toward 2013 Season 5 league placement.
Now that the lock is in effect, 2013 Season 4 will soon come to an end. We’ll be turning over to 2013 Season 5 on (US) Monday, Aug 26 7:01am GMT (GMT+00:00) / (EU) Sunday, Aug 25 11:01pm GMT (GMT+00:00), right after the WCS 2013 Season 2 Finals at gamescom, and the Grandmaster League will start one week following the season roll. Season milestone rewards will be awarded and bonus pools will reset with the beginning of the new season. Hidden skill ratings used for matchmaking and league placement will carry over from the previous season, though, so players who have completed placement matches in a previous season will only need to play one new placement match after 2013 Season 5 starts.
We will have an updated map pool for Season 5, and we’re happy to announce that the 1v1 portion of the map pool will mirror the map pool used in all regions for WCS Season 3. We’ll have more specifics on map pool changes for you soon.
With the beginning of Season 5, we will be applying a free character name change to all accounts that do not have one available at that time. Character name changes do not stack (you can only have one free name change at a time), so if you’ve been thinking about changing your name in StarCraft II, you have until August 26 to make that decision.
2013 Ladder Season 4 is drawing to a close, and all ladders will be locked soon.
Here’s what this means for you:
During the 2013 Season 4 lock, you can’t be promoted or demoted from your current league or division, and your bonus pool stops growing.
Though you’ll be locked to a league and division, you'll still be able to play out your remaining bonus pool and compete for standing within your division until the end of the season.
If you're pursuing a league promotion, then you still have a chance to get there. The 2013 Season 4 lock will go into effect on Monday, Aug 19 7:01am GMT (GMT+00:00).
The hidden ratings used to determine promotions and demotions will continue to be used for matchmaking purposes, and will continue to update during the 2013 Season 4 lock. So if you play significantly better or worse than your assigned league at the time of the lock, you may find yourself in a different league when 2013 Season 5 begins (after you play your first placement match). Your games during the lock still count.
Season 5 will begin at Monday, Aug 26 7:01am GMT (GMT+00:00), right after the conclusion of the WCS 2013 Season 2 Finals at gamescom. Season milestone rewards will be locked in at this time, and bonus pools will reset. The game will continue doing matchmaking and league placement using results from the previous season.
We will have an updated map pool for Season 5, and we’re happy to announce that the 1v1 portion of the map pool will mirror the map pool used in all regions for WCS Season 3. We’ll have more specifics on map pool changes for you soon. (Preliminary Season 5 map pool.)
With the beginning of Season 5, we will be applying a free character name change to all accounts that do not have one available at that time. Character name changes do not stack (you can only have one free name change at a time), so if you’ve been thinking about changing your name in StarCraft II, you have until August 26 to make that decision.
Ehm, i am interested in upcoming map pool changes. Question is: will they drop Derelict Watcher and replace it with Ravage (one terrible map with one stantard map, lol)?
On August 15 2013 02:12 lolfail9001 wrote: Ehm, i am interested in upcoming map pool changes. Question is: will they drop Derelict Watcher and replace it with Ravage (one terrible map with one stantard map, lol)?
On August 15 2013 02:24 Porishan wrote: The best part is free character name change every new season :D Nice
Its so nice of blizzard to give us something for free, that does not cost them anything
I think its good that the WCS season mappool now also is the ladderpool. Still didn't play the new maps, besides frost, which is a bit to big in my opinion. Lets see how the other maps will establish themselves.
On August 15 2013 02:12 lolfail9001 wrote: Ehm, i am interested in upcoming map pool changes. Question is: will they drop Derelict Watcher and replace it with Ravage (one terrible map with one stantard map, lol)?
I would actually be excited if Ravage gets placed in the map pool. Im ok about Yeonsu and Frost, and can't really judge polar night, but if ravage gets in i'll be happy. Oh, and please get rid of derelict Newkirk had to go
On August 15 2013 02:12 lolfail9001 wrote: Ehm, i am interested in upcoming map pool changes. Question is: will they drop Derelict Watcher and replace it with Ravage (one terrible map with one stantard map, lol)?
With the beginning of Season 5, we will be applying a free character name change to all accounts that do not have one available at that time. Character name changes do not stack (you can only have one free name change at a time), so if you’ve been thinking about changing your name in StarCraft II, you have until August 26 to make that decision.
On August 15 2013 02:12 GTPGlitch wrote: Well at least they're doing one free namechange per season, that's nice =D
I don't see in that post where they've committed to one free name change per season, just that at the start of Season 5 you get a free name change. There's no guarantee of another free name change in Season 6, 7, or 8.
On August 15 2013 02:12 GTPGlitch wrote: Well at least they're doing one free namechange per season, that's nice =D
I don't see in that post where they've committed to one free name change per season, just that at the start of Season 5 you get a free name change. There's no guarantee of another free name change in Season 6, 7, or 8.
Agreed, and that's what makes me so hesitant to change my name >.<
On August 15 2013 08:47 skatblast wrote: they are getting rid of planet S? shame
I'd have to assume you play zerg then, personally that was the first thing I looked for in the new map pool and hopefully that abomination stays dead. It is so silly to have any maps where Protoss is pretty much forced to go 2 base all in on, imo.
I hope they change not getting demoted during a season. It's unbelievably bad that people in, say masters, that play at a low diamond level will stay there and hog spots. The people who are in Diam who are WAY better can't be put higher, or at least it's going to be way harder then it should be. Not being able to get demoted is probably the worst thing for the skill curve that Blizzard has ever done, (to my knowledge of SC2 which spans back to February of 2012). God I hope they take that shit out.
On August 15 2013 08:47 skatblast wrote: they are getting rid of planet S? shame
I'd have to assume you play zerg then, personally that was the first thing I looked for in the new map pool and hopefully that abomination stays dead. It is so silly to have any maps where Protoss is pretty much forced to go 2 base all in on, imo.
Huh? The reason Protoss 2 base allin on that map is because it tends to work really well.
On August 15 2013 08:47 skatblast wrote: they are getting rid of planet S? shame
I'd have to assume you play zerg then, personally that was the first thing I looked for in the new map pool and hopefully that abomination stays dead. It is so silly to have any maps where Protoss is pretty much forced to go 2 base all in on, imo.
Huh? The reason Protoss 2 base allin on that map is because it tends to work really well.
Both third bases also tend to be on the difficult side to hold PvZ, so there is basically both carrot and stick driving the PvZ allin-fest on that map. I'm personally happy to see the map go too.
About the new map polar night, I'd like to quote myself:
On July 30 2013 12:06 rice_devOurer wrote: for some reason, i think ive seen polar night before, just rotated 90 degrees. + Show Spoiler [Abyssal City] +
On July 30 2013 12:06 rice_devOurer wrote: for some reason, i think ive seen polar night before, just rotated 90 degrees. + Show Spoiler [Abyssal City] +
On August 15 2013 02:12 GTPGlitch wrote: Well at least they're doing one free namechange per season, that's nice =D
If they did start doing that per season it would be cool, but at the same time I dread to think of all those Korean pros who try to reinvent their image by picking up an English dictionary/thesaurus (seriously, Billowy? They're literally just flicking through a dictionary and stopping their finger on a random page).
On August 15 2013 15:05 DeathDyingDoomKiller wrote: I hope they change not getting demoted during a season. It's unbelievably bad that people in, say masters, that play at a low diamond level will stay there and hog spots. The people who are in Diam who are WAY better can't be put higher, or at least it's going to be way harder then it should be. Not being able to get demoted is probably the worst thing for the skill curve that Blizzard has ever done, (to my knowledge of SC2 which spans back to February of 2012). God I hope they take that shit out.
Aside from serving your ego and giving you that metalic aqua boarder around your name what difference does it make? MMR system hasn't changed, you're still getting matched against people who are of similar skill level.
On August 15 2013 08:47 skatblast wrote: they are getting rid of planet S? shame
I'd have to assume you play zerg then, personally that was the first thing I looked for in the new map pool and hopefully that abomination stays dead. It is so silly to have any maps where Protoss is pretty much forced to go 2 base all in on, imo.
I think it's widely agreed upon that Neo Planet is a terran map.
I desperately need to play out my bonus pool points accumulated over the past couple of weeks. Dota 2 became my favourite game, and led to me not paying any attention to StarCraft 2
On August 15 2013 16:52 Tactical wrote: I'm going to miss star station :/ I have a 75% win rate on that map haha. Meanwhile like 30% on akilon and belshir vestige. fml
I'm a protoss and also have 74% winrate on star station. I will also miss it a lot. Can't play at the start of the season due to vacation in florida but I will play many games these days.
Wait I thought you couldn't be demoted from your league anymore regardless of what point of the season it was. Is that just something they mention for grandmaster players? Also: please get rid of Akilon. Nothing but speedling rushes, hellbat/marauder all ins, and cannon rushes
On August 15 2013 15:05 DeathDyingDoomKiller wrote: I hope they change not getting demoted during a season. It's unbelievably bad that people in, say masters, that play at a low diamond level will stay there and hog spots. The people who are in Diam who are WAY better can't be put higher, or at least it's going to be way harder then it should be. Not being able to get demoted is probably the worst thing for the skill curve that Blizzard has ever done, (to my knowledge of SC2 which spans back to February of 2012). God I hope they take that shit out.
There's no such thing as "taking up slots" in a league, except for GM which has specific ejection conditions.
On August 15 2013 15:05 DeathDyingDoomKiller wrote: I hope they change not getting demoted during a season. It's unbelievably bad that people in, say masters, that play at a low diamond level will stay there and hog spots. The people who are in Diam who are WAY better can't be put higher, or at least it's going to be way harder then it should be. Not being able to get demoted is probably the worst thing for the skill curve that Blizzard has ever done, (to my knowledge of SC2 which spans back to February of 2012). God I hope they take that shit out.
There's no such thing as "taking up slots" in a league, except for GM which has specific ejection conditions.
What happens when a league has more % players than would normally be allocated to it? Does it continue to promote players into that league who exceed the necessary MMR threshold?
On August 15 2013 15:05 DeathDyingDoomKiller wrote: I hope they change not getting demoted during a season. It's unbelievably bad that people in, say masters, that play at a low diamond level will stay there and hog spots. The people who are in Diam who are WAY better can't be put higher, or at least it's going to be way harder then it should be. Not being able to get demoted is probably the worst thing for the skill curve that Blizzard has ever done, (to my knowledge of SC2 which spans back to February of 2012). God I hope they take that shit out.
There's no such thing as "taking up slots" in a league, except for GM which has specific ejection conditions.
What happens when a league has more % players than would normally be allocated to it? Does it continue to promote players into that league who exceed the necessary MMR threshold?
Yep. If you had one really good player boost every account in a region up to Master over the course of a season, you would end up with 100% of accounts in Master. You might think that's impossible because MMR is zero sum, and even as that player wins all the time on one account, he's cannibalizing the MMR of one of the other boosted accounts. Because there are no demotions, each of the already-Master accounts would drop down to below the Master MMR threshold but retain their icons. In reality you'd still only have a small percentage out of the whole that ended up in the Master MMR zone. The season roll would then balance out the numbers in the leagues again.
So Neo Planet S, Star Station, Red City, Newkirk Precinct & Korhal Sky Island are being removed.
This is the preliminary map pool. The real one is yet to be determined and will mirror the map pool used in all WCS regions.
"We will have an updated map pool for Season 5, and we’re happy to announce that the 1v1 portion of the map pool will mirror the map pool used in all regions for WCS Season 3. We’ll have more specifics on map pool changes for you soon. (Preliminary Season 5 map pool.)"
Attention, StarCraft II ladder competitors! 2013 Season 4 is now locked.
At the end of each ladder season, leagues are “locked,” which means players can no longer be promoted or demoted out of their current league or division, and bonus pools will stop growing. That’s no reason to quit playing: even after leagues are locked, players will still be able to play out their remaining bonus pool and compete for standing within their divisions until the season ends one week later. The matchmaking skill ratings which determine league promotion and demotion will also continue to update during the lock, so games played during the lock still count toward 2013 Season 5 league placement.
Now that the lock is in effect, 2013 Season 4 will soon come to an end. We’ll be turning over to 2013 Season 5 on (US) Monday, Aug 26 7:01am GMT (GMT+00:00) / (EU) Sunday, Aug 25 11:01pm GMT (GMT+00:00), right after the WCS 2013 Season 2 Finals at gamescom, and the Grandmaster League will start one week following the season roll. Season milestone rewards will be awarded and bonus pools will reset with the beginning of the new season. Hidden skill ratings used for matchmaking and league placement will carry over from the previous season, though, so players who have completed placement matches in a previous season will only need to play one new placement match after 2013 Season 5 starts.
We will have an updated map pool for Season 5, and we’re happy to announce that the 1v1 portion of the map pool will mirror the map pool used in all regions for WCS Season 3. We’ll have more specifics on map pool changes for you soon.
With the beginning of Season 5, we will be applying a free character name change to all accounts that do not have one available at that time. Character name changes do not stack (you can only have one free name change at a time), so if you’ve been thinking about changing your name in StarCraft II, you have until August 26 to make that decision.
if they keep akilon I am going to cry. that map is so annoying and counter-intuitive to play on. I hate the stupid rock shit that they have going on with the third base and the layout of the entire map, it's just completely terrible.
Frost placed first in the Team Liquid Map Contest for both the pro player and public votes.
We were looking for a four player map to add this season that was not only solid overall, but different as well. We wanted to try Frost LE because of the variety in play styles it will provide depending on each player’s start location.
This is a new map created by EastWindy for WCS Korea GSL. We believe Polar Night LE will create some interesting choices for players when deciding how to best take advantage of Destructible Rock and Line of Sight Blocker positioning. We think these map features will help make for some exciting games.
Yeonsu placed second in the Team Liquid Map Contest public vote, and third in the pro player vote.
Although the base and expansion layouts on Yeonsu LE are quite standard, we believe this map’s cool factor lies within the flow of its ground paths. The ways in which the various ramps by the natural and third bases interact feel unique, and seem to be a standout feature on this map.
Complete Ladder & WCS Season 3 Map Pool Akilon Wastes Bel’Shir Vestige LE Derelict Watcher TE Frost LE Polar Night LE Whirlwind LE Yeonsu LE
This fortress map is easy to macro on and has a very long rush distance. However, once the Destructible Rocks toward the center of the map are destroyed, the attack path between teams will become much shorter. The goal on Isle of Slaughter should be to macro up while keeping a close watch on when the combat starts, since reaction times will need to be much quicker during the mid to late game.
Resupply Tanker has an easy to take fast expansion, but allies can’t easily assist each other on this map, so be careful not to grab this expansion too soon. The two attack paths along the sides of the map are good for focusing attacks on one opponent, but taking some time to clear out the center Xel’Naga Watchtower area before initiating an attack will often be a much safer way to engage on this map.
Akilon Wastes Bel’Shir Vestige LE Derelict Watcher TE Frost LE Polar Night LE Whirlwind LE Yeonsu LE
Looking pretty good for me as a meching player. Will be vetoing Derelict, Belshir and Whirlwind I think. It might even get me interested in the game again.
wow pretty bad map pool...akilon is so unplayable/bad and polar night/yeonsu look equally bad. I will be vetoing those 3 but then that just leaves me maps to play on that are "meh"
On August 23 2013 08:27 TeflonArena wrote: Bad formatting - since it reads as follows, I am sure someone will start crying how those aren't new maps and how Blizzard is ruining the ladder.
I can't believe they kept in Bel'Shit but took out Neo Planet S, Korhal, and Red City ;;
I hope gsl has at least wised up and took out Bel'shir. It's not the worst map I've ever seen, but it's definitely past its expiration date and imo rarely gives entertaining games.
Derelict is another lame map that should be cut immediately.
yea neo planet s was the worst removal by far. The map was different and fun, made for small action packed games. really hate these massive maps they are shoving down our throat.
I'm still a bit butthurt about TLMC#2 and the maps the jury picked, but this is seriously fucked up. Blizzard implemented Frost & Yeonsu in the ladder map pool, but not in the original version. Instead they "changed" the textures and even layout. And when i say "changed" i mean "butchered". I wasn't a big fan of Yeonsu's texture style, but he was improving it already. Blizzard decided to give it a "Dual Site"-Texture style for ladder, but without talking to etcetra. And look how poorly they did it. They didn't even have the decency to put "original made by etcetra, modified by blizzard" in the descripton. For some reason they felt driven to force some of the worst textures available in the editor in the maps: "Khaldir snow icy" & "Khaldir snow powdered". Why are they so bad? Because they're blurry and look like they don't belong in the game. But see for yourself:
On August 23 2013 10:51 eTcetRa wrote: Oh god what the fuck did they do to my map..
Well, they turned it into a blizzard map that's for sure. Not my map anymore...
GG..
Didnt notice before so i checked the maps now, wow that is a huge difference in design and even some choices like the island maps , holy crap batman o_O
On August 23 2013 20:14 sCnDiamond wrote: I'm still a bit butthurt about TLMC#2 and the maps the jury picked, but this is seriously fucked up. Blizzard implemented Frost & Yeonsu in the ladder map pool, but not in the original version. Instead they "changed" the textures and even layout. And when i say "changed" i mean "butchered". I wasn't a big fan of Yeonsu's texture style, but he was improving it already. Blizzard decided to give it a "Dual Site"-Texture style for ladder, but without talking to etcetra. And look how poorly they did it. They didn't even have the decency to put "original made by etcetra, modified by blizzard" in the descripton. For some reason they felt driven to force some of the worst textures available in the editor in the maps: "Khaldir snow icy" & "Khaldir snow powdered". Why are they so bad? Because they're blurry and look like they don't belong in the game. But see for yourself:
Wait, really, they butchered the beauty that is Crux Frost? Won't comment on Yeonsu cause it still looks better than Frost LE. Also, are they already published (and as published i mean with that famous sign from Blizz)?
On August 23 2013 20:28 Qikz wrote: Uhh are you sure those textures are legit? That looks ridiculous.
Textures are legit for sure, i remember those from HotS campaign (where they were fitting lol). I am not sure if Blizzard already published Ladder versions though. Gonna check.
On August 23 2013 20:26 lolfail9001 wrote: Wait, really, they butchered the beauty that is Crux Frost? Won't comment on Yeonsu cause it still looks better than Frost LE. Also, are they already published (and as published i mean with that famous sign from Blizz)?
Both maps are already published as an LE-Version with the Blizzard mark on all servers. I loaded them in the editor and took screenshots there.
On August 23 2013 20:26 lolfail9001 wrote: Wait, really, they butchered the beauty that is Crux Frost? Won't comment on Yeonsu cause it still looks better than Frost LE. Also, are they already published (and as published i mean with that famous sign from Blizz)?
Both maps are already published as an LE-Version with the Blizzard mark on all servers. I loaded them in the editor and took screenshots there.
Okay. Will see, maybe on low settings if i won't pay attention to terrain it won't make my eyes bleed :D
This is totally retarded from blizzard , i agree yeonsu needed a little retexture to fit everyones' eye , but not that huge. Frost mains&naturals are totally ridicoulus right now , before they had that taiga feeling which was beautiful , even with the niflheim texture ..
EPT
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Newkirk had to go
![[image loading]](http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/images2/thumb/6/69/AbyssalCity.jpg/400px-AbyssalCity.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/22YBcYl.jpg)
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