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Last year, TLMC7 brought us our first community-made maps in LotV: Apotheosis, New Gettysberg, Galactic Process, and of course, Dasan Station. In the past TLMC has produced maps such as Cloud Kingdom, Frost, Ohana, Habitation Station, Echo, Coda, Cactus Valley, and New Gettysberg just to name a few. This year, TLMC will return just in time to feed maps into the next ladder season. In addition, we're also excited to announce a few changes in TLMC that will hopefully allow for some even more pronounced shakeups in the metagame.
Before we begin, we want to thank Blizzard for their continued support of the mapping community with cash prizes as well as sponsorship of TLMC-related tournaments.
Before we begin, we want to thank Blizzard for their continued support of the mapping community with cash prizes as well as sponsorship of TLMC-related tournaments.
Submission Phase
February 5 - February 16
Once again, maps will be required to be submitted in one of four categories:
1. Macro Map
- A map that favors defensive play and encourages players to reach end game unit compositions.
Examples:
Dusk Towers, Orbital Shipyard, Alterzim Stronghold2. Rush Map
- If a worker moved from the top of the main ramp to the top of the enemy’s main ramp, it would take about 35 seconds. In general, this type of map should promote early aggression in a game.
Examples:
Dasan Station, Lerilak Crest3. New Map
- A map that explores new ideas for how a map can be played. Examples from the past include:
- Small pathway on Ulrena.
- Unique island expansions on New Gettysburg.
- Special rock placements on Korhal Carnage Knockout.
- Quickly obtainable gold base expansions that put you closer to the enemy on Habitation Station.
4. Experimental Resource Map
- Maximum mineral value per mineral patch is capped at 1500. Amounts smaller than this are okay as well.
- Vespene Geysers are still set to 2000 Vespene Gas.
- Number of mineral nodes or gas geysers per base is up to the map maker.
- In mineral lines, the number of mineral patches have to be split 50/50 between larger and smaller patches. The smaller patches should be 60% of the value of the larger patches. For examples, larger patches could be 1500 and smaller patches could be 900.
- Blocking paths with minerals nodes is acceptable.
Relaxed Mapping Restrictions
You may have noticed that the last category is somewhat of a new one for the TLMC. For the first time ever, Blizzard will be allowing relaxed restrictions when it comes to rocks and resource nodes.
- For maps submitted in any category, you may change the HP and armor values of any Destructible Rocks and Collapsible Rock towers.
- You may use permanent neutral abilities onto all maps such as Force Field or Blinding Cloud. However, note that if they features cause performance issues on lower end computers, these maps may be edited or not considered for ladder.
- For all categories not named "Experimental Resource Map", you may change very minor resource values in accordance with the restrictions listed above. However, altered resource configurations cannot be a defining feature of these maps. Examples include:
- The original Daybreak had a half the number of mineral and gas nodes at the fourth base.
- The fourth base of Atlantis Spaceship (used in GSL and IPL) had three gas geysers at the fourth base. Note that you still can't use rich Vespene Geysers.
- The original
- Maps submitted in the "Experimental Resource Map" category should have their alternate resource usage be a major feature of the map, entirely changing how it plays. For example, perhaps your natural has half the number of resource nodes.
- Only use alternate resource nodes if you know what you're doing and can clearly communicate why you're using them.
Mappers who submit maps MUST submit each map in one of the four categories. As with the last season, the judges will pick 15 finalist maps to move on to the next stage:
- Three(3) Macro Maps
- Three(3) Rush Maps
- Three(3) New Maps
- Three(3) Experimental Resource Maps
- Three(3) "Judges Picks"
Judges Picks can come from any category and will consist of maps that the judges feel belong in the top 15. As we don't except all the categories to be uniform in quality, this helps to ensure that the most deserving maps, regardless of category submitted, make it to the next round.
TL Judging Phase
February 17 - February 19
Once the maps have been submitted they will be checked for quality and the remaining maps will be passed to representatives from the Team Liquid Strategy team and selected professional players/community figures for judging. If you are a professional player and would be interested in helping out, PM us. Together, the judges will trim down all submissions to a final 15 that will be used in the next stages of the contest.
BTTV Tournament Phase
February 20 - February 26
Last year, BasetradeTV, with support from Blizzard, hosted an invitational tournament designed to showcase the 15 finalists. This year, a new surprise awaits. While we can't mention specifics now, look for a BTTV announcement in the near future.
Iteration Phase
February 27 - March 6
The iteration phase we implemented in TLMC7 seemed to be received in a positive light by the community. Thus, TLMC8 will try to replicate this success with its own iteration phase, allowing mappers to fine-tune their maps. After reviewing the BTTV tournament games as well as receiving feedback from all over the community, we hope that mappers will be able to submit clean final versions of their maps for consideration by Blizzard and the community.
Public Voting Phase
March 7 - March 9
The public will then vote on the final versions of these maps. Note that public voting only determines the final placing of these maps, that is how much $ each mapper wins. It does not directly affect which maps Blizzard will chose to appear in the next season of ladder. However, this is your chance to make your voice heard about which maps YOU want to be on the ladder.
Prize Distribution
First - $1,000
Second - $500
Third - $250
Fourth - $150
Fifth - $100
In addition, all fifteen finalists will receive a Community Commander Portrait.
TLMC Winners Announced
March 10
After the winners are announced, Blizzard will take into consideration all fifteen maps for the next season of ladder and WCS. After a rigorous QA session, Blizzard will announce which maps will be available for you to play on at home closer to the start of the next ladder season.
How to Submit
Mappers will be limited to four map submissions each with a limit on two maps per category. For example, you may submit one map to each category or submit two macro maps and two rush maps. For each map you submit, you must provide a primary category you wish the map to be considered in. However, you may provide additional categories should they fit.
Please PM your map file(s) to TL Map Contest with the following format before Friday, Feb 17 4:59am GMT (GMT+00:00). Please title your PMs with the name of the map and keep all submissions to 1 map per PM. This time we'll also be be asking mappers to submit more detailed information about their maps to ensure neither the judges nor the community misses any key features.
- Map Name
- A picture of your map. Please submit your maps with a standard 90° top down overview' do not use any angled or tilted images. Please mark start locations and describe any starting location constraints.
- The size (dimensions) of the map
- The map category you wish to enter with this map.
- Any secondary categories you think this map might fit.
- A description of the map.
- Why the map fits the primary category you selected.
- Why the map fits any secondary categories you selected.
- List and describe any distinctive features of the map.
- Point out any alternate resource or rock usage on the map. Describe why you chose to use non-standard numbers.
- Main to Main distance: (in-game seconds using a worker from town hall to town hall)
- Top of main ramp to top of main ramp distance: (in-game seconds using a worker)
- Natural to Natural distance: (in-game seconds using a worker from town hall to town hall)
- Any relevant analyzer images (optional)
- A download link to your map
Entries not in this format may be excluded from consideration. Please do not send questions to the 'TL Map Contest' account; contact TLMC organizer monk instead.
Submit your map
FAQS
Q: Do I need to send my map file, or will an image or a link to my map on Battle.net be enough?
We want the map file for this contest, so a link to Battle.net is not sufficient. There will be a huge number of maps to choose from, so we will need to open many of them up in order to check for details that we can't find otherwise. To send your maps, upload them to a file hosting service such as Mediafire or Dropbox and include the link in your entry.
Q: How do I attached a map file or image to a PM?
The TeamLiquid PM system does not support attachments. Instead, use an external image/file hoster such as Mediafire, Dropbox or Google drive for map files or Imgur for image files. Please sent those links along with your submission.
Q: I want to enter a team map/FFA map into the contest.
The Team Liquid Map Contest has traditionally allowed team play maps to be entered and evaluated separately from 1v1 maps, and some of these submissions did eventually reach the ladder map pool. Unfortunately, this season we will not be considering team play maps submitted to the contest. If you're really passionate about making high quality team play maps then we strongly encourage you to post your work in our Maps and Custom Games forum.
Q: Will the winning map automatically be included in WCS?
No. A list of the top maps will be submitted to Blizzard for consideration for use in WCS/ladder.
Q: How crazy can my maps be?
Maps need to be ladder appropriate. This means that features requiring specialist knowledge (rising lava, geysers used to block ramps, etc.) will not be accepted. If your map passes that test and complies with the guidelines above then your map is acceptable! Of course, if you are concerned that your map may not be suitable for ladder then please PM monk and we will tell you whether or not it is appropriate.
Q: I’m interested in the contest, but I’m horrible at map making. What can I do to support the mappers?
Post in their map threads and give them support, encouragement and replays on their maps! Giving your favorite mapper support will be much appreciated by the mapper. Replays are especially valuable as it helps the mapper align their design goals with the map with the reality of how people play their map.
If you have any unanswered questions please do not hesitate to ask them below or PM monk who will be happy to answer them. Best of luck in the competition.
