New 1v1 Maps

Eternal Empire

Actually the modern interpretation of Cloud Kingdom. It takes the good parts of that map to make a larger and a more suited version for Legacy of the Void. This version emphasizes even more of the idea of “The longer path gives a better angle”.

[image loading]

Nightshade

Nightshade might not offer anything revolutionary but it has a solid standard layout that allows players to choose from a wide range of different playstyles. Rocks at both third base options help with early defense. The aesthetics of the map are like an organic version of cyberpunk with bright purples, pinks and blues to contrast the darker base textures.

[image loading]

Simulacrum

This digital battleground provides the standard complement of chokes, open areas, and choices of expansion. Defend the central bridges, or control the forward high ground bases as a late game focal point.

[image loading]

Zen

This map is set in a Zen garden, it even had two Koi ponds on the sides. The main feature of the map is the two small entrances to the natural. The first one gives a direct and short path to the opponent but is only one tile wide but it can be enlarged by mining the minerals. The other choke is 6 tiles wide and lead to the third base. In the middle, there are two sets of mineral walls that make the path one tile wide. These paths make large armies extremely slow unless you mine these paths. This map also has more advanced custom cliffs that were shaped into pillars.

[image loading]

GreasedUpDeafGuy

United States398 Posts

November 12 2019 21:02 GMT

inb4 the whining.

They seem fine. Getting tired of all the standard shit though

Obamarauder

697 Posts

November 12 2019 21:08 GMT

How do you end the game on eternal empire?

johnnywup

United States3858 Posts

November 12 2019 21:15 GMT

Eternal Empire seems like another amazing zerg map

Harris1st

Germany7216 Posts

November 12 2019 21:37 GMT

But when?

Howard_Kao

China261 Posts

November 12 2019 21:43 GMT

On November 13 2019 06:15 johnnywup wrote:
Eternal Empire seems like another amazing zerg map

I think that map won't be as good as it got a lot of potential choke point and not every place is wide open, in contrast, nightshade seems to be a very zerg flavored map

Ben...

Canada3485 Posts

November 12 2019 22:14 GMT

On November 13 2019 06:43 Howard_Kao wrote:

Show nested quote +

I think that map won't be as good as it got a lot of potential choke point and not every place is wide open, in contrast, nightshade seems to be a very zerg flavored map

Yes, Nightshade has all the traits of a map good for zerg. It's big, has few chokes, has wide ramps, and both third locations are quite open with few simcity opportunities for protoss or terran. It will likely be a definite veto for terrans and probably for protoss too.

And yes, Eternal Empire is big but it has a lot of chokes, narrower ramps, and most of the large ramps have rocks on them. This seems like a much better compromise for a big map than what we saw with the current map pool.

Simulacrum is aggressively generic, but honestly after the mess of a map pool we had this season, I'm fine with that. A medium-sized map with standard expansion layouts sounds pretty good right about now.

Curious to see how the zen garden map will play out. The mineral patches have been a neat idea so far, and this map takes them to new extremes.

Kantuva

Uruguay211 Posts

November 12 2019 23:09 GMT

Can I just make a note, and give congrats to all the mapmakers? The art has been steadily improving for years, and we have reached a period where they just look soooo goooooddddd

On a different note, I'm 100% interested on what will happen to Zen, if DevTeam will decide to make changes to it, or if they are confident the gameplay of it will be sturdy enough to warrant ladder spot, tho it is the offseason, so I would imagine they, themselves are interested on how this map would play out!

Steelghost1

43 Posts

November 12 2019 23:31 GMT

Someday, some high level player will actually make a proper guide on competitive map making for starcraft I hope, still waiting...

-NegativeZero-

United States2142 Posts

November 12 2019 23:40 GMT

#10

On November 13 2019 08:31 Steelghost1 wrote:
Someday, some high level player will actually make a proper guide on competitive map making for starcraft I hope, still waiting...

let's be honest, if you asked 5 pro players what a good competitive map looks like, you'd end up with 7 different answers lol

FBTsingLoong

China410 Posts

November 12 2019 23:51 GMT

#11

I really hope Blizzard can make more bright-color maps,just like Eternal Empire and Zen.Bright colors make me feel delighted and easy.And Nightshade,please fxxk off,OK?

LHK

204 Posts

November 12 2019 23:52 GMT

#12

I really love the aesthetic of Zen. It even has koi ponds

^^; But the layout and aesthetic is very nice, and I really like the bases to the side of the mains. Very defensible location, I think it'll help T and P to have a base like that against Zerg. Eternal Empire seems like a nice balance of big map (good for zerg) and lots of chokes / good fighting locations (good for T/P). Interested to see how that plays out.

Hats off to whoever made Zen. Even if it's wildly imbalanced, i quite like the way it looks and am stoked to play on it.

Obamarauder

697 Posts

November 12 2019 23:52 GMT

#13

Sc2 needs to revive the hots style maps like overgrowth and echo. Triangle/straight line main/natural/third, straight attack path down middle, watchtower at center or 1 at each side not too far away, medium rush distance, no excessive chokes/ramps/dead space that allows terrain abuse from tanks or air units

Sc2Nebula

15 Posts

November 13 2019 00:42 GMT

#14

I want more interesting maps like purity and industry tho. :/

St0nedas

2 Posts

November 13 2019 00:51 GMT

#15

I just want to know which ones I can pull cannon rush shenanigans on :D