Announcing Beast of the Hill FFA Map Contest #1! - Page 2

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◉ Map name: Bigocity
◉ Download link to your map: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1czous5OWUBoAmej81l5gXIvZHVyIo6lJ/view?usp=share_link

◉ Picture of your map:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RS1AKEGwWeJhQxbC_e8-hEJlX6BaUY92/view?usp=share_link


◉ Size (playable dimensions): 214x214

◉ Number of bases: 44 (including 4 regular gold bases and 2 super-duper gold bases in the middle).

◉ Rush distance: ??? Its a mystery to me too.

◉ A description of the map.:

Bingocity is a serious map for serious Beast of the Hill Players. During its design, the developer of this map used the same care and rigorous consideration that he brings to all his Starcraft endeavors.

It features 44 bases. Except for the one time I counted 48 bases. But then I counted 44 bases so I am certain that number is correct. Unless it isn't. In which case, it has either more or less than 44 bases.

In making this map, an objective of mine was to discourage passive, defensive 'turtle-style' play in favor of a faster-paced chaotic game. As such, only the players' main base is located on high ground. There are two options for the natural expansion.

The 'safer' option is a typical natural expansion at the base of the main ramp. However, the presence of high ground surrounding the natural expansion means that it is vulnerable to attack, forcing the player to be active with their army to discourage an enemy establishing a high-ground siege. A destructible rock line provides temporary protection for the natural in the early game, but this will need to be opened up later in order to access the 4th expansion location.

The more aggressive expansion option rewards the player with a gold base, but only if the player is willing to defend their gold mineral line, which is near enough to be vulnerable to ranged attack by their neighbor over the mineral line. In

In later stages of the game, there are three potential ground attack routes into the main base: the main high-ground path, the route through the 4th and natural (assuming the destructible rock line has been destroyed), and, once the gold base minerals have been exhausted, the route up the ramp from the gold base. As such, the player will need to be on guard for zealot or zergling runbys, making it dangerous to park their army overly long at the map center, and generally adding to the chaos of the game.

Astute reviewers may notice that there are subtle deviations in symmetry in several places on the map. These are for very important balance reasons and not at all because the developer didn't know about the 'Symmetry' function of the map editor until he was almost finished with this project. These symmetry deviations were carefully considered and discussed with BabySwiss, the teams leading expert in map balance, who approved the final design, noting, "It's probably fine... Shiny is going to win anyways no-matter what we do."

A secondary objective was established in design to encourage more Terran and, especially, Zerg players, since Beast of the Hill is often considered Protoss favored. Terran has multiple locations on ledges where they may place a siege tank to harass enemy bases or worker lines. Bases are close together with few sight blockers or high-ground obstructions to facilitate this sort of cheese / siege. Zerg can use swarm hosts to similar effect.

It was decided that it was not necessary to balance these Terran and Zerg boons with similar Protoss cheese opportunities, since Protoss players are typically more macro-oriented and disdainful of cheese in general.

Other design features include wide open approaches to the middle point, which Zerg players should appreciate. Although, let's face it: Shiny was going to win regardless.

Furthermore, the middle point is approached through progressively lower ground as one moves toward the center. Two inhibitor zones are also placed near the center point, to provide an advantage to attacking armies.
In order to impede heavy turtle play the middle point, the stepped terrain is intentionally sized so as to make excessive layers of cannons and/or nexus impossible to place. In the early game, establishing a cannon-supported position in the center is partially impeded by a multitude of destructible plates and rocks. A few cannons are possible, but not enough to fully wall off the center.
In total, these several design choices are intended to provide a disadvantage to any army that wants to hold the center of the map through defensive play, thereby encouraging a more active game.

Two high-value gold bases are placed near the middle, each in an acceleration zone and with increased mineral patch counts. These are very lucrative if they can be held, but are also very vulnerable to attack from the high ground above the mineral line. If any player is able to hold it, though, this base will provide considerable income. Additionally, 4 floating bases are present. However, there are debris fields at these bases in order to balance out the ability of Terran players to float a command center early in the game to claim a protected base. These bases will doubtless become important in the middle and late game, but will not be useful until players have enough air units to destroy the debris.

In summary - this map should serve to discourage passive, defensive play, and encourage active engagement between armies. And then Shiny will win.

◉ (Optionally) An in-game description for the map:

Beast of the Hill map. 48 base locations. Unless I counted wrong, in which case there are either more or less than 48 base locations. Lowground 2nd & 3rd bases discourage turtle play. Wide open attack paths near middle so Zerg can be competitive. Although Shiny was going to win regardless.