EPT
All the votes have been collected and counted—it's time to reveal the winners of TL.Net Map Contest #18!
Ahead of the results, we'd like to once again thank Monster Energy for allowing us to keep TLMC going into 2023. We're extremely grateful to the map-makers who are at the heart of this contest, as well as the judges, Wardi, and ESL for their crucial roles in holding the TLMC. Of course, we're also grateful to you, the community, for your interest in the maps that make StarCraft II competition so compelling. We hope to share some good news with you soon!
Mapmakers will receive $200 per map that finished in the top sixteen, and additional prize money for maps that finish in the top five as chosen by public vote:
Note: Top placing maps in TLMC #18 are not guaranteed to be added to the ladder and/or professional tournaments. ESL and Blizzard will consider TLMC #18 voting results alongside other factors and choose which maps to add at their own discretion.
A standard map with a preferred triangular 3rd base and a relatively short rush (30s) rush distance for the category. The linear 3rd has open high ground in front of it from where it can be attacked, but to help with a surround you can destroy some rocks to open up the high ground for easier access.
There are 8 bases per player, 2 of which are unusual. One is a forward high ground base with a blocked off purple geyser, and right below it there is a gold base along the Sidetrack of the map.
Map Features
Click to expand
Goldenaura is a macro map with diagonal symmetry. It features a total of 13 blue bases and one golden base in the bottom left corner of the map.
No Overlord pillar right at the natural. There are two Xel'naga towers, one at the high ground near the gold base and another at the lowground in the top right. There is also a good amount of airspace around the map. In the middle of the map there is a 'ramphill.'
Map Features
Click to expand
Shipping news is a 4-level macro category map. It was created to enlight an old idea and revive the hybrid mineral bases. The idea is that the 6-patch (3 gold, 3 blue) hybrid base has the same mineral income as a 'normal' base, but with less workers needed.
The hybrid base only has one gas, and is placed between the natural and third. Players might want to skip the natural base in order to get a hybrid base first for some sort of early aggression that's mineral-heavy (like 2 base all-in or timing attack). But it has only one Vespene geyser because we need to prevent any type of early gas-type build orders and any form of disadvantage for Terran players.
For the rest the map has a defensive and technical layout. The triangle third has an additional narrow path with a slow zone. It was created in order to have easy access to Xel’Naga tower, and a slow zone should stop an opponent from sneaking in.
Xel’naga towers give you full control over the center of the map but not high grounds.
The front ramp that leads to the hybrid/natural base is blocked by 6x6 rocks.
Map Features
Click to expand
Hecate is a standard map with 14 bases, two of which have 4 blue-4 gold mineral patches and 2 normal geysers.
The ramp in front of the natural is partially blocked with 6x6 rocks to help with the relatively short 29 second natural-to-natural rush distance. The most distinctive features of the map are three narrow bridges that connect wider paths.
Map Features
Click to expand
Oceanborn is a standard map set in an underwater world. The map features 14 blue bases in total, rocks that can be destroyed to open up paths around the map and plenty of line of sight blockers to hide your units behind.
There is no Overlord pillar at the natural and there is also a good amount of airspace around the main and natural.
Map Features
Click to expand
Ahead of the results, we'd like to once again thank Monster Energy for allowing us to keep TLMC going into 2023. We're extremely grateful to the map-makers who are at the heart of this contest, as well as the judges, Wardi, and ESL for their crucial roles in holding the TLMC. Of course, we're also grateful to you, the community, for your interest in the maps that make StarCraft II competition so compelling. We hope to share some good news with you soon!
Mapmakers will receive $200 per map that finished in the top sixteen, and additional prize money for maps that finish in the top five as chosen by public vote:
- 1st place - $200
- 2nd place - $125
- 3rd place - $100
- 4th place - $75
- 5th place- $50
Note: Top placing maps in TLMC #18 are not guaranteed to be added to the ladder and/or professional tournaments. ESL and Blizzard will consider TLMC #18 voting results alongside other factors and choose which maps to add at their own discretion.
5th place
"Sidetracked" by KillerSmile
A standard map with a preferred triangular 3rd base and a relatively short rush (30s) rush distance for the category. The linear 3rd has open high ground in front of it from where it can be attacked, but to help with a surround you can destroy some rocks to open up the high ground for easier access.There are 8 bases per player, 2 of which are unusual. One is a forward high ground base with a blocked off purple geyser, and right below it there is a gold base along the Sidetrack of the map.
Click to expand
4th place
"Goldenaura" by Marras
Goldenaura is a macro map with diagonal symmetry. It features a total of 13 blue bases and one golden base in the bottom left corner of the map.No Overlord pillar right at the natural. There are two Xel'naga towers, one at the high ground near the gold base and another at the lowground in the top right. There is also a good amount of airspace around the map. In the middle of the map there is a 'ramphill.'
Click to expand
3rd place
"Shipping News" by depressed1
Shipping news is a 4-level macro category map. It was created to enlight an old idea and revive the hybrid mineral bases. The idea is that the 6-patch (3 gold, 3 blue) hybrid base has the same mineral income as a 'normal' base, but with less workers needed.The hybrid base only has one gas, and is placed between the natural and third. Players might want to skip the natural base in order to get a hybrid base first for some sort of early aggression that's mineral-heavy (like 2 base all-in or timing attack). But it has only one Vespene geyser because we need to prevent any type of early gas-type build orders and any form of disadvantage for Terran players.
For the rest the map has a defensive and technical layout. The triangle third has an additional narrow path with a slow zone. It was created in order to have easy access to Xel’Naga tower, and a slow zone should stop an opponent from sneaking in.
Xel’naga towers give you full control over the center of the map but not high grounds.
The front ramp that leads to the hybrid/natural base is blocked by 6x6 rocks.
Click to expand
2nd place
"Hecate" by volumin
Hecate is a standard map with 14 bases, two of which have 4 blue-4 gold mineral patches and 2 normal geysers.The ramp in front of the natural is partially blocked with 6x6 rocks to help with the relatively short 29 second natural-to-natural rush distance. The most distinctive features of the map are three narrow bridges that connect wider paths.
Click to expand
1st place
"Oceanborn" by Marras
Oceanborn is a standard map set in an underwater world. The map features 14 blue bases in total, rocks that can be destroyed to open up paths around the map and plenty of line of sight blockers to hide your units behind.There is no Overlord pillar at the natural and there is also a good amount of airspace around the main and natural.
Click to expand
Full Results
Read our finalists post for full descriptions and overviews of all sixteen finalists.- 1st: Oceanborn
- 2nd: Hecate
- 3rd: Shipping News
- 4th: Goldenaura
- 5th: Sidetracked
- 6th: Equilibrium
- 7th: Calliope
- 8th: Hard Lead
- 9th: Solaris
- 10th: Carnivore
- 11th: Sleepwalker
- 12th: Stadium
- 13th: Institute
- 14th: Harbinger
- 15th: Interitus
- 16th: Infestation Station
