Hey TL, granted this is my first post with this username its certainly not the first time I've been here. This site happens to be one of the few sites that our university overlooked when they blocked the entire "starcraft" name. If you search anything with sc2 or sc or starcraft etc in its URL it blocks you out (any way around that send me a personal message thanks.)

Anyway, this is one of my more polished maps, and while i've been taking comments from my friends and other playtesters at sc2mapster, I think this community is more suited for discussion on strategy/gameplay.

Enough talk, heres the map. Ill try my best to fit within the protocols that seem in place on these forums.

Map Name: Soulfire
Curse Link: Download
Development Page: ]Link

Changelog:

7/11/2010
-Released finalized version to Bnet with associated balance changes, per feedback.

6/27/2010
-Widened more paths per requests.

6/26/2010
-Released for contribution on TL.net.
-Widened Multiple Paths per request
-Added Xel Naga Towers.

6/17/2010
-Added doodads to lava surfaces, bringing out some detail.

6/16/2010
-Added extra ramp to side expansion.

6/13/2010
-Removed some excessive lava effects.
-Widened middle bridge due to feedback. (thanks!)

6/13/2010
-Uploaded
-tweaked lighting effects for framerates
-raised water level

Preview:
[image loading]

http://static.sc2mapster.com/content/images/23/145/soul11.jpg

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http://static.sc2mapster.com/content/images/23/146/soul22.jpg

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http://static.sc2mapster.com/content/images/23/147/soul33.jpg

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http://static.sc2mapster.com/content/images/23/148/soul44.jpg

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http://static.sc2mapster.com/content/images/23/149/soul55.jpg

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Some more pics of earlier versions:
Main Base
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9589/soulhires.jpg
High-Yeild
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/4884/soulhires1.jpg
Natural
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7769/soulhires2.jpg
Main pathway/expansions overview
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/1443/soulhires3.jpg

Updated Layout (Thanks to TL.net)
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/6777/souloverrev2.jpg

Thanks to the friends here who helped test the map over the last night. I know I asked a million questions, but I'm glad you guys had a good time.

Ventez

Norway107 Posts

June 25 2010 20:00 GMT

Looks cool, but can we have an overview of the map? The first image is too small.

irninja

United States1220 Posts

June 25 2010 20:01 GMT

ill get right on it.

edit:
(i didnt want to post the original pic from sc2mapster here as it seems it would hog bandwidth being so large, gimme a sec ill see what i can do.)
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/6553/soullowres.jpg

monitor

United States2404 Posts

June 25 2010 20:06 GMT

Looks really good, seems like a ladder map! You might want to open up some paths, because they all seem relatively small.

irninja

United States1220 Posts

June 25 2010 20:07 GMT

Updated my second post with low-res/low settings pic to easily distinguish map barriers.

BSOS

United States32 Posts

June 25 2010 20:25 GMT

i think this map is so cool.

it needs 2 things:

-watchtowers
-a wide middle. everything seems so narrow, very anti-zerg

Jayme

United States5866 Posts

June 25 2010 20:26 GMT

What kind of university blocks something as mundane as starcraft?

irninja

United States1220 Posts

June 25 2010 20:29 GMT

Inside the campus itself they block a lot of things, gaming being one of the major ones. Aside from your normal pr0n and such

Pharow

United States19 Posts

June 25 2010 20:30 GMT

Ok i just have to point this out because it made me laugh. The OP claims that his school filters out URLS that contain Startcraft, SC2, SC, etc... man that must stink if you're writting a paper on SChools, SCience, SCouting, SCooters, SCurvy, or SCuba Diving.

irninja

United States1220 Posts

June 25 2010 20:31 GMT

#10

@BSOS
Wider middle is definitely doable, is there such thing as too wide i wonder? And ive considered putting watchtowers on the extensions coming out torwards the choke, debated long and hard.

irninja

United States1220 Posts

June 25 2010 20:33 GMT

#11

@Pha
The name of the filter is "websense" http://www.websense.com/content/Home.aspx, and im sure it doesnt specifically block "sc". but its blocked all other sites I know with sc in them relating to starcraft.

Perhaps i should have mentioned that, I was just hoping wed have some networking gurus here and i didnt feel it was worth someone elses time posting a brand new post.

On to the map now.

BSOS

United States32 Posts

June 25 2010 21:03 GMT

#12

i believe the watchtowers should go here:
+ Show Spoiler +

irninja

United States1220 Posts

June 25 2010 21:32 GMT

#13

thats what i was thinking too. perhaps ill add them after all

Numy

South Africa35471 Posts

June 25 2010 21:39 GMT

#14

On June 26 2010 05:25 BSOS wrote:

it needs 2 things:

-watchtowers

Don't quite understand why maps NEED watchtowers? Surely those should be worked in when creating the map instead of just popping them in after the map design is done? I just don't get why a map would need a gimmick just because it's available. Although I'm not saying the map would be worse is better with them, merely pointing on why watchtowers/gold is seen as a must in maps

irninja

United States1220 Posts

June 25 2010 23:51 GMT

#15

I dont suppose any map "needs" it. But its a nice feature in sc2 and adds an element of strategy I would think.

deth

Australia1757 Posts

June 25 2010 23:55 GMT

#16

This map is my favourite user-created 1v1 map so far!! I want blizzard to seriously look at this and add it to the map pool, it really does look like it would be a blast to play on. Good work man!

Tone_

United Kingdom554 Posts

June 26 2010 00:04 GMT

#17

Really impressive. Attention to detail makes it look like a professionally created map.

LunarC

United States1186 Posts

June 26 2010 00:48 GMT

#18

Try staggering your minerals so that they look more interesting. Other than that, it's a really nice-looking map. I'd love to play on it!

Edit: Strategy-wise, perhaps you should consider opening up the ramp into the natural and the main push path through the center of the map. They seem a little too constricted at the moment.

kajeus

United States679 Posts

June 26 2010 01:01 GMT

#19

On June 26 2010 06:39 Numy wrote:

Show nested quote +

They make maps more interesting?

irninja

United States1220 Posts

June 26 2010 01:09 GMT

#20

Question to the general public, LunarC mentioned staggering minerals, but does this effect gameplay dramatically? If not, that will be looked into immediately, as its an easy change.