• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 23:39
CEST 05:39
KST 12:39
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Serral wins HomeStory Cup 2914Serral wins Maestros of the Game 243ByuL, and the Limitations of Standard Play3Team Liquid Map Contest #22: Results and Winners7Code S Season 2 (2026): RO4 and Finals Preview12
Community News
IntoTheTV X SOOP SC2 League : Weekly & Monthly4Clem: "I don't have that much hope in Blizzard"4ZeroSpace Early Access is Now Live!29Weekly Cups (July 13-19): Terran & Protoss rise; Zerg falters2Balance hotfix patch 5.0.16b (July 16)95
StarCraft 2
General
How would you feel about frequent/monthly balance patches for SC2? Clem: "I don't have that much hope in Blizzard" 3kb/s downloading patch..... are we back to 1998? Balance hotfix patch 5.0.16b (July 16) Reynor: GSL Loss Wasn't About Preparation Format
Tourneys
RSL Revival: Season 6 - Qualifiers and Main Event PIG STY FESTIVAL 8.0! (13 - 23 August) IntoTheTV X SOOP SC2 League : Weekly & Monthly INu's Battles#18 - Cure, herO, Rogue & ByuN Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2)
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
[M] (2) Industrial Park New Map Maker - Looking for Advice - Love or Hate
External Content
Cara Menghubungi Call Center Scoot Airlines Mutation # 536 Railroad Switch The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 535 Assembly of Vengeance
Brood War
General
BW General Discussion ASL22 General Discussion BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Recent recommended BW games screpdb: new Starcraft reporting tool
Tourneys
Escore Tournament - Season 3 2v2v2v2 Tournament [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Star Con San Diego 2026
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers PvT advise for noobs Fighting Spirit mining rates Creating a full chart of Zerg builds
Other Games
General Games
ZeroSpace Early Access is Now Live! General RTS Discussion Thread Nintendo Switch Thread Path of Exile Diablo IV
Dota 2
Looking for a Dota Mentor Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
TSM pausing esports and CLG Dead
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Power Rank TL Mafia Community Thread NeO.D_StephenKing vs This Guy From 1 Million Dance
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Artificial Intelligence Thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread How to buy a book - shipping from Korea to Europe
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club The HerO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! Anime Discussion Thread Series you have seen recently... [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread 2026-27 Football Thread placeholder TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 Formula 1 Discussion MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread Simple Questions Simple Answers FPS when play League Of Legend on laptop
TL Community
Northern Ireland Global Starcraft The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Games, Hormones, and "Dark" …
TrAiDoS
Hello guys!
LIN1s
ASL S22 English Commentary…
namkraft
Poker (part 2)
Nebuchad
An Exploration of th…
waywardstrategy
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 4835 users

Map-Making Strengths & Weaknesses

Forum Index > SC2 Maps & Custom Games
Post a Reply
IronManSC
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United States2119 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-03-17 21:09:55
March 17 2012 21:04 GMT
#1
No two map-makers are the same.

Some are more creative (some are very artistic with doodads),
Some are more analytical (some can find problems just by looking, and some have to draw it),
And some can make maps more quickly than others (making a map once a week, or once a month, or longer).

We all have our pros and cons. I believe it's important to understand who we are as individuals and as map-makers. Who you are as an individual plays an important role for who you are as a mapper as well, because your thought process is applied. When you take a look at the threads, How much have you improved?... Map Art... and Barrin's Circle Syndrome Analysis, we can conclude that every mapper has a particular gift (or strength) that they can achieve solely through map-making... and that somewhere along the map-making process, they had to overcome one or more obstacles to be where they're at today. Some of us may still be struggling with a particular aspect of map-making even to this day.

Some mappers can blow people out of the water with how gorgeous their aesthetics can be. Some can come up with the most wacky concepts that still work, and some can analyze a map that makes your head implode. That is why I think it's time to discover the wholeness in our map-making skills and what we're made of.

What are your strengths and weaknesses in map-making? Be clear and brief.


My Strengths:
- Analyzing Maps
- Testing Maps
- Understanding Map Imbalances
- Nature aesthetics (plants, bushes, trees, rivers, rocks, vines etc)

My Weaknesses:
- Coming up with a map concept/layout (takes me like 2 months to think of something)
- Unable to work on a map for more than 2 hours a day (production can take a while longer)
- Terrible with man-made aesthetics/creativity (buildings, towers, vehicles, statues etc)
SC2 Mapmaker || twitter: @ironmansc || Ohana & Mech Depot || 3x TLMC finalist || www.twitch.tv/sc2mapstream
Archvil3
Profile Joined September 2010
Denmark989 Posts
March 17 2012 21:27 GMT
#2
What is the purpose of this?
Let thy speech be better than silence, or be silent.
Broodie
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
Canada832 Posts
March 17 2012 21:46 GMT
#3
@Archvil3 + Show Spoiler +
To have a nice discussion and bring the map community closer? lol what's the point of your comment?


My Strengths:
- Aesthetics in general (I try to familiarize myself in all fields, sometime's its a push but in the end it's worth it)
- Open mindedness to feedback
- Creation pacing
- Problem solving
- Creative pathing

My Weaknesses:
- Reworking (I Need to slow down with adding touches until I actually get the feedback I need)
- Not realizing a good layout from bad and continuing work on shitty maps

It's a lot easier for me to decipher my strengths than weaknesses lol
I'm also a fast learner so any time I notice flaws in what I do I try hard to fix them
SilentLiquid.Broodie - Author of Tango Terminal, Ophilia RE, Cajun Quandary, & The Beneath
Timetwister22
Profile Joined March 2011
United States538 Posts
March 17 2012 23:06 GMT
#4
My Strengths:
-Stamina. I can work on a map for 12 hours straight no problem. The only things that get me to stop are food, sleep, and bathroom trips. Of course, just because I can doesn't mean I will. I will stop to do other things I'd like to do. However, I will credit this with the speed at which I can make my maps.
-Analyzing Maps. I think though possible game scenarios pretty well and find potential map problems.
-Executing aesthetics. Once I understand the look I'm going for, I can achieve it really well. For example, when I helped Ironman with Ohana he already had the general look (texture set, doodads picked, and how each texture and doodad should be used) completed. Thus I was able to execute the waterless Ohana look really well.
-Making layouts. One of my favorite parts of mapping is creating the interesting aspects of the layout, so no wonder it's a strength of mine.
-Problem solving. Once I'm presented with a problem on a map, I'd say a do a decent job of addressing the issues.
-Following Concepts. Once I come up with a concept or am given a concept, I can follow them pretty well. Though, I suppose this goes in hand with making layouts.


My Weaknesses:
-Rotational Symmetry. I kind of understand it, but for the most part it baffles me.
-Creating my own tileset and aesthetics look. I am able to take a few textures I know work together and mix them with another set of textures that I know work with each other, and make a texture set that way (see Serpent Sands). However, I can't just sit down in front of the list of textures and make my own texture set. Same goes with doodads.
-I know I have more, but I can't think of them at the moment. I'll post them when I come across them.
Former ESV Mapmaker | @Timetwister22
Baumvieh
Profile Joined February 2012
Germany67 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-03-18 14:23:02
March 18 2012 14:19 GMT
#5
strengths:
  • aesthetics
  • unafraid of making changes
  • diligence
  • listening to advice and applying it
weaknesses:
  • lack of in-game experience
  • finding testers and getting replays
  • slow worker


The above is just a rough preliminary self observation. I need a lot more experience and feedback in map-making before I will be able to see what my real strengths and weaknesses are.
"We merely create the pallete to which players paint the scene on. But our pallete influences the way in which the brushes are stroked." -SigmaFiE
InfestedHydralisk
Profile Joined October 2010
Netherlands110 Posts
March 18 2012 16:48 GMT
#6
Strengths
- Have alot of new ideas.
- Aesthetics.
- I appreciate map feedback.

Weakness
- Only mediocre map balance understanding.
- Unable to playtest maps or getting replays.
- Sometimes slow.
Champion seed spitting.
Antares777
Profile Joined June 2010
United States1971 Posts
March 18 2012 17:44 GMT
#7
Seems fun, I'll give this a try.

Strengths
-I'm good at creating interesting map layouts/concepts.
-I'm good at providing feedback on maps from just looking at them.
-I can understand balance and gameplay on maps easily.

Weaknesses
-Aesthetics, both doodads and texturing. I am very bad at these. I would much rather create layouts and then have my buddies do the aesthetics, because I am bad at them and get bored doing them. I often just start a new layout/concept before finishing the older ones.
-Finishing the maps that I start. I do the layout and then not the aesthetics.
-I have a Mac and the editor is so slow it frustrates me to the point where I just do not want to make anything. :/


I will probably increase my efforts with the editor when I get a RAM upgrade for my Mac.
IronManSC
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United States2119 Posts
March 18 2012 18:07 GMT
#8
On March 19 2012 02:44 Antares777 wrote:

-I have a Mac and the editor is so slow it frustrates me to the point where I just do not want to make anything. :/


What kind of mac? I run on a iMac 10.6.8. The editor is slow when you have lots of doodads or water, so turn the video settings down.
SC2 Mapmaker || twitter: @ironmansc || Ohana & Mech Depot || 3x TLMC finalist || www.twitch.tv/sc2mapstream
monitor
Profile Blog Joined June 2010
United States2409 Posts
March 18 2012 18:23 GMT
#9
My Strengths
-Map concepts and map design
-I know a fair amount about Balance

My Weaknesses
-Aesthetics; I don't have creative ideas and I'm not very into putting much work into the details
-I cannot work for very long on a map- really just 30 minutes at a time max.
https://liquipedia.net/starcraft2/Monitor
RumbleBadger
Profile Joined July 2011
322 Posts
March 18 2012 18:39 GMT
#10
My strengths:
-Analyzing maps; I'm generally pretty good at finding what I like about a map and what I don't like about a map
-Map 'flow;' I don't know if I've done a good job of showing this in my published maps, but my maps generally have a very consistent flow to them that I personally prefer, especially relating to the main/nat/third layout

What I'm average at:
-Map design in general (working on this)
-Texturing (this is getting better and better)
-Finding at aesthetic mood/theme

My weaknesses:
-Doodads omg I suck at them
-Pathing in the center of the map
-I don't have enough time on my hands to map as much as I would like (especially after recently purchasing Skyrim...)
Games before dames.
WniO
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States2706 Posts
March 18 2012 18:46 GMT
#11
My strengths:
- Textures
- Making small maps
- High masters player, so I understand balance ok.

My weaknesses:
- Making good large maps
- Can't focus on a map too long, or else I need to start another one.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 7h 21m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Nina 160
RuFF_SC2 150
FoxeR 66
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 3793
Free 159
Noble 74
Mind 74
sSak 67
ZergMaN 62
JulyZerg 39
NaDa 31
GoRush 15
Leta 10
[ Show more ]
yabsab 7
firebathero 0
Dota 2
NeuroSwarm233
Counter-Strike
Fnx 387
taco 303
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox567
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor110
Other Games
summit1g10350
JimRising 757
WinterStarcraft501
C9.Mang0345
Maynarde151
ROOTCatZ103
Livibee78
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1288
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• practicex 6
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Rush913
• Lourlo739
• Stunt76
Upcoming Events
WardiTV Weekly
7h 21m
Sparkling Tuna Cup
1d 6h
INu's Battles
1d 7h
Cure vs herO
ByuN vs Rogue
PiGosaur Cup
1d 20h
The PondCast
2 days
Kung Fu Cup
2 days
Patches Events
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
CrankTV Team League
3 days
OSC
3 days
[ Show More ]
Replay Cast
3 days
Escore
4 days
CrankTV Team League
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Afreeca Starleague
5 days
RSL Revival
5 days
ByuN vs SHIN
Solar vs Lambo
WardiTV Summer Champion…
5 days
Afreeca Starleague
6 days
RSL Revival
6 days
Clem vs Serral
herO vs Rogue
WardiTV Summer Champion…
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Acropolis #4
SCTL 2026 Spring
Eternal Conflict S2 Finale

Ongoing

CSL 2026 Summer (S21)
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 3
RSL Revival: Season 6
CranK Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026

Upcoming

Escore Tournament S3: W5
ASL Season 22: Qualifier #1
ASL Season 22: Qualifier #2
Acropolis #5
CSLAN 4
ASL Season 22
Acropolis #5 - TRS
HSC XXX
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
PiG Sty Festival 8.0
Light Tournament 2026
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
Logitech G Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #5
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.