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New Maps for Heart of the Swarm Balance Testing

Forum Index > SC2 General
196 CommentsPost a Reply
1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 Next All
digmouse
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
China6331 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-10-24 15:54:18
October 24 2013 03:52 GMT
#1
If you've kept up with our most recent round of Heart of the Swarm balance testing, then by now, you've become very comfortable with Bel'Shir Vestige LE as the home for your playtests. After reviewing suggestions from pro players and the StarCraft II community, we decided to create two additional Balance Test Maps to help ensure more comprehensive testing and offer extra variety from game to game. All three of the Balance Test Maps below have already been published to the Custom Games list so you can jump in and start your next playtest session right away.

Balance Test Map Pool
Bel’Shir Vestige LE (2.0.11 Balance v1.1)
Yeonsu LE (2.0.11 Balance v1.1)
Alterzim Stronghold TE (2.0.11 Balance v1.1)


Bel'Shir Vestige and Yeonsu should look familiar, as both are present in the official StarCraft II Ladder and World Championship Series map pools. Alterzim Stronghold, however, is a brand new map that we're debuting today, and we'd love to review any feedback you might be able to share with us. The StarCraft II development team kindly provided a brief introduction to Alterzim Stronghold to help you get your feet wet before you jump in to your next game:


[image loading]

Map analyse thread: Alterzim Stronghold TE

Read the rest introduction about the new map and the balance changes here: http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/blog/11345417/new-maps-for-heart-of-the-swarm-balance-testing-10-23-2013

Poll: Impression on new map?

Hooray! (595)
 
70%

No, thanks. (186)
 
22%

No idea. (64)
 
8%

845 total votes

Your vote: Impression on new map?

(Vote): Hooray!
(Vote): No, thanks.
(Vote): No idea.

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TranslatorIf you want to ask anything about Chinese esports, send me a PM or follow me @nerddigmouse.
awesomoecalypse
Profile Joined August 2010
United States2235 Posts
October 24 2013 03:56 GMT
#2
Makes sense to test changes on a variety of maps, for obvious reasons.
He drone drone drone. Me win. - ogsMC
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33673 Posts
October 24 2013 03:58 GMT
#3
Alterzim Stronghold (we’re pronouncing it ‘ahl-ter-zeem’) is a four-player map, designed with the specific goal in mind that all combinations of 1v1 spawn locations are viable and don’t offer an advantage to any one player.


that's not how four player maps work unless you're breaking the laws of timespace
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
Daralii
Profile Joined March 2010
United States16991 Posts
October 24 2013 04:02 GMT
#4
On October 24 2013 12:58 Waxangel wrote:
Show nested quote +
Alterzim Stronghold (we’re pronouncing it ‘ahl-ter-zeem’) is a four-player map, designed with the specific goal in mind that all combinations of 1v1 spawn locations are viable and don’t offer an advantage to any one player.


that's not how four player maps work unless you're breaking the laws of timespace

The technology is there now.
Fear is freedom! Subjugation is liberation! Contradiction is truth!
Lunareste
Profile Joined July 2011
United States3596 Posts
October 24 2013 04:04 GMT
#5
interesting..
KT FlaSh FOREVER
Vindicare605
Profile Blog Joined August 2011
United States16125 Posts
October 24 2013 04:05 GMT
#6
So we're trying the whole in base expansion thing again?

Not a fan. Not a fan at all.
aka: KTVindicare the Geeky Bartender
Ben...
Profile Joined January 2011
Canada3485 Posts
October 24 2013 04:06 GMT
#7
On October 24 2013 12:58 Waxangel wrote:
Show nested quote +
Alterzim Stronghold (we’re pronouncing it ‘ahl-ter-zeem’) is a four-player map, designed with the specific goal in mind that all combinations of 1v1 spawn locations are viable and don’t offer an advantage to any one player.


that's not how four player maps work unless you're breaking the laws of timespace
Just looking at the map, they have failed with that goal. On non-cross positions, one person always has easier access to attacking the other's back expansion, which is an advantage to one side. And that is in all position but cross.
"Cliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide" -Tastosis
geokilla
Profile Joined May 2011
Canada8255 Posts
October 24 2013 04:06 GMT
#8
Oracle moment speed increase? Was that always there in the last balance test changes?

I wish they would bring back Xel'Naga Caverns and Shakuras Plateau. Updated of course. They'd be amazing to play in HOTS.
iMrising
Profile Blog Joined March 2012
United States1099 Posts
October 24 2013 04:08 GMT
#9
The middle reminds me of entombed...its all just flat ground.
but i enjoy the tileset
$O$ | soO
-NegativeZero-
Profile Joined August 2011
United States2142 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-10-24 04:11:22
October 24 2013 04:08 GMT
#10
Map is too big, too many bases (20 wtf), and too easy to secure 3 bases.

On October 24 2013 13:06 geokilla wrote:
Oracle moment speed increase? Was that always there in the last balance test changes?

I wish they would bring back Xel'Naga Caverns and Shakuras Plateau. Updated of course. They'd be amazing to play in HOTS.

Lol I don't think swarm host stalemates across the middle of Shakuras Plateau would exactly be "amazing to play".
vibeo gane,
[CCSRAM] BaoQuan
Profile Joined August 2013
United States96 Posts
October 24 2013 04:09 GMT
#11
The widow mine nerf seems to be subtle enough that it won't drastically change TvZ, so it looks pretty good.
lystier
Profile Blog Joined August 2013
China877 Posts
October 24 2013 04:10 GMT
#12
I don't really think that keep updating balance packs helps...
Startale forever.
winthrop
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Hong Kong956 Posts
October 24 2013 04:19 GMT
#13
where is Akilon Waste TE
Incredible Miracle
Darkhorse
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
United States23455 Posts
October 24 2013 04:20 GMT
#14
On October 24 2013 13:08 -NegativeZero- wrote:

Lol I don't think swarm host stalemates across the middle of Shakuras Plateau would exactly be "amazing to play".

Come on man it would be fun!
WriterRecently Necro'd (?)
Darkhorse
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
United States23455 Posts
October 24 2013 04:22 GMT
#15
Not a huge fan of the new map, in base expos are kinda meh, with a small ramp at your main basically you can and will always fast expand. Plus once you get three bases, it looks super turtle-y.
WriterRecently Necro'd (?)
NewSunshine
Profile Joined July 2011
United States5938 Posts
October 24 2013 04:23 GMT
#16
Um, Alterzim is 192x192. That's bigger than Tal'Darim, bigger than Korhal City, shit, it's bigger than most 4v4 maps. Strikes me as a map designed just to make the 200 supply cap a pain in the ass.
"If you find yourself feeling lost, take pride in the accuracy of your feelings." - Night Vale
geokilla
Profile Joined May 2011
Canada8255 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-10-24 04:24:50
October 24 2013 04:24 GMT
#17
On October 24 2013 13:08 -NegativeZero- wrote:
Map is too big, too many bases (20 wtf), and too easy to secure 3 bases.

Show nested quote +
On October 24 2013 13:06 geokilla wrote:
Oracle moment speed increase? Was that always there in the last balance test changes?

I wish they would bring back Xel'Naga Caverns and Shakuras Plateau. Updated of course. They'd be amazing to play in HOTS.

Lol I don't think swarm host stalemates across the middle of Shakuras Plateau would exactly be "amazing to play".

Who says you can't do that here? Or on any other map for that matter. And that's why I said, "Updated of course." Some old maps were pretty bad like Scrap Station, but others were rather fun. I'd rather play on those maps than this constant 3 base macro game Blizzard is forcing us to play. As you said, too easy to secure 3 bases, map is too big, and 20 bases. I really can't think of any rushes or cheeses either for any race on a map like this one that they're putting out.

On October 24 2013 13:23 NewSunshine wrote:
Um, Alterzim is 192x192. That's bigger than Tal'Darim, bigger than Korhal City, shit, it's bigger than most 4v4 maps. Strikes me as a map designed just to make the 200 supply cap a pain in the ass.


Where'd you find that?
lolfail9001
Profile Joined August 2013
Russian Federation40190 Posts
October 24 2013 04:27 GMT
#18
20 bases? What were they drinking instead of tea/coffee/beer?
DeMoN pulls off a Miracle and Flies to the Moon
Ben...
Profile Joined January 2011
Canada3485 Posts
October 24 2013 04:27 GMT
#19
On October 24 2013 13:20 Darkhoarse wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 24 2013 13:08 -NegativeZero- wrote:

Lol I don't think swarm host stalemates across the middle of Shakuras Plateau would exactly be "amazing to play".

Come on man it would be fun!
Infestor/Broodlord levels of fun. Yaaaaaay!!!!
"Cliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide" -Tastosis
lolfail9001
Profile Joined August 2013
Russian Federation40190 Posts
October 24 2013 04:33 GMT
#20
On October 24 2013 13:27 Ben... wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 24 2013 13:20 Darkhoarse wrote:
On October 24 2013 13:08 -NegativeZero- wrote:

Lol I don't think swarm host stalemates across the middle of Shakuras Plateau would exactly be "amazing to play".

Come on man it would be fun!
Infestor/Broodlord levels of fun. Yaaaaaay!!!!

Infestor BL against toss in WoL = pure fun.
DeMoN pulls off a Miracle and Flies to the Moon
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