[MSL] A New Arena

Tiamat


Tiamat is a very exciting looking two player map. The map has a standard nat, but then has two gas expansions which are blocked off by neutral buildings. Much of the early game will depend on how these buildings are utilised. Once you move out from the nat there are three routes through the middle of the map, and the opponent's neutral buildings can also be destroyed to enter his base.

The first impression I get of Tiamat is that it doesn't look very good for Terran. It gives Zerg four expansions that are fairly easy to protect, and after that, the map is completely open for counters and flanks.

TvP will be more advantageous for Terran early in the game, because of the fairly small choke into the nat. If Protoss loses an early battle, it could become very difficult for him to survive against a push. On the other hand, if the game goes on for a bit I think Protoss will have a very good chance of winning, with lots of gas available.

Of all the matchpus I think PvZ will be the most interesting battle, with Protoss getting the advantage of four quick gasses (similar to Loki), while Zerg will be able to defend his expansions with relative ease (similar to Blue Storm). It is difficult to say which advantage will be the greatest, but it should make for excellent games.

Athena


Athena is a very interesting looking map. The most obvious feature of the map is the three expansions in the center of the map. These expansions will be difficult to take, but can help to control the center of the map once they are taken.

The mains and nats seem fairly standard (barring that it is a three player map which is uncommon in itself), but the second bases are very interesting to look at. These third and fourth gas bases seem to be between two mains, but they are actually much easier to defend from the one side than from the other. A player can defend these two gasses comfortably by holding down a small unbuildable choke and by protecting his main.

The middle expanions are the next obvious place to look for a base, and holding on to these bases will provide the player with a good oppurtunity to control the middle ground of the map, especially for Terran player.

Looking at the map, it seems to favour Terran slightly in that the middle expansions will be difficult to hold by anyone other than a Terran player, and the middle will be fairly easy to control with a Terran force. While the third gas is easy enough to hold on the map, it is not given to the player as it is on many newer maps, and as such Zerg will have to fight a bit more to make sure he stays in the game. I expect expansionist Terran players to do very well here, and Zerg players to rush for hive tech in order to take the middle expansions.

In PvZ I would say the map favours Zerg slightly, simply because the third gas isn't given to the Protoss player, and the Zerg will be able to hold on to it's expansions fairly easily.

Firebathero rekindles the old rivalry by selecting Savior as his opponent.

- FBH trashes on Savior again- somewhere along the lines of "If you're hungry, you eat. I'm hungry for some wins, so I pick Savior"

- Savior replies: "I don't care anymore" "His face is so dark now I can't tell if he has his sunglasses on or not".

- Bisu moves his name next to JaeDong, wanting a rematch from last season.

- Hwasin moves Savior next to his name. He explains "When I first played in MSL Savior was my first opponent. Playing with Savior is always fun. I didn't pick him because of any hate or anything so please don't take it the wrong way".

- As Hwasin takes Savior away from FBH, FBH replies "Everytime I pick Savior Hwasin takes him away. This season I'm planning to end this once and for all so I ask one of the top seeders to put us together". (The top seeders get to move other players around)

- Savior moves his name away from Hwain and next to NaDa. "I played a practice against Hwasin yesterday and won. It's no fun anymore, but Group E looks fun and I'd like to play NaDa."

- NaDa moves Savior back to FBH "FBH seems sad to lose Savior so I'll give him back." (personally, I smell fear)

- Much puts Savior, FBH and Hwasin into 1 group. "The three seems to bicker a lot so I think it will be fun if they were in the same group".

- Hwasin raises his hand to make a formal request. "I'd like to ask my nice and kind teammate Kal for a favor. FBH cannot win against Kal, and his TvP is pretty bad at 2-8 so I'd like him to to take FBH to his group... or send him far away to another group".

- FBH replies "Kal can do whatever he wants". Then turns to JaeDong, who has the final say in the draft, "Would you like a Nintendo DS?", hinting that he would like to be put back in the group if he's moved. (Notice: Last season and this season MBC began giving our prizes to those who had the best ceremony's, trash-talks and other stuff. FBH won a Nintendo DS and a PSP for "Best Ceremony" and "Best Talk") JaeDong seems to be considering the offer, as he eyes the DS.

- FBH asks Hwasin "Afraid to play me?" to which Savior quickly grabs the mike and shoots "Well are you scared of Kal? Shouldn't you try to win atleast one game from him?" (Kal is 2-0 against FBH)

- As Kal's turn comes around, Kal obeys his older teammate and brings FBH next to his name, saying "During the 19 years of my life I've always disliked those who are disrespectful to me. I will use this opportunity to crush him". FBH tries to bribe Kal with a PSP but Kal seems content on his decision.

- JaeDong's final order comes around and moves FBH back to Savior's group. Bisu quicky asks JaeDong to move his teammate Fantasy to a different group, to which JaeDong does by switching him with Hwasin.