Map Variety

I've noticed that all of the maps (unless I'm mistaken) have each player starting on raised ground with one ramp going down (and in a couple instances one other entrance blocked by rocks). Most of the maps also have a natural expansion right below or near the ramp.

I hope this is just a beta thing and there will be more variation in the final version. Some might say it is an issue of balance, but I don't think the races should be balanced with the assumption that every map is the same e.g. Terrans shouldn't require a starting point with one blockable ramp / chokepoint in order to actually survive. Even having starting points on low ground instead of raised ground would be a welcome change.

I understand that the competitive scene in SC1 gravitated towards maps that followed the basic formula of Lost Temple, but I would hope that Blizzard can introduce some more variety in terms of the layout of the maps as well as the design of the individual races. They've already done that to a significant degree with the new map features (watchtowers, high grass, destructible rocks etc), so I hope they continue in that vein.

Having starting points on low ground would be terrible. And it would heavily favor Terran who could drop some siege tanks on the higher ground and just decimate any other race.

I dont think he means starting on lower ground, but instead even ground. I agree that having every map have ramps gets a little old. Not only having an elevation advantage, but deal with ramps everywhere gets annoying as well. I understand them being on some maps, I just don't like every map having ramps to key mineral fields except for high yield minerals.

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Originally Posted by Hav0x

Having starting points on low ground would be terrible. And it would heavily favor Terran who could drop some siege tanks on the higher ground and just decimate any other race.

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That's a fair point.

Like Nottoway said, though, it doesn't have to be lowered ground, but even ground. The point is that it seems very artificial to me that every map follows a similar formula to Lost Temple. There have to be other map archetypes that can be conducive to competitive play.

I just watched a Replay of a map that starts both players on even grounds. Terrain is just as important as unit stats when it comes to balance. Once they have a final build, you will see maps evolve to become as balanced as possible. As of right now, all you are going to see is cookie cutter maps that they hope will be balanced enough to get good data and patch the game.

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Originally Posted by Operatoring

I just watched a Replay of a map that starts both players on even grounds. Terrain is just as important as unit stats when it comes to balance. Once they have a final build, you will see maps evolve to become as balanced as possible. As of right now, all you are going to see is cookie cutter maps that they hope will be balanced enough to get good data and patch the game.

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That's fine, and I'm hoping that's the case.

But I also hope they don't balance the game around one kind of map, because then we'll be forced to play on a particular kind of map for there to be balance.

Kulas Ravine is one map that has even ground.

I hate Kulas can't i can't wall my expo.

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Originally Posted by PosImpos

That's fine, and I'm hoping that's the case.

But I also hope they don't balance the game around one kind of map, because then we'll be forced to play on a particular kind of map for there to be balance.

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Regardless of what Blizzard does, there will still be many people who will create unique and unusual maps through map editor... i dont know about you guys, but for BW i mostly play on maps made by others (especially iCCup maps), so even if Blizz makes abunch of similar maps you're not satisfied with, you can make you own! yay :)

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Originally Posted by Jabber Wookie

Regardless of what Blizzard does, there will still be many people who will create unique and unusual maps through map editor... i dont know about you guys, but for BW i mostly play on maps made by others (especially iCCup maps), so even if Blizz makes abunch of similar maps you're not satisfied with, you can make you own! yay :)

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Blizzard will be doing the balancing, though, and if they balance the game around Lost Temple-esque maps, then it will be unbalanced on different maps.

I'd like to add that the relative size of sc2 maps compared to bw is about that of 96x96.

My fav map by far is Kulas but thats because I made that map in wc3 and played my melee mod on it alot so im already used to it. Plus it looks amazing

I think the maps have a decent amount of variety, and im sure they'll be some low ground bases with high ground centers (theres only a few of these in SC:BW) But so far I think each map has its disadvantages and advantages and feels different to play on.

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Originally Posted by Islandsnake

My fav map by far is Kulas but thats because I made that map in wc3 and played my melee mod on it alot so im already used to it. Plus it looks amazing

I think the maps have a decent amount of variety, and im sure they'll be some low ground bases with high ground centers (theres only a few of these in SC:BW) But so far I think each map has its disadvantages and advantages and feels different to play on.

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Well, hopefully when I get to play the game I'll feel this way as well.

I just see in replays that a lot of games seem to have a similar early dynamic because of ramp walling / fighting and what not. I'm just concerned that the game is being balanced around players having high ground and only one open entrance to their base, and it will be unbalanced if somebody tries to make a map with, for example, multiple open entrances to the starting base.