[RA] The official map pool. ...in with the new.

[SoScared]

The hardest maps to replace are the 6 player maps and up since few people are making regular mass player maps, and they vary greatly in quality. However here's a list containing some 2-player maps, and a variety of team and FFA maps.

Playtested:

Behind The Veil (2 players)
Dual Cold Front (2 players)
Northwest Passage (2 players)
Warwind (2 players)
Winter Storm (2 players)
Sunstroke (3 players, FFA)
Sudden Death (5 players, FFA)
Pool Party (10 players, 5v5)

Re-instate map removed from the latest playtest/bleed:
Caffeinated (8 players)

This map is the same map type, size and has the same player number (8) as Raraku. Raraku is a monstrosity and is suggested for removal in #10708. Imo, Raraku looks hideous, the map itself and in the map chooser, but also has poor options for team play and FFA. Caffeinated on the other hand looks decent as a non-symmetrical map, has multiple options for team-play, even multiple 4v4 positions. Personally, the games I remember on this map was generally fun. The are numerous maps in the map pool currently that should be dumped way before Caffeinated.

[pchote]

For reference, here are the top played maps (with >= 30 plays) that are available from the resource center rsync.

Resource Site	Plays
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8257/	669
http://resource.openra.net/maps/7972/	202
http://resource.openra.net/maps/6722/	201
http://resource.openra.net/maps/7018/	124
http://resource.openra.net/maps/4017/	119
http://resource.openra.net/maps/6899/	111
http://resource.openra.net/maps/6852/	105
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8228/	99
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8258/	98
http://resource.openra.net/maps/5676/	95
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8227/	84
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8232/	84
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8230/	74
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8214/	72
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8296/	70
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8075/	69
http://resource.openra.net/maps/6868/	61
http://resource.openra.net/maps/7100/	61
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8237/	59
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8331/	57
http://resource.openra.net/maps/4178/	55
http://resource.openra.net/maps/7038/	53
http://resource.openra.net/maps/7123/	52
http://resource.openra.net/maps/7798/	51
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8260/	50
http://resource.openra.net/maps/6998/	44
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8322/	41
http://resource.openra.net/maps/7269/	39
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8238/	39
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8079/	34
http://resource.openra.net/maps/6804/	32
http://resource.openra.net/maps/7289/	32
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8116/	30
http://resource.openra.net/maps/8239/	30

[Micr0Bit]

@pchote : didnt the maps all get new hashes since the release ?
i mean ... "top played maps" since when ?

[ghost]

Behind the veil has already been added to the official pool. #10320

I agree with the suggested maps on balance (sunstroke is a little too chokey for me), but I still think the aesthetics of some of the maps should be improved by their respective authors first. Some are a bit bare.

Pizza Atomicas maps are a great example of how maps can be balanced, fun and aesthetically nice looking. Imho this is the bar that should be aimed for when adding maps to the official pool.

[GraionDilach]

What about Tournament Isle and Terraform? They apparently look popular and pleasing at first glance.

[ScottNZ]

Tournament Isle is just a custom modified Tournament Island (which we already ship officially). Not much point in having both of them.

[SoScared]

@r34ch I think Sunstroke's chokepoint is fine for a 1v1v1 match. It's hard to lock down any key position on the map with multiple paths and 2 opponents. We're lacking 3-player maps so we should IMO give this a chance. Which maps do you think should up the aesthetics?

[ghost]

@SoScared My bad, I meant from a usability point of view rather than tactical.

Because these choke points are only 2 cells wide, the unit path-finding with medium+ attack groups of tanks and infantry is pretty frustrating. Tanks get blocked easily and then try take the long way round which means far more effort (and time) simply microing your army to get into position. This makes coordinating separate attacks much harder and frustrating.

I think that frustration can easily be avoided by adding a second mud crossing right beside each single mud crossing on the map (the bridges are fine). That would still keep them as tactical choke points but would help unit pathfinding considerably so players can focus on the actual gameplay (tanks tanking damage rather than taking a scenic drive)

[SoScared]

That makes good sense. I'll pass on the message to the author!
8. feb. 2016 09:44 skrev "r34ch" notifications@github.com:

@SoScared https://github.com/SoScared My bad, I meant from a usability
point of view rather than tactical.

Because these choke points are only 2 cells wide, the unit path-finding
with medium+ attack groups of tanks and infantry is pretty frustrating.
Tanks get blocked easily and then try take the long way round which means
more effort simply microing your army. This makes coordinating separate
attacks much harder (frustrating)

I think that frustration can easily be avoided by adding a second mud
crossing right beside each single mud crossing on the map (the bridges are
fine). That would still keep them as tactical choke points but would help
unit pathfinding considerably so players can focus on the actual
gameplay.

—
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub
#10710 (comment).

[SoScared]

Sunstroke has been altered by PizzaAtomica according to recommendations:

Changes:
3 river passovers has been replaced by an open passage on the edges.
Remaining (3) river passovers has become twin passovers.

[jaZzKCS]

Reminder for SoScared: Dual Vegetation diversity.

As discussed in Mumble there should be more diversity to the areas that were once spawns. Maybe even different things for the northern and southern most ore patches (?)

[SoScared]

Dual Vegetation successfully diversified http://resource.openra.net/maps/9096/

[SoScared]

@r34ch Strange, somehow Behind The Veil has been dropped from the official map pool tab with the latest release. I thought it was just me but apparently noone can find the map there.

Kyrylo made a new revision making it a 2 player map instead of a 4 player map. I'm adding it to the list.

Also had the pleasure of watching some games on Sudden Death (5 player FFA) and Pool Party (10 Player) by PizzaAtomica. e.g. Pool Party replay w 10 players: http://www.gamereplays.org/openra/replays.php?game=92&show=details&id=310681

Both are good looking, plays well and supplements the official map pools FFA and 10 player maps. Added those to the list.

[SoScared]

Added Dual Cold Front. Proved itself a great 1v1 custom map over a long period of time.

I'm not 100% on Dual Vegetation concerning playability. It's a good map IMO but way too big and macro for casual players. Removing it for now.