[fray`Alpha]

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment

Beginning with Season 4, we’ve been experimenting with prioritizing tournament-style maps on the StarCraft II ladder. Now, in Season 6, we’re giving player-created maps the spotlight!

+ [More Info] +

TeamLiquid.net recently hosted the TeamLiquid map contest to offer enthusiasts from the StarCraft II community a chance to show off their map making skills. The competitors in that contest were also tempted with the tantalizing possibility of seeing their creations featured on the official StarCraft II ladder. The contest was a smashing success and we had the opportunity to see the map contest finalists in action during the TL Open. The contest also gave you, the player community, a chance to share your opinions and shape StarCraft history by voting on your favorite maps in the wake of the tournament. The votes were tallied, the final winners were chosen, and the time has come! In Season 6, you can finally meet your fellow players in furious battle on top TeamLiquid map contest maps: Cloud Kingdom and Korhal Compound. We’re truly excited to give such high quality community created maps a place on the official ladder.

Season 6, which begins the week of February 14, brings with it the following changes to the existing map pool:

Maps being removed

(2) Xel’naga Caverns

Players have been enjoying Xel’naga Caverns since the StarCraft II beta. However, as this map is no longer preferred in a tournament setting, we’ve opted to pull it from the pool for this season.

(2) Arid Plateau

In the spirit of making every ladder map tournament viable, we added two new maps last season that would be true to that goal. We pushed some new features on Arid Plateau such as unusual natural expansions, and a lot of open areas around the map. Arid Plateau wasn’t as widely accepted as a tournament friendly map, so we’ve decided to retire it from the rotation for Season 6.


Maps being added

(2) Cloud Kingdom

By SUPEROUMAN and the other members of the ESV Mapmaking Team


(2) Korhal Compound

By monitor and the other members of the ESV Mapmaking Team

+ [Ohana will be added in a future ladder season] +

We would also like to recognize IronmanSC and the members of ESV and The Planetary Workshop (TPW) for their amazing work on Ohana, which took second place in the TeamLiquid map contest. We’re currently working with IronmanSC to help fix a few bugs while ensuring we retain the intent of the map, and once those are done we’ll be adding it to the pool for a future ladder season.

We will continue to change the map lineup on the StarCraft II ladder over time, and we’ll also maintain our focus on tournament-viable maps to ensure the fiercest competition. Maps that don’t make the cut will be replaced by maps that meet the standards set by major tournaments all around the globe.

Source: SC2 Battle.net


I am very happy with these changes

Quick Comments

	ToRSmotPokingFish:
	Fenner:	Amazing changes, best ladder pool so far
	nirvAnA:	ty for da info!
	Maynarde:	ESV MAPS
	xGKingdelete:
	SayfT:
	VB_Blake:

[Stallion]

OMG YES BLIZZARD cloud kingdom creates some amazing matches and xel naga caverns is old and arid plataeu was horrible il actually play the full map pool

also second new map looks like a modified belshir beach

[zendex]

Official News: http://sea.battle.net/sc2/en/blog/21...2_10_2012#blog

Removed:
"Xel’naga Caverns
Players have been enjoying Xel’naga Caverns since the StarCraft II beta. However, as this map is no longer preferred in a tournament setting, we’ve opted to pull it from the pool for this season.

Arid Plateau
In the spirit of making every ladder map tournament viable, we added two new maps last season that would be true to that goal. We pushed some new features on Arid Plateau such as unusual natural expansions, and a lot of open areas around the map. Arid Plateau wasn’t as widely accepted as a tournament friendly map, so we’ve decided to retire it from the rotation for Season 6."

Added:
ESV Cloud Kingdom


ESV Korhal Compound


Blizzard has hinted that ESV Ohana will follow:
"We would also like to recognize IronmanSC and the members of ESV and The Planetary Workshop (TPW) for their amazing work on Ohana, which took second place in the TeamLiquid map contest. We’re currently working with IronmanSC to help fix a few bugs while ensuring we retain the intent of the map, and once those are done we’ll be adding it to the pool for a future ladder season."

[ToRSmotPokingFish]

this i like very much

[Asrathiel]

Bwahahaha, die evil Arid Plateau!!!!

[Nemo]

Originally Posted by Asrathiel

Bwahahaha, die evil Arid Plateau!!!!

Haha, exact same idea.

[Dox]

I was meaning to post this earlier today but work owned me. Thanks for doing this! Gonna move your post to the front page and add a bit more text/pics.

Quick Comments

syfChadMann:

nice work..

[ZergGirl]

so I suffer XNC for aaaaaaaaaaagggggggeeeeeeeeessssssssssss as Zerg, play terran for funtimes and it's removed.

so unfair :<

Quick Comments

Maynarde:

QQ more

[Stallion]

Originally Posted by ZergGirl

so I suffer XNC for aaaaaaaaaaagggggggeeeeeeeeessssssssssss as Zerg, play terran for funtimes and it's removed.

so unfair :<

that'll teach you for losing your self respect

Quick Comments

ToRCrispy:

[ToRSmotPokingFish]

Originally Posted by cruxStallion

that'll teach you for losing your self respect

a toss talking about self respect? :O FTW

Quick Comments

	RicocheT:	Yup Yup =D
	Lucien:	Amen

[|Erasmus|]

Been discussed in the thread about season 5 lock for a few hours already guys... :P

[Kepler]

So happy about Xel'Naga. Now I have a free veto option.

Quick Comments

TAXanT:

[Asrathiel]

Originally Posted by Kepler

So happy about Xel'Naga. Now I have a free veto option.

I had that and Arid both vetoed. Huzzah

Quick Comments

Kepler:

[FSBenAD]

Originally Posted by Asrathiel

I had that and Arid both vetoed. Huzzah

Haha so did I! They were my only two veto's I was using.. I am not sure if I'll veto any map now..

[Maynarde]

That new korhal map looks pretty AND BALANCED! Excite.

[iVnStinger]

Korhal should be Daybreak
Sad to see Xel Naga go,, GO DIE ARID.
GG thank you blizzard.

[rezyn8]

Happy to see XNC disappear but I loved Arid, will shed a tear for that map

Can't wait to give the new maps a spin on the ladder!

[TAEdgE]

Guess i'll have to learn to love Cloud Kingdom.

Love the map pool changes though. Can use my 2 vetoes easily (go away shattered)

[TASlowHands]

No more Xel Naga caverns?

I might actually have vetos left over for once, holy shit this is exciting

[x5.NotoriouS]

this is awesome.. would love to see them implement Calm Before the Storm too ^_^ keke

[Kepler]

So glad I can use my veto on Destructible Rocks Temple.

[TABjornbrandr]

Arid and XNC made me want to stomp on a child, they were horrible and brought out my zerg tears.

[rezyn8]

Can anyone confirm if the maps are on the SEA server?

[Asrathiel]

Yeah just checked, they are

Quick Comments

rezyn8:

[RicocheT]

Enjoyed XNC while it lasted.
Had a stupidly good win-rate on it.
But I'm really looking forward to playing on cloud kingdom + korhal compound, will breathe new life into ladder.

[ZC.EvilSWAT]

I liked XNC.

Then again that's because I'm playing as .


GOODBYE ARID NOBODY WILL MISS YOU.

[Asrathiel]

Korhal looks like it has a third I will actually feel safe taking

[asdfSchnitzel]

I have vetos left? WHAT IS THIS MADNESS!

[iMSystem]

This may be the 1st time ever, that I won't use a single veto :O

[souljah]

Metalopolis and Shattered going to be my new vetoes as far as I can see, possibly even damn Shakuras! and you know a map pool is awesome when you veto shakuras as toss

[SLCNPezz]

Cloud Kingdom is a sick PvZ map for the P so I'm very happy

It also looks very good for blink stalker PvP which fits my style a lot.

[TASlowHands]

Originally Posted by pezzaperry

Cloud Kingdom is a sick PvZ map for the P so I'm very happy

It also looks very good for blink stalker PvP which fits my style a lot.

I have no experience on the map but arent you worried about the multiple entrances to the third for P?

[Zealo]

HAHAHAHA

a third as P, good one

Quick Comments

	TABjornbrandr:
	syfChadMann:	What would a Protoss need that for?
	ToRSmotPokingFish:	2base or die trying :p
	Lucien:

[TAEdgE]

Both maps seem cool, played off race games and I felt comfortable verse zerg.

Quick Comments

cRtbk:

You should play random :D:D:D, i will get my revenge

[SmirkToT]

probably swtich to protoss, so doesn't matter

[lolwut]

Thanks bliz

[deL]

I very much approve of these changes

[sRFullstop]

Yay, I really like the new maps.

[TADivinity]

I love how zergs in this thread especially have been "Yay no Xel Naga!"
...It only took an entire 5 seasons :P

Also...it was kind of commented on before, but am I then only Zerg that absolutely detests Cloud Kingdom ZvP? Its so painful, even against someone who isn't good with force fields :S

[Roz]

cloud kingdom looks like a nightmare for toss and zerg =( tanks gonna rapeeeeee

[Aean(:]

woot blizzard removed 2/3 of my vetos

[VB_Blake]

Liking these changes

[aLtShortizz]

Is it just me or does Korhal compound looks exactly like XNC except the middle part?

[Nemo]

Originally Posted by aLtShortizz

Is it just me or does Korhal compound looks exactly like XNC except the middle part?

From what I can see on the image on the first page, there is only one narrow entrance to the Nat instead of two and no back door. It changes everything. Ground one base all-ins should be far harder there than on XNC (or it needs Air or Climbing).

[TAEdgE]

Playing on Korhal felt similar to Dual Sight, except it was larger and the middle favours flanking more. The third felt alright to take but it's not simple.

Looking at the map pool it is looking great for me, I can veto Shattered and Tal'Darim (shitty zvz fest). So happy about entombed bringing me victory too! Checked my sc2gears and on NA I am 21-3 on it (wtf??) and Korea 27-10.