digmouse Profile Blog Joined November 2010 China 5661 Posts Last Edited: 2013-10-24 15:54:18 #1



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: 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.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:







Map analyse thread:



Read the rest introduction about the new map and the balance changes here:



Poll: Impression on new map?



Hooray! (595)

70%



No, thanks. (186)

22%



No idea. (64)

8%



845 total votes (595)70%(186)22%(64)8%845 total votes Your vote: Impression on new map? (Vote): Hooray!

(Vote): No, thanks.

(Vote): No idea.

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 Translator If you want to ask anything about Chinese esports, send me a PM or follow me @nerddigmouse.

awesomoecalypse Profile Joined August 2010 United States 2235 Posts #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 States 29113 Posts #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 that's not how four player maps work unless you're breaking the laws of timespace Administrator Hey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?

Daralii Profile Joined March 2010 United States 8552 Posts #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 that's not how four player maps work unless you're breaking the laws of timespace

The technology is there now. The technology is there now. Fear is freedom! Subjugation is liberation! Contradiction is truth!

Lunareste Profile Joined July 2011 United States 3590 Posts #5 interesting.. KT FlaSh FOREVER

Vindicare605 Profile Blog Joined August 2011 United States 12919 Posts #6 So we're trying the whole in base expansion thing again?



Not a fan. Not a fan at all. @KTVindicare:twitch.tv/ktvindicare youtube.com/ktvindicare Host of the Geeky Bartender podcast.

Ben... Profile Joined January 2011 Canada 3196 Posts #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 that's not how four player maps work unless you're breaking the laws of timespace

"Cliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide" -Tastosis

geokilla Profile Joined May 2011 Canada 7538 Posts #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 States 1096 Posts #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 States 2101 Posts Last Edited: 2013-10-24 04:11:22 #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". Lol I don't think swarm host stalemates across the middle of Shakuras Plateau would exactly be "amazing to play". i maek map

[CCSRAM] BaoQuan Profile Joined August 2013 United States 96 Posts #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 China 877 Posts #12 I don't really think that keep updating balance packs helps... Startale forever.

winthrop Profile Blog Joined December 2010 Hong Kong 933 Posts #13 where is Akilon Waste TE Incredible Miracle

Darkhorse Profile Blog Joined December 2011 United States 22914 Posts #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! Come on man it would be fun! Writer Recently Necro'd (?)

Darkhorse Profile Blog Joined December 2011 United States 22914 Posts #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. Writer Recently Necro'd (?)

NewSunshine Profile Joined July 2011 United States 4444 Posts #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 Canada 7538 Posts Last Edited: 2013-10-24 04:24:50 #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". Map is too big, too many bases (20 wtf), and too easy to secure 3 bases.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.



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? Where'd you find that?

lolfail9001 Profile Joined August 2013 Russian Federation 12566 Posts #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 Canada 3196 Posts #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! Come on man it would be fun!

"Cliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide" -Tastosis

lolfail9001 Profile Joined August 2013 Russian Federation 12566 Posts #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! Come on man it would be fun!

Infestor/Broodlord levels of fun. Yaaaaaay!!!!

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

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