Emerald Craters
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Perhaps there should be more map-making for such "open" maps, then. Emerald Craters is almost uniquely bland (Seraphim Glaciers too).
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Feel free to make one whenever you want, you could probably make a relatively flat 10km map with no major natural expansions and get a solid run of it.
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Farms made a map like emerald crater. It was in ladder too, a map without any reclaim to click, extremely refreshing.
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the design was much worse tho, it didn't promote a lot of raiding and was choky.
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That was his first map, which was really not that bad for a new mapper. Regardless, I don't know why mappers should make maps "like others" because it is usually more effective to try and make something unique. There are legit like 200+ options for ladder pool and you get really similar gameplay / mechanics in many. I don't see why we should aim to add to that list.
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His first map was Eridani, which was mega tree reclaim heavy. He recently updated it to remove the tree reclaim. The "Emerald Crater" like map is Havasu Canyon, but that map still has decent reclaim it just doesn't show up since desert rocks are 7 mass and the reclaim overlay only goes down to 10.
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Well, I have a few ideas for an "improved Emerald Craters". Not sure whether I'll get to them (it's been ~20 years since I did any map-making, for TA), so if another map-maker is inspired, go ahead.
First, gameplay:
- the main bases/expansions seem to work well forcing rapid drop/acu movement to take at least one
- lack of reclaim in the starting area is, as you all say, refreshing
- I personally don't like the way the centre or closer three-mex expansions play so much; the corners are "okay"
So, ideas:
- Keep the starting bases similar, but redesign a little. They are oases in an arid landscape, so they should be lower than the surrounding terrain, with a thin spread of trees. Perhaps push the hydro spot to the centre with 2-3 mexes and put the other mexes around the edge, keeping 6 total.
- Not sure whether the expansions should be identical oases or smaller (maybe only 4 mexes).
- Redo the centre completely. Either a central peak (mountain) or a lake in the crater's depression, or perhaps a flooded quarry. Have two 3-mex expansions, one towards each player, with terrain enabling easier defence. Have a few larger reclaimables, perhaps civ structures. This should make it feasible to drop both central expansions instead of the side expansions (but should not be too attractive, so not mega reclaim).
- Spread out the remaining mexes a bit. Possibly have a creek starting in each corner, with shallow parts and some mini-canyons, with mexes along the creek. Maybe similar mex count (5-6) spread along this creek. Have a few rocks and trees along the creek. Or maybe stick with the 3-mex+hydro expansions from Emerald plus a couple of mexes spread out within the crater.
This is mostly intended to offer similar gameplay except for the central area and more, smaller raiding targets between the main expansions.
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@white_owl said in Emerald Craters:
But if high level players like this map, do it just for 2000+ players. All noobs as me hates this.
I am not 2000+ and I like it. I don’t want to see this map removed from the pool I play.
By “noob” what do you mean ? Is that 0 to 900 rating, 0 to 1800? Saying only use 2000+ is more like saying that only the top 25 players ( of which most are inactive ) should see it in ladder.
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I don’t see a problem with emerald. Blödir mentioned that a single lab or inti can end the game: you can say that about twin rivers and open palms too, and even more so. So far I haven’t heard a single good argument against emerald crater. Except for maybe brain overload because little mass and many places to send units to. It’s just hard because it forced you to prioritize and give up and especially the latter is something very irritating. But face it guys such is the life. You can’t be both top in school and top in faf - you have to prioritize and give up.
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@big-bennis-magic said in Emerald Craters:
I don’t see a problem with emerald. Blödir mentioned that a single lab or inti can end the game: you can say that about twin rivers and open palms too, and even more so. So far I haven’t heard a single good argument against emerald crater. Except for maybe brain overload because little mass and many places to send units to. It’s just hard because it forced you to prioritize and give up and especially the latter is something very irritating. But face it guys such is the life. You can’t be both top in school and top in faf - you have to prioritize and give up.
No, in both twin rivers and open palms 1 engy or transport dying is not nearly as disastrous. In both of those maps it's often a pretty minor setback lol. In emerald if your first transport dies the opponent likely gets both contested expansions and its gg. If lab kills an expanding engi it's similarly quite disastrous because the distance between mexes is so massive
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I dont know what ur talking about all my maps are definitely top tier
