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Map Reviewer
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- Feb 19, 2011
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Review - Forge Outpost
(Version March 5th 2023)
Synopsis: Forge Outpost is a melee map for six players featuring the ominous Outlands tileset. The visually pleasing map offers a good platform for standard melee gameplay. The CP-version offers more custom twist with unique Harpy Den objective in the middle, allowing players to hire harpies to back up their army.
Map Aesthetics: The terrain is visually pleasing. A nice amount of decorative props have been used and the visual clarity is excellent. The black sharp cliff edges are a little disturbing and height variation with Raise / Lower could further improve the visual aspects of the map, but still, the excellent visual clarity and thematically coherent style are well executed. Good job.
Map Layout: The layout seems quite standard with a semi-open ring structure in one and a half layers. The central axis players could have slightly larger bases, but considering the 2v2 or 3v3 gameplan it does not matter that much - they just seem a lot more exposed than the corner players. The pathways seem of appropriate width and some strategic plays can be made with the Goblin Merchant placement and the high-ground expansion sites.
Neutral Objectives: The creep camps are plentiful and seem to fit the theme nicely. The placement of the creep camps is spot-on and looks very pleasing. The creep camp toughness also seems appropriate. I love the placement of the Goblin Merchants - nice. The unguarded Black Dragon Roost is an interesting choice, but considering the start delay and amount of players I don't see it having too big an impact. I am slightly confused by the land mines placed near the green camps - they drop, land mines? The idea is to give players landmines as items I guess? The custom Harpy Den seems like a very nice concept that I like though the aesthetics do not give me the Barrens vibe that much. Nevertheless, good job.
Map Gameplay: Suitable map for melee gameplay. The CP-version especially gives uniqueness to the Harpies. The Ally / Enemy Priority settings would need some adjusting to make the map work for FFA though so I see it working only as 2v2 or 3v3.
Recommendations:
Fix the Ally / Enemy Priorities settings. Currently 3 enemies can spawn on the same side. Perhaps try to force cross-spawn with 4 players (favor enemies not spawning next to you).
The C2 item table has 20% chance to drop nothing in the 1.2 version - 1.2CP has 20% chance to drop Bloodbite potion, is this intended?
(Version March 5th 2023)
Synopsis: Forge Outpost is a melee map for six players featuring the ominous Outlands tileset. The visually pleasing map offers a good platform for standard melee gameplay. The CP-version offers more custom twist with unique Harpy Den objective in the middle, allowing players to hire harpies to back up their army.
Map Aesthetics: The terrain is visually pleasing. A nice amount of decorative props have been used and the visual clarity is excellent. The black sharp cliff edges are a little disturbing and height variation with Raise / Lower could further improve the visual aspects of the map, but still, the excellent visual clarity and thematically coherent style are well executed. Good job.
Map Layout: The layout seems quite standard with a semi-open ring structure in one and a half layers. The central axis players could have slightly larger bases, but considering the 2v2 or 3v3 gameplan it does not matter that much - they just seem a lot more exposed than the corner players. The pathways seem of appropriate width and some strategic plays can be made with the Goblin Merchant placement and the high-ground expansion sites.
Neutral Objectives: The creep camps are plentiful and seem to fit the theme nicely. The placement of the creep camps is spot-on and looks very pleasing. The creep camp toughness also seems appropriate. I love the placement of the Goblin Merchants - nice. The unguarded Black Dragon Roost is an interesting choice, but considering the start delay and amount of players I don't see it having too big an impact. I am slightly confused by the land mines placed near the green camps - they drop, land mines? The idea is to give players landmines as items I guess? The custom Harpy Den seems like a very nice concept that I like though the aesthetics do not give me the Barrens vibe that much. Nevertheless, good job.
Map Gameplay: Suitable map for melee gameplay. The CP-version especially gives uniqueness to the Harpies. The Ally / Enemy Priority settings would need some adjusting to make the map work for FFA though so I see it working only as 2v2 or 3v3.
Recommendations:
Fix the Ally / Enemy Priorities settings. Currently 3 enemies can spawn on the same side. Perhaps try to force cross-spawn with 4 players (favor enemies not spawning next to you).
The C2 item table has 20% chance to drop nothing in the 1.2 version - 1.2CP has 20% chance to drop Bloodbite potion, is this intended?
