Review - Nervousity v1.1
(Version March 5th 2023)
Synopsis: Nervousity is a four-player melee map suitable also for 1-on-1 gameplay. The ominous aesthetics give players a slightly off-put feeling. Rock chunks can be destroyed to gain further access to expansions, making them more vulnerable, while contesting the central expansions gives players a lot of information, though at a very central location.
Map Aesthetics: The visual theme is ominous: the lava and vine tiles look unnatural, and out of place, but still somehow fitting. The tile usage is decent. The central cross area is missing height variation which is present nicely everywhere else. A mixture of Barrens rock spires with green vibrant trees looks a little strange but it goes with the conflicting feeling the terrain art gives. Visual clarity is good.
Map Layout: The layout is very functional, giving various pathways for players to traverse, while the destroyable walls give extra flavor to tactical angles. Good placement of Goblin Merchant and Mercenary Camp - I like how they are split between players for contesting - good job. The central area provides less exposed expansions, assuming one can establish one there, as the central location is what makes the area vulnerable. Nice creep placement with green camps so close to the spawn, though the orange Mercenary Camp and Goblin Merchant camps are very desirable to go as fast as possible.
Neutral Objectives: Good micro placement of creep camps. The Mercenary Camps tomes can be cheesed very early with Archers using Shadowmeld by blocking the narrow pathways, preventing the creeps from attacking back. Very nice creep strength maneuvering with the expansion camps - leaning toward taking the more vulnerable expansion first. Creep camps also form nice compact and thematically coherent groups. The Experience Tomes is a nice tweak towards heavy contesting on the four objectives. Overall very nice job.
Map Gameplay: Follows the standard melee ruleset very nicely with extra flavor brought by destructible walls and Experience Tome drops. The layout provides multiple expansion opportunities while various (non-gold-mine objectives) are contestable.
Recommendations:
You forgot to mention Marketplace in the map description, might want to add them to the list of neutral buildings. Also check mentions of Goblin Laboratories and Mercenary Camps.
Approved
