map variety and the NSA

[bigcrap757]

I, bigcrap, have decided to form the NSA: or No Setons Alliance. This alliance has the purpose of encouraging use of maps besides thermo, gap of rohnan, and setons. I have no idea how to do this, but maybe you can help by leaving a comment.

[Mad`Mozart]

Sure np, just join the AS5M alliance then (as in Always Same 5 Maps)

And the maps are:
Wonder, Pyramid, Canis, Hilly Plateu and some random overplayed map of the week (like Syrtis 5v5)

[BRNKoINSANITY]

Setons, Gap, Thermo, and Wonder are popular/overplayed because they boil down into relatively simple ruts.

Thermo is for people who want 75% game enders.

Gap is for people who like 50% experimentals with some t3 and game enders thrown in but generally stagnant gameplay.

Setons is for people who like the normalcy of memorized early builds and the same general flow of the game every time, but with enough variation to satisfy urges.

Wonder is for people who love spam wars.

If these four maps did not exist, people who enjoy these types of games would simply be on a different map with similar characteristics. I can speak for myself as a Seton's/Wonder guy. I don't necessarily like stagnant gameplay, but I only have time for one MAYBE two games a day, and keeping track of multiple builds on many map scenarios is a royal pain in the ass. Setons lets me sit down without warming up, know what I am doing and when I am expected to do it, and perform reasonably well in the first 15 minutes or so. After that, I can choose where I want to go with the game.

I think it is more to do with the collective mindsets of different people and not with the appeal of the particular map. Eliminating one overplayed map will simply mean a trade for a different one.

[bigcrap757]

Brink, I don't want to get rid of those maps, I just want others to be more popular.

[codepants]

Wonder is for people who love spam wars.

Really? You're telling me the majority of your wonder casts are spam wars?

I've seen wonder go pretty much every direction. That's what I like about it. It's not as varied as Canis, since the players usually don't spread out as much, but in my experience wonder is pretty unpredictable (aside from the occasional stacked game, and especially air stacked games).

(bigcrap)
I understand you want other maps to be more popular and I agree that many maps are overplayed. But I sympathize with Brnk -- it's nice to "know what you're getting into." People want what's familiar.

[BRNKoINSANITY]

@Bigcrap, Yeah, I understand you don't want to get rid of them, I am just saying that typically when people start branching out they will find a similar map and do the same thing on it. This is why a lot of the thermo players moved to gap. Similar play, different map, and it has sinced evolved its own meta. To a certain extent this even goes for waters of Isis in the lower ranks, because people play it exactly like they do gap. The only difference is that they tech up navy and ram it down the middle instead of t4 units.


@ codepants, I would agree that there is more variety in wonder than in any overplayed map out there. However, I would say that in 50% or more of games, the winning team is decided by who got the upper hand in the spam war UNLESS there is a large air imbalance. I don't think I have ever seen a wonder where at least half the players did not go for t1 spam.

[codepants]

@ codepants, I would agree that there is more variety in wonder than in any overplayed map out there. However, I would say that in 50% or more of games, the winning team is decided by who got the upper hand in the spam war UNLESS there is a large air imbalance. I don't think I have ever seen a wonder where at least half the players did not go for t1 spam.

Interesting... we must play with different groups of people. I used to try t1 spam on wonder, but inevitably the person next to me would ecowhore, which meant it was basically a 2v1 -- me vs my mirror and their mirror. I'd end up behind in eco, because t1 spamming a 2v1 means giving them mass, and that was that. Or, one time my air player went straight to t3, and their air player just t1 bomber spammed my land spam, so I was mass gifting again. We won in the end because of air, but the point is, I don't think I'd ever seen a successful t1 spam on that map until I played against you last night. Some t1, sure, but not a spam.

[quark036]

It was rather effective last night though

[codepants]

It was. I'd like to do that again actually. I'm purporting that it mostly worked because of the element of surprise. Not that you and brnk aren't good players, but I would have done a different build if I'd expected that move. And brnk almost died like three times.

In any case, well played, and now let's stop derailing the thread.

[prodromos]

A good game should go through distinct t1, t2, t3, and t4 stages imo.

In this scenario t1 spam is not only a necessity but quite desirable.
Instead building walls and pds, hoping that they will somehow buy
You some time to sit your ass quietly to t3 is the really lame practice.
There's no strategy and depth in this and continously whining about
Spam, reveal that you actually desire playing one dimensional games;
you could instead play no rush 20, x2 and I would have no problem
With this because you would be truthful to yourself and to the
Rest of us. Heck, I even wish the ridiculousness of nr x2 once in
A while.

Things are quite ok and healthy at the moment imo. They could be better,
Yes, but you couldn't ever cancel the obsession of some people for
Some maps;so why insist on swimming adverso flumine? It's futile.

For example ladder could be regulated a bit more, so, that it is ensured
That a correct mix of maps is involved every time. I have the feeling
That the previous map rotations gave more consistent results and that
Having preferred maps lead to continuously play the same maps.
And auto-killing yourself in order not to play your hated maps should
Lead to you losing double the points, do i have to explain why?

As for custom games (also called ranked gobal , lol), they are the definition
Of a rating bender. No regulation, no control over the environment on which skill
Is judged. You can have a 2000 rating by playing 2000 Isises, Shitonz and gaapz.
Still it is the basis of global ranking, only to satisfy the strange wishes and qualms
Of some vocal people.
Still I have no problem with things as they stand right now.
I do my thing, others do theirs; just saying my opinion.