Number of maps in the ranked pool

[ToejamS]

At the moment Im trying to get back into ranked. However learning 30 maps is a little too much. I have spoken to a players, they all agree that the map pool, if you call it that, more like a map ocean, is far too big. This thread is not to discuss the maps in the pool, but the number of maps. I would like to see/play higher quality games with developed builds and strategies rather than noobs bumbling around looking for reclaim or terrain advantages.

What is the optimal number of maps you guys think would be good for the map pool.

Im gonna go ahead and cause dramas by saying 16 maps, imho, is a good number of maps.

[Nombringer]

EDIT: Holy crap I rambled a lot:

TLDR: Its useless to discuss the amount of maps in the pool without discussing the system or types of maps.

As someone who does not play ranked a huge amount myself (despite a lot of 1v1 custom games) I disagree, one of the reasons I do not play ladder a lot is because I do not feel the maps are diverse enough, despite this, its always nice to have a ladder game once in a while.

I understand you do not want to talk about the types of maps within the pool, however this is something that should be addressed, because shrinking the number of maps directly effects the possible diversity within the pool. The only way this system would would work is if the maps were far more carefully chosen and moderated, in order to achieve diversity.

The other point is that the map pool lasts for a whole 6 months, 16 maps for that length of time might be a bit stifling. You could of course decrease this length, but that defeats the purpose of less maps in the first place... Although it may cause more equal footing for players, as joining in the middle of a season would have less of a penalty.


As far as playing a map for the first time. Start your factory, pause it for 10 seconds or so, have a look at the recliam and general hieghtmap and come up with a plan. I realise I am probably one of the few people that enjoys playing a map for the first time, with another person who has done the same. Remember everyone is in the same situation you are, in terms of learning the maps.

If you face an experienced player on a map he is experienced on you will have have a disadvantage. Same goes for a smaller maps pool. If you played the map three times, and he has played it 30 times, it is really not much difference from you having played it once, and him, 10. The large number of maps does not change the advantage of experience in any way, in my opinion.

Maybe with a more careful selection process of maps the current pool could be trimmed, but at the moment, one advantage of the large map pool is it is forgiving of "bad" maps. I hate to use that term but that is the best way I can put it. Im sure we could trim them down a little, and preserve the diversity, but that would involve changing how maps are selected in the first place. 16 maps would not work with the current selection process.


Im sorry, but I belive stating an optimal number of maps is, at this time pointless, because that number will have relate to the system used to choose them, which (although I have rambled on about it a bit) I believe you do not want discussed in the thread, and is unlikely to change at this time.

[ColonelSheppard]

actually i quite like that everybody doesnt have their perfect builds for all maps

[Nombringer]

actually i quite like that everybody doesnt have their perfect builds for all maps

^^^ this too

[ZLO_RD]

Since knowing the map is very impotant in ranked 1v1 more maps is bad for new players!
i would like if pool will be reduced.
However, arguments like that "StarCrap 2 or other rts have 6-12 maps in rotation" are not good here, all the damn SC2 maps are so similar, in SupCom you have navy and air different size of maps, with civs or without them, rivers and montains, com rush and com drop maps needed also.
And you do not have "natural" or even any "expansion" on any map, sc2 have only maps with chokes or maps with tons of chokes and highground/lowground differences, maps for Supreme Commander are much more variable in most of ways
also ♥ classic maps like finn's & theta

[Nombringer]

Thats what im saying, it would be nice if it was reduced, but the maps would need to be chosen more carefully

[ColonelSheppard]

another note: i do like the current map pool (despite a certain map that is so spammed with trees that you cant dodge the stupid arty shots because every time you click you are reclaiming xD) i think it offers a lot of diversity atm, as well it is maybe not sso bad for new players because there is a lot of maps that havnt ever been in the mappool before

i think for newer players it's a hell of a lot better to play on a map none of the two players has played before than playing on Loki against somebody that already has a lot of games there

about learning the maps: maybe i am biased here because i really never "learn" maps but i think thats really no argument, yes knowing aall builderorders is awesome and should be rewarded in ranked but why should very good improvised play on maps you ahvent played much before also be rewarded?

[Cantor]

If you want to make ladder more accessible to new players, remove all classic maps. Take a map like finn's revenge. A new player doesn't know about the reclaim. Two minutes in the game he will have an ACU rushing his base. He may even misjudge the map and build navy. He may send engineers to the side islands only to find that the civs shoot them down. Even if the new player has some experience, there are always subtleties that a new player is going to lack vs a player who has played the map 300 times over the years. If you just have non classic maps then the practice gap is much smaller. Instead of 300 games played vs 3 games played you have maybe 20 games played vs 3 games played.

What matters is the number of games practice *difference* between new and old players, not the mappool size. If you have a mappool with 100 new maps, neither player is going to have much practice. If you have a mappool with 5 classic maps, the old player is going to have a huge advantage.

[IceDreamer]

This is a strategy game, not a memory test. It's about understanding the game well enough to adapt; having a good build order memorised doesn't make you a good player, it makes you lazy and incompetent in the long run.

[Mad`Mozart]

More maps = better. Call me crazy but i would even put all the good maps in the pool and be done with it. I find little fun in wanking on same maps for months, the game becomes dull and boring (especially if the pool is short).

PS hate classic maps like finn's and theta