Zidvan planet (Wolfram_74's maps)

[Wolfram_74]

Hello, mapmakers! This is my maps topic. Any critique/tips are welcome.

This is my first self-made map - Suicide Desert:
- Sand dunes;
- Reclaimable hills (lots of rocks on them);
- Map is balanced and has AI markers.
Also this map has 2 and 4 players versions (Suicide Desert 2v2).

Suicide Desert heightmap.jpg (60.97 KiB) Viewed 1197 times

Suicide Desert spawn.jpg (72.5 KiB) Viewed 1197 times

Suicide Desert center.jpg (57.01 KiB) Viewed 1197 times

[Wolfram_74]

Here is my second map - Ascension Lakes. This map is good for 2v2/4 FFA games.
- Trees/rocks reclaims;
- Hover units are recomended;
- ACU can't hide in the water (ACU, Percivals, Bricks and etc. can shoot from the water, killing some hover units, and can be killed from the ground);
- Your tanks can easily flank enemy defences and destroy some enemy mexes;
- Map is balanced and has AI markers.
This map has 3x3 km version for 3 FFA games (Ascension Lakes - small).

Ascension Lakes heightmap.jpg (65.64 KiB) Viewed 1196 times

Ascension Lakes spawn.jpg (101.28 KiB) Viewed 1196 times

Ascension Lakes center.jpg (119.86 KiB) Viewed 1196 times

[Wolfram_74]

This is my third map - Spring Fever Valley. I made this map for NoMexes gameplay. It has early spring subject (8 march - Women's Day).
The map isn't ready. It needs to be tested and improved a lot, so any advices are welcome.
- Epic NoMexes games (up to 10 players);
- Tons of reclaim;
- Wreckages are on the center diagonal (move your ACU there quickly);
- The most tasty mass wreckages are in the corners, but they are very hard to get;
- Lots of Hydros for a better start;
- Civilian buildings;
- ACU can't hide in the water, but can shoot from it;
- Original map design.

Spring Fever Valley heightmap.jpg (77.3 KiB) Viewed 1192 times

Spring Fever Valley center.jpg (147.55 KiB) Viewed 1192 times

Spring Fever Valley outpost.jpg (132.11 KiB) Viewed 1192 times

[svenni_badbwoi]

hey, here are a few things that I would edit.

Map1:
-the idea of rocks on the hill is nice, but in nature the majority will most likely end up at the bottom of the hill
-the "vs" makes the map unbalanced even if it consists of trees
-you could add more strata for better look

Map2:
-looks nice, but I would arrange the trees in clumps for more natural look, like in Map3

Map3:
-the heart is nice, but it will make that part of the map unbalanced if you play top vs bottom (maybe add its shape only via strata, or mirror map for left vs right play style to keep it)

All in all good work, but I would spend some time on strata transition to make it look more realistic.
I personally like to use "World Machine" for that. It saves a lot of time. Select height or slope and create strata in combination with distortion and blur effects. Or just try Photoshop with blur and/or opacity changes.

If you are interested, take a look at "Mapping Workflow" in my maps channel, there you will find more tips I found useful.


happy mapping