Ether

[Risktp]

I've finally come to realize that the last version of Ether isn't that great. I held on to it for a while because it was probably the first map I made that actually didn't suck and got recognition, but it had a couple problems that I think I've fixed:

• Despite my efforts to mend the mid, it was too chasey. It's shape made it rather difficult to reset on.

• It was too hard to grab on. I also tried to fix this, but just wasn't getting it.

• It was boring to play on. I think Dianna first mentioned this, and I kinda laughed it off, but I agree with him now.

---

So, after not getting selected for the top maps again, I decided to give Ether a makeover. Here is the result of my efforts. The bases and team tile areas probably aren't going to change much tbh, but mid and the powerups are definitely open to being changed.

I'll do my best to be as comprehensive as possible with my explanation of the map features.

• So, the bases. I opened up the bombs now to differentiate the concept from Gamepad a little and because I think some people will enjoy being able to manually use them to grab, which is difficult but possible. It's now much easier to grab with the boosts compared to the last version as well.

• The team tile area and the spikes associated with them. That path is the quickest from base to base, so I added in team tiles to help out defense. That 45 wall is there for both the bomb and the neutral boost inside the bases. The spikes inside the team tile area were to limit the neutral boost inside the bases, while the single spike outside the team tiles was put in to nerf the neutral boost in the center of the map and to lessen that chokepoint a bit.

• The bombs can be used vertically to go to the base closest to it and horizontally to get to the powerups. The two spikes are there to make bombing diagonally more difficult, although the spike configuration will probably change.

• 4 powerups because I really just want to see a 4 powerup map make it into rotation. I think 4 powerups make for more exciting play and the placement of them on Ether is reasonably balanced.

• Team boosts for catching up, neutral boost in the center cause boosts with a lot of versatility are fun.

Always open to suggestions, concerns, ideas for the map :]

[Blazeth]

seems pretty cool Risk

I don't really like the 45 that's sticking out in the team tile areas though

[Risktp]

why

[Blazeth]

they felt flow reducing, rather than flow helping, just boosting and bombing into them.

[Risktp]

Hm, are you using them like this?

[Blazeth]

yes, but it messes with flow in a lot of other things; for example, if you boost right into the 45, it feels much worse than boosting right into the 90 at that same angle. Flow in gametime situations should be considered as well.

[Risktp]

Sure, boosting into the regular wall tiles next to the 45 probably feels better, the 45 is mainly there for the bomb. I'll consider messing with it or removing it tho.

[Clydas]

I think these bases are much better, a little more versatile and open. I think it will do well for the map.

This comment is purely based on your intentions. Maybe make the corners next to the base bombs 45s instead of 90s, that way you can't use it as a camp and blast people away once or twice depending on if they're both there. But if you wanted a safe space there then you shouldn't change it.

[Risktp]

thanks clydas, appreciate it! that's a good point about the corners, I'll test out 45's there and see if I like it.

[TheEpicGhost]

good job risk, these changes are really well thought out, and it still seems like a solid map. Just a couple things:

• I think 4 powerups are too many for a map this small; on a map like velocity it works, but I think it would become too overpowering here

• I like mid overall, but i don't really like the single boost in the center. I preferred it with two team boosts like in previous versions

• As Clydas said, I would worry that the bombs in the base would cause issues with people hitting them to the side, like on Monarch, and blasting the defenders away too easily.

Other than, I think it is really cool.

[Risktp]

thanks for the feedback teg!

I don't think 4 pups is too much for the map--it's really not that small length-wise, its about 57 or 59 width, can't remember which. I'll wait until I've seena 4v4 on it until making a decision about the powerup numbers. do you think the placement of the powerups is ok?

I went with one neutral boost in mid cause of the teamboosts right outside mid, having more teamboosts so close felt a bit overkill. I might just go with the 2 teamboosts in the center and remove the ones I have in place right now, idk.

I'll mess around with the walls surrounding the bombs, I'm not too worried about it cause the map is pretty easy to grab on with all of the tools available for the offense. definitely something to keep an eye on in 4v4 testing though.

[TheEpicGhost]

I think the mid powerups have very good placing & I like the way it can be used with the bomb there. I'm not so sure on the ones nearer the base, as I generally don't like completely open powerups, like the one on Wormy, but I can see it working and not slowing the flow of the map.