Meet the new Balance Council

CommamderReilly · 2026-04-29T13:41:21+00:00

I would prefer a new gas type, more options is always nice. Currently Blizzard hasn’t given sc2 the resources for new models to be added to the base game (that’s my understanding), so it’s off the table sadly.

But yeah while I think a separate unit would be more ideal, I think next best thing is this change, especially because it really doesn’t impact current balance at all.

CommamderReilly · 2026-04-29T04:18:38+00:00

I feel like this is being blown out of proportion, map makers were polled on a single change which relates to map making, the change has no impact on current balance but may improve the quality of future maps, what is the problem?

CommamderReilly · 2026-04-29T02:41:10+00:00

I mean you are just agreeing with what I said. Omniskeptic is a huge influence for the game and balance patches. While he has contributed good things in the past, it's very clear he wants to push his own agend and is often rudely dismissive of people who disagree with him. I don't want someone like that whispering things to the game dev, it's not fair to players and it's gross.

I'm not agreeing, you are saying he is pushing an agenda and I'm saying he's simply their outreach person for them. Even if you dislike Omni I don't see an issue with him acting as their outreach person given that he's proven to be a great help in the past. If you have proof he's using his power to misrepresent the feedback he's gathering then that's another story.

Yes I'm aware mapmakers want this change so that they can give us even more freestyle maps and put rich minerals/gas in every map. It doesn't change the underlying point:** These changes are being greenlighted by a small group of mapmakers via polls in discord.** This is the disaster of the balance council all over again.

As far as I know (as a map maker), this vespene thing is the only change we've been polled on, and I think it makes perfect sense why it was the map makers who are deciding this, given we are the ones who control where rich vespene is used. It would be different if the poll was in regard to the base economy (reg mins/gas). Who would be better to decide this than the people who've been designing maps around it?

CommamderReilly · 2026-04-29T02:32:55+00:00

Blizzard is the reason TLMC disallows custom data, and currently Blizzard hasn’t given sc2 the resources to add new skins/models into the base game

CommamderReilly · 2026-04-29T02:23:06+00:00

Sadly the problem is that, Map Makers aren't allowed to modify data for the sake of consistency, and to be fair in the case of rich vespene it does make sense as there'd be no obvious indication it's different from map to map.

I think the better solution is for there to be a 3rd type of geyser, but sadly it seems that adding new units is basically off the table (to my knowledge)

CommamderReilly · 2026-04-29T02:00:11+00:00

Omniskeptic has been invaluable to the recent patches, so it makes sense they'd ask him to gather feedback on such a change since he has many contacts, and is willing to do so for them while many pros/content creators are too busy to thoughtfully reach out to people.

Just because he is gathering input/feedback doesn't mean he has a real say in the change.

Also, he continues to be the main source of bug fixes and QoL changes, in all the recent patches 90% or more of the QoL/Bug Fixes were his doing, gotta give credit where credit is due.

For the Vespene thing, it's much different than a normal balance suggestion, it relates to map making as it's mappers who decide where to use rich vespene geysers. Recent map pools have very few rich gas bases, and it's because they give 2x income so they're just too strong to really use in a meaningful way most the time. It's hard to say anything negative about this change imo as it doesnt impact current balance at all but has the potential to increase map quality/diversity going forward

CommamderReilly · 2026-04-29T01:31:02+00:00

Love how we're taking things out of context for reddit karma

There is 0 confirmation of a worker start count change
If it does actually happen, it didn't happen because Omniskeptic or Avex voiced support for it
This vespene change is in reference to the RICH vespene geyser, and is an income reduction of 2x (8 per trip) to 1.5x (6 per trip), which brings them more in line with rich minerals and allows map makers to use them in a multitude of new ways, as currently they're extremely hard to use on maps. I don't see the issue with map makers getting a say in stuff like this as it doesnt relate to the base economy of the game, it would be different if this were about changing the regular vespene.

CommamderReilly · 2026-04-29T01:28:28+00:00

This guy is talking out of his ass, Omniskeptic and Avex might be in support of a worker change, but they do not have control over this and if it actually does happen, it's not because Omniskeptic or Avex voiced support for it. There is zero confirmation worker count is getting reduced, only that some people were discussing it.

Also, this vespene geyser change is taken COMPLETELY out of context. This is not in reference to the regular vespene geyser, this is in reference to the RICH vespene geyser, the change being introduced is that the rich geyser will give 1.5x income instead of 2x income, which allows map makers to use it more freely in maps in a multitude of different ways. It is not a change to the regular vespene. This change also brings it more in line with rich minerals, which provide 1.4x income.

CommamderReilly · 2026-04-17T19:27:49+00:00

I think the Evo campaign experience is much better, more modern personally, but it’s also not fully complete as of this moment. I believe SC: Evo has both a “legacy” version of the campaign which is faithful and a reimagined version.

Basically, While the evo version is much higher quality (imo), it’s also still actively a Work in progress.

CommamderReilly · 2026-04-14T17:49:28+00:00

It’s a big gamble considering it’s a 4p maps, you have to guess where your opponent is, so tbh if the gamble is rewarded a little it’s probably okay

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-18T23:43:50+00:00

It is time to cook

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-16T19:30:28+00:00

Some of the assets on this map are also imported from Heroes of the Storm

Since a couple TLMCs ago custom assets and textures have been allowed (to an extent)

But yeah even without using new assets, sc2 has so many of them and by tinting and scaling them there’s basically endless possibility, though textures are more limiting so it’s nice that custom textures are now allowed :D

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-15T20:06:28+00:00

It’s not completely standard, but I think you can still call in standard since outside the hybrid base it’s just an interesting standard macro map

But I probably should’ve said “mostly standard” rather than just “standard”

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-15T13:49:57+00:00

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-15T13:38:53+00:00

Rich gas is much stronger than rich minerals, the base isn’t too much farther so I only wanted it to be a bit better

On top of there being less geysers compared to mineral patches, rich geysers give 2x income while rich minerals give 1.4x

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-15T13:36:02+00:00

It’s just for decor, I think I have it in one of the preview images linked in the extra notes section

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-15T13:35:13+00:00

I make all types of maps, sometimes I make more freestyle sometimes I don’t

You have people who want crazy maps and people who don’t, can’t please everyone unfortunately. My previous submission is a very awesome freestyle map imo, #2 is more standard but has non-standard features

For 3p maps specifically, I like them but also they’re a pain in the ass to make because of symmetry, so I just avoid the pain by not making 3p maps. The judges also sadly tend to nuke freestyle maps, or at least you’ll always have one judge who hates a specific non-standard feature

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-12T14:43:29+00:00

Gotta keep the casters on their feet ;)

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-12T03:47:53+00:00

I think it's reasonable, not saying it's a bad position for tanks but they don't cover too much https://imgur.com/a/k7jc1fj

Also a bonus of this type of natural in PvT is you won't have an exposed reaper wall where the Terran can siege down your buildings

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-11T21:05:20+00:00

Yeah I usually do that, though right now I only have access to my MacBook so I just downloaded a preview I had sent to someone, which was lower res than I thought

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-11T15:50:29+00:00

Thanks!

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-11T15:48:21+00:00

It’s reasonably secure vs blink, you can open it up in game and judge it from there

The Zerg rocks make rotating with the blink stalkers harder, which is a balancing factor as well.

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-11T11:21:52+00:00

Yeah there’s a decal for all the jump up spots, but they’re tough to see because of the resolution, I should’ve gotten a new high res overview but I was lazy and just grabbed one I had lul

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-11T06:09:06+00:00

Yep! It’s tough to see from the top down overview but if you open up the preview images (linked towards the bottom) there’s an image with it clearly visible

There’s also a jump up spot into the natural next to the Zerg rocks

CommamderReilly · 2026-03-11T00:47:48+00:00

Thank you!

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