cross-posted from: https://lemmit.online/post/511012

This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/starcraft by /u/Alex007SC2 on 2023-08-22 14:20:59.

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Hi everyone,

This is Alex, ESL SC2 Pro Tour manager - and I'm really excited to share the plans to refresh the competitive environment for StarCraft II esports with the new mappool and the major balance update!

DISCLAIMER: DON'T TREAT THIS AS OFFICIAL PATCH ANNOUNCEMENT FROM BLIZZARD. ALL PROPOSED CHANGES ARE COMING FROM THE COMMUNITY, ARE CURRENTLY JUST IN PUBLIC TESTING PHASE AND ARE STILL SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

As the first step, we'd like to present the new mappool which may become the competitive and ladder standard for the Winter season:

• [Macro map] Goldenaura
• [Macro map] Site Delta
• [Standard map] Oceanborn
• [Standard map] Hecate
• [Rush map] Solaris
• [Rush map] Hard Lead
• [Freestyle map] Black Lotus

All seven maps were parts of the recent TeamLiquid Map Contest #18 - and we are extremely grateful for the whole mapmaking community and for everyone who had yet another edition of TLMC happen! These maps can all be found on the Battle.net servers with the "LC" (Ladder Candidate) tag after the map name.

Note: we are also working on the new mappool proposal for the team modes, but there is no list to share just yet.

As the second step, please find below the major balance update, prepared by our beloved Balance Counsil. The proposed set of changes includes two major redesigns, updated values for 70+ different parameters of 21 units and a few buldings.

Are you excited about mid-game Mothership, bringing back MECH PLAY to TvP with the Cyclone redesign and Brood Lords becoming closer to Guardians? Then go via this link or just take a look at the picture below:

Balance mods are available on all servers under the "Community Balance Patch - August 2023" name and via the following links

• AM - battlenet:://starcraft/map/1/352863
• EU - battlenet:://starcraft/map/2/248793
• AS - battlenet:://starcraft/map/3/165660

So what's next? Our plan is the following:

• We would like to receive as much feedback as possible about both the map pool and the balance update
• Upon finalizing the map versions and the balance changes, we'll coordinate with our colleagues from Blizzard Entertainment about the best way and timeline to implement these changes to the game
• Our goal would be to have these changes implemented by the end of September, before the start of the next GSL season (but after the GSL qualifiers) and the Winter season of ESL SC2 Pro Tour

Huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped to make these updates possible - and to Blizzard Entertainment for supporting the initiatives coming from the esports community!