*** THE CHALLENGE ***

The assignment is simple.
Make the best 1v1 tournament map in the world.

Conditions - this map needs to be:
- the only map you submit.
- of a SMALL SIZE only.
- playable as 1 vs 1.
- original, so do not use existing maps.
- made by you, and you alone, using the upatch-1.4.
- in English.
- open to criticism and revision, as it may be used for an upcoming 1-v-1 pbem tournament.
- As balanced as you can, this means that each playable Wizard should have an approximately equal chance of winning.

For the rest, everything is up to you! You can have 3 or 1 levels, as many events and story as you like, million custom heroes/Wizards, AI Wizards or not, etc, etc...

*** THE WINNER ***
The winning map will be 100% sure used in the final for the 1v1 singles pbem tournament starting in the summer of 2009. We may also use this map in the first rounds.
Furthermore, you can proudly wear the title '1v1 Mapmaking Champion 2009' in your sig, forever.

The second and third ranked maps will also be certain to be used in the tournament. The remaining maps may also be used, but have no guarantees.

*** REGISTERING ***

Please sign up for this tournament by expressing your interest in this thread and posting your email (This way I can send reminders for the deadline). You can sign up anytime before the deadline to submit.

Contestants:
- NTJedi: 1_Choice
- King David: Blackheart and Goodfella's war
- Dreaming: Colors of Black…
- Needles: Desolation Domination (5-th place)
- Morgull666: Menzoberranzan vs Mithral Hall
- Fubarno: Minions of Gruumsh
- LordDuck: Mountain of the Gods
- Nyarlathotep: Road to Hell
- KillKenny: Rocky Divide (3-rd place)
- The Groll: The Gods Arena of Magic and Power (4-th place)
- Rheno: The Lion The Witch and the Warfare (2-nd place)
- iBobs: There Might be Blood
- Arbiter Mundi: Thiboon Delirium
- Timelord: Too much water (1-st place)


*** SUBMISSION AND TIMELINE ***

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT COMPLETED MAP: APRIL 1st

Please submit to: swolte@heavengames.com
(Don't send questions there, I will only check this account once a month)

1) The Map
Please send the .ahm file (doesn't need to be zipped). I recommend NOT to put your name in the map so at least three judges have no idea who the mapmaker is and be (unconsciously) influenced.

2) -- OPTIONAL -- Balance statement of testing -- OPTIONAL --
This is an honor-statement in a text file where you can explain how you have tested the map for balance purposes (no need to submit one if you aren't testing). Playing for more than 12 days counts as one testing session. You can indicate how many times you have tested and in what fashion (see example below in the FAQ).
It's up to each judges' discretion how much value they attach to these statements for their score on 'Balance'.

*** THE JUDGING ***

- Who will judge?

- Kokor Hekkes (aka, Menno Sas, your AoW1+AoW2 Triumph Studios developer: mapdesign + balancing)
- Swolte (Your Seraph)
- Enginerd (Your Angel)
- Dafyth (Your expert pbem player)

- What will the maps be judged on?
The maps will be judged on these three characteristics at face value:

Balance
This design basically answers the question: "would you take a challenge playing either Wizard?"
- Are there any unfair advantages for one Wizard?
- Does one side have more opportunity to exploit AI than the other?
Note that a map doesn't need to be symmetrical in order to be balanced. You can be quite creative here.

Playability
This design determines whether a map is fun to play? Is there something unique.creative in the design of the map that makes the gameplay stand out? Is it too predictable, or unpredictable? Would it take too long for you, or too short? Is it too hard, or too easy?

Atmosphere
This design determines how the map feels to play. Can you relate to the Wizard/Heroes? How creative is the landscape and special areas? Are there events or special signs that add to the atmosphere? A story?

*** FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ***

Feel free to ask any questions in this thread and I will put them up here with the answers.

What does a statement of testing look like?
A statement of testing should give a judge a quick impression.

This is an example:
---------------------------------
STATEMENT OF TESTING
Map: The Depths.

Map playtested against myself (5 times)
Map playtested with friend (1 times)
Map playtested by testers (1 times)

(Provide links if there were actual threads)

Relevant comments: Big Archon main starting city does not allow building of Saints.
----------------------------------

Isn't the statement of testing flawed and unfair?
The main purpose of this statement is to motivate people to actually test their maps. It is also a way to appreciate those mapmakers who do test.

However, the judges can now also take this into account at their discretion. It will simply be unrealistic time-wise to judge balance on the basis of playing the map once as a judge. There is a lot an experienced eye can see. Keep in mind that if, for example, the map has a lot of events, and is quite asymmetrical, a judge may put more value on the presence of such a statement than when the map is quite straightforward and doesn't need much testing.

However, it is an honor statement and people can indeed lie, and exaggerate. Not to mention that the amount of testing doesn't mean the map is actually balanced better. Please bear in mind that the judges will be (made) aware of this as well.

No points are subtracted from NOT having such a statement.

Will the scores of my map be made public?
The idea is that we will only make public a top 5 ranking of maps without scores. Average scores (from all 4 judges per map) are available upon request after the judging.

Can I still change my map after the mapmaking tournament for the pbem tournament?
YES! If your map will be chosen for the upcoming pbem tournament you will receive feedback to make it even better. If you don't have time to fix things, the tournament organizers will make a tournament version of your map and use this.

Can my map get disqualified?
Yes, your risk disqualification if your map does not adhere to any of the conditions listed at the top. Ultimately, the judges decide what to do in such situations.

Why ONLY small maps? I have too many cool ideas and they don't fit!
Sorry, this particular mapmaking tournament is specifically designed for an upcoming 1v1 pbem tournament. Allowing medium maps would take too long to finish, even though these can be more interesting. Another reason is that its a very manageable size for our overambitious, and beginner mapmakers. A short but intense time to mapmake is usually best and keeps things fun!
FFA mapmaking tournaments allowing for larger sizes will certainly follow in the future.

Will my map be played blind?
('Blind' means that the players will not look at the map in the editor before the tournament starts).

No. In the case where knowledge can have influence on the outcome of the game, it is tricky, especially with the eye on the upcoming tournament. We cannot realize people playing the map blind for several reasons. First of all, there is no way we can really ensure that people don't know. Second, the judges will also want to play in the subsequent tournament. Third, maps may be played simultaneously in rounds so that earlier logs may betray crucial secrets to others .Fourth, the mapmakers themselves may be participating in the tournament.

Can I use SEM?
Yes. SEM stands for 'Standard Editor Mod' which is a tool designed by JamieJME. It is not a mod in the traditional sense, but it can aid in applying cool tricks to existing maps.
Check it out here

[This message has been edited by Swolte (edited 05-03-2009 @ 09:33 PM).]