A good map. We all love playing one. Who wouldn't? The better the map, the more we enjoy playing them. But what contributes to making a map closer to becoming "the best map" and makes it distinct from the other common maps? What features, what things, add up to making a map "the best"? To put it more pointedly, what contributes to making a good map? There are many things which people can say contributes to making a map the perfect one. Let's run through a few. This might seem like an unimportant one to many of you. Who cares about how pretty a map is after all. Well, whether you know it or not, I'm sure that that does have at least some effect on you. Very few people will want to play in an ugly map, after all, no matter about how interesting the gameplay might be. We all care about how a map looks, no matter what we might say. So if you are a prospective map maker, do make sure that your map looks great. If it doesn't, no matter how special, unique, or epic the gameplay, flags, and whatever else might be, nobody will want to play it. Basically, just a complicated way of saying "Layout". The layout, or geography, of a map is extremely important in making people enjoy and want to play the map which you create, or any map for that matter. Nobody wants to play a map where there are buildings in the middle of bridges, even if everything else about the map might be brilliant. When the geography is all wrong, the whole map is hampered. Geography and layout of a map is very important. Props should go in appropriate positions. Sometimes walls are most appropriate, other times pipes, other times whole buildings. And if they are used appropriately, nobody will notice. You know a map has good geography when nobody mentions it! It is one of those things which you only notice it if it's broken - a bit like lag. Another thing about geography that is worth mentioning is empty spaces. Most players don't enjoy a map where there is nothing in the middle of a map, just an empty field of grass. In fact, the only map I can remember which uses that is Stadium, which uses the empty field effectively. But on the whole, there needs to be enough props. A severe lack of them hampers the enjoyment of a map. Come on, admit it. Even if you say you didn't care about the above reasons, you know that we all care about gameplay. I can assure you, nobody will ever play a map where gameplay is of minimal quality, even if it looks amazing and/or has brilliant features. This is the real crux of the issue. Gameplay. Is it easy to play with the weapon that you prefer to use? The hull you enjoy using? Is it a convenient size? Is it too open for certain more annoying weapons to pick you off from range? Does it overtly favour certain weapons? There are so many questions about gameplay so I'm going to divide it up into numerous sections, focusing on specific features of gameplay. First of all, size. There is a reason why Berlin, Dusseldorf, and Lost Temple, as well as Island, Ping-Pong, and Farm, are played less than Silence, Tribute, and Kungur. That reason being? They are just too big or too small for most people to enjoy. We all enjoy maps that aren't too big or too small for our taste - although each of us have different tastes. Don't create maps that don't fit the size of what you think makes a good map. And keep in mind that bigger maps generally result in more lag. And then, as another aspect of gameplay, there is flag positions. Where to put a flag in a map? Well, it has to be in an appropriate position. There must not just be one route to get the flag: multiple routes are a must in a map. The flag also cannot be too far away from the respawn points for that team. The flag must not be too exposed. Of course, you could leave all those protocols behind and place flags in seemingly random positions, like in Massacre, Stadium, Lost Temple, and other such like maps. But as a general rule, maps and the position of flags in them should follow regular guidelines for exciting gameplay. Blue team vs Red team: which team has an advantage? The ideal scenario would be "no team", but at the same time, most people don't enjoy playing in a symmetrical map. With those things in mind, trying to keep a balance between red and blue and making skills required equal on both teams is important. Nobody wants to play a battle where Blue or Red has already won before the game has even started, because of an easier base. Of course, in every map, each weapon will have some advantages. But to an extent, the best maps are the ones where every weapon can play without being out of its depth (within reason, of course: smoky in a battle between brigadiers and marshals may have problems, and for a good reason too). The best maps should be able to make this happen. And in a category somewhat distinct to Gameplay, there is uniqueness. All maps will be different and should be different. If all the maps were the same, then there would be problems. Plus, it would get boring. Why make a map someone has already created? Make a map distinct from previous maps. Maps all should be different. There are, of course, other aspects which contribute to making a map good, but those aforementioned are the main things which must be considered in a map. That is what most people enjoy and want "out of" a map. If you are a prospective map maker, these are the main things which you have to consider in your map. Does your map have the right balance in these issues?

Dihos cannot use proper grammar. You can. Thus, you are not Dihos.

I personally think limiting it is not the issue. I think there should be no post count at all, at least certainly not next to someone's name, so that the people who spam the forum will clearly not be doing for the sake of post count. Or if they do, they're going to have a bad time.

Sorry for everyone involved or looking forwards to reading this articles, but this cannot happen. My computer has given up on me and permanently crashed, and I am having to look at getting a new one. In the mean time, I won't be able to be on skype, or able to have enough time on a computer to watch games on livestream. This means that I won't be able to co-ordinate this or help out. This will have to be cancelled. Mods, you can lock this topic. Really sorry for all of you who were looking forwards to getting on writing, but it's not possible for me to arrange this anymore. It's just how circumstances happened to happen. D:

I haven't seen Tournaments around on skype for a while. But we could play a guessing game.... :evilerlaugh:

Seems like the idea I came up with backfired. What about banning isida? :twisted:

Exactly... it's basically paying for a bit of extra strength. I don't like it.

I mean yea, it isn't nice. Why pay to get something at better value? Sounds just like buying a DCC to me.

Have you been stalking me? My "location" on every forum that has a location feature is "In your closet". Did you copy that from me or was it a fluke? =_=

Well, standard Angry birds will be out soon on Xbox. http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2191157/angry-birds-trilogy-will-hit-xbox-360-ps3-and-3ds-this-year

I love the concept. But how about making these effects buyable for crystals? It'd be a lot better that way, I think. Buyable equipment is a necessity for Tanki. A one-off payment for something like radar or the things that you say is a must. I'd prefer that than this being given for achievements or winning a contest. yusssssssss.... Nah.

:shock: The first entry that I've seen so far that is actually very good. I like the way that you added your own comments and opinion on top of simply stating what is going on, like what everyone else has done. I would be looking forward to hear you commentate on cybersport battles, if you manage to win.

I don't think your submission has passed moderation yet, and so I cannot see it.

You may have seen this before but I can never stop laughing when I see it.

Is it possible to record on one account, but submit your application on a different account from the one that you recorded on?

Thunderbird? A browser?

Battleships, it is common practise for higher ranked players with a higher garage to ask lower ranked players to leave if they are taking up a position on the team and not playing very well. You don't have to do it if you don't want to, but it is common etiquette, if you are below 700 or so points in the battle, to comply as it would give your team a higher chance of winning the battle. Very often, I'm in a marshal-only battle and I get asked to leave, due to me being only a captain. On the other hand, if I'm in a battle with majors and colonels and I have a warrant officer on my team, I often ask the WO to leave. It's just common practise, and most of the time people follow it. You do not have to do it if you wish not to, but it is honourable to comply by doing so.

There is currently none. Send applications as soon as you can.

That is a pretty impressive feat, considering I haven't created the group yet.

Why what? Why H. Usto? If so, it is because Hus To sounds stupid.

Feel free not to. Age is optional.

Tankmen! Have you ever wanted to try your hand at reporting? Well, now you can! Reporters for the Clan Championship are required! What this is -For the Clan championship, group stage, I am hoping that there can be a report, at least two or three paragraphs, of every game in the group stage until the final. -I need some reporters to help me. -I am recruiting here. What will be done -I will accept people who apply (see below) and add them to a skype group (If they have skype; if not I will use PM on this forum). -Each reporter for this tournament will be assigned to a game when the dates and times are announced for each game. -That person will be asked to watch the game via livestream and then do a report on it, saying how good each team was, the prospects for each team, how well each player played, who captured the flags, etc. -They will then send the report, either to the blog or to a sticky thread on this forum. It is currently not decided which. To apply -Send me a PM. Applications on this forum will not be considered. -The PM must have the subject "Reporting for Clan Championship". Any other title might end up being unread. -This PM must consist of: +Your callsign. +Your age. +Your skype (if any) +Your clan (if any) +A one or two paragraph report on the following game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4Q1oA8-2oQ . This is so that I can choose who to pick, from your writing quality. All you will be expected is a simple report on the game of football (or Soccer) featured in the video, with a reasonably interesting writing style and good grammar and faultless spelling. More information about the game of football (if you need it) can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_FIFA_World_Cup_Final. The writing should be made completely of your own words. Things to note -Reporters will not be able to report on any games involving the clan they are in. -These reporters will probably not get paid. They certainly will not receive an avatar. Nor will they receive the reporter paint. Nor access to the reporter forums. -There is no limit on the amount of reporters, although if there are more applications then there will be a higher standard judged. -Games could have more than one report on them. -Not all games will be reported on. -This is only due to start in the group stage. The current preliminaries are excluded. Discuss and ask questions in this topic! Apply in a PM to me!

Thanks a lot ^^.