The Planetary Workshop

possible rework (click for bigger version)
-ramps at nat plateau rearranged
-3rd pulled closer to the main
-new passage to bottom left expansion from the 3rd (will most likely be blocked by a rock)

current version: http://i.imgur.com/DkXn5.jpg
current motm version: http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft/im ... ucible.jpg

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hmm, i'm all for moving the third closer. but i don't like how the ramps look now. having 1 larger ramp looked a little better aesthetically imho

I think there is a point to changign the ramps, in line with moving the third closer. One could wall one ramp and use the other. Two ramps rather than one encourages Z to flank also.

Just a thought here, by NOT adding a rock to the narrow passage to the third, you'd encourage players to use the fourth as a third. I personally like when you encoruage that kind of choice ...

Choice is usually always good, unless there is too much of it. Here I think you're going in the right direction, with making it more of a choice where you take your third. But still, I don't think it is much of a choice for a zerg, as we tend to expand from the enemy and like quite open positions, just like the newly remade third seems to be (at least more so than before).

Terran on the other hand might be happy with taking either, the original third will probably be an orbital, while the middle expansion most likely will be a planetary. So here the terran will have to chose between a bit better economy, or a closer base which is easier to defend. And this is a good thing, I think.
I don't know what protoss wants though :/

PS. Did I just shoot myself in the foot by helping you here?

Mh, due to basic layout i can't create a 3rd that is further away from your enemy. Still the ramp changes and slight layout changes might help but it's of course closer. Still this is also true about XNC. Might look into this during the weekend.