Map Editor - Height Levels

Can anyone here confirm (by link, preferably) how many height levels can be added to a map in the editor?

Will it be like Starcraft 1, or more like Warcraft 3? I'm thinking Starcraft 1, but with added features (obviously). The thing is that all the maps in the BRs and the screenshots are 3 height levels at most, or 4 levels (including the water/lava/space), but that could be because of preference and not because of limit.

Anyone know? I'd love to create high mountains etc.

 

they said you can even make underground
so I think more...

 

In the map editor demo, they were adjusting the terrain height in real-time. So I'm assuming it will be more like Warcraft 3. With cliff tiles and hills/craters etc.

 

Callex:
Yeah I saw that Blizzcon presentation on Youtube. But I'm gonna be creating melee maps and not so much UMS, so I'm curious about what is limited to which map type.

 

I can't help you with your question, but I think there should be a seperate section for the SC2 mod community on this forum. Keep all things related to the editor etc. in one section.

 

In the "Map and Replays" section, you mean? I assumed that was SC1 only, since it was under "Other Games" but I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

What I meant was - there's a section for the mapmaking community for SC1. However, there isn't a section for SC2 map making and editor related questions. One should be made. (administrators?)

 

Oh yeah, I saw it now. Sorry, I'm a bit dyslectic with sentences sometimes. I thought you said that there WAS an SC2 editor section, and not that you wanted one.

I agree, I think the moderators should add one.

 

There isn't enough mapmaking discussion for a full board. If a board were to be made, there'd be a whole of two threads on it. General Discussion is fine for now.

 

I guess we could wait till the game is out. It shouldn't be too long now

No, just playin'

 

I think the only thing that is known for sure is that the SC2 editor will be an improvement on the WC3 editor.

 

MAJOR new announcement:

The #StarCraft2 programming team is optimizing the interactive story mode for all graphic settings, especially "High". #SCUpdate

Get working on releasing the beta, thanks.

 

yes!!!!, their are finally "just" decided to optimize the story mode!!! those are such news!

but of course some fool may wonder, why the hell haven't they done this earlier..
and then again, a wise man will reply... relaaaax they are just taking their(3 years) time....

 

Then again, using three years on a game isn't that long, all things considered. You'd have to go for C&C games for fast-paced, japanese anime crap squeezing.

 

well.. wise guys. it is not 3 years of development. it is 3 years from announcement. the development goes far beyond..

not that I have any problems with the outcome. It is just my belief that if they had better planning the outcome would have been the same in sorter time.

 

I just sent a message to Blizzard account in youtube not to forget those who have 64 bits OS like me.

About height levels I don't know. But I don't see why Blizzard could let us create mountains in the map editor. They will be more like pyramids than real mountains by the way. Still.

 

I think I understand what you mean by "pyramid", but that effect can be softened by the use of doodads etc, plus being imaginative with each height level of the map. Besides, I can't see how it's relevant for the gameplay, as having 4+ height level won't look much different than having 1-3. The in-game camera view isn't big enough for that.

 

Yes, and will the game be playable with those mountains ? Imagine a zergling at level 4 (5 or more even). It could nearly attack air units no ? (no, it's impossible I know), there must be a limit on levels. But frankly I don't see the interest to do a mountain. for the gameplay and the strategy it has no interest. Maybe an air unit will crash on it lol

 

@RHStag: I already posted that news update

@SOGEKING: There are many UMS reasons for large number height levels. Let's not forget that. And, an "air unit" would have no reason to crash into a mountain. In the animation, they go up and down with the terrain. In the lore, they're all capable of space flight. At worst, the air unit might elevate off the screen.

Also, Blizzard's already stated that StarCraft II will be 64-bit OS compatible

@ronin311: I and many others believe that if Blizzard has not announced the game around when they actually did that it would have been detrimental to the development. I'm too tired to get back into this but perhaps you could do a search to see what we've said before.

Also, regarding the optimizations, these things ONLY happen when a majority of the code is completely done. Imagine proofreading an essay WHILE the author is moving stuff around. It would be pointless. So, this is definitely confirmation that beta is close. The problem is that we already knew this and the hold-up right now is not the game itself but Battle.net so the state of StarCraft isn't the thing that needs to be gotten out of the way.

 

Does that mean that the total height levels will be more than 3?

@ SOGEKING:
Have you never played Warcraft 3? In that game, the height levels are much more than 3 (at times). Besides, have you actually looked at any map ever? There are gadzillion reasons why a map designer would want more map level. But DeckardLee has already pointed that out, so.