SC2Mapster

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Light Times Night by revans101

LTN is a highly cinematic single player experience featuring the heroine Light, an overwhelmingly powerful psionic who is part of a group known publically as "The Resistance". Set in a different universe than Starcraft altogether, LTN is an episodic series of single player games with each episode taking approximately 90 minutes to complete.

In addition to a slew of customized cinematics, art, UI, and voice acting, the way abilities are used will have a different feel compared to most custom games on Startcraft 2. As the story progresses, players gain powers like short duration stealth, speed weapons, and eventually will have limited control over time itself, being able to slow down time for everything except the player, stop time, or even reverse it.

Starcraft 2 Data manager by MaskedPoptart

Tired of duplicating data, forgetting to link all your duplicated stuff together or having actor fields improperly renamed?

There's an app for that now... and it's called the Starcraft 2 Data Manager (SC2DM). It allows you to make Templates for XML data, so that the only thing you have to do to create a Hero, for example, is tell the program what stat points that hero needs to have. In fact, you can see me doing just that in my video.

The Starcraft 2 Data Manager:

1. significantly decreases map development time
2. decreases the amount of errors
3. most importantly, allows mappers to create complex abilities/units/items without needing to understand how they actually work.

For more information and a chance to check out the beta version, head over to his project page.

Honorgarde Valley by Daara87

Capture and build bases while fighting to hold the middle base when the timer expires. Uses WoW models to resemble Warcraft 3 with plans to do all 4 races.

The current premise behind this map is to give the player the feeling that they are participating in a medieval fantasy world rather than a scifi world. Almost every unit and building within this map will eventually be using World of Warcraft models, with team colors. Some models will have to be customized to reflect Warcraft 3 units. I will likely use up all 100 mbs of my allotted space. However you will only have to download this once unless the dependencies themselves are updated. The map itself will be small.

At the start of the game each player is given a choice of which race they would like to be. Once you have selected your race you will be given the option to select of currently up to 4 given heroes for that race. Humans have a Paladin, Ranger, Archmage, and Rogue as their current choices.

After everyone has selected a race and hero they will be randomly spawned somewhere on the map. It is then up to the player to choose where he/she goes. It is in the players best interest to capture as many Town Halls, Lumber Mills, and Silos as possible. Town Halls and Silos will provide you with unit income and supply while Town Halls and Lumber Mills serve as drop off points for Gold and Lumber. Town Halls are also used to train Peasants which mine Gold and harvest Lumber. These peasants are also used to construct other structures.

This phase of the game currently lasts 20 minutes and eventually will be adjustable by the host or vote (I haven’t decided or implemented it yet). After the first 20 minutes are up the base in the middle of the map, Honorgarde Keep, will open its gates to be conquered. At this point every player will have to compete to be the last person holding the keep when the timer runs out. Whoever accomplishes this task will be victorious.

Anna, from RTSGuru, just recently posted up a pretty nice editorial about melee map design, which Blizzard outlined, that I highly recommend reading.

SquadCraft by Trieva

This project, inspired by X-COM, is a turn based strategy game where you command a small squad of units to defeat your opponent's squads. As the game progresses, you can purchase upgrades and equipment in to customize individual marines in your squad, making them much more lethal.

Ikari Warriors by ZealNaga

The Ikari Warriors project has finally reached v2.0! Whether you play it alone or with a friend, you will enjoy this map if you're looking for the excitement of an old "run and gun" shoot-em-up game in SC2! The project features 2 levels in one file, exclusive weapons and items to collect, various vehicles to drive in, and a few settings to choose from that will increase the challenge.

The main project page now also features an encyclopaedia. As you will notice in these pages, v3.0 will mainly be focused on improving the co-operation experience with more game modes and challenges.

Diablo II meet Starcraft II by Egodbout

From the maker of Diablo: The Curse of Tristram and Zelda RPG comes another epic looking project, this time around a Diablo II port to SC2. Below is only a small preview of what he hopes to achieve with his map. As you can see, he uses some awesome 3D custom art from the original game, combined with carefully placed lighting effects to really show what Diablo fells like.

War of the 12 Kingdoms by Shock & Milpheus

The concept of the project is simple: 12 players, 1 base a piece. Players fight for minerals and every kill grants a bounty. The goal of the game is to kill your enemies and make diplomatic alliances with other players when applicable. However, when you are not fighting an opponents army, you have the opportunity to take part in multiple quests throughout the many areas of exploration as an alternative way to earn resources. This map also sports 12 unique races, some WoW Models, a ton of quests, and a nice Warcraft-esque feel to a Starcraft map.

Pyramid Survival by Stealthsam

This project is a Tower Defense Survival game unlike anything anyone has seen before. In this game there are unlimited waves of destruction. The waves get increasingly stronger and new units come into play over the course of time. Play again and again to achieve a new ranking through Pyramid Survivals' unique ranking system on 1 of the 3 difficulties, or play competitively in the Competitive Mode. You may even try out the onslaught mode where there is no break between waves.

Trollobattles by TotalBiscuit & Eiviyn

Similar to Day9's Monobattles custom map, TotalBiscuit set out to create his own masterpiece, with the help of Eiviyn. The premise of the map is simple, you have two players duking it out, with two more players that act as Dungeon Masters, of sorts. They can do whatever they want to troll or help the course of the melee match up. TB explains it quite well and includes some other feature ideas they are working on. It seems that this will be a regular series, so stay tuned.

Galaxy Tech Demos by fuglypump

While not exactly a map project, these videos are a series of tech demos: just a few short examples of the various things you can accomplish with the Editor. If you're interested, be sure to watch the rest of his videos!

These maps are courtesy of Blizzard's regular Custom Map Spotlight!

Bomber Bot by Nebuli

Fight against friends or learn the basics by playing versus the AI in this strategic bomb placing classic. Obtain different power-ups and annihilate the opposition with carefully placed bombs and positioning.

Infested Arena 2 by Etravex

It’s been 43 years since your last encounter with the Infested. This time, the Arena is your home planet. Prepare for Invasion… Pick one of the many classes available, obtain power ups, use unique and powerful abilities to survive!

The Harbingers Single Player Campaign by HoliestCow

The Harbingers, is a single player campaign being developed for Starcraft II following the story of a Terran named Michael who is searching for a Protoss Artifact called The Harbinger. The story takes place between BroodWar and Starcraft II Wings Of Liberty.

These maps are courtesy of Blizzard's regular Custom Map Spotlight!

Fleet Assault ver 19.14 by Kildare

With 8 different classes of ships and a near unlimited combination of ways to customize, Fleet Assault looks to add a whole new level of depth to space Battles. In this “DoTA” style Defense game, you and your teammates look to be the first to destroy your enemies Mothership.

-Mafia- ver 1.214 by DarkRevenant

Based on the classic party game, Mafia brings a new twist and SC II feel to a game of lies and deceit. Join up with others to defend the treacherous ways of other mafia members or help fellow townsfolk find the murderer before they strike again!

Starship Troopers Abandoned by GreyHunter4

This map features leveling up for every unit (even Zerg), increased camera controls, a leader board, tons of unlockables, and custom achievements. The gameplay isn't exactly linear, which gives you the choice of units, paths to take, and two different ways to win. Choose your units wisely and use good strategy to make it through. Oh and it has a Cannon Fodder style graveyard, tombstones based on units level. It allows for 1-4 players and is certainly soloable!

Amira Tower Defence by ScorpSCII

This map is a newly released tower defense, which brings new and exciting, never-seen-before game mechanics to Starcraft 2. Amira TD features WASD controls, unique structures, personal high scores, tutorials for newcomers, beautiful environment, gameplay similar to Plants vs Zombies, an advanced, yet user-friendly custom UI, and much much more. Check it out for yourself over Battle.net!