Will fully support multiplayer campaigns and linked maps. This enables players to play through entire campaigns together.
-Mix and match your own tileset in the editor.
-Any unit or object can be placed anywhere, regardless of their natural environment.
-Weather effects will be possible to use, including turning them on and off with triggers.
-Night/day effects will also be usable.
-A third custom resource is added to StarCraft II that can be used by mapmakers.
-Allowing heroes and units to gain "experience" is built into the Map Editor.
-Units can be toggled to have the ability to carry an inventory like in WarCraft III.
-The maximum map size will still be 256x256.
-Upgrades will now be downgradeable via triggers by using a negative value.
-Custom races are fully supported, including the ability to choose them from the game lobby while playing melee maps (as long as the mod defining the race is loaded).
Create your own abilities, including ability animations and effects in the datafiles (no triggers needed).
-Blur effects from StarCraft II's cloaked will be removable.
-Possible to use the full 3D cinematics mechanic from the single player campaign to create movies.
-Buildings will be able to produce whatever units the map maker sets it to.
-The entire Tech Tree will be customizable with in-game triggers.
-Mapmakers will now be able to use map locking (encryption) their maps, disabling other mapmakers from editing it and re-releasing it in their own name.
-A large number of extra units, abilities and buildings that are made but not implemented in the game will still be available for mapmakers and modders.
-Up until release, Blizzard checks the forums for good suggested features to add to the Editor.
-In th ;)e future, there will be opportunities for map makers to get their maps added to ladder pools. Selection based on quality for multiplayer games.
Source: www.starcraftwire.net
Comments:
Those are fantastic news. Looking forward to playing multiplayer campaigns and experiment quite a bit with the tileset layer - this was fun as hell in WC3, IMO. The ability to place units anywhere is also welcome, and the inventory thing had me worried, since I've planned quite a few gameplay tricks that would require one.
About the map locking feature, I understand it's a major concern to UMS mapmakers, whilst not really that relevant for campaign makers. Still, I hope it still allows us to look at the map proper: to observe triggers and things like that.
Also, the ability to use the 3D cinematic mechanic and to add a 3rd custom resource (great for altered melee games) are very good news indeed.
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