The introduction of the smaller 1v1 map has improved multiplayer action significantly mainly by improving the ability to use scouts before battle. If the map is too large the relevancy of scouting reports can become muddled and confusing, while a map the is too small allows too many quick strikes and takes a lot from possible long term strategies. The new maps are designed to allow a wide range of strategies and free the player to use all of the available units in many different ways. The more options that each player has the more defenses that have to be considered by other players. This raises the level of competition to entirely new levels. Players should consider however that while the new map will put much more control into the players hand and remove a lot of the luck, they will also lose any real margin for error that the old style map, like the six-player free-for-all map. This means that timing is of crucial importance, and how you prepare for everything from early rushes to major invasions has been drastically changed. While rushing has been made easier, defending your base has also been made significantly easier. Terrain features like rocks and main lanes have also changed focus as far as how they are used in both small raid unit tactics and large troop movements. The use of side lanes has also been enhanced to allow you to use them for scouting, ambushes and full attacks.

Like real battlefield conditions a great real time strategy game will give you plenty of options. A real world commander will tell you that no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy unchanged. Simulating this unpredictability in a video game is a difficult job but Blizzard has come through with StarCraft II in some really amazing ways. The seamless way the new units are integrated into the new mapping scheme give the players such a wide range of possible choices and has introduced a new randomness to the game which brings it much closer to the conditions that a real battlefield commander can face in a real war. So get your boots on the ground, keyboard cleaned out and get ready to conquer brand new worlds.