Since the vacation comes to an end...

I thought about posting again.
As you may know Season 6 of the Starcraft II Ladder is about to be opened up and with the next months of 1on1 competition comes new maps and this time the maps that are going to be added are by no means bad Blizzard maps, no, they are actually made by the community in particular by the ESV-Mapmaking Team - the people that provide maps for the ESV-Koreanweekly and (just like Cloud Kingdom) for the GSL -.
The maps that are going to be added are called "Cloud Kingdom" and "Korhal Compound". They were selected by a mapmaking tournament - that was held by Blizzard - in which they've shown to be really balanced and exciting. They also made and appearance in the GSL (in several rounds) a really good game was provided by SlayerS_BoxeR vs SlayerS_GanZI (link)

Cloud Kingdom (2 Player Map)

..is the more popular map of the two newly added maps since it has already been played in the GSL and such (as mentioned before).  The strenghts of the map are the easily defendable three bases that provide a solid start for each and every game (espc. as Zerg). It also allows Zergs to manover around the enemy army since every move out of the opponent (leaving the base through the natural choke) will be spotted by the Xel'Naga Tower and gives Zerg enough time to set up a flank or a counterattack. 
For the other two races (Terran and Protoss) it's also very usefull to have many different paths in order to avoid the visionrange of the Xel'Naga Tower and take away time for the enemy to prepare for the incoming attack. 
On the other hand the map provides a rather save main (in terms of aerial harrasment). The main is secured by the natural and natural third. As soon as Protoss is able (and Terran) to secure both bases the harrasment of Mutalisk and Drops is almost completely shot down. It is also harder to pull your opponent out of position (in order to enter the mainbase with a runby) since all three bases are really close to eachothers. I really like that map because it's played in tourneys and you can prepare on the ladder for tourneys now and it's a really good looking map. I guess it's Protossfavored though.

All these factors can also be read by clicking on the image which will open up a bigger version with acceptable size of writing!

 Korhal Compound (2 Player Map)

..is a rather unkown map since it's not played that often in any tournaments (to this point at least).
The map provides a save natural expansion (easily walled of with 3 buildings) with a very narrow choke the 3rd base though is very hard to take and defend for any race (except maybe Zerg). The third is accessable by 2 paths and very far away from the other 2 bases. The main is very wide open which opens up alot of possibilities to harras the opponent through air units and drops. The third Base and the natural Base is also devided through trees which protoss cant blink up on so Mutalisk will do really good on this map. The Xelnaga Towers provide alot of vision and the map (same like Cloud Kingdom) has alot of possibilities to avoid the enemy army and set up flanks, surrounds and counterattacks.
It is a Map that Protoss and Terran will allin alot on because the 3rd is really wide open and forces the opponent to either let their main or their third exposed. It is a 100% going to be a Zerg favored Map.

All these factors can also be read by clicking on the image which will open up a bigger version with acceptable size of writing!
That's it for that post I hope you guys are excited like I am for Season 6! Awesome Maps! wuhu 
~~Myu