Hello, to avoid confusion: My understanding of a
measure is all the notes between two downbeats (00:44:235 - to 00:45:360 - ), understanding of a
phrase in this map is 4 measures grouped so 00:44:235 - to 00:48:960 - . I could be wrong to what the definition truly is for these terms, but I find them quite practical for explaining my concerns.
[Descension to hell]
Other than map being arguably unpolished in terms of aesthetics / flow / consistency, it also has some large scaling problems that yuii- and Bouyaaa kinda touched vaguely. The veto will be mainly for that concern and it might be expanded to polishing later on if you manage to fix the initial issue of scaling. Further more, I can say that variation was not executed that well, you seem to just slap in a random 1/4 easy pattern for playability reasons (to give players space) rather than making it consistent and intuitive.
- 00:44:235 - Bouyaaa mentioned that this was overdone, and it is comparing it to lets say the kiai 04:01:035 - . The kiai has loud and dominant piano going fast backed up by louder background orchestral sounds (it's probably the violin). To better represent the large gap in intensity between the sections, you can consider two things about the "overdone" section. Firstly it is major spacing adjustment, preferably a strong difference, rescaling the streams in the section by about 0.5x-0.7x. After that is applied you will have space to emphasize the actual intense piano measures like 00:52:635 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) - , to which the current spacing seems reasonable if it were compared to the rest of the section being scaled to my proposal.
- A second option is to reduce rhythmical density. Reducing both the density and spacing will truly make a difference. Of course there are many ways to do that, but the easiest way would be to keep one measure mapped like streams 00:45:435 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16) - for example this but then use 1/4 sliders and 1/4 reverse sliders for the subsequent measure which would end up being easier than the streams. https://i.imgur.com/nHn5k8B.jpg (check the rhythm) If you'd like, you can also mix up some 3 stacks or such to spice it up and make it intuitive, there are sounds worth being emphasized like that. By doing this you will avoid monotony.
- The variation problem could be tied to intensity and could be fixed while adjusting all of these. So the issue is, there is no system of variation, you just simply slap a 1/4 reverse slider measure without a real change in music and no consistency with other measure/phrase choices of that patterning. For example 00:44:235 (1,2,3,4) - if you start like this, there are 3 things to be expected which are musically correct. Either 1 1 2 2 patterning (1 is 1/4 sliders, 2 is streams) 1 2 1 2, or 1 2 2 2. Neither of those variation theories (which follow music theory) are executed, 00:49:035 - if you were to make 1/4 sliders here instead it would be consistent 1 2 2 2 patterning. Or if within the 4 measures you have done it here 00:46:635 - or here 00:45:435 - it will turn out to be consistently varied if you repeated through it the other phrases in the section. 00:51:435 - The biggest offender would be this 1/4 reverse slider patterning put right in the 3rd measure not consistent with anything and not following any change in music.
- Adding to this issue of variation, you could consider multiple variation choices in terms of rhythm like I suggested https://i.imgur.com/nHn5k8B.jpg. So generally by agreeing with me, what I would find as an ideally represented section scaled properly in relation to the kiais would be: 2 measures in one phrase to be varied as 1/4 sliders / reverse sliders and/or 3stack 5stack usage; the stream measures being majorly rescaled by like .5-.7x; Actually intense piano being represented with bigger spacing or harsher patterning for example these: 00:52:635 - 01:11:835 - in relation to the rescaled streams.
- 02:05:835 - This section could also be rescaled in terms of rhythmic density and spacing. You actually started the section with a nice variation of the 3stacks that go through 2 measures, but right after them, without a change in music, you just chose to go yolo 15 seconds of stream? Firstly 15 seconds of stream is about the density of the final kiai, it has the same spacing except it also does more often stream jumps in this relatively calmer section. Personally this section to me sounds a bit more intense than the first one I was talking about, so I could let 0.7-0.8x scaling pass and a bit higher rhythmical density (like only doing 1st measures as 1/4 slider patterning instead of 2). Other than that, you're using stream jumps for really strong piano like 02:13:035 (1) - 02:15:435 (1) - and for 02:09:435 (1) - 02:10:635 (1) - really weaker notes too. You will be able to follow the song more properly by reserving the stream jumps only to those strongest piano notes while in the meanwhile less stream jumps mean less difficulty you will achieve better scaling relative to the harder sections.
Taking a look at the map and what other modders posted, it's fairly clear that the map has questionable choices within sections themselves (like how 04:09:285 (3,4,1) - doesn't flow well or 04:17:835 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,1,2,3,4,5,6,7) - how these are both about the same musically but have major difference in spacing). Therefore I offered just general pointers for major adjustments within few sections for now. Based on how you execute these suggestions I may consider exhaustively revisiting the map to discuss plenty of patterns I find questionable after which you may get the veto lifted. I'd really prefer if you'd get more modders though, I don't feel like pointing out 30+ individual issues to which you might disagree without me being happy with your arguments.
If you have any trouble understanding something or if you have questions, ask me irc or discord maridius #3182.