All the images presented below are not ideal for an overall gameplay, they are purely used to demonstrate certain aspects of maps that are not recommended and ways to counter these problems!!

Ramps/Slanted grounds


Positioning the ramp where the shaman can only spawn cannons horizontally (left & right) is unadvised because this acts as a safe spot for the mice. The mice would always camp on the slanted ground to be propelled upwards which makes it very difficult for the shaman to kill the mice. This would be super disadvantageous for the shaman and hence why maps that tend to use slanted grounds in this manner are rejected.

• In the first image, the ramp is positioned behind the ground which means that mice have no way of being propelled up unless the shaman shoots from left to right. However in this scenario, the shaman can only shoot from right to left which allows a ramp like this to be used.
• In the second image, the ramp is positioned directly below the shaman, which also means that the ramp would not be abused as the shaman will be shooting cannons downwards to get rid off the mice.

Slight changes like these can allow ramps/slanted grounds to be accepted, however it is also dependent on other factors as well, such as the overall gameplay and layout.


Information bar


Now, this issue is probably not noticeable by map makers however it has a huge impact on survivor. Creating grounds too close to the information is quite problematic as it blocks some of the shaman's summoning area, where that summoning area could be quite useful to get rid off the mice.
This is a little trick that you could use yourselves, place a small box on top of a big box and if the small box is above the information bar, you'll need to lower that ground.


If both your boxes fit below the information bar (like it is shown in the image above), then your ground is positioned perfectly. This is a very simple trick which is also extremely useful, if everyone was to check their map using this, the issue with having grounds too closely positioned to the information bar would never occur again!


Ice grounds


The excessive use of ice grounds is unadvised because the mice will constantly try to stay on the platform whilst being shot at by cannons which makes it super difficult for mice to be able to survive, especially newer players. As for the shaman, it could be advantageous only if the ice grounds are overused where the mice are. However if all grounds are ice, then the shaman would struggle as they would need to try staying still whilst spawning cannons.


Using one or two ice grounds is not a problem as it could be used to deter mice from going to a certain area as they would face a disadvantage that they are willing to take. It should be used in a way that mice are not forced to go on the ground, but rather optional.


Ground size

• Another simple trick that you can use yourselves, to check whether a ground is too small, is by using the small plank and placing it on the ground. If the small plank is the same size or bigger than the ground, then the ground would need to be extended. Small grounds in survivor can be very tedious for mice as they don't get enough room to dodge cannons especially considering when there are a lot of mice in the same room and on the same ground. It becomes too difficult for them to survive on.
• Secondly, making very big grounds with the length around 400 or more, is also not recommended, especially if you're considering making multiple big grounds. This is due to the fact that mice are provided with too much space which becomes tedious and quite difficult for the shaman as their cannons would be easily evaded by slight movements made by mice.

• The ground, in the first image above, is bigger than the small plank which means that the ground is not too small for the mice to be able to survive on, as there is enough room for the mice to be able to manoeuvre.
• In the second image, the ground has a length of 300, which would be an optimal length. If the ground is any bigger than 300, it tends to be too big which makes it very easy for the mice to survive on. Generally, making multiple grounds with the length of 300 would also be problematic since that would also allow too space for the mice to survive on.

Hiding behind grounds


Creating vertical grounds can be problematic for the shaman if certain edits are not made. In the scenario that a map looks like this, mice are able to wall jump on the left side of the vertical ground which is a blind spot for the shaman as the shaman is forced to move or use spirits to be able to get rid off the mice camping behind the wall.


A simple trick would be to put an ice ground behind the initial ground (in this case the wood ground), with the ice ground slightly showing. It is necessary to show a bit of the ice ground so that mice are aware which ground it is. Not showing the ice ground would result in a invisible ground which is not allowed in Survivor at all. Additionally, the ground where the mice would be standing is also made longer as the initial ground was too small. (Refer back to Ground size for more information)
The ice ground is used to prevent mice from wall jumping behind the ground which therefore does not require the shaman to move or use spirits.


Cloud grounds


This also goes hand-in-hand with the Hiding behind grounds point, as in this case the mice are able to hide within the cloud grounds area which makes them immortal by cannons and the shaman is forced to use spirits.


A very simple solution to this is showed in the image above which is adding ice grounds to both ends of the cloud grounds as it prevents mice from wall jumping in that area. Be sure to make the ice grounds visible and try not to let the ice ground interact with the top part of the ground, lowering the ice ground by a pixel can prevent this issue.


Anti-cloud grounds


The excessive use of anti-cloud grounds is extremely problematic and therefore it is highly recommended to not overuse them. This is because the gameplay is heavily biased towards the mice as they are able to dodge cannons with ease.


Using one or two anti-cloud grounds would not be a problem, as long as the two anti-clouds are not placed with one above/below the other since it would defeat the purpose of having the anti-cloud ground.


Shaman blind spots


In the image above, the bottom left ground can be camped by mice which is a blind spot for the shaman as they cannot get the mice from their spawn, forcing the shaman to move. All grounds should be in range for the shaman, from their spawn, to be able to use cannons to get the mice.


A simple way to solve this issue would be to make the ground above, an anti-cloud ground which allows the shaman a clear pathway to get the mice. Another option could be to move top ground slightly to the left or completely remove it. The main point is that one ground should not be covering another without there being a way for the shaman to kill the mice from their spawn.


Camping areas


Creating the shaman spawn directly above the mice spawn, with a big surface provided for the mice becomes almost impossible to kill the mice as they would constantly camp beneath the cannon that is being summoned. This can be extremely tedious for the shaman as they are forced to drop down to the bottom which is also very disadvantageous for the shaman as it allows the mice to hug the shaman making it near impossible to get rid off the mice.


The most simple solution would be to split the ground so that there is a small area for the shaman to be able to spawn cannons without the mice being able to stand directly under the cannon, where it is being spawned.


Mobility

• In the first image, the grounds are kept very close together which provides the mice with a lot of mobility as they are able to get around to any platform quickly. This can be extremely obnoxious for the shaman as it would be near impossible to aim for the mice as they would be constantly moving.
• In the second image, the mice spawn ground is isolated from the other grounds providing no mobility, which would be biased towards the shaman as the mice would not have a chance to move around the map.

• In the first image, two of the grounds were removed as there were too many grounds provided, however the main focus is that two spawns were created where both mice had limited mobility. They have the option to go to the bottom ground but once they make that decision, they are unable to climb back up which prevents the high mobility.
• In the second image, the lower ground was moved closer to the mice spawn which again provides some mobility and a choice for the mice to drop down or stay at the top.

Off-screen grounds/gameplay

• In the first image, anything spawned on the right side of the red line would be considered "off-screen" and in this case, the shaman is able to spawn cannons off-screen which is quite problematic for mice that are not in full-screen. The gameplay should be fair for all players and they should not be able to spawn cannons which cannot be seen by some players.
• In the second image, the wooden ground is placed in a way that the left side of the ground is on the blue line (which can be seen in Map Editor) which is not recommended. This is because the mice could be wall-jumping on that left side of the ground and if the shaman is not in full-screen, they would assume that there is no one behind there.
• The third and fourth images both have grounds that are placed off-screen, even the slightest placement of grounds off-screen is not allowed as it can be easily camped by mice or even the shaman, depending on where it is placed.