Amp's Official Level Designer Tier List

[Supershroom]

Well, if it ever comes thus far, we either keep them in this topic, or move this topic into SM63 Level Designer subforum and the LL list into the other one.

Also, the people have spoken. The minitiers stay and wait for a small update.

[~MP3 Amplifier~]

Well, people have voted for the minitiers to stay. In that case, I will have a think about updates for each one.
If it's not too much to ask as well, if everyone could voice their opinions on who should be where in the minitiers, that would be great too, so then I can take into account everyone's feelings.

[Harmless]

Next big things? Personally for rook I'd say awesomeguy or Forgotten, both have caught my eye as of late.

[~MP3 Amplifier~]

I might at least remove the Next Big Things tier tbh because it'll always need updating, and we also have potentials for that. But we'll see. I'll have a look into the positions of each category.

[Harmless]

Yeah, potential chart crashers is already a Next Big Things minitier anyways

[MessengerOfDreams]

I feel like I should point out that Minitiers staying got exactly 50% of the vote. 37.5% of the voters said no and the rest of the votes were apathy. I don't think we should get the sense that Minitiers the way they are are approved of unanimously. There's merit to the idea but I think we should look at some reform.

[Supershroom]

There actually are differences between Potentials and Next Big Things - potentials are meant to be those who either are just on the first step of their "job ladder" and have potential skills to grow, and therefore will be the next to be considered being added to the list if they keep it up. The Next Big Things minitier are more than potentials though, they can also be people who have already found their way on the list, they are the ones who can be expected to slap out a banger at future LDCs ore those who are "living portal legends" etc., like e.g. Jumbo or Veso.

[~MP3 Amplifier~]

Tbh I agree that the minitiers need a total makeover if they are here to stay. There's a part of me that wonders if we should only keep the categories that show the designer's skill in some ways, so scrap things like Fame/Notoriety and Next Big Things (unless people are adamant that it should stay). And then the minitiers are just for appreciation of graphics, storytelling, professional detail, fun factor and innovation. Things that are all relevant to making a good level. And then you are just celebrating the separate aspects of a level designer.

I would say scrap Legacy from the minitiers and just add that to Honourable Mentions anyway, or maybe even turn it into its own little section. We used to talk about how Four inspired the first stories, Krazy was the graphics master, Murph had the gameplay ideas, L4 started off the innovation, and Volkove was the first really to focus on the details and making his levels immaculate. So I don't see why we couldn't mention all of this somewhere. (and Ven is still in the Legacy minitier and he's returned to the designing scene lately, so it's kinda inaccurate anyway)

So yeah, just a little brainstorm.

EDIT: Actually I kinda like the idea of doing just graphics, story, professional detail, fun and innovation minitiers and having each of those designers as a special mention, just to say that they were the first to really explore this aspect and that it inspired others in the future to do more with it.

[Oranjui]

Definitely scratch Fame/Notoriety because it's already covered by the main tier list. Potentials and Next Big Things are pretty much duplicates, but I like the latter better because it's more detailed. I like the idea of putting stuff like Legacy into a separate section, but I think we could combine Honourable Mentions with it too. Here's an idea:

• Top Tier- Best of the Best Level Designers! (1-10)
• Second Tier- Also Legends (11-20)
• Third Tier- Great Level Designers (21-30)
  
  
• Minitiers [keep the Ace/King/Queen/Jack/Rook format, maybe re-order:]
  
  • Graphics
  • Fun
  • Story
  • Professional Detail
  • Innovation
• Honourable Mentions (main list overflow [31+] & retirees)
  
  • Present Legends
    
    • Noteworthy Designers [overflow from tier list]
    • Potential Chart Crashers [merge w/ Next Big Things, but keep the new one detailed in the same way that the latter currently is]
  • Past Legends: [idk if we should actually do this or not. If not, then yeah, like you said, just a special mention for each person in the minitiers]
    
    • Pioneers [this is kind of like Innovation but idk I think that one should be for active designers]
    • Legacy

also this isn't relevant but

on the first step of their "job ladder"

please do not

[Karyete]

Not entirely sure what 'job ladder' is meant to mean there.