The Vermillion Problem

The Vermillion Problem is a Co-op Missions scenario of Legacy of the Void that was added in Patch 3.3.2. It is based off of the Wings of Liberty campaign map The Devil's Playground.

Background
On the planet Veridia Prime, Amon's forces besieged the planet as it began to destabilize, causing lava surges that could lead to the planets destruction. Allied commanders were tasked by Emperor Valerian Mengsk with gathering 20 xenon crystals and bringing them to an environmental stabilizer that would stave off the planet's destruction. Donny Vermillion of Universal News Network reported on the progress of the commanders while in orbit of the world. During the battle, a molten salamander named Molten Sal began to attack the downtown of the nearby settlements. The allied commanders were able to stabilize the planet and prevent its destruction.

Gameplay
Players are to be tasked to collect 20 xenon crystals and return them to the environmental stabilizer before the timer runs out. The low ground floods with lava at intervals, forcing players to be active on the map. Lava spouts will also appear on the map, making traversing the map while the lava is high risky even for air units. Unlike minerals, xenon crystals can be harvested instantly. Crystals appear every time the lava surges, and will spawn further away as the map progresses.

Expansions are in the center of the map, and have full enemy mining bases defending them. After they are taken, the enemy will attack from all sides, sometimes sending air units over the cliff behind the mineral line. As such, the middle base requires either some form of static defense of a mobile force to withdraw and defend it. Enemy bases occupy all high ground points on the map, and contain small groups of enemies with a large amount of static defense.

The bonus objective on the map is the destruction of a molten salamander, which will only appear when the lava tidal range is high on the map. The creature does moderate damage and low health, but will only appear on the map for a short time, so may require multiple lava surges to take down.

Mutators
The following mutators have been applied to The Vermillion Problem.


 * Power Trip
 * World on Fire
 * Out of Order

Development
The map was altered from "The Devil's Playground" in that in the original map, it was designed with the terran army in mind (mobile structures). To accommodate protoss and zerg players, the map has more high ground than its Wings of Liberty counterpart.

The idea of using Vermillion as the map announcer was made as a suggestion during the map's development. The team "rolled with it," and Vermillion was made the map's adviser.