Well, maybe it's just me, but it seems like maps aren't as great anymore. I can see a map that is amazingly forged with some nice aesthetics but I don't really like it. It doesn't have a "wow" factor. It seems like nearly every map that someone forges is just like everyone else's. Sure, they are completely different but they still aren't amazing. So, what scores high on your "wow factors"? This post can be helpful to a lot of people who want to add something to their maps. Personally, I love to see some nice geomerging on sandbox. What about you?
You'll be surprised that 90% of the forging "wows" as you call them have been used at least once, and the only way your ever gonna make or find a new map is when new maps come out. You might see some new "wows" in the next few weeks, maybe until Jan. or Feb., maybe even December. So no, but look for maps that have many, many wonders. And there is a lot of nice merging on XobDnas... Sandbox. Don't generalize, look on the map forums and have patience, young grasshopper.
I like to see evidence of a solid, well thought out and reasoned design, with a brief timeline detailing how the author iterated on testing sessions to achieve a balanced and interesting map. For me, that's the sign of a leading forger, and their work is the only content I'm really interested in from a critical standpoint. On the flip side, I also look for enjoyable, well judged casual and minigames that get people in the party laughing and screaming. That usually requires downloading and playing a number of maps, as it's harder to judge from the map thread how it's going to pan out in-game.
Yes I agree with this because over the period of time halo 3 has been out, there has been 1000s of ideas for forge. Sometimes if you build an asthentic map of a commonly known character from a TV show or something that could have already been made and doesn't give you the wow factor. Of course there are still some amazing maps out there but are harder to find than a year or two ago. But sometimes when you look at a boring map it might trigger an idea. That is how most "wow" maps are made today.