1. It is important to have many distinct zones in a level, some moderate distance apart from one another.
2. It is important to have some or all zones be joined by some number of linking areas, so that players can come together from different directions, possibly even with different stocks of ammo.
3. The mininum number of linking areas, assuming more than one zone, is one. The most basic polyzone layout will thus be a single linking area surrounded by two or more zones.
4. It is much easier to navigate in JJ2 on the horizontal than on the vertical axis. Therefore paths to zones leading directly upward or downward from linking areas will be the most difficult, and generally the most automated (sucker tubes or pets).
5. Layouts to expect are lines, crosses, or diamonds. In a line, a single L (linking area) is in the middle, linking two Z's (zones), one on either horizontal side. A diamond is slightly more advanced than this, again with two Z's, but with two optional L's in-between, presumably one above and one below. A cross is then L-centric, with four Z's coming out of it, one from each corner, making maximum use of the horizontal axis and yet separating zones from one another.