I want to wait until the game comes out before I decide whether it is good or bad change, but from the information so far, I can’t see myself supporting the new mode. In a game like COD (just an example, don’t kill me, please) CTF is not very popular. The CTF mode has players strap the flag to their backs. This makes it so you can’t drop the flag, it is auto pick up, and you can use your primary, all three, to me, are big CTF no-nos.
Now think about this, if I were a designer for COD, how would I make the gametype better? By giving the player more options. So, to do that, you allow them to press a button and drop the flag, you allow them the option to turn off auto pickup, but you keep the ability to use you primary. Halo went the opposite way.
Now you can look at it from the other end of the spectrum and think that it promotes teamwork. It makes it so people focus on the guy holding the flag, rather than killing each other. I have had experience with people kill farming in objective modes, so I can see CTF improving through these changes as well. It also will make people commit to being the flag carrier, rather than dropping it to save their own skins. The magnum addition will allow the flag carrier to at least defend themselves, but not without their teams help. They won’t be able to lone wolf it by dropping the flag and killing a guy with a primary weapon then moving on.
IMO, the cons outweigh the pros. You can either give the player more choice and make the player use better tactics, or encourage teamwork. Considering I rarely play a game where my team mates don’t help me cap the flag, I believe that the former is better than the latter. I don’t think it will be a good addition, but we will see on November 6. Thanks for reading.