So what has changed? Let’s start with the biggy. You can now wield an unlimited ammo pistol whilst carrying the flag! It appears out of nowhere… but whatever, gameplay takes precedence over realism and war games takes place in a simulator anyway. The gameplay implications of which means you can defend yourself whilst carrying the flag without the need to drop the flag. The one problem I had with this at first was in previous Halos dropping the flag reviled your position, so defending yourself had a cost, if you kill with a pistol then… you could stay hidden…
Unless… A flag carrier always has an indicator giving away their position to the enemy. Coincidently that is exactly the case in Halo4. A constant indicator! This may make it a bit tricky to cap a flag. But on the other hand the objective is never hidden, it make team goal and tactics that much clearer, it makes the game potentially faster paced, it means it would be harder to lone wolf cap a flag by staying hidden and out of harm’s way - it promotes team work then. But it will also make the defenders job a bit easier…
But the flag carriers movement speed has been increased. you still lose the ability to sprint but base speed is unchanged from regular player base speed. I think it was 75% in Reach. which never made sense to me with gametypes in which all players have Sprint. Defenders should I think have a speed advantage but the loss of Sprint was a big enough penalty any way 75% was a bit excessive. And disabling Flag juggling… Damb u slow! Also Halo 4s base speed is faster than Reach’s and Sprints is less of a speed boast (I remember hearing 70% of Reach). So it is a significant change. The benefits of which- The carrier can still strafe, can cap a flag quicker and doesn’t feel like they are dragging a dead weight across no-man’s land… It does however make Flag juggling redundant…Sprint juggling would still work… but I’ll talk about that another time maybe.
Or maybe not. Because you can’t drop the flag. Whaaa aaattt AAATTT!!! My initial reaction too. But this actually makes sense. If you think about it why on Earth when dropping the flag doesn’t give away your position would you ever use your pistol over your trusty BR or Rocket launcher. Flag dropping would completely undermine what 343 are attempting with pistol/ flag dual wielding. But at what cost? Not being able to make dynamic decisions when carrying the flag, not being able to pass a flag on to a team mate or toss a flag out of a base then adopt a support role, creating a ‘should I pick up the flag’ dilemma if you have a power weapon.
So the Pistol is to blame… Maybe… but I will say to that, there will be other CTF variants in other playlists this new gametype doesn’t detract from that. Also this gametype does in my opinion look pretty fun in the gameplay we have seen thus far. I for one will give it a chance and envision it more as the speed flag replacement. who knows, the positives may outweigh the bad and once everyone accepts there is such a drawback to picking up a flag they will adapt their strategies accordingly.
Although I will add I see no defence of Auto flag pickups. That is just entrapment. Picking up the flag should be a players derivative only. Also a gametype that keeps all the other changes except pistol dual wielding and the inability to drop the flag might be interesting. Not as a replacement but as a separate gametype.
> So the Pistol is to blame… Maybe… but I will say to that, there will be other CTF variants in other playlists this new gametype doesn’t detract from that.
At this point, there are none. Not even the option to change it in customs. Nor have there been an indication that it would change.
Good write up. On the one hand I like how you can now defend the flag with a pistol and not have your speed gimped. On the other, I will miss the ability to drop the flag. Sometimes I give it to my friends to run while I stay behind and hold off the enemy team because I have the better weapon(s) or because I’m more skilled at killing than they are. I’ll miss that element.
I honestly thought it would make much more sense if they allowed you to drop the flag and instead of getting a free magnum just make it so if you have a one handed weapon, you can use it while flag carrying, otherwise you walk with just the flag.
> > So the Pistol is to blame… Maybe… but I will say to that, there will be other CTF variants in other playlists this new gametype doesn’t detract from that.
>
> At this point, there are none. Not even the option to change it in customs. Nor have there been an indication that it would change.
In a game like halo with so much of a spotlight on customization and creation it is very likely that the new features can be turned off in customs just like like 343 said about pretty much every other feature announced that someone didn’t like (loadouts, armor mods, drops, weapons on map, instant respawn, ect.)and as for no other gametype variants I can’t think of a single gametype that doesn’t have at least 3 variants even the MM ones not originally created as “on disc” gametypes
Thanks a bunch for providing the link to this thread. I really like the write up. Surprisingly this thread went under the radar since there are members who are extremely opposed to the new changes. After some thought, like you, I see the vision or rationale behind the changes 343i have made and from the PAX videos, I agree, the gameplay does look like it’s a BLAST!!!
A Magnum that you only pull out when carrying something in your left hand is not a bad idea inherently. The flag is just not the right item to activate this effect.
> > > So the Pistol is to blame… Maybe… but I will say to that, there will be other CTF variants in other playlists this new gametype doesn’t detract from that.
> >
> > At this point, there are none. Not even the option to change it in customs. Nor have there been an indication that it would change.
>
> In a game like halo with so much of a spotlight on customization and creation it is very likely that the new features can be turned off in customs just like like 343 said about pretty much every other feature announced that someone didn’t like (loadouts, armor mods, drops, weapons on map, instant respawn, ect.)and as for no other gametype variants I can’t think of a single gametype that doesn’t have at least 3 variants even the MM ones not originally created as “on disc” gametypes
I believe that 343i is using this new CTF as a replacement for speed flag, a TU was mentioned, so maybe there intention is to make it the only CTF variant at the start to force people to test it and play it, get everyone’s oppinion, and then act accordingly in the title update, they are trying out and extreme version it seems before balancing it out with the title update.
Also do not fret guys, there will most likely be a ‘classic’ playlist at some point, atleast thats what the rumours I’ve seen are. Which would help with all you old-timers who don’t like change and all want to be grumpy grumps grumping together.
I’m perfectly fine with this new ctf as long as they can maintain ctf of yore in another gametype. They’re both justifiable, but I’d be afraid of the potential backlash of halo fans that are not aware of this change when they pop in the game. That said, if they give us the options, I’ll gladly grump it up in the classic playlist.
I just thought of an alternative system, to be honest the waypoint above your head and inability to drop the flag should be removed because its just a silly way to make people use the flagnum.
I guess they are stopping people dropping the flag so that the flagnum does not get under-used when you could just drop the flag. A more simple approach which would not limit choice but encourage flagnum, is that after you drop the flag, there is a longer delay than usual when switching to your standard weapon, say a delay of 1.5 - 2 seconds which would be disadvantageous but would not eliminate the use of a power weapons, but would make those holding standard weapons better off using the flagnum in a combat situation unless they risk a delay in which they could be killed.
huh, I thought this thread got completely buried. Glad to see it is still alive… Just about.
Since making this thread however 343 have released a bulletin explaining their vision for CTF and some of the driving forces that lead to such a drastic re-imagining of a beloved gametype. They don’t go into too much depth but if you haven’t seen it yet here is the link.
Also here is a link to the live PAX demo of Flagnum CTF.
I whole heartedly still disagree with the flag pick up argument though.
It’s like hybrid of VIP and CTF. And I like it. Seems much more fast paced than normal CTF.
Those sneaky tactics only made game much slower, boring and turned them into hide & seek game type.
Only thing that bugs me is that if you have rocket launcher then taking the flag is really big decision. But it really promotes teamwork as lone wolf power weapon -Yoink!- can’t take the flag alone.