Currently the BTB playlist basically just rips the game modes out of Team Arena. That’s mostly fine, as an increase to the points needed to win will allow that to easily transfer over. Both Strongholds and Slayer are a good example of this. CTF isn’t so lucky though. The new mechanics and changes that 343i implemented into CTF for small scale, 4v4, stuff make it a pain in the -Yoink- to play in BTB. Sure, the changes work well in 4v4, and do increase the speed of the game, but those exact same changes make it the worst experience in BTB.
The combination of the fast kill times, fast return times, and decreased lethality of the flag carrier make CTF a almost purely defensive gametype in BTB. One person with a shotgun can stop a flag run, while it requires an entire team to capture a flag. This defensive focus is shown in my own game history where, out of the last 10 games, 5 have ended at time instead of by one team actually winning.
I think that the solution to this is that BTB should get its own settings on its CTF gametype. I understand and agree that the setting in 4v4 CTF make that mode more fun, but because BTB is a different beast it needs its own. Right now, because of the fast return timers, getting the flag out isn’t rewarded as much as I think it should be. Either slowing the return time down, or even going as far to have set timers like Halo 4 has would improve this and punish teams for letting the flag out of their base. This is important because unlike in 4v4 the flag take longer to get across the map and usually trades hands. Bringing back the 1-hit beat down flag would help as well. It would help solo players to actually contribute by dragging out flag into the open.
I also think that BTB should get its own version of Assault that is more akin to the classic 2 bomb from past games. Like CTF, Assault in its current form wouldn’t transfer over well, but is very well balanced for 4v4 stuff, and if it brought over, like I hope, it should go through some changes first.