Changes to Oddball and CTF: My views

Games Other Halo
1

Hey all, it’s Dropship dude from BNet. Here’s wondering how much of the 343i community hails from BNet and recognises the name. Anyway, to the point.

I’m an oldskool Halo player. Since the days of Combat Evolved when I was a wee lad, to the chaotic matchmaking rampages of Halo 3 and Reach, I’ve stayed true to the franchise and bettered my skills in each and every game. I’ve welcomed changes with open arms, hoping to bring a new feel to the game series I follow so fanatically. However, there have been some changes I haven’t agreed with. Armour Lock, for one, was something which I was extremely displeased with, and still am. However, Halo 4 is now in the spotlight, and it’s time for me to raise my voice on the matter and address a few aspects I like and dislike.

Oddball:

As I mentioned, I’m an oldskool player who is used to the old ways of playing gametypes like Oddball, but it has to be said that I love the idea of throwing or “passing” the Oddball. It adds a whole new strategy to the game. Yes, people can now throw the ball out of play easier, but on closed maps like Exile where this is no “out of bounds”, it presents a challenge to both teams to hold onto the objective and play it to their advantage. Passing the ball up to a teammate with a better position? It’s something I’ve done countless times on Halo 3. Passing just makes the process easier. I’m all for it. It also allows for the creation of awesome custom games, and brings some welcome changes to gametypes which already have boots firmly on the ground.

Arming the Flag Carrier:

Moving onto Capture the Flag, I feel the idea of arming the flag carrier is “alright”. I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out, as it’s a repalcement for being able to drop the flag at will. I’m pretty neutral on this aspect, as I feel the whole point of CTF was to be able to connect tactical routes with timing of dropping the flag for your weapons and giving you the opportunity to bunker down and repel defenders who are trying to stop you. Giving the carrier a weapon to use on the move with the flag eliminates the need for tactical defending by the attackers, and it’s something I’m unsure of.

Removing the ability to drop the Flag:

However, there is one thing I’m really not happy with, and that’s not being able to drop the flag. Why would 343i do this? I’m against juggling, yes, but this is not the way to solve it. As mentioned with Oddball, in CTF gametypes I would very often throw the flag up to a teammate so they could capture it with ease, such as on The Pit on Halo 3 and Zealot on Reach. It’s a mechanic I can’t see CTF working well without. I have to say it’s the first major disappointment. If a team is organised well enough, and able to communicate well with one another to co-ordinate a strategic lob of the objective, then they deserve to be able to try and pull it off. Getting that few extra feet on your opponents could be the difference between a win or loss, and removing this is something which I’m really not looking forward to.

Now, for all I know there could be an option that allows you to drop the flag in customs, but from what we’ve seen so far (and I haven’t seen everything), it seems that it’s a locked setting. What’s the deal? It’d be interesting to hear a developer’s standpoint on the change. Do you agree with the change, or do you wish 343i had kept the ability to drop the flag in the mix?

2

I would like to know why Spartans are using Magnetic Armour and Iron flags these days. I don’t think it will matter much but it’d be nice to know why.

3

According to Das Kalk/snickerdoodle’s interview with Frankie…

He can’t give the best answer as he isn’t a designer, but ultimately it is to try to speed up the pace of the game.

I don’t mind the new changes. I’m going to try out the new CTF (specifically not dropping the flag), but I think they can work.
I justhope they get rid of auto-pickup. Too many accidents can happen, and the not dropping the flag part makes that situation worse.

4

> I would like to know why Spartans are using Magnetic Armour and Iron flags these days. I don’t think it will matter much but it’d be nice to know why.

I’m not sure I follow. Is this a hint that picking up the flag is now automatic?

> According to Das Kalk/snickerdoodle’s interview with Frankie…
>
> He can’t give the best answer as he isn’t a designer, but ultimately it is to try to speed up the pace of the game.
>
>
>
>
> I don’t mind the new changes. I’m going to try out the new CTF (specifically not dropping the flag), but I think they can work.
> I justhope they get rid of auto-pickup. Too many accidents can happen, and the not dropping the flag part makes that situation worse.

I honestly don’t see how it speeds up the game. If anything, it slows it down if it removes the ability to throw the flag to teammates in better positions. I can understand how stopping people from dropping the flag to “bunker down”, as I described it, can speed it up, but there are a lot of drawbacks for the more experienced players who have become used to such methods.

5

> > I would like to know why Spartans are using Magnetic Armour and Iron flags these days. I don’t think it will matter much but it’d be nice to know why.
>
> I’m not sure I follow. Is this a hint that picking up the flag is now automatic?

I’m not sure if that was Midkin’s reasoning, but yes… the flag is auto-pick up when you walk over it.

Thats the only thing I really don’t like. Too many accidents could happen.

6

> > > I would like to know why Spartans are using Magnetic Armour and Iron flags these days. I don’t think it will matter much but it’d be nice to know why.
> >
> > I’m not sure I follow. Is this a hint that picking up the flag is now automatic?
>
> I’m not sure if that was Midkin’s reasoning, but yes… the flag is auto-pick up when you walk over it.
>
> Thats the only thing I really don’t like. Too many accidents could happen.

Ahh… Not sure if want. I can see the advantages (many a time I have attempted to pick up the flag only to end up with a pistol that was lying next to it instead), but the disadvantages are too great. Imagine, if you will, that you just called in ordnance for a rocket launcher, or managed to overwhelm the enemy holding the weapon and pick it up (I don’t know if ordnance is in objective), and you accidentally walk over the flag. I can see it causing problems - especially if you kill the carrier and attempt to pick up a weapon you knew they were carrying, only to end up with the flag and be unable to drop it.

Hmm…

7

Lol it was a joke, both on auto pickup and the fact you cant get rid of it.

8

> > I would like to know why Spartans are using Magnetic Armour and Iron flags these days. I don’t think it will matter much but it’d be nice to know why.
>
> I’m not sure I follow. Is this a hint that picking up the flag is now automatic?
>
>
>
> > According to Das Kalk/snickerdoodle’s interview with Frankie…
> >
> > He can’t give the best answer as he isn’t a designer, but ultimately it is to try to speed up the pace of the game.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I don’t mind the new changes. I’m going to try out the new CTF (specifically not dropping the flag), but I think they can work.
> > I justhope they get rid of auto-pickup. Too many accidents can happen, and the not dropping the flag part makes that situation worse.
>
> I honestly don’t see how it speeds up the game. If anything, it slows it down if it removes the ability to throw the flag to teammates in better positions. I can understand how stopping people from dropping the flag to “bunker down”, as I described it, can speed it up, but there are a lot of drawbacks for the more experienced players who have become used to such methods.

Well I guess its like:

Waypoint above your head encourages you to move faster.
Your speed is normal, you don’t need to juggle.
Now your teamates need to focus on defending you more, so you don’t neccesarily need to turn around and defend yourself which would halt the movement of the flag because you need to drop it to do so.

9

> Hey all, it’s Dropship dude from BNet. Here’s wondering how much of the 343i community hails from BNet and recognises the name.

I’m Chief Bigwig from BNet, and I think I have seen you several times.

> I’m an oldskool Halo player.

Me too.

OT: If you are able to throw the Oddball, you should be able to throw the Flag.

10

> > > I would like to know why Spartans are using Magnetic Armour and Iron flags these days. I don’t think it will matter much but it’d be nice to know why.
> >
> > I’m not sure I follow. Is this a hint that picking up the flag is now automatic?
> >
> >
> >
> > > According to Das Kalk/snickerdoodle’s interview with Frankie…
> > >
> > > He can’t give the best answer as he isn’t a designer, but ultimately it is to try to speed up the pace of the game.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I don’t mind the new changes. I’m going to try out the new CTF (specifically not dropping the flag), but I think they can work.
> > > I justhope they get rid of auto-pickup. Too many accidents can happen, and the not dropping the flag part makes that situation worse.
> >
> > I honestly don’t see how it speeds up the game. If anything, it slows it down if it removes the ability to throw the flag to teammates in better positions. I can understand how stopping people from dropping the flag to “bunker down”, as I described it, can speed it up, but there are a lot of drawbacks for the more experienced players who have become used to such methods.
>
> Well I guess its like:
>
> Waypoint above your head encourages you to move faster.
> Your speed is normal, you don’t need to juggle.
> Now your teamates need to focus on defending you more, so you don’t neccesarily need to turn around and defend yourself which would halt the movement of the flag because you need to drop it to do so.

These are good points, and while it does remove certain tactics and strategies, thus slowing gameplay in one manner, you raise some good points that it helps speed it up in other aspects. I wasn’t aware that flag carriers were not hindered by the flag in terms of movement.

I’m still a little unsure about the waypoint as well, as often in Halo 3 you could get your team to act as a decoy offensive to allow you to sneak around, grab the flag and escape without even being spotted. The inclusion of a waypoint completely defeats this age-old approach, but I suppose you could still get a decoy attack to give the carrier a few extra seconds of safety - though it would be less likely to work as a successful play with this new feature.

I suppose I’m sceptical about certain changes to CTF. Who knows? I might come to love them once I get my hands on the game, but from where I stand now, having not played the game, I can only say that I’m not really won-over by certain changes.

> > Hey all, it’s Dropship dude from BNet. Here’s wondering how much of the 343i community hails from BNet and recognises the name.
>
> I’m Chief Bigwig from BNet, and I think I have seen you several times.
>
>
>
> > I’m an oldskool Halo player.
>
> Me too.
>
>
>
> OT: If you are able to throw the Oddball, you should be able to throw the Flag.

Javelin, anyone? I’m not sure about physically launching the flag with the speed and distance of the Oddball, which is a far smaller, lighter object. I still feel we should be able to throw the flag, but only in relation to the momentum carried forward by the player, as opposed to an added push like with the Oddball passing.

11

> I still feel we should be able to throw the flag, but only in relation to the momentum carried forward by the player, as opposed to an added push like with the Oddball passing.

I agree.

With the hype from previous Halos still in my memory, I am avoiding forming an opinion on a game until I have played it. However, it is difficult for me to accept changes to things that were never broken.

12

> > Hey all, it’s Dropship dude from BNet. Here’s wondering how much of the 343i community hails from BNet and recognises the name.
>
> I’m Chief Bigwig from BNet, and I think I have seen you several times.
>
>
>
> > I’m an oldskool Halo player.
>
> Me too.
>
>
>
> OT: If you are able to throw the Oddball, you should be able to throw the Flag.

Just imagine a Spartan throwing another Spartan the Flag. I’d be surprised if the receiver didn’t get killed due to the force Spartan’s have at their disposal :P!

13

> > > > I would like to know why Spartans are using Magnetic Armour and Iron flags these days. I don’t think it will matter much but it’d be nice to know why.
> > >
> > > I’m not sure I follow. Is this a hint that picking up the flag is now automatic?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > According to Das Kalk/snickerdoodle’s interview with Frankie…
> > > >
> > > > He can’t give the best answer as he isn’t a designer, but ultimately it is to try to speed up the pace of the game.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I don’t mind the new changes. I’m going to try out the new CTF (specifically not dropping the flag), but I think they can work.
> > > > I justhope they get rid of auto-pickup. Too many accidents can happen, and the not dropping the flag part makes that situation worse.
> > >
> > > I honestly don’t see how it speeds up the game. If anything, it slows it down if it removes the ability to throw the flag to teammates in better positions. I can understand how stopping people from dropping the flag to “bunker down”, as I described it, can speed it up, but there are a lot of drawbacks for the more experienced players who have become used to such methods.
> >
> > Well I guess its like:
> >
> > Waypoint above your head encourages you to move faster.
> > Your speed is normal, you don’t need to juggle.
> > Now your teamates need to focus on defending you more, so you don’t neccesarily need to turn around and defend yourself which would halt the movement of the flag because you need to drop it to do so.
>
> These are good points, and while it does remove certain tactics and strategies, thus slowing gameplay in one manner, you raise some good points that it helps speed it up in other aspects. I wasn’t aware that flag carriers were not hindered by the flag in terms of movement.
>
> I’m still a little unsure about the waypoint as well, as often in Halo 3 you could get your team to act as a decoy offensive to allow you to sneak around, grab the flag and escape without even being spotted. The inclusion of a waypoint completely defeats this age-old approach, but I suppose you could still get a decoy attack to give the carrier a few extra seconds of safety - though it would be less likely to work as a successful play with this new feature.
>
> I suppose I’m sceptical about certain changes to CTF. Who knows? I might come to love them once I get my hands on the game, but from where I stand now, having not played the game, I can only say that I’m not really won-over by certain changes.
>
>
>
>
> > > Hey all, it’s Dropship dude from BNet. Here’s wondering how much of the 343i community hails from BNet and recognises the name.
> >
> > I’m Chief Bigwig from BNet, and I think I have seen you several times.
> >
> >
> >
> > > I’m an oldskool Halo player.
> >
> > Me too.
> >
> >
> >
> > OT: If you are able to throw the Oddball, you should be able to throw the Flag.
>
> Javelin, anyone? I’m not sure about physically launching the flag with the speed and distance of the Oddball, which is a far smaller, lighter object. I still feel we should be able to throw the flag, but only in relation to the momentum carried forward by the player, as opposed to an added push like with the Oddball passing.

Its a new take on CTF, thats for sure.

Might take some getting used to, but I think it should work out well.

I can imagine Jeff shouting “Impaled!” when you throw a flag and kill them with it.

14

> > Javelin, anyone? I’m not sure about physically launching the flag with the speed and distance of the Oddball, which is a far smaller, lighter object. I still feel we should be able to throw the flag, but only in relation to the momentum carried forward by the player, as opposed to an added push like with the Oddball passing.
>
> Its a new take on CTF, thats for sure.
>
> Might take some getting used to, but I think it should work out well.
>
>
>
> I can imagine Jeff shouting “Impaled!” when you throw a flag and kill them with it.

It would certainly spice things up a bit. Remove the pistol and allow us to launch the flag as a weapon, 343i. It’s the perfect compromise.