I love this hopper. Yet, it has two glaring flaws that are really killing its entertainment value. 1.) We can’t DROP THE FLAG. 2.) The spawn times are too short and too close to the flag itself.
To point one, this is really butchering the strategy that the mode used to have. No more baiting the flag, no more pulling the flag off the stand just to divert the enemies push against your spawn trapped teammates, and a lot less pulls in general due to the difficulty. It should also be mentioned that the NAV point above the runner’s head should be removed as well.
Point two. With spawn times a mere 5 seconds, with most spawn points being right next to the flag, with the addition of sprint the mode has become so messy and random that coordinated pushes and teamwork are very rare compared to the past Halos.
Good post (my thank button doesnt want to work). I agree and disagree. First, I was never a big fan of CTF but recently my attitude has changed. In the past, I avoided it and never quite understood the strategy of grabbing the flag, dropping it, grabbing, dropping etc. So I am still a noob in the CTF side of things, heck in most things actually.
However, not being able to drop the flag is a drawback, the ability to defend yourself is the pistol or the flag itself.
But in disgreement, I don’t see anything wrong with the community simply needing to develop new strategies. Halo 2 is brought up a lot in these types of discussion, but if those game mechanics were never changed, how could the game be kept fresh.
I can see your complaints, but in the long run I’ve lived to accept changes, all the games are different, they all have good things and bad.
I know the no flag drop issue has a lot of traction among the hardcore players and MLG community. Is this not a big deal to most? If its not, 343 should still change it. If most don’t care and a dedicated few want it changed I don’t see the hold up.
Well, you responded in disagreement for the most part it seems. You were very diplomatic, but you were also very wrong (don’t be angry). I don’t see how, considering all the fundamental changes made to the game, that being able to drop the flag would keep it from being stale. Halo 4 is a far cry from the first 3 halos. I hear some say they hate this addition, and I hear some say that its not a big deal. I hear no one say that they really enjoy the new feature. I am certain there are some, but I can’t imagine that many are in love with this objective player oppression.
Liberate the CTF community from these unnecessary restraints! …or at least give us the option in forge, the MLG community will hopefully get a playlist.
From my friends and others on forums, the no flag drop is a big concern. I am frightened that this will never change. 343 please free me from my worries!
Title says it as if its about how the CTf Playlist is good because its just CTF…
Mostly complains about the gametype itself…WTF!?
Okay look i can agree that we should be able to drop the flag and have an option to not Automaticly pick-up the flag but as of now i don’t think its that big of a deal since if i do hold the flag i would always try my best to help my team delivered the enemy’s flag to our base.
BUT! You also said that 343i should remove the Indicator on enemy Flag Carrier’s. WHY!? You have no good reason on why they should remove it. Besides at least the Previous halo games where if you do hold the flag you don’t have an idicator for the enemy to track you down… But you move slower then normal… But in Halo 4 while holding the flag you do NOT move slow at all, you will still move at the same speed that and you use a Magnum while holding the Flag now. So its really necessary to remove Indicators on Enemy Flag Carriers besides it makes it easier for us to hunt em down and if one of our allies got the flag it is our duty to escort our Flag Carrier safely back to our base.
> Good post (my thank button doesnt want to work). I agree and disagree. First, I was never a big fan of CTF but recently my attitude has changed. In the past, I avoided it and never quite understood the strategy of grabbing the flag, dropping it, grabbing, dropping etc. So I am still a noob in the CTF side of things, heck in most things actually.
>
> However, not being able to drop the flag is a drawback, the ability to defend yourself is the pistol or the flag itself.
>
> But in disgreement, <mark>I don’t see anything wrong with the community simply needing to develop new strategies.</mark> Halo 2 is brought up a lot in these types of discussion, but if those game mechanics were never changed, how could the game be kept fresh.
>
> I can see your complaints, but in the long run I’ve lived to accept changes, all the games are different, they all have good things and bad.
>
> See you on the battlefield.
There are no new strategies to be made, literally every single strategy you can employ in the new CTF can be done with the old settings, but not every strategy you could use with the old settings can be used in the new.
The only thing that bothers me with CTF is the fact you can not drop the flag, this is annoying if you happen to be near the flag and you grab it by accident their are players who enjoy holding of the enemy whilst others run the flag. They should implement the feature to drop flags or pass them to others such as oddball.
Having the flag stuck to a person definately does promote teamplay, but I agree it’s sometimes an issue when you get stuck with the flag when you didn’t actually want to pick it up.
I agree to an extent.
Not being able to drop the flag takes away any ability to relay the flag. For example, you have Rockets so you give the flag to someone else on your team, or there is a shortcut so you want to throw the flag up to a teammate on a ledge.
However, on the contrary, flag tossing has caused annoyances due to glitches and poor game mechanics in the past; though, that’s due to the programming, not the flag tossing. Also, I’m sure there are some maps designed a certain way where being able to flag toss you could take shortcuts that wouldn’t be fair to the defenders. Maybe the decision was made due to not wanting to have to test all the little map elements and see if CTF would work or not?
As for the Flag Indication, I think it does lower the amount of communication needed, but not sure that is a bad thing. In previous Halos, CTF was not popular cause in Matchmaking there rarely is any communication and ppl are in parties etc. So, this gives players the ability to help get the flag when they might not know where it was in other Halos. It works for the online environment better I think.
Anyway, as a substitution, we now can assist the team in escorting the flag while we carry it, which is interesting. I single handedly scored the flag in a game by killing the enemies with the Pistol while I carried it back.
My big thing on CTF is the whole “flag at home to score” option as well as the touch return. I don’t think I ever once had those 2 settings off during HCE times. If you want to complain about a setting that historically was what made CTF such a classic gametype, that is one of them.
Now maybe it doesn’t work for Matchmaking and causes ties or drawed out games?, but I still have much more fun trying to retrieve our flag so we can score ours when both teams have the flag. Makes for some fun times for sure.
possibly have it so you can set it to drop the flag in custom games but keep the not being able to drop the flag in multiplayer (or atleast in standard CTF when new types come out)
flag juggling anoyed the **** out of me in halo 3 im so glad its gone
and forcing ya to hold the flag does seem to support team work
as for indicator above the carries head… while the carrier can move as fast and defend himself keep it
but i would like another type of CTF in multiplayer where the carrier has 0% damage on pistol, slower moving speed and no indicator above his head so it plays to more ninja tactics
ohh and 1 more thing with the big label above the carriers head
(i know im porbly gonna get flamed cos its from COD but it is actully a good idea)
have it so the label is where the last person on your team saw the flag carrier but either gets replaced/updated or fades over time time for obvious reasons
this way allows flag carrier to be sneaky but doesnt mean you have to rely on your team mate who spotted him have a mic or be in your party
ill say it again i know its COD n people are quite anti COD (me too mostly) but try to argue against this game mechanic with just logic and it is quite difficult
The spawns are way too short. They need to be 10 seconds. Honestly, Unless all 5 of them are dd’d on the flag and you kill them with a rocket launcher for a killtac, there is no way you can pull the flag without being shot at vs good teams.
I haven’t checked, but something tells me that 343 left out the ability to turn off the waypoint. If there is no option to turn off the waypoint in custom games, this needs to be added
Why The NAV point should be removed:
In short, it adds strategy. It certainly adds options, and options add to the capacity for tactics. Also due to the lack of ranks, NOBODY PLAYS WITH A MIC ANYMORE. So I hate pulling the flag and getting melted, because of the rapidly spawning sprinting enemies. Also saying you don’t move slower with the flag is a stupid evasion. YOU CAN’T SPRINT, THE ENEMIES CAN.
In the Past:
In H3 I played 13 thousand games. Virtually all ranked, mostly MLG. There was no issues with flag glitches back then. The 343 apologists keep telling the very dedicated players that we need to adapt to “new strategies”. There are none. There is a very significant subtraction of strategy. Limiting options = limits strategy; adding options = adds strategy.
I can understand how a NAV point, spawning every 5 secs, no flag dropping, and auto-pickup can be appealing for very casual players. Makes everything simpler. But, at least give us the option. The more dedicated Spartans are always sacrificed to the Persian horde of noobs.
I like having an Armed flag carrier, and the auto pickup. Parking a hog on the flag should not be a viable strategy to keep it safe. I don’t mind not being able to drop it. The feature to drop it wouldn’t bother me though.
Flag drop is probably to avoid the incessant “Flag Dropped!” “Flag Captured” and glitches with flag running. However, I don’t like the inability to drop, and I also hate the automatic pick up. But I DO like having a pistol while running it. It helps to make runs more effective. I hated all the ties and stagnation in earlier Halo flag games.
One thing I HATE that you should add is the flag returns. It works well on large maps to prevent stagnation, but once a flag is out on Abandoned, it’s impossible to have it retunred with a 30+ second return time. At least reduce it on smaller maps.
Also, make the captures fewer on large maps like Ragnarok, or increase the flag reset time to 45 seconds. I’ve never seen 5 flags captured yet.
Though I miss the old “juggling of the flag” where you can pick it up and drop it, I kind of like the new CTF. It’s something new really. CTF is fun and I am addicted to it except on Complex, Red team has an obvious advantage on that map.
First thing first:
1)I actually find CTF to be better in Halo 4. I like not dropping because it commits me to the role.
Question to the people who wan’t no-flag-droping gone:
“Oh, but if I pick it up by accident, I’m screwed!” Question: What in hell were you doing next to the flag anyway? If it wasn’t you’re intention to pick it up why are you that close?!!
2)The Flag-num is a really great idea, and it should stay. Now the guy can defend himself slightly better.
With all of the bonuses you get for carrying the flag ( good speed, magnum,), that carrier should have an indicator over their head. It helps those who can’t communicate in MM some chance to win too.
Frankly, every change they’eve made has increased the pace of the game as well. In my opinion and a lot of others opinions that is GOOD. No stagnate gameplay, or at least very little.