Holiday Doubles is proving to be one of my favorite matchmaking experiences. However, it still has a few problems that need to be addressed.
Most maps have 3 power weapons AND a powerup on them. They are completely unchanged from their Team Slayer counterpart. It’s the same amount of power items, but with half the players. It’s a bit insane that the amount of power items aren’t halved as well. It’s also insane that the power items respawn at the frequency they do in Team Slayer (reduction of power weapons would make this fine, though).
Teams who control the power weapons are unlikely to lose them to small arms starting weapons and likely to dominate and collect the other power weapons and control their spawns. Controlling power weapons is vital in Halo, but when both opponents are hoarding multiple power weapons. This also promotes heavy camping once the power items are obtained (Overgrowth is the worst offender of this; 343 if you’re reading, drop the shotgun and sword from doubles. Railgun is enough).
My easy suggestions to remedy the problem is:
- Only one power weapon per map
- Only one powerup per map
Not only can players not camp and dominate with such ease, the importance of the single power weapon is increased. This would also make the initial fight for control more fierce, and loss of control more related to being out-played and out-classed instead of out-power weaponed. I feel if these problems are solved, Doubles would have a place in the normal matchmaking lineup and not just holdiay/weekend specials.