BTB: Stockpile has a lot of potential and is a very fun game mode, but there are some clear improvements that could be made to this game to improve it. Currently, matches often feel pretty unbalanced, favoring the team that controls the first spawn of the power seeds. Stealing power seeds from an enemy base is an awesome concept, but there are so many that spawn, and the window to steal seeds are so small, that there is rarely ever an opportunity to steal them.
Here are my suggested changes to improve the game mode: 1. Do not spawn all of the power seeds in a cluster. Instead, spawn them all around the map so that the fight for control of the power seeds is less focused in a single spot on the map. 2. Spawn fewer power seeds at the same time. Option 1: The game starts with 3 power seeds, then every time 1 is placed into a team’s base, a new one spawns in a random spot on the map. Option 2: The game starts with 1-3 power seeds, and 1 new one spawns once a minute until there is a max of 9 seeds on the map. 3. Do not have multiple rounds. Instead, have the game end after 5 seeds are captured. This will create a bigger need to try and steal power seeds from the enemy base.
Another good idea would be to simply not spawn the seeds so closely to either base, had a pretty even match on Highpower at 1-1 until 6-7 seeds spawned right next to the other team’s base. Maybe utilize the loot caves on Fragmentation that way the wait to open the doors is a little bit more justified, or have pods drop that need to be captured control point style in order to open them, and have those pods drop a few seeds. That way teams can have a better shot at stealing them from the other team if they can’t get the point in time.
Only thing I would change is that I like the multiple rounds. The problem with them is that the the seeds from last round don’t despawn, so an team will score and have 4 more waiting to be place before the next batch even spawns in.
Plus having them spawn close to bases ruins one of the main uses for the Razorback which is being able to put the seeds into it, if the seeds are right next to base there is no point of making use of that feature and as a result removes one of the very few use cases for the vehicle.
Stockpile as it is currently is way too unbalanced. Either the games are complete stomps or nobody is doing the objective and only a couple of people are. Either way it isn’t a fun time to play that game mode. It’s also really stupid that you can hoard seeds for the next round. Stealing is way too slow, so if you’re behind it’s over. I find throwing seeds to be an interesting and detrimental mechanic. Throwing could still be an okay strategy with your proposed changes, but in my changes throwing wouldn’t work. Here’s what I would propose:
Have ONLY 5 seeds spawn per round.
Do not allow the ability to throw seeds.
Have stealing be faster and also when putting seeds in base have a short timer.
Or we can utilize your changes instead which would allow throwing to still be viable, but have only a couple seeds start out in the beginning of the match. Stealing needs to be faster just in general, it takes way too long.
I can understand the rounds now that I have given it a little more thought. I think your right that at least having the rounds allows you to secure some sort of leed for your team.