Odd ball out of bounds bad for business

Games Halo Infinite
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1

Played a team that took the ball to the edge of a cliff and always died out of bounds.

This should be penalized HEAVILY in ranked.

2

This is actually a top tier strategy. It’s called “Playing the ball”.

Some of the most iconic plays in Halo eSports history revolve around resetting the ball. Go to YouTube and watch “Halo 3 Clutch drops the ball” for a quick history, breakdown, and replay of an iconic moment revolving around playing the ball :grin:

(I think that’s the name of the video iirc)

15 Likes
3

It’s a terrible strat that ruins the gamemmode. If it’s not fixed I’ll be reporting ALL teams doing it.

4

Lol, what’s next you’re going to report flag-jugglers in CTF? Unless 343 says otherwise then they aren’t going to do a thing if you report a game mechanic. It’s even known in eSports as “Playing the Ball” because when the Oddball respawns it says ‘Play Ball.’ It can be annoying but until you get the oddball in your hands then the other team can do what they want with it. If they are repeatedly throwing it off the map, then pay attention to where it spawns at and grab it as soon as it respawns.

6 Likes
5

Not only is playing the ball an essential strat you should also be thinking about putting the ball into less optimal positions if your team are dying. On maps like Streets where you can throw the ball off the map you should at least throw it out the base so the other team have to waste time fetching it to take it back to the better position.

1 Like
6

I hate to break it to you but reporting players for doing something that’s completely within the scope of the game isn’t going to do much aside from waste your time. This has been a thing for as long as oddball has existed, I’m afraid you just have to get over it because I can guarantee it’s not something they’re going to start penalising.

3 Likes
7

OP what map were you having trouble with this on? Maybe now that you know it’s a historical strategy in the game mode tout should focus on counters rather than digging your head in the sand and saying “No”.

The grapple can be a soft counter, but if they hold the ball and jump off that won’t work.

Usually if you can call out “they’re playing the ball” the person on your team who’s farthest back from the fight over the ball is in a good position to get first touch.

If you know the other team is using this strategy, it slightly changes the game. You’re no longer focusing on getting the ball back where it is, you have to focus on FORCING them to play ball, and prioritizing first touch after

8

No. This strategy is a clear case of “exploitative” practice. Yeah it needs to go.

9

Welcome to halo since H2, this has been a stratgey of players for a looOong time…It’s a smart strategy…I do it…First thing I do when I grab the ball is make my way to the maps edge and if I’m in trouble or my team isn’t supporting I yeet that ball into the abyss and hope my team mates are smart enough to have positioned themselves for the respawn

4 Likes
10

Yes remove something that’s been a strat for 20 years because little ol’ you is upset on how people play, imagine reporting players for doing something you don’t like as well

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11

This has been a known tactic for as long as I can remember. If anything, it adds a layer of fun to Oddball, I’d argue, as it can change the dimension of play and where a ‘safe’ location to try and hold it is, when everything resets. If they keep doing it just go to where the new ball spawns

12

There are still some buggy places on streets where you can drop the ball and can’t reach it until it resets after time. When teams who are ahead knowingly abuse that I do feel bad, but ball dancing around the tower on live fire and throwing it in the water when you know you will die is fine strategy. The difference being that in this case the ball resets at the point everyone knows and could anticipate, and no game time is lost where a team can’t act to come back from being behind.

2 Likes
13

This is a good strat as we have done this before with a guy sitting at ball spawn ready to grab it as soon as the carrier jumps off
won both games we did this in

14

There’s nothing wrong with this, it’s a legit tactic. I thought you mean the ball was like… falling somewhere that it couldn’t be picked up by anyone.

15

This has always been an oddball strategy. Sorry dude.

16

Agreed. My friends and I dominate in odball because we plan around this. One teamate stays at ball spawn the others get the ball defend the ledge as long as possible and then drop when you are almost dead. Then the player at ball spawn grabs it and goes to the opposite position. Whoever dies with the ball is the next runner up to be the ball spawn spartan.

Coordination is key.

17

When they do it just move to secure the ball spawn. If they keep doing it you can easily counter it by controlling the spawn

1 Like
18

You must be new to Halo

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20

If you’re getting upset by the other team playing the ball, you need to figure out how you and your team can take advantage over the situation. Usually the team Playing the Ball is doing it for 2 reason, they have been pushed and the entire team is going to die and they want to reset the ball to get it to a more ideal space for them to respawn and try and get the ball, or because they already have players respawning and can reset the ball and get it back. If you notice a player going to reset the ball, call it out so you and your team can focus on regaining control of the ball. If this was actually an issue it would have been banned LONG AGO.

2 Likes
21

It’s clearly an exploit. The gamemmode is designed to
Hold the ball.
Protect the carrier.
Pick up the ball when you’ve slayed the carrier.

Throwing the ball off the edge or jumping off with it is an exploit that breaks the designed intentions of the game.

It’s cheating.