So as of right now, the throwdown settings are Ghostayames v3 settings. He is underway with the v4 settings and deciding what to do with them, and also deciding whether or not to keep it BR starts or go with 5 unique loadouts.
The reason for this is because of the recent ideas of weapon tuning that are to be coming out at an unknown date. With the sandbox being (theoretically) balanced, there’s no need to exclude any weapons (DMR)from the mix, since every weapon stands a legitimately even chance against the others in their own choice scenarios. He is also deciding on what maps/gametypes should be utilized in the upcoming settings, since there have been many suggestions as to changes to the current ones. Also, with the addition of Skyline and Monolith in MM, they certainly need to be given a chance.
Anyway, Let’s do it.
FIRST OF ALL:
- BR starts only, period. I understand completely that the developers are trying to help with the balancing, and that we need to give them a chance to show that their sandbox works. I get that. I also understand that Dev support is something we should shoot for whole heartedly, and that it would do wonders for the competitive community to have full support of all events and functions that are held. However, the loadout system does not work for an arena style game for multiple reasons.
Let’s take a quick look at some other arena style sports (not necessarily eSports). I’ve used this reference before, but I think it works really well for the comparison. When an athlete decides he wants to go pro in a sport, he dedicates himself to getting good at a specific sport and all aspects of it. This includes the tools within. Now, you don’t see football players playing catch with a baseball. You don’t watch soccer players trying to run with a basketball, and you certainly won’t see baseball players go to batting practice with a football.
The same can be said for an FPS game. You don’t see people practicing the tendencies of multiple weapons when 1 is used in higher level play. If it is their goal to compete at the highest level, they practice with the tools provided and master it. Now, granted, football players aren’t allowed to use a baseball instead of a football for parts of the game, because that would be silly. It changes the entire dynamic of the game entirely, and would throw off the entire feeling of the game. it looks awkward, and provides a shift in the dynamics used. Now, we get into an uneven filed of play. Something that is unwanted in every single sport ever invented. Ever.
I’ll probably mention that a lot. Just a warning.
So, I want to push for BR starts only for another reason. It’s established, and unified. We have had multiple tournaments use BR starts only, and multiple teams practice religiously with such settings. With the addition of a 4sk BR with the upcoming weapon tuning, even the European teams now have the same settings to be used, since they already boast the 4sk system. This allows all players, from all over the world, to practice the same settings. If we decide to go with a loadout system, we are alienating multiple groups from the gambit, and with the way the competitive community is just starting to be revived, I can’t think of a better way to cause the gap to widen again.
Lastly, I’d like to go to the world of automotive racing. Let’s look at games like Forza, Gran Turismo, Etc. and see how their competitive scene acts. Now generally, the game is split into classes ranging from E-SS, with cars split into each by what modifications have been done and the amount of power and speed determined by an in game engine. I’m going to look at the B class, because it’s (IMO) the most balanced and user skilled class to be in. When you ook at the cars used online, you will see a few individuals using modified cars from the D class and even a few from C (although that never works out well), but generally, you will see the AWD STIs and EVOs dominated the leaderboards. The reason for this, is because using any other car is just stupid. They don’t have the launch timing or the acceleration to match those cars around corners, which is a huge dynamic in driving simulations. Now, with that said, it’s almost always STIs and EVOs in high level play. And the best driver always wins.
This is because when using a single tool, the best player at using said tool will come out on top. There is nothing else to say there, that’s just how it works. And that’s how all competition should be. You use one tool (weapon, car, ball, etc) and the best person with it wins.
Having multiple tools will mess with that formula, as shown by the default settings of every FPS that has tried. I can’t stress enough the need for single weapon starts, preferably BR.
Now, onto the gametype changes.
I haven’t come up with a complete compiled list yet, but I do know what changes I want to purpose.
- On Adrift, as it stands, the Snipers are located on either corner, with Rockets on the center of the map. This isn’t a bad layout, and I understand the want of even matching going on here. However, I would love to see the layout changed to where a sniper spawns red, rockets spawn blue, and an OS spawns top mid. Reasons for this would be mainly to make the map flow better. The map size isn’t quite big enough to support 3 power weapons, and this is easily shown by a team having all three. It’s utterly unstoppable at high level play. Tie that in with the small hallway battles, and you can’t survive more than a minute or two without getting destroyed by 2 PWs. Also, this causes a choice to be made off start. Do you go for rockets, and then OS and risk getting sniped before you get the chance? Do you go OS and rush snipe, then take out rockets? Do you go Snipe and watch OS? It’s more dynamic than rushing rockets every time, which is the only way to play adrift as it is.
Also, while on the topic of Adrift, we need to make it 5 caps with no flag at home to score. It’s the easiest way to prevent standoffs from happening, and keeps the gameplay fast paced and exciting. I wouldn’t mind seeing KOTH on Adrift, if that hasn’t been given a chance I would like to see that happen. Have the players initial spawns remain in the bases, but every other spawn be cluttered about the maps. The hils could be top mid, red base, and blue base. I think it would play pretty well.
No more 2 plot extraction ever. Just stop that.
Skyline and Monolith are a must for the new settings. Skyline TS/CTF are absolutely necessary, and Monlith CTF is fantastic. Plus the addition of dev made maps is something we should be shooting for at all times, if they work. (I’m looking at you, solace)
Speaking of that, Solace should go away forever.
Haven, all gametypes included, should be involved. Hands down one of the best playing maps on this game. I still would argue the spawns should be static, but I digress.
Abandon should be Damage boost on Main tree, And OS on Top gold, with sniper spawn bottom mid. I’ve thought this one through a lot and this is a nice Offense/defense dynamic, that involved a lot of set ups and team work to win.
Simplex is awesome, No changes in my mind. Except the sword can die in a hole. Replace with a boltshot.
Dispatch CTF is good, no changes.
Station 9 is a good map, but I want to see team slayer on it. Rockets top mid, Works well.
That’s all I got for now. Discuss.