Spawn camping is a multi part problem.
While the moving of the drop zones and the change to the loadout of the dropships has changed the dynamic of it somewhat, it still seems to be quite an issue.
To start with, we need to ask ourselves why does it happen?
I would suggest that the primary reason is that eliminate of the enemy team is more profitable than achieving the objectives but also produces the same result in that you win the objective.
This means that teams are more likely to attack the drop zones as there is no consequence for not achieving the mission objectives and they can get more kills and a higher score eliminating mechs while they are vulnerable at little risk to themselves.
Tactically, spawn camping is something you would do. There are plenty of real life examples that could be considered spawn camping, but as this is a game it is considered
griefing and we lack the appropriate dynamic and functionality within the matches to deal with it properly.
What we need is therefore also a multi part solution.
Firstly.
The match timer needs to be removed.
The timer we should have is an
Objective Timer.
A team that fails to achieve it's objective at the expiry of this timer can no longer drop into the match while the team that has succeed can.
Failure to complete the mission objectives is considered a defeat for that team regardless of what happens afterwards.
Second.
Recognise that the drop zones are tactical objectives and we should be able to shut them down by capturing them.
This also involves some changes to the maps so we can spread out the drop zones.
We also need the game to be able to deploy remaining mechs to an alternate site once a dropzone is no longer secured.
Third.
Mechs don't drop solo. Who would bring in a Leopard dropship to a battlezone with only one mech on it?
Reinforcements do not arrive until there are 4 mechs to be brought in. While this may mean you wait around longer, it affects both teams and means you also get some safety in numbers.
It also means that regardless of which lance you are in, you get dropped randomly at one of the points that is still available.
We have the ability to change to a different lance and therefore a different drop location at the moment, but there is no indication in the preparation screen of which drop zones are being contested or are still available.
Fourth.
Better information to the players on the status of the battle while we are in the preparation screens and therefore some added functionality to control drops.
Fifth.
The map needs to have an area on the other side of the base to the attacker dropzone which is an equal distance away as the drop zone for the counter attack.
This is only to be used if the attacking team fails the primary objective by not completing it in time.
Once that timer has expired, these drop points become active there by allowing the defending team to use them as a drop location to bring in any remaining mechs. Once active, they can be captured.
This area could also serve as a
retreat location for the defenders should they fail in their objective.
Some side areas should also be added so flanking becomes an option.
Sixth.
Instead of our current Counter Attack mode, it instead becomes dynamic and with the above conditions a fresh wave of new players enters the game at the activated counter attack drop zones. I think this would be a great opportunity to see a Union class dropship land.
I would suggest that at this point, because of the above conditions where it is only activated if the Objective for the attacking team is not completed and they therefore do not get any further drops (as per the above first point) that the Counter Attack reinforcements is only one wave.
From an attacker's perspective it is then about holding the base so the guns are not recaptured and reactivated and there should be a similar option in place for that scenario.
These changes will result in the dynamic shifting back to the
base rush but this is more easily countered and with the other changes already proposed by PGI it's fairly heavily weighted in favour of the defender anyway.
Edited by 50 50, 21 August 2015 - 10:42 PM.