On my personal experience, going into basement area always had pretty spectacular results, especially in modes where team must hold the middle (like Domination). Yeah, any LRM boats are screwed that way, but let's be real, they are brutally screwed on this map either way, though dumbfire can still work.
So, why going basement is so good? Because down there we have tons of cover and most importantly, to get into fight, enemy must squeeze through very narrow passages, where they have no cover and virtually can't maneuver. They can already get killed or badly beaten up on approach, since we have much better firing position and can easily shuffle, while they can't. Plus there are usually more than enough mechs to cover any other approaches, so that's no threat.
If they push hard inside, we can simply stack by the walls at two sides and each enemy mech gets shot in the back from one side or the other, while our backs are at the wall and any of us can always dive inside one of many walls and columns all over the place. On top of it, it is usually easy to scout and prepare for any direction enemy would be coming from, since everything in this game moves and acts pretty slow.
Why going top is worse idea? Because while it may seem like there are many covers and good vision on the field, we're literally exposed from any side. Anyone who poptarts can get good core shot at tin cans standing at the top. Enemy can also just pull back at some distance and while having solid cover, they can also have great vision and line of fire to the top, as well as any wall snipers. Not once I remember team stayed at the top for more than few minutes, and if we did stay longer, that usually ended badly for us.
What do you guys think about this? Where do you usually go on this map? Why do you prefer one way or the other?
P.S. Why Forest Colony is so unpopular map? It's not the hottest one, has lots of cover, water, good environment and landscape to get closer to enemy unnoticed etc, etc. Favors many different playstyles, you can do great in any kind of mech on this map. But whenever I want to rack up vote multiplier, this map is always a sure way to get one. Strange, if you ask me...
Edited by Dragonporn, 18 March 2018 - 02:02 AM.