morose

I greatly dislike Kubra Dam. The vehicle focus is out of whack (imho). I find myself spawning as nothing but AT or an Engineer. Which is boring.

Clean Sweep I'm ambiguous about. Definitely an air power map, but there are some good defensive positions for infantry that force the air units to clean them out which I like. I like maps that are best handled via mixed units like that (infantry supported by armor supported by air). In practice though, it ends up with a few folks grabbing a jeep or a helo and running around capping flags though.

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Phelan Ward

I REALLY like Songhua Stalemate. The fog and the jungle can make for some great hunts through the bamboo. I have walked up on an enemy squad without either of us knowing about it. It's the only map that the camoflouge actually works. I like taking the engineer on that map. The shotgun is nasty in short range fights and sniping with a pistol is great fun. Yeah and I like the floppy hats and driving a buggie of a cliff.

The only ones I don't like are where one side has no UCB (Except Sharqi and *Karkand*). The problem becomes very apparent when you have a commander that doesn't realize that you absolutely have to hold the airbases. Even if it means having 2 full squads to do it. It is really frustrating when a commander isn't ordering anyone to defend a single point and we lose our air assets in 5 minutes.

Kubra Dam - Quite fun in a Heli. Beyond that I would rather throw my face at a wall.
Dragon Valley - so frustrating as an OpFor
Operation Clean Sweep - same as above

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TG_Rizzo

Kubra Dam. Toss it right out the freakin window.

Telorn

I find Kubra Dam and Operation Clean Sweep the most boring. The games never end by tickets and it runs for the full 60 minutes with usually several 100 tickets left.

Maybe instead of removing maps, however, as I'm sure some people enjoy these maps, we can consider repeating some of the popular maps most of us like.

For instance, Strike at karkland could be at the beginning of the rotation and then repeated again 5 maps later. This way you see more of the maps we enjoy most, but still get a taste of the less popular ones for the people who do enjoy it, and for a bigger variety in gameplay.

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Telorn

improbablecause

I'm not a fan of Kubra Dam either. It's a vehicle-oriented map, yes, but unless you have vehicles for all 64 players on the server... well, things can get extremely irritating and boring for the ground troops.

Ironically, I usually get into the server when Kubra Dam comes into play. It seems to be the only map that causes a mass exodus of players.

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Hephador

I think Syn has said it best so far regarding how most maps have their own focus and how different tactics need to be applied. I for one would love to play more squad defense. And while I prefer each team to have a UCB on a map, the ones that don't encourage defense even more. While some maps really frustrate me at times, there's not one that I really want to see removed.

Maps I love:
Karkand: for obvious reasons

Songhua: Bommando, you're not the only one. I like the fog. I think this map really encourages flag defense and even though many complain about it being difficult to move from flag to flag, I've always felt that there are some great opportunites for a squad on foot coming over a ridge behind a flag. I just like the variety I think the map offers. Not to mention I like how the fog makes things more difficult for Blackhawk gunners

Dragon Valley: could use a couple more jeeps/buggies but on the whole, I think this map is a lot of fun.

Sharqui Peninsula: despite the fact that I've gotten seriously rolled on this map a few times, it is a total blast to play with a good squad...especially defending the USMC main base.

Maps that frustrate:
Kubra Dam: my fave map to just look at but my boring experiences have outnumbered my good ones. Kind of irritating how when you're driving a vehicle (other than a jeep) on the sides of the valley and you deviate ever so slightly from the path, you can't move forward. However, because of that, it makes mining or using C4 on those paths lots of fun. :-D

Clean Sweep: i mention this one with the caveat that I only really dislike the 64-player size. Just too much for the MEC to hold without a UCB.

Mashtuur City: I actually like this one except that I think the Blackhawk has too much of an advantage with no AA placements on the map at all. This isn't to say it can't be brought down by the .50-cals or a whole squad unloading into it, but a Blackhawk with a competent pilot and an engineer unbalances the map a bit I feel. Pretty much requires the MEC to capture and hold the base where the Blackhawk spawns to have a chance in my opinion.

But like I said, I don't dislike any map enough to remove it fromt the rotation. I look at each like a puzzle and try to figure out the best way to win. And just to get some clarification, which maps require half+1 for ticket drain and which ones require all flags for drain?

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Shiner

In general I think more variety the better. I certainly dislike certain maps at the moment, but who knows when I might have a great BF moment on one of them down the road. I do REALLY like the suggestion of having map repeats for the favorites.

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Ricochet911

Well said STRIKEFEAR... Well Said.

I can appreciate why the Dev team made Songhua Stalemate and Kubra so different, its just like you said I don't really like them because adapting to them means learning. And "Tried and true" is usually more appealing.

However I have had some great fun and exciting battles on Dragon valley(32) and FuShe Pass(32). On Dragon Valley defending that northern base with the building by the dam, can be very challenging since there is that enemy airfield nearby. But lots of trees and usable buildings provide some strategic cover.

And FuShe Pass on 32 can be loads of fun with a great squad(thats key in any map) Defending that Factory with the smokestacks seems to be one of the most challenging points of all the maps if you ask me.

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AzrealDarkmoon

I personally like playing 64 on smaller map sizes. I am a better infantry commander than I am air though.

Az

CeeKay

There is only 12 maps. They will get stale soon enough. The ones you hate will become the ones you love as you try harder to figure out the key to winning it, while your favorites will become stale as you figure out every little ditch and routine way to win.

SmokingTarpan

I adapt my tactics fine, and I can do relatively well on any map- including the ones that I'd rather not play. Flanking, scouting, assaulting, defending; those basic tactics don't change just because the map does. I just have a personal preference as to what type of combat I like and want to be engaged in, and Songhua and Kubra aren't it. Don't get me wrong, I've had very fun times on both maps. But if it's between one of those maps and something else, I'll pick something else.

Heck, if Songhua kept the fog and dim lighting, but made it somewhat easier to get around, I'd love it. But really, being unable to move through bamboo that clearly has a wide enough space for you, or having to trek 5 miles around a hill to get up top isn't very fun.

Longshadow

I despise Operation Clean-Sweep and Zatar. Love Mushtaar and Karkand.

ABPositive

I think the maps I've had most fun on are:
Strike at Karkand - Sharqi Peninsula - Songhua Stalemate - Gulf of Oman - Dalian Plant - Mashtuur City

Bad experiences on Kubra Dam - FuShe Pass - Daqing Oilfields - Operation CleanSweep

I do not think that the "bad experiences" maps are bad by design. I think we are not playing them right.

I believe the CO has a strong influence on how I enjoy the game. Take Kubra Dam. A green CO does not know that the flags at each end of the dam are actually closer to each other than the central flag to any end. So the CO sends you from the central flag to what seems like a close flag (on the map), without realizing it's going to take you 10 minutes of stair cases / taking sniper shots to get there, only to be met by vehicles.

A few ideas for COs who want to make the game more fun to play (and that I try and apply when I am in the CO's seat)

- Learn the topography of the maps

- Remember what is needed to make the tickets bleed. Do not send troops left and right if you have >50% of the flags. Troops can have a lot of fun defending

- Do not send a squad anywhere before the SL expresses the need for new orders, unless you have a very good reason doing so. Changing the target of a SL before he accomplished his task makes him and his squad feel useless.

- If the enemy is using its air force, please oh please dedicate some people to our own air force, chasing them. Air force task #1 is to gain air superiority. It makes the game more fun for the rest of us

- Learn the specific strategies for each map. EG, if you are the CO for MEC on Mashtuur City, your goal #1 is to cap and defend the flag at the South East to prevent the Blackhawk from spawning. Anything short of this, and the game won't be fun for your team.

StrikeFear

Wow. Excellent points, all three.

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BudahMan

Least fav map is zatar wetlands

All maps including above are still fun. Some are great for vehicle/air battles, some are better for infantry type battles.

Why not set up one server for infantry types and one server for vehicle types.
Name them as such.