I was wrong, last week, when I said TB was all same shit, different day. The cap speed change has actually changed the battleground somewhat, and the net result has been that control flip-flops almost every battle, or at most every 2 or 3 (on my server).
That’s actually a good thing. It means people get a chance to win now and then, which everyone likes, and everyone gets a shot at at least some of the extra dailies. When one side or the other had control for days and days, that wasn’t the case and it got pretty tedious.
It’s been interesting to see people adapt to the mechanic, myself included. It’s been irritating and interesting to see that despite a pretty clear message in, you know, patch notes, that TB is all about capping flags, people continue to fight off over there in the distance, firmly believing (and saying so in chat) that killing that hunter for the 18th time way off on the road is way more productive for victory than standing at the damn flag.
And it isn’t. I’d have proof if I’d remembered to take a screenshot or a video or something, but yesterday we capped the Ironclad Garrison flag right out from under the Horde, and almost nobody died. Well okay, people died in droves, but the aim going in wasn’t to kill them, it was just to apply what the Horde has been doing perfectly at least as long as I’ve been doing TB: get more people AT the flag than they have. And since we already controlled two of the points (Alliance was attacking), under the new mechanic it took maybe 10 seconds to make them lose control, take control ourselves and win. Yay!
So this is now my Dude with the Thing mantra. I’m the Old Bag With The Flag.
“This is my flag. There are many others like it, but this one is mine. My flag is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my flag is useless. Without my flag, I am useless. I must stand true by my flag. I must stand there better than my enemy, who is trying to kill me. I must stand there before he stands there.”
Extra points for knowing what movie I’m bastardising without having to Google it. Google killed quote competitions!
Oh, and Hi! to all the people who waved at me on Icecrown. (Okay, all two of you.) I’m still amazed people read this blog – when I write. Yeah yeah. Quit nagging.
That’s ofc what the Drill Sergeant tells the recruits in Full Metal Jacket.
In Star Trek Online or Guild Wars there are cap and hold / capture the flag game modes as well. “Cap, don’t fight” is the mantra there as well, but guess what, some are there for nothing else but a fight where it does not really matter if they die or not, unlike in the arena modes.
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Arggg….beat me to it…Full Metal Jacket all the way.
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But I will miss the Dude with the Thing! Still, you are brilliant as always.
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Problem is there’s no Thing in Tol Barad. Maybe we can cut an opponent’s head off and run around with that? 😀
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Actually you’re quoting real life.
The Rifleman’s Creed has been part of Marine basic for 70 years.
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Yes, but probably more people have seen FMJ than have actually undergone Marine basic training. 😉
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Now you’re making me nostalgic for Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault. Its “basic training” segment includes a drill sergeant speech to the new recruits. While the “higher than God” line irks the Christian in me a touch, I love the overall speech and the tone it sets. Especially the “God was not happy!” moment.
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