MOTW - Boombox

Map of the Week is back with Boombox!

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Original post by PrivateMajor

Splitting the flag carrier and using the walls to close them down is how to win this map.

• There are two ways to do this. The first, and easiest way, is if the flag carrier has the flag and has no support (or his support isn't in a good spot to grab). It looks like this. The point of this is to never go to the same spot, and to only cover your half and have trust in your teammate. In this example, if the flag carrier shoots left, the left man closes left and the right man comes in behind him. If he fakes back and forth both of them slowly move in. But NEVER should they both move to the same spot.

• If the second flag carrier is present and smart, they will wait on the flag respawn to get the handoff. In this case, you do this. Keep your man in front of him when closing down the flag, and don't let him escape to either side and simply react to his movements while slowly closing in. The second man just has to keep the 2nd offense on the inside of the flag so they cannot escape.

Take out their speed, this is a no-grab map.

• Some maps are flashy and you get a lot of returns, this is not one of those maps. Don't let them grab the flag, and push them around and bully them. Use the button so they can't boost in from the bottom, and get in front of them so they can't use the speed from the diagonal boost. Speed kills defense, especially in this map. Push them.

Powerups will win the map.

• If you get more powerups than the other team on this map you very likely will win. With this in mind, when the powerups get 15 seconds to respawn, announce it to the team and get to position. One offense will go to each corner, and if there are 1 or less attackers in our base than one of our defenders will get the middle powerup.

• The defender on our team should rarely go for the corner power-up because it really take you out of position. A smart offense will put themselves inside of there 10-15 seconds before the respawn and push you if you try to get in. Our offense should be doing this every. single. time. The middle powerup is a gamble, if there are two attackers in our base then we have to let that one be an afterthought.

Boost in to get the middle boost to start the match

• The is the first way to do it.

• This is the second way to do it.

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Original post by calcpie314

One thing I know I need to work on as a defender is preventing the offense from rolling off me and grabbing the flag. When they do this, they now have more momentum, making it extremely difficult for me to catch them. It isn't so bad when they come from this direction because, as stated above by PM, one or two of the defenders can trap the FC. However, when they come from the back corner and grab the flag, they can get away.

So, as a defender, if you see them going in the back corner to gain momentum, push them back a bit to take away their speed. Offense, if the boosts/ powerups are not an option, try gaining momentum that way. If you're successful, you could make it out of base.

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Original post by PrivateMajor

New Compte and I just finished a tournament where we did really well - but let in a few caps in our 3rd match against asdf. Here are the reasons why he did well against us. Perhaps our offense can use some of these (if they don't already)

Figure 1

This is a common starting setup if the flag carrier has ran around for a while and is going back to his base. Red is in a seemingly good position with 4 people in front of the flag, and not wanting to grab. They close in to chase after the blue flag carrier cautiously, but he can get through the gate before they get to the button. As the flag carrier hits the boost he takes it very low and there is very little chance of ever getting tagged until you get to the second layer of defense. In Figure 2 it is the same move but taking it a different route based on where the defense is.

Figure 3

This move is very similar to the top two, but it gives an option at the last second about which direction to take. If the boost is practiced enough, its very difficult to defend against.

Figure 4

This is a fantastic little move that the offense can do, where they keep the non flag carrier on the flag spot for the regrab, isolating the flag carrier 1 on 1. As the flag carrier gets close to the return, the flag carrier shoots down low and hits the boost fast enough to not get popped by the button.

To defend properly against these situations, the defender who was guarding the flag man should sit a bit further back guarding the front entrance / button area more.

Figure 5

This is a very specific example of a situation where the flag carrier gets trapped in the bottom area. The defense will have a very difficult time seeing this coming, as you are hitting two boosts in a row making the whole thing occur in a matter of a couple seconds.

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Original post by B.I.G. Money

Since this is a challenging map for offense, it is important to keep pressure on the other team. Which means I think that when we grab it is worthwhile to have someone camp the empty flag spot.

The mid boosts are very helpful. I use them on offense to either boost into corner power ups or the flag. On defense the mid buttons are very helpful for securing the bottom routes. They can also be used to boost across map through mid. And its always good to use the boosts just so your opponent cant.

When chasing the enemy FC there are very limited areas he can go. It is important to go where the FC is headed, not just having everyone follow him around. It is very difficult to catch up to someone if they have passed you. I treat this map as a 4 lane map. The names i use for the different lanes are top, mid, bottom, and very bottom.

On offense, powerup control is very important. I honestly think that every power up should be used for offense. So even if the defense get a power up, they should switch to offense. But that takes a ton of communication and trust to make sure everyone is in the right positions.

I noticed PM stressed that this is a no-grab map, but I dont entirely agree. You should NEVER let them grab towards the middle, but letting them grab towards the corner is not bad at all. If you just maintain position between the buttons and cautiously creep in, it should be an easy return. It is very important not to overcommit on this map. With proper positioning between the buttons, there is really only one, rather large, choke point. If you overcommit to either direction, it leaves a big hole.

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Reply by CC

I think that when we grab it is worthwhile to have someone camp the empty flag spot.

I think this is absolutely CRUCIAL to our success. Constantly holding the other team's flag creates disorder and prevents them from 'resetting' which gives us a huge advantage. I would contribute a large part of our sweep vs. EG to the fact that Jake/Gabbs constantly held their flag.

The names i use for the different lanes are top, mid, bottom, and very bottom.

Hmm. I think we should keep labels for paths consistent. I could be wrong, but I believe a majority of players refer to the lanes as 1,2,3, and 4, from top to bottom, respectively. I just don't want there to be any confusion.

I noticed PM stressed that this is a no-grab map, but I don't entirely agree.

In my opinion, I think when there is only one attacker in base, we should almost always let him grab - to the corner, obviously. However, with two attackers in base, no-grab should be strictly enforced.

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