Battle Mode: Capture the Flag

Capture the Flag (CTF) brings a completely new game mode to Exteel in classic style where each team of Mechanaughts attempts to steal the other’s flag and return it to their base, while attempting to prevent the other team from doing the same.

Note: This is the first iteration of CTF in Exteel and methods of play, tactics, and other factors may change in upcoming patches, mostly depending on your input (which we appreciate greatly). Recent changes are in green.

Setting up a match

CTF matches will be available when you Create a Room and the setup is similar to other gameplay forms. The current available maps are: Simulation Arena (4-8 and 16 player limits) and V Hill (8 or 16 players only). We expect to have more available soon.

Each match lasts 8 minutes long, with the winning team having accumulated the most Flag Capture Points (if both teams have the same amount of Flag Capture Points then the match is a draw). The game will reward credits and pilot points accordingly for each result.

 

 

CTF basics

Each side starts at their own base location (an Aerogate), which also contains that side’s flag. The object of the CTF match is to grab the opposing team’s flag and return it to their home base, which must contain the home flag. An enemy flag brought to the home base in this fashion is considered Captured and a Flag Capture Point is rewarded to that team (the flag will return to the home base after ten seconds).

If the home flag is not present (the other team is bringing it back to their base), then the flag cannot be Captured until the home flag is returned. A flag will return to home base in one of two ways after it is "dropped": it sits idle in the arena for ten seconds or when a friendly player walks over it. Flags will only drop when an opponent destroys the flag carrier (or the flag carrier deserts the match).

 

 

The flag carrier

A Mechanaught carries the flag as an attachment to its back, which makes it stand out fairly well. The flag will also glow at its base when it is on the ground (currently it does not leave a particle trail).  In addition, the flag carrier has to deal with a few penalties: EN is reduced by 50%, regular movement speed by 30%, and boosted speed by 35%. The location of the flags as well as the aerogates will always appear on the mini-map at upper right.

 

Aerogates and healing pads

In addition to the home bases, there are a sprinkling of Aerogates scattered throughout the map. At the beginning of the match they all start out neutral, and can be captured by either team at any time in the normal fashion (by occupying the Aerogate for a short period of time). Players will then be able to spawn from a captured Aerogate, as well as use the adjacent healing pad.

Other than that, however, Aerogates serve no other function—flags still need to be carried back to the home base to be Captured.