What does everyone think about making spec info legal? I know there will be some jokes about how so and so already uses it.. but on a constructive note, would it improve gameplay? Ambushing would be irrelevant and it would basically force a dedicated vocal member on your team to essentially lead and shot call from spec. It may cut down on the bullshit of stalemates that last for 10-15 minutes and squads playing so passive holding. It may force people to react quickly, and blame their spec info'er if they get flanked. Maybe some people who played CTFPL could chime in, as spec info was legal there. Did it improve gameplay? If so how? What would that league be like without info.

specinfo is important in ctfpl because of the ability to switch bases at the last moment before flags drop So if some team didn't have an extra person to sit in spec telling them where enemy is they would be at a disadvantage? If anything get rid of vision so players could just see all. But honestly thats stupid. Stupid idea man, lock thread.

Spec Info became pretty pivotal for IFL/CTFPL immediately. - Call out enemies low on energy - Call out blink sets - Call out swings - Call out subs and their classes - Call out flanks - Call out base switches CTF gameplay evolved with this information. You can't compete without 11+ players, because spec info is kind of vital at this point. Skirmish gameplay didn't. Removing ambushes and sharing locations and team splits will completely change the dynamic of Skirmish.

Sounds interesting from an outsiders point of view. but It won't change much in regards to stalemates due to holding areas. Whatever team is on the more advantageous side will have control over the start with the other waiting for them to make a mistake(holding/camping/whatever u wanna call it). Once a team is up a few kills they will just passively move around the map and force the other team to make mistakes in order to catch up. Whether that would be pushing into an area they shouldn't or trying some crazy flank(that won't work because of spec info). If anything I think spec info would force teams to play more passively. Those mecca flanks are what opens up games and forces fights.

Also, hiding flags was a thing in early IFL.

As a 16 time CTFPL Champion, I can endorse that this idea is absolute shit.

I see, I've never played a full season of CTFPL so I didn't know. If you're against it, at least offer something constructive as to why. Changing the dynamic of skirmish isn't necessarily a bad thing. I know a lot of the time squads are passive because they don't have full vision on their enemy. They'll see 4 or 5 and just kind of wait until they get a full numbers count. Is it that big of a deal if everyone is using spec info in USL? Would things change SO much? If so how?

I feel like surprise ambushes, timely flanks, and positioning are fundamental to Skirmish. Mercy brought up a good point. A team could use spec info to maneuver around the map to avoid the enemy until they have the advantage. Run the timer out until they get the right opportunity.

Going on what Emp said about squads using spec info to avoid the enemy and run the clock, an argument can be made that if both teams have spec info then there isnt any where to hide and squads will eventually catch each other. That being said, quite a few NTs have been used this season. If a squad is using NTs they certainly would NOT be able to use an NT spec info and therefore would cry about a squad, whose members actually showed, using it. This would encourage squads to make their players be active, but shit happens and people can't make it. Now I'm not an SK player but I know that making spec info legal in skirmish would destroy the fundamentals of the game. Skirmish is a more simplistic version of CTF and it compensates by having squads run plays and create angles to gain the advantage over their enemy. Making spec info legal will make flanks and surprise attacks irrelevant. I'm all for progression and the implementation of new rules, but I don't think this is a good one.

Yeah but if you run, I'll know exactly where you're going. You can only run so long and arguably you'll be in a worse off position. You can still flank and position accordingly.. There will probably be more flanking and more repositioning. Ambushing would be a sacrifice, but I don't see any squad really using Ambushing as a key part of their gameplay every game.

And to Abbath, there is no innovation anymore. If there were brand new maps I would agree that "surprise attacks" would be a bigger factor.. but realistically none of the top 4 squads are getting surprised on any map in any position. Flanking will not be irrelevant.

But having the spec info will make players lazy. People will develop bad habits. On Sunday I watched OON@Waduhek on KR and OON held positions at F7. Waduhek took the time to go around through F3 and the OON base to sneak up behind them and take them by surprise. Teams do still get surprised and watching these plays unravel is one of the fun parts of SK. If there was spec info none of that could've happened. I like the idea of newer maps over having spec info. With the same old maps squads run the same old plays.

Like I said, you pretty much can't surprise any of the top 4 squads, nor can you realistically say it will make players "lazy and develop bad habits" when it hasn't even been tested yet.

"Oh they're right there? Let's go here" "Well if they're right there let's wait for them to come to us" As you've, you cant surprise any of the top four squads so why make it even easier by allowing spec info? Also in your OP you say ambushing would be irrelevant and that would suck because it's super funny to see. Skirmish is fine as it is and allowing spec info dumbs it down. All positions are know and it just because a pub game.

Game would be a hell of a lot more fun, nerds couldn't camp every game and ruin usl

Right now this is every game. "Hey I see them over there, but I only see 4 .. I'm going to hold until I see the rest" "Hey I found 3 more, but im still not sure where that flanker is.. better just play safe until I see him" 10 mins later "this is dumb, better move.. hey I moved to a diff spot, I see 4.. gonna hold until I see the other 4". If anything it's not easier, it's harder. Everything is transparent. Nowhere to hide. More fighting, more pushing. When a squad gets the lead, they can't ambush, they'll have to hold with full transparency.

No surprises. No timely pushes. Why would anyone push when they see the other team shifting in defense? Just even more camping to be honest. You guys are smoking crack if you think it would make matches better

People don't push because they see numbers, if you had la leader in spec kind of like a coach calling the shots it'd be so much more interesting

Stupid idea man, lock thread.

big lol irl