The Away Flag Problem
In Overwatch’s Capture the Flag mode players are able to secure a point regardless of whether your flag is away or not. This is actually a bit of problem as it doesn’t encourage the type of balance between offense and defense needed for a mode like this. By removing the need to recapture your flag in order to score, this turns each CTF game into a mad dash to see who can grab the flag and make it back first.
There’s a nuance lost in this, and it doesn’t make this mode particularly interesting to play after a few rounds. Given Overwatch is all about working together as a team, being able to coordinate and decide when to go recapture a flag and when to play it safe is critical to the challenge’s design. Just rushing at the enemy team again and again likes waves against the rocks isn’t inspiring and can wear out its welcome quite quickly.
