THE PROBLEM:
The problem with many base battles, as it stands, is that it really boils down to a simple numbers game: a large enough zerg will almost always win. All they have to do is keep hammering away, and soon enough, the base will fall.
I believe this design flaw can be attributed, in part, to the current spawn system, namely the AMS Sunderer. In its current state, the AMS is simply too powerful in that it offers unlimited spawns and a ridiculously short spawn timer. Thus, as an attacker, death is merely a minor inconvenience when a Sunderer is deployed. In fact, waiting for a revive is often less ideal than simply respawning back on the Sunderer, and rushing in, again and again and again until the base is won.
PROPOSED SOLUTION:
This is why I propose this simple change to the Sunderer AMS mechanic: an incrementally increasing spawn timer.
It would work like this: Every time you choose to spawn on a deployed Sunderer, 5 seconds would be added to the spawn timer for the next time you spawn on that Sunderer.
In other words, if the first time you spawn on the Sunderer is a 5 second wait, the next time will be a wait of 10 seconds, then 15 seconds and so on. Die too many times during an attack and the timer will be quite considerable, meaning you have to find an alternate spawn location should you wish to continue the assault.
Note: This timer would be on an individual Sunderer basis, meaning a second Sunderer will have its own spawn timer. The timer would reset once the facility in the current hex the Sunderer is located in in is either successfully captured or defended.
DESIRED EFFECT:
- It will require more depth to attack strategies. Attackers will have to re-consider their approach in long battles, making for a more dynamic game.
- Gives dying greater consequence. Players will be more inclined to stick together and wait for revives, thus promoting teamwork.
- Gives defenders the ability to wean out an attacking force by holding their ground, which is realistic of defensive strategy.
TL;DR
Add a incremental 5 sec spawn timer to AMS Sunderers to slow down the zerg, promote teamwork/revives and force attackers to reconsider their assault.