BF2 5v5 Season 3 Preview Here we go! Season 3 of the BF2 5v5 Infantry League is almost upon us. The start date is June 12th, 2006, and the map is Mashtuur City. With a total of 56 teams, Season 3 is shaping up to be the biggest brawl ever for the 5v5 Infantry League. Of the 56, 23 are brand new teams. With all the new competition, can Special K hold on to their championship title? Or will the influx of new talent displace not only the champs, but all the teams that have been winning in the league in the past? I don't know about you, but I for one am looking forward to an exciting season. The New Rules and Rankings The main thing on many participants minds are the rule changes and scoring changes. As some, if not most, of you know the league will be moving to a points system akin to what is currently used by the 8v8 league. This is to promote more frequent encounters between similarly skilled teams and keep matches from being total blowouts. After a lengthy conversation with Gerty, the 5v5 admin, I was able to glean the pertinent details. According to her, the scoring system is as follows:
Point Allocation:As the season progresses, the teams will be ranked according to accrued points. Teams are then organized into three "tiers." Tier 1 consists of the top eight teams at any given point in the season based on total points. Tier 2 contains the next eight teams, and tier 3 contains the remaining teams. Matches are scheduled between teams within a tier. It is possible to move between tiers as well, making things all the more interesting. Although a bit complex to look at at first, Flyguy has posted a graphical representation of team movement in and between tiers in this thread. The New Patch The BF2 v 1.3 patch has introduced a new tool for the commander: the vehicle drop. You may be asking what this has to do with an infantry only league, because I sure was. The other variable introduced by the patch is the reemergence of C4 chucking. Once again, Gerty was on top of these issues and gave me the lowdown.
Match Attendance = 10 pts
Rounds Won = RW x 10 pts
Won Round Ticket Bonus = Total Tickets from Rounds Won divided by 100
Shutout Bonus = 5 pts
Patch Clarification:Preseason Week 1: Mastuur City Scheduled Matches for June 12th Below you will find the matchups for the first week of preseason, in no particular order.Use of jeep drops to climb on buildings, in 8vs8 leagues and ladders, is allowed. We feel this is no different than using supply crates to accomplish the same effect.
Use of jeep drops to blow up arty in ladders and leagues: both teams can drop a crate and fix the arty, both teams can drop a jeep to destroy it. Its legal but pending feedback from match play.
Use of jeep drops on players in ladders and leagues: look up more. Legal.
Use of jeep drops on static vehicle spawn points in ladders and leagues: Legal.
You can now throw C4 again. It is legal, same as it was in the first 8 months of BF2.
PsB Streaming will be made mandatory for leagues as soon as its available.
- (Elite Soldiers) vs. Knuckled Up
- *Team Dynamic* vs. -=Criminally Respected=-
- [-CGZ-] vs. Avant-Guard
- [LRRP] Hellbender Platoon vs. =MLK=
- [TG] The Guardians vs. Pwn-Starz
- [Zulu] Crew vs. ]-[ostile Faction
- {FLATASS} vs. Hell's Katz Squad
- -=KOF=- Knights Of Fury vs. Via
- 1C4L vs. Ultimate Gaming HeadQuarters
- 1st Platoon (1/A/2-75th) vs. BFSupreme
- 21st Tactical Ops Unit vs. Dukes of Fallujah
- AIrBoRnE Battlefield 2 Battlion vs. Flamboyant Fpoonz
- Black-Hammer-Alliance vs. Path To Glory
- CLIENT-L CLan vs. redbacks
- -Crazy Criminalz- vs. WidowMakersClan
- Elite Marine Core vs. Menace
- Fused Legions vs. LS-Lost Souls
- GameFAQs Coalition vs. Man^up
- Groundzer0 vs. Team Storm Squad
- Hell's Katz Squad - Team 2 vs. Hostile Koalition
- Killer [Bananas] vs. The Dubies
- Massive Unit vs. Synergy BF2
- Moderate Battalion vs. Special K
- Ordnance Monkeys vs. Special K ²
- Rebels of Mankind² vs. STK Gaming
- Silence The Opposition vs. Team BCE
- Stars And Stripes vs. Unleashed Horrors
- Team Breakaway Rebels vs. USG Battlefield 2 Squad
bawKz0r|TWL: What do you think of the upcoming season and the changes in how teams are ranked?After in a large interview like that, two important things come to light. First, the new league scoring system is a good change. Second, the new patch isn't the end of the world, as some seem to think. Do you agree with PuncH? What are the rest of the community's thoughts on these two topics? Sound off, be heard!
[RoM]PuncH : I think it's going to be better because teams won't be able to get by during the season with an easy schedule.
bawKz0r|TWL: Are you going to adjust your tactics in any way with the new patch?
[RoM]PuncH : The patch definitely makes 5v5 a lot slower-paced, but it also involves more strategy involving squad leaders and how you execute your pushes.
bawKz0r|TWL: In your opinion, does this constitute a major playing style change for your team, or is it a minor adjustment?
[RoM]PuncH : It's not too major, all you really have to do it take your worst infantry and make him take a defensive position where he is safe, that way the spawn point stays alive for as long as you need it.
bawKz0r|TWL: Does this mean that the 5v5 matches essentially become 4v4 or less, or do you think the squad leaders will continue to play an active combat role?
[RoM]PuncH : No it won't be 4v4, the squad leader won't just run into a corner and go prone, he will most likely be up in a building shooting down or hiding where he can still shoot... the squad leader will see less action yes, but he also plays the biggest role in doing so.
bawKz0r|TWL: Ok, last question, and it is a loaded one. As with every patch there are cries of "ZOMG EA KILLED BF2!!11" What do you think?
[RoM]PuncH : The patches aren't killing BF2, it's the hype for the newer "better" games on the horizon that are predicted to be the BF2 killers. Teams come and go with every game, and you will always hear complaining... but the patches aren't killing the game.
As always, I would like to wish every team the best of luck in Season 3. With all the new things going on, including all the new faces, there are very exciting things to come. If you have any comments about this article, any suggestions for future articles, or just want to chat you can email me at bawKz0r@teamwarfare.com or you can find me on IRC in #twl_bf.
©2006 TeamWarfare.com
Community First Gaming, LLC, All rights reserved
Reprint Inquiries Contact:
news@teamwarfare.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________
_I_ bawKz0r
TeamWarfare News Staff - BF2 Writer