IMO.....if ur looking for actual balance, then, realistically, the map selection should be drastically reduced. There are probably 25 maps that should be played seriously, half of which should be mirrored only. We dont need 96million maps for ggs. How about quality over quantity?
Here is an example. Take a look at montana DMZ. This is a classic map that is played seriously by all levels of players (including myself) and is well liked. Many ggs on DMZ. However, in no way is this map balanecd at all-- right side has a freakin airpot and left does not. The location of the bridges in relation to where the players' buildiings will be placed greatly favors the right side as well, making it easier to defend right side and easier to set up an attack on the left side of the map. Ofc, having a FREE para for no reason amplifies all of this......hello ??? This is obviously not fair at all. I understrand that any faction can win on any map at any time, but if ur looking for balanced matches over fun matches, then most maps should be removed because most maps are like DMZ in one way or another.
Here are some more obviously imbalanced or simply just bad/"non-pro" maps:
1. Malibu cliffs-- Bottom right and bottom middle right has huge economic and postional advantage vs other spots.
2. May day--bottom is so much better. Not only is it easier to defend from paras (paras come from top) but u can fix bridge to hit miners as well as kill4 oil derricks for one.
3. Isle of war--im a camper and all, but you can camp on this map with ur eyes closed. Its just bad.
4. Pinch point--can it get any more boring, less technical and less pro than this?
5. Urban rush--Like pinch point, limits players to actually doing things. its so small and simple.
The list goes on and on and on. I dont care if a restaurant has 12,000 meals to choose from, if there are only 800 meals that are actually high quality, you're most likely gonna select a bad meal.
If i was in charge of making qm as balanced as possible , Ive narrowed it down to 25 maps (11 of which are mirror only)
-Amazons delta (mirror only)
-Artic circle (mirror only)
-Bull Run
-Caverns of Siberia
-City under siege (mirror only w/ superweapons always on)
-Coldest peak
-Divide and Conquer
-Dry heat TvB (mirror only)
-Eventide (mirror only)
-Glowing waters
-Golden state valley
-Heartland BL vs TR
-Jungle of Vietnam
-Morningtide
-Tourny B
-Tourny A (mirror only)
-Poltergiest
-Roundhouse kick (mirror only)
-Heck RvR
-Heck BvB (mirror only)
-Snow valley TL vs BR
-South pacific TL vs BR
-Tour of egypt (mirror only)
-yin yang (mirror only)-
Lakeside plat (mirror only)
after some rigourous play, maybe even some of these should be removed as well. Why waste ur time playing defcon 6 when u can be playing snow valley? If ur answer is "i like alot of maps" or something, then thats fine, but u dont care about balance.
*Edit: and each player should be allowed 1-3 vetos so they dont have to play their least fav map/s. I like this.
I completely support this.
Considering I'm a regular FFG player and a old QM addict, I'm finding it hard to return to QM with the current amount of maps.
What frank said is 100% correct and what the the reality of it is. If a option to the poll would be added for it, I'd vote for it.