Nov 13, 2011
In part 1 of the Battlefield 3 Multiplayer Survival Guide we looked at the Rush game mode. If you’d like to read that, then please click here. In this part we’ll be looking at the Conquest game mode. How to play it and how to organise your squad.
The range of maps available in Conquest on Battlefield 3 is quite vast. From huge open areas such as Caspian Borders to claustrophobic holes such as Operation Metro. There is also quite a difference between the console and PC versions of Conquest. The PC versions support more players and larger play areas. For example, on Caspian Border the main antenna is a capture point on PC, but is not on console. And with up to 64 players on PC certain maps such as Metro quickly become a spawn/die rocket spam environment.
How to play
The game mode itself requires your team to capture flags situated around the map. You do this simply by being in the capture radius….. as long as there are no enemy there. The more of your team that are at a capture point, the quicker the point is captured. If there are enemy present then you need to outnumber them to capture the point, or do the traditional thing, and KILL THEM ALL!
At the beginning of each round both teams have a finite number of reinforcement tickets. None of the flags belong to either side and so your team and the opposing force will head out in a mad scramble to capture as many flags as possible. The more flags your team has, the slower your tickets run out. The game will end when one side runs out of tickets, this is helped along by killing the players on the other team. Each time they die, their tickets are depleted by one.
Capturing Flags
Capture points, or flags, are captured ‘on balance’ meaning that the team with the most players in the capture radius will begin to capture the flag. If the flag has previously been captured by the enemy then the flag first has to be neutralised. Until it is neutralised the flag icon will be Orange and during that time enemies can choose to spawn at the flag area.
If this happens and the number of enemies equals the number of your team at the flag then the progress is stopped and will remain that way until there is an imbalance in forces again. For example if more enemies spawn at the flag or travel to the capture area and outnumber your forces they will begin to recapture the flag. If more squad mates spawn on you or team mates travel to the capture area and outnumber the enemy then you progress in your capturing of the flag.
Balance can be altered by players moving out of the capture radius, or players being killed.
Tips
On maps where there are only three flags it is advisable to ignore your closest flag (your team mates will most likely capture it) in favour of rushing for control of the middle flag (normally ‘B’). This is especially important on the Operation Metro conquest map. In general, the team that captures the ‘B’ flag on Metro will win the round if they can hold it against the initial wave of attack from the opposing team.
Teamwork is overpowered when dealing with capturing flags and map control, having good communication with your squad is essential. For flags that are being hotly contested it’s unlikely you’ll be able to recapture it alone so organise your priorities and if possible use the Squad Order option (aim at flag icon and press [Q on PC], [Back on Xbox], [Select on PS3]) so that everyone knows where they need to go.
Use your head, not your gung-ho pants. On Conquest, the more times you and your team mates are killed, the less tickets you have over all. So if the other team has more flags than you and you’re getting a pasting at a particular flag because that’s where the opposition have set up then it’s time to turn your attention to lesser contested positions.
Once you’ve got the upper hand you just have to keep it that way. It’s better to give up a flag with no losses if it allows you to capture/recapture one or more other flags while the majority of the other team are taking your sacrificed flag. By continually changing the flag you’re reinforcing you can effectively control what the other team are able to do, prevent them from gaining the majority of flags and making you their conquest.
Use your tech/vehicles. Although some items seem to have been put in Battlefield 3 for a laugh *ahem*T-UGS*ahem* the majority of tech and vehicles can have a game changing impact. In particular, the MAV is an excellent weapon for working out the best strategy to complete the previous tip. Intelligent usage tech and vehicles can make a big difference to the outcome of the game. For example, you can’t capture a flag in a jet, but you can in a helicopter, so maybe lay off the jets until you have the upper hand.
In the next part we’ll be looking at the Team and Squad Death Match game types.
David Nicol is a gamer, blogger, podcaster and video creator based in the UK. Find me on:
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