Battlefield Specifics
Avalanche!
The mountains are a hostile place, especially in winter. Those who’ve never seen nature’s icy wrath are about to experience it firsthand. It begins with a rumble and ends with an eerie, mist-shrouded silence ten seconds later. But the deadly moments in between are enough to send the bravest COG running for cover! An avalanche crashes down from the southern mountains between 30 and 90 seconds into the round and kills every player it contacts as it buries the central courtyard in eight feet of snow. Players must flee to the map’s extreme edges or get swept up in the slide. However, the courtyard isn’t the only deathtrap. The avalanche first hits the upper plaza where the Mulcher is located. Run for the plaza’s corners if you’re up there when the controller starts to rumble and the ground begins to shake. You must vacate the area with the patches of snow to escape the avalanche.
The avalanche does more than just dole out immediate death to the players caught in its path. It topples the stone arch, buries the courtyard, and sends vehicles flying through the air like a child’s toys. The fallen arch and toppled statues come to a halt atop the settled snow, providing cover for those who venture out when the flakes settle. The thick blanket of snow allows access the Boomshot positioned atop the gazebo in the courtyard.
Spawn Point Awareness
Regardless of which side of the map you spawn on, your first move is typically toward the Mulcher (south) or toward the Boomshield (north), especially because the Boomshot (or Torquebow) isn’t accessible until after the avalanche. Some subtle signs indicate which side of the map you spawn on as you wait for the round to start, but the large stone arch serves as a terrific landmark as well. If you ever get disoriented or aren’t sure which side of the map you’re on, just look for the large stone arch (pre-avalanche). It’s on the courtyard’s southern side and is closer to the Mulcher. Move away from it if you’re after the Boomshield.
East Spawn
The eastern spawn point places the entire team on the ground outside the lodge, on the outside of the map. There aren’t any stairs and the two small balconies and greenery serve as instantaneous identifiers of the eastern spawn. This spawn point is also much larger and has more snow on the ground. Head left for the Mulcher or to the right for the Boomshield and Boltok Pistol.
West Spawn
The spawn point on the west is a bit smaller than the one on the east. Therefore, it often spawns some members nearer the stairs leading into the house. This spawn point is recognizable by the lone balcony above the two doorways, the presence of the dumpsters, and the slightly larger sets of stairs leading inside. Head to the right for the Mulcher/Mortar, or venture left for the Boomshield and Boltok Pistol.
Essential Tactics
- Pistol and Shield: The team that secures the Boomshield and either of the pistol pickups first definitely has a big advantage on this map. Make every effort to lock down the map’s northern portion at the match’s start. Try to sweep enemies toward the player with the Boomshield so he or she can finish them off with little risk of harm.
- Buried Alive: The avalanche slides down from the mountains at the map’s southern end, above the Mulcher/Mortar pickup. Although it occurs at a random time between 30 and 90 seconds into the round, anticipate the oncoming avalanche and do what you can to down enemy forces in its path whenever possible, particularly if a full minute passes without an avalanche. Listen for the air raid siren to blare, alerting you to the avalanche. When you hear it, back out of the kill zone, simultaneously doing what you can to down the opposition. The best case scenario is that you down an enemy and one of his teammates foolishly attempts to revive him when the avalanche hits—two for one! You’ll be able to mantle over the railing near the side lodges after the snow comes to a halt. You can even run directly up to where the Mortar is without having to use the stairs. There may not be many enemies still standing after the avalanche, but you should expect activity to increase near the center of the map, given the change in flow.
- Fragging the Mulcher: Frag Grenades can be especially helpful in dislodging enemies camped near the Mulcher’s spawn location. Toss them from the street below the Mulcher, particularly when the avalanche siren begins to wail. Rushing the Mulcher directly is a recipe for disaster. Instead, use the grenades to disrupt the other team. Then split up and charge their spot from both sides to avoid losing too many units.