Spawncamping: The final word

[Witchiebunny]

So we as admins finally sat down and hashed out the spawncamping policy once and for all, which is as follows:

Core definition: Any player seen loitering around their enemy's spawn following the traditional mapstart siege with intent to murder emerging players is in violation.

Secondary definition: Snipers who snipe from within the protective shield of their spawn door are in violation of the spawncamping rule.

This goes for maps with any number thereof. Just because there are multiple exits doesn't make it okay to block one of those.

No exceptions. No crying or boohooing. We catch you, you will be kicked or banned. You've been warned.

Discuss here.

[Mr. Munchlax]

Seems pretty simple to me. Don't be hanging around the enemy spawn unless it's the map start or if the map objective requires you to be there.

[Arcalane]

As a little clarification, "traditional mapstart siege" means the initial assault/defense period on maps like dustbowl or goldrush right after the gates open.

What's okay;
Rushing the enemy setup area once or twice with ubers.

What's not okay;
Constantly hammering their spawn area with ubers and basically keeping them locked in/spawn camped.

I've seen nasty scenarios where RED held BLU back for nigh on ten minutes during the first cap of the last leg of dustbowl simply by spamming uber pyro attacks into their setup area. It was not pretty, and that's the kind of situation we'd like to avoid.

[Tehrasha]

If I flame your butt as you come out the door, its because you got in the way of my killing/scouting your teleporter entrance. Guarantee that I will be gone once the teleporter is. Im certainly not going to stand there and not defend myself just because I am in close proximity of your front door. Whinging about 'spawn camping' in such a situation will be giggled at.

[Ayeaka]

My question now; what about spies using cloak and dagger with intent of keeping teles down? They may be killing the engineer, but a spy alone certainly can't box an entire team in spawn.

[Marshtomp]

AND NO MORE OF THAT BULLSHIT WHERE YOU ARE LIKE... NOOO I WAS JUST WALKING BY THE SPAWN AND I SAW YOU SO I KILLED YOUR WHOLE TEAM TO ESCAPE..

[Tehrasha]

My question now; what about spies using cloak and dagger with intent of keeping teles down? They may be killing the engineer, but a spy alone certainly can't box an entire team in spawn.

As per the 'definition' of spawn camping.... "seen loitering around their enemy's spawn [.....] with intent to murder emerging players"
While you are loitering around spawn in your example, your 'intent' is very specific, not just to murder everyone. Arguing 'intent' is where the new drama will be focused.

[Leif]

Arguing 'intent' is where the new drama will be focused.

I'm a bit worried about this as well. I think we may need a bit more clarification. While I certainly am not the type of player who would resort to unfair tactics such as spawn-camping just for winning, there are situations where the spawn area can be accessed to give your team an advantage.

Example: As pyro (I've attempted this with Scout as well), I will go to the defensive spawn area while on offense to destroy teleporter entrances. Should an enemy happen to come around during that time-span, I will kill them as well. As soon as all buildings around the area have been destroyed, I tend to go on my way back to the primary area.

Question: Is this spawn-camping?

[miniskunk]

I would say it would only if you fail to bug out after defending yourself.

[miniskunk]

To me the concept of spawn camping is staying near the spawn area with intent to kill the moment someone leaves the door. This includes snipers or engies with sentries that can position themselves away from the spawn yet make kills on anyone exiting. I am qualifying exit to mean the point that no opposing team can cross or where there is one sole way to reach the battlefield. Covering all possible exits could be considered spawn camping as well, but best left to deciding when this happens. I have rarely seen a team able to do this with multiple exits.

Sending in a an ubered medic with another class to the spawn is never justified and clearly shows intent to spawn camp unless there is a sentry guarding a teleporter. Absent the sentry, it would be a clear violation of the fair play intended by a no camping rule.

Bravo on adding sniping from the protected area of the spawn as part of the definition! It is very cowardly to not present oneself for a fair kill like others classes need to do to win. This can also apply to other long range classes as well. Granted it is not impossible to kill a sniper in most of the spawns even with a pyro as the furthest back they can fire from is not beyond the reach of the flamethrower especially if they are not paying attention to their peripheral.