New Map & Game mode

Balaklava Sub Pen is the first map we made for the new Holdout game mode. The map is inspired by an existing underground facility in Ukraine, which served as a top secret submarine base for the Soviet Navy. Classified, well hidden, and touted as virtually indestructible, we thought that this would be the perfect location to introduce our new game mode “Holdout”.


Just like Tomsk-9, Balaklava Sub Pen is designed to be symmetrical. The map has only 1 capture point. While these features may make the map seem easy to master, in fact it’s quite the opposite. This map requires strong teamwork to succeed and will birth new strategies as a result.


All these make Balaklava Sub Pen a good choice for competitive clan matches as well as players who are new to Ghost Recon Online. For an overview of the new map and game mode watch the trailer below. To learn some in-depth class strategies that will help you conquer the Sub-Pen keep reading!



To help you better understand the Sub-Pen map senior developer Joe McGinn has put together a series of starting strategies and tips concerning how best to approach this new map and game mode.


Joe McGinn: In order to play the map well, your team needs to have good class balance and coordination. While the fire fight on the Capture Zone will be the focus of the battle, controlling the Folding Bridge or the Tunnel Entrances will be the key in pushing the enemy off the point. Each team has a safe spawn area which must not be accessible to the enemy team and every class has its role to play in this map, and timely use of devices will decide the winning team. Holdout levels are designed so that once a team has captured the point, that team is incapable of pushing far forward beyond the point.

Assault Class

The Assault is the key in capturing the point. The fire fight on the point will be intense and the Assault will have the best chance of surviving the frantic enemy gun fire. Equipping an Assault Rifle will allow give you the versatility to handle most of the situations, but pushing the enemy off the point will require skillful use of the Shotgun. As for devices, grab a BLITZ shield to charge straight into the enemy lines to create an opening for your teammates. Also ensure that your team has access to HEAT to support the push and force the enemies to keep their heads down. If you fancy something more daring, get to the top of Submarine and rain fire onto the enemies below!



Specialist

The Specialist can perform well in both aggressive and defensive play. One of the most effective ways in capturing the point is to have AEGIS and Shotgun equipped. As soon as you enter the Capture Zone, activate your AEGIS and walk straight up to the enemy defense line. Have your teammate’s support your push, and you can be assured that the enemy team will be in thrown into disarray. If your choice of weaponry is the LMG, head to the Control Rooms above. From here, you can help defend against enemy attempts in taking the Folding Bridge, or to provide suppressive fire onto the Capture Zone. Alternatively you can head to the tunnels to provide fire support to overwhelm the enemy. Your teammates on the Capture Zone will appreciate when they know their flank is being covered. With all the use of Devices, knowing when to activate BLACKOUT can potentially shut down enemy pushes and force them to reconsider their strategy.



Recon

The role of the Sniper Recon is to support the team in capturing the point: either sniping at targets on the Capture Zone, or ensuring that the Folding Bridge does not fall into the enemy's hand. If you prefer playing more aggressively, try attacking the point from the Tunnels. A skilled Sniper at this location can effectively lock down a prime strategy for the enemy team. Due to the small size of the map, having frequent ORACLE scans will provide invaluable intel for your team. A SMG Recon would perform best by pushing pass the defenses and neutralize the enemy positions from behind. This will not be easy as there will be enemies guarding on their side of the Capture Zone. Pair up with a Specialist or an Assault and support them in pushing past the bridges. Equipping a CLOAK Device will ensure a higher chance of success, and that your enemies are taken out before they even realize you were there.



Balaklava Sub Pen will be intense and frantic. Devices will help your team in securing the point, but as in a typical Holdout game each round is short, you are unlikely to have more than 2 Device uses. It is therefore of paramount importance to know when to use your Devices. Coordinate with your teammates to make sure that your team makes full use of Devices. Also read into your opponents’ strategy, observe which bridges they are focusing their attacks on and have your team devise a counter strategy.

With a well coordinated team and proficient use of Devices, the Balaklava Sub Pen will be yours to command!

---

http://ghost-recon.ubi.com/ghost-recon-online/en-US/community-news/index.aspx?c=tcm:19-80374-16&ct=tcm:6-231-32

Here is gameplay of our first run on the new map last night.

I like that map!