The map changes in S29 have brought me despair

I was beginning to think I imagined all this since no one else had even brought it up. So thanks for the "you see it too?" moment.

I agree 100%, but I can tell you exactly why these features were deleted: they represented mechanics that diluted the power of Axle. It's that simple. You don't need to be Axle, or even have one on your squad, if you can zip around the moon or hover around Olympus. And they very, very badly wanted people to like Axle to the point of becoming dependent on her kit. I might even say, "addicted." That's why you and I can't zip or drive anywhere anymore.

What does it say about their intentions for a legend when she already launches over-powered, but that state is not enough for them and they have to actively hobble every other legend in the game by removing public-access features we've all come to rely on? It's pretty clear. Play Axle or go home. Thankfully I continue to main the only semi-viable counter to these deletions: Valk. In fact, every single thing about this season is designed to destroy the viability of any legend other than a handful of mobility-based characters. Octane, Wraith, Valk, Sparrow, maybe Fuse. If you're playing anyone else then you're already dead.

I liked the zip lines too. 😢

From the patch notes:

"The Ziprails in Broken Moon have always helped define the overall feel of the map and how teams rotate between POIs. However those Ziprails also contribute to a lot of silent third parties that can feel particularly frustrating. We've gone through and removed the majority of rotational POI-to-POI Ziprails while maintaining the Ziprails within POIs that help define the combat space. This should make navigating the map feel a little more predictable and easier to understand."

overclocked-patch-notes (see above under "Maps")

reconzero​ 

I'm having a ball in ranked Gold as Crypto, he really suits my conservative style of play atm and a couple of wins too 😁

Might not do so well in plat and tend to stop at Diamond IV.

Are you stacking or going in with randoms? If the latter then how do they feel about your conservative style of play? I consider myself the most conservative player in the game, and I'm here to tell you that I can count on one hand the number of squadmates I've had in seven years who treated my gameplay with anything other than utter contempt.

And while we're at it: Respawn, what is a "silent third party?" I assume by "silent" you mean "making no noise." Since when is a ziprail silent? Also, if you've chosen to engage underneath a ziprail or at its end then, frankly, you deserve what you get. Ziprails are not a bug. They're a feature. Once again you give the impression that you're dumbing down the game for people who are too lazy or too stupid to learn how to play it.

In with randoms. I dont know how they feel as i cannot use coms, think i mentioned that to you a😁 while back.

As to contempt, when i respawn hot drop henry and friend twice or more in a game and then get to top 3 or a win the odd time, I'm sure they see the error of their ways, if they felt like that.

There is more than 1 way to skin a cat, and being over 60 yo I have plenty of patience and an effective strategy that gets me to D4, on a mobile wifi with a ping of 80 or more. 

"As to contempt, when i respawn hot drop henry and friend twice or more in a game and then get to top 3 or a win the odd time, I'm sure they see the error of their ways, if they felt like that."

Wow. My squadies go down and most of them don't even wait for me to ping their deathbox or a replicator before they've quit to re-queue. Sometimes for fun I'll instaquit myself and re-queue just to see if I can get them again. I won't say what happens if I do get them again, because it's unsportsmanlike, and as a fellow player of more senior age, I should be above that kind of behavior. But I'm not. Well, not always.

At any rate, more power to you if you can lead the horse to water AND get him to drink. I don't seem to be able to do either. Ever. Or, wait a minute! Are you talking about ranked play where teammates are a genuine captive audience???

I hate to say it, but i did say i was having a ball in ranked 😁 I dont play pubs any more, unless I feel like a solo wander in the beauitiful maps. Lots of mt though.

They are  not really a captive audience, some straight up quit on down, others are free to leave any time they like after the clock goes out. A lot don't, and I generally carry a mobile respawn if I find one, having pinged the fact that I found one. Get lots of invites after matches that have gone well, but I'm not a party animal 😄

By the way I never quit.