Gun run feedback

Respawn has put their own twist on a classic format that is popular in most FPS's. I've run a lot of games in this mode, and here are some thoughts:

• The throwing knife is super fun to use, and I hope they add this to the main game in some way.
  • Quick idea: Make this either a throwable (i.e. 4th grenade?) with a slight damage nerf that can be picked up after thrown by anyone.
• The current map rotation is great, and I hope they add more.
  • Suggestions: Olympus estates, Storm point mill, etc.
  • I'd love to see more horizontal maps as the two current ones strongly favor vertical mobility legends.
  • It'd also be nice to have players spawn near their team consistently. This happens sometimes but it happens noticeably enough that I spawn on the other side of the map from my teammates.
• It would be cool to experiment with having players spawn with a random grenade or something.
  • Nades are a key part of regular Apex Legends, and the game doesn't feel the same without them.
  • I personally despise the Rampart players who chill at height with their barriers up, so it'd be a nice way to keep them on their toes.
• Legend abilities should count as a kill, regardless if a gun is used or not.
  • Vantage's and Rampart's ults are super gimmicky as you have to shoot someone first with your current gun, then kill them.
  • If there is concern about Rampart's ult being OP, Respawn could just cap the ammo in Sheila. Adjustments have been made to other legends' ults (i.e. Lifeline, Valkyrie), so this wouldn't be a huge change.
• Melee kills don't actually do much, and they should.
  • If you melee someone who isn't using the highest-level gun, it sets them back but then they just leapfrog ahead when they get a kill. Assuming uniform chance, you have a 1/3 chance that the melee kill you pulled off actually had impact.
  • Idea: Lower all teammates' guns one level.
    • Anticipated counterargument: If your gun level is lowered mid-fight, that can be frustrating and a jarring experience.
      • To that I say it's currently a team game, so being penalized by your teammate's misplay is acceptable. It's similar to if your teammate EMPs you or Bang ults you in that you suffer the consequences for something your teammate did (which in this case is getting melee-ed.
• (Obligatory solos pitch) This should be a solos mode, or at least have a solos format if Respawn institutes a rotating arcade mode.
  • Respawn said in a thread that they tested FFA and it wasn't as fun, but I'm skeptical of how comparable their testing is to actual games with randos. Do they not have communicative teammates? Do they have consistent leavers when the team isn't doing well? Do they have significant discrepancies between teammate skill level?
  • There is also an argument that some legends just won't be viable at all in solos. To that, I'd point out the following:
    • Several legends' passives do nothing. Crypto, Lifeline, Vantage, Mirage, Newcastle.
    • Loba's ult becomes a pretty piece of temporary cover since there is nothing to steal.
    • All of these exist in the current team Gun Run, so there is already a legend viability discrepancy in teams.
  • Finally, there is the "Respawn tried a solos mode in Season 2 and it failed" argument. We are now over 10 seasons past then, and the playerbase has grown significantly. I think it's time to give it another try. If anything, this helps appease the solo-queue playerbase. Trios have the main game and ranked, duos have duos, and solos could get this one cute little arcade mode.

Overall, glad Respawn is trying new things out to breathe life into the game. I hope they iterate on it and keep it as a permanent mode in rotation since it's actually pretty fun and does help players practice chaotic fighting.