Control Point (game mode)

cp_dustbowl

“

This point ain't gonna cap itself! Get over here!

Click to listen

— The Engineer

”

This article is about the game mode. For the physical objective, see Control Point (objective).

Control Point (CP) is a "main" game mode, consisting of 4 of the original 6 maps. The game revolves around capturing and defending various control points.

Gameplay

Offense

Control points are captured by standing on top of them. The speed at which a control point is captured depends on how many players from the capturing team are present on the point: two BLU players capturing a RED point will capture that point faster than only one BLU player would. Scouts count as two players, as do Soldiers and Demomen wielding the Pain Train. There is a limit on how fast a Control Point can be captured (see Control point timing).

Defense

If players from both teams are on the same, unlocked control point, that point is said to be contested, which means no progress is made toward the point changing team control. When players from the offensive team are removed from the point all of their progress is lost gradually over time, not immediately.

Reverting capture

When both teams are trying to capture a neutral point captures can be reverted. If a team begins to capture a neutral point and then is driven off before capture is completed, the other team must first "revert" the progress that the first team had made before they can begin to make progress of their own.

Limitations

Disguised Spies cannot block a capture if they are disguised as the team capturing the point, and cannot capture a point if they are disguised as the enemy team.

Cloaked Spies cannot defend or capture a control point.

ÜberCharged players cannot capture points, but can block enemy captures.

Scouts under the effects of the Bonk! Atomic Punch can neither block enemy captures nor capture points themselves.

Game modes

Main article: List of game modes

cp_yukon

Standard Control Point

Standard Control Point, also known as Linear or Symmetric Control Point, maps play symmetrically. Both teams start with an equal number of two controlled points and a central point that starts out controlled by neither team. The team that captures all the points wins. In standard Control Point maps, control points must be taken in an unbroken line (thus the "linear" in Linear Control Point). At the beginning of the round, each team's control points are locked while the center point is unlocked and can be taken. Once a team takes the center point, the opponent's nearest point unlocks and can now be taken as well. From then on, no more than two points can be unlocked at a time; taking a point locks the point behind it and unlocks the one in front of it if it exists. Control points close to a team's spawn point are captured more quickly by the enemy team. Standard control point maps will go into Sudden Death (or Stalemate) if no team captures all the points before time runs out, but if time runs out with a capture in progress, Overtime will occur, allowing play to extend should a capture be completed. Due to its wide range of action, Standard Control Point maps place an emphasis on team movement and may be difficult for inexperienced players and those not used to playing in a coordinated group.

Attack/Defend

Attack/Defend maps, also known as Asymmetric Control Point maps, play asymmetrically, with BLU attacking, and RED defending. RED begins with control of all of the points. BLU wins if they capture all of RED's points; RED wins if they prevent BLU from capturing all of the points before the timer expires. Control points may only be captured in a set order (with the exception of some maps, such as Gravel Pit and Steel). Points captured by BLU are locked and cannot be taken back by RED, and time is added after each capture. Because of its simpler format that concentrates on one point at a time, Attack/Defend are easier for newcomers to play.

Attack/Defend maps can come in various styles:

Style	Description	Examples
Linear single-stage	BLU must capture all control points in a set order.	Gorge, Mountain Lab, Mann Manor
Linear multi-stage	BLU must capture a group of control points in a set order to move to the next stage. Reaching the final stage and succeeding is required to ultimately win the map. If BLU fails to win a stage, then the map is reset to stage 1 and the teams switch.	Dustbowl, Egypt
Pyramid-style	BLU must capture three points. The first two points may be captured in either order. Once both points are captured, the final point is unlocked.	Gravel Pit, Junction
Centralized-style	BLU's objective is to capture the central control point. There is another set of control points available, one of which is open for capture at a time in a set order. Capturing these auxiliary points makes it easier to capture the final point.	Steel
Medieval-style	Similar in principle to pyramid-style, with the main difference being that once the final point is unlocked, it must be taken within a specific time limit; otherwise the final point relocks and the initial points reset to RED's ownership. Time is not awarded upon recapturing the initial points.	DeGroot Keep

Strategy

Main article: Community Control Point strategy

Maps

Standard Control Point

Name	Picture	File name
5Gorge		`cp_5gorge`
Badlands		`cp_badlands`
Coldfront		`cp_coldfront`
Fastlane		`cp_fastlane`
Foundry		`cp_foundry`
Freight		`cp_freight_final1`
Granary		`cp_granary`
Gullywash		`cp_gullywash_final1`
Well		`cp_well`
Yukon		`cp_yukon_final`

Attack/Defend

Name	File name	Style
DeGroot Keep	`cp_degrootkeep`	Medieval
Dustbowl	`cp_dustbowl`	Linear multi-stage
Egypt	`cp_egypt_final`	Linear multi-stage
Gorge	`cp_gorge`	Linear single-stage
Gravel Pit	`cp_gravelpit`	Pyramid
Junction	`cp_junction_final`	Pyramid
Mann Manor	`cp_manor_event`	Linear single-stage
Mountain Lab	`cp_mountainlab`	Linear single-stage
Steel	`cp_steel`	Centralized

Update history

October 10, 2007 (Initial Game Release)

Added Control Point mode.
Added maps: Granary, Well, Dustbowl, and Gravel Pit.

February 14, 2008 Patch

Added map: Badlands.

April 29, 2008 Patch (Gold Rush Update)

Added Stopwatch Mode to Tournament Mode which is automatically used on Attack/Defense maps.
Fixed rare client crash on level change during control point capturing.

June 19, 2008 Patch (Pyro Update)