i posted this the other day in the scoped version A&T thread, but
@HappyBear801 suggested I move it here instead. I don't think I can move threads, so I'll just double post it here for completeness:
So now that more time has passed since these threads I've been playing extensively with all 4 eliters. And I keep coming to conflicting feelings on which to use. At first I liked scopes, then I preferred scopeless. Then I preferred scopes. Then I preferred scopeless. I'm starting to thing it really doesn't matter, I'll perform similarly with either now, so maybe the extra range is worth the loss in mobility? I can't pick!
But my bigger debate is vanilla or custom. I love the burst bombs. If for no other reason, rapidly inking walls to mount platforms is overwhelmingly beneficial, and sorely missed when I'm flinging a dozen uncharged shots to get up a wall with Custom. And I got very used to using bombs offensively between this and carbon roller. But there's a dark side to eliter and burst bombs. It drains you of ink rapidly, and you can't recover from that in a pinch. Worse, if you dismount from the perch and are on the ground, it can be hard to rapidly return to a perch, often leading to SJ back to spawn and traveling there again.
I got used to using my beacons with custom. Jumping between perches is fantastic, and the mobility offered by a hasty retreat lets you press and pursue enemies with little risk since you can jump right back. In some ways, Custom is the more offensive version. Splat bombs can be offensive, but you don't get many, and most of the time when I need them it's after missing a shot and my ink reserves are already too low to use them. While custom does not allow those desperate moments, forcing a full retreat, but also providing a quick exit for high mobility.
Not all maps benefit. Skatepark is pretty hard to use beacons effectively on. Generally if I put them in the side half pipe, if my position is compromised the beacon goes with it, either by inkstrike or by full flank. Piranha, any worthy, safe point to jump to is just as fast to walk as jump. But so many maps like Bridge - inevitably if I take vanilla, I'll wish I had the mobility of custom to quickly get between areas or back up. If I take Custom I'll get cornered and wish I had the CQC ability of the vanilla. I cant choose which to take because moments of each battle will benefit either.
So how does one choose which one to take? Are there secrets to getting onto platforms without burst bombs I'm not familiar with? And how do you use your beacons if your team mates keep using them up on you for no strategic reason at all?
Additional update to the initial question: Now that Mall is back in rotation I was playing with custom there last night, and it's a similar situation as with Bridge for me. I love using it, and I love the mobility of jumping between beacons quickly though I found it hard to keep the beacons reliably on both sides, especially the right which gets overrun. And the lack of bombs to throw at the mid ramp proved challenging. Yet the responsiveness of quick jumping (and equipping appropriate gear) made it nimble enough to keep falling back in the event of a base raid. I'd get pushed off from behind from time to time. For this map I do like scopeless better (for now) though I miss reaching across to the opposing platform with the scope. But again, how would you guys position your beacons to make the most of it, and is it worth missing out on burst bombs?