Shatter

[ThirdChild_ZKI]

That's false though, players are encouraged to play it that way because it's the considerably safer option unless you're part of a premade. There's a reason why such a game mode doesn't exist in any of the more successful PvP MMORPGs. If an objective in PvP revolves around doing damage, it should be damage dealt to players, e.g. Capture The Flag or player-oriented objective control (pick up and defend/survive).

Having fun with Shatter is perfectly fine but pretending that it isn't a badly designed PvP mode is just silly.

Shatter is garbage. I've been on both ends of the barrel too. Have literally jumped up and down in front of a healer for 10 seconds while I die to dots on WAR. Said healer never targetted me.. or anyone lol. But I've also killed plenty of players who were attack ice right in front of their healers who never bothered to cast. It practically requires no skill at all and rewards the players who abuse a system of free rides: "gimme light, gimme mount, brb gotta watch dis YouTube video of somebody actually pvping!"

If they really wanted to spice things up they could keep an alliance, add mechanics and turn the crystal into a shape-shifting ball and have it do stuff too.. Take away "friendly fire" and call it a day. (Extreme sarcasm, WoD reference for those who would take this way to seriously)

Players not looking out for a teammate or tunneling on the objective doesn't make the mode itself terrible, just like trying to focus ONLY on the objective isn't a solid way to win. As I keep saying, there's a bit of a check and balance to all things there, which invalidates following only one strategy or trying to play it safe. The very idea of playing it safe in a PvP mode is a bit unrealistic. Someone has to attack, objectives or players. If no one does that in the name of playing it safe, that's when I say you're doing it wrong.

Baiting tactics while splitting up and going after objectives (bases, ices) can work against a super aggressive team that ONLY wants to focus on attacking players.
Attacking players that ONLY want to go after objectives and retreat otherwise works too
The third team letting the 2 others fight and capitalizing on objectives OR targeting either of the others in the skirmish can work too.
Playing it safe when you have a strong lead (assuming the other teams don't seem to notice this) works too.

I can't say it enough: if you stick to one strategy to win - and your opponent adapts and changes, then you risk losing. Most players fall into this trap, and it's honestly easy to do so. That's not Shatter's fault, it's yours for failing to adapt to the changing flow of battle.