Currently, it is possible to join a match approximately two minutes after the match has begun; for a defender in Invasion or Destruction, this means joining after the attackers have reached or captured the first objective.
Failing objectives before you can affect a match represents broken game design and a horrible experience, and in terms of balance presents an extreme, unjustifiable disadvantage.
The remedy which comes to mind is an opt-in “Join Match In Progress” checkbox with a reward bonus, functioning exactly like the “Join Any Army” checkbox which currently exists, allowing willing players to join matches which are underway, and allowing unwilling ones to opt out.
Players willing to endure these potentially impossible situations as a challenge should be allowed to opt into them with a reward bonus for joining in-progress matches, and players who do not want this should be allowed to opt out. To prevent abuse (i.e. checking the box for a bonus and deserting latespawns anyway), the reward should only apply to matches which are joined in-progress and played to completion.
- Yes, make joining in-progress matches into an opt-in with a reward bonus
- No, do not do this