I'm just wondering why all the most played maps are summer maps, when imo winter terrain only bring new options on the table; of which only ice remain, since deep snow and blizzards have been removed. Is ice just as bad?
I.e. water is now not a blocker or red cover, but passable terrain, only more dangerous for vehicles; a feature actually not used in many maps.
Is there simply no good winter maps or do people just not like the cold?
i believe deep snow and mud can be used tastefully.
however, the problem with the original mud and heavy snow in relic's maps was that they were over used. so top players despised them and when it came to removing them, the top players had nothing more to say then "remove them all". although there are remnants around buildings and impassable areas where there used to be heavy snows for some reason.
with ice, I have no problem with it. and in Semoisky Winter, using ice to "un-chokepoint" the natural chokepoints in the summer version of the map adds a very fun flavour. Even look at Oka River(4-6). It has ice all over and I consider it a solid 3v3 map (although many people hate it).
however, vehicle pathing in ice is not fun and sometimes your vehicles wants to use ice because may be there is a heavy hedgerow you might have put in on the coast. That might make vehicles path through ice and although it is not strictly anyone's fault but mostly user's fault, it is still frustrating not just because of pathing but also just the huge amount of risk losing a whole tank to a random arty shell.
Also, if you look at Rhzev Winter(4-6), you'll find that ice is used for the main battle area. but that is still ok because due to that, it creates this armour's stand-offish area in the middle. and encourages usage of side flanks and artillery (which some may not like). The only problem with that map is that the North side has more ice and less solid ground. Don't get me wrong, ice is fine but it is an inferior ground at the end of the day.
so when using ice, the main thing is to balance it so it affects both players equally.
blizzard? it is interesting but people just hate it. I for one hate freezing but like the rest.
EDIT: also, even if only one member of a squad is trudging through the heavy snow, the whole squad slows down. so it is annoying.