Not tyring to spam the forums with Gears 3 discussion, but given that this thread, ended with some folks talking about specific maps, I thought I'd open up a Map/Strategy specific thread.

Of the four available maps, my favorites, in order are Old Town, Checkout, Thrashball and Trenches.

While Trenches is my least favorite of the maps, there is a fairly effective strategy for Capture The Leader (CTL) game type: At spawn have your leader and at least 2 escorts, rush the One-Shot's position.  The escorts primary mission is to make sure you make take the high ground and plant your leader there, once that is acheived, they are free to roam and hunt the enemy leader.  Any character at this position, with either Retro or Hammerburst, can easily cover the hill from any single or double rush from the enemy.  Few things to remember:

1)  If the mortar is fired against you, there is a small section in the far right corner of the one-shot trench that is covered and provides some protection.
2)  I would not recommend the Leader uses the one-shot; just posts up at this location.  The one shot's field of vision is so small you could miss the enemy rushing you.
3)  Also, I'd recommend checking with your leader every so often to switch weapons or give ammo; I almost always run out of ammo using this strategy.
4)  Finally, any rush of three or more enemy players up that hill, will require assistance from your team or some nifty running by your Leader, as that's probably more than a single retro/HB can handle.

Any suggestions/strategies of your own?  Share them here, I'm always looking for new approaches to maps/modes.

This may be a bit obvious, but I think it's pretty vital in a Team Deathmatch at Thrashball to grab the digger launcher or torque bow from the middle. It's the only power weapon aside from mortar/mulcher on the map, and the digger launcher is particularly easy to rack up quick kills with. Of course, if you can control that and the mortar/mulcher, then you have it made, but I think it's particularly vital to grab digger launcher/ torque bow because they're gone once the scoreboard is down.

Player positioning when attacking an oponent.

This is the number 1 most vital skill in Gears.  Its not just about who'se more accurate shot like in COD.  Its all about how you approach and use cover in comparison to your prey.

Run at people with an active chainsaw. I cant stop that shit 99% of the time no matter how many shotgun or auto bullets I put in a guy.

CTL!! USE your smoke grenade!!  =p  When playing online I hear people scream about that hehe.

I agree that having that power weapon is important but think it's usefullness ends to quickly and then there is no more "real" power weapon on the map for those stuck downstairs.  Elevated team has the benefit of elevation and a power weapon.

I'd like to see the 'nades and digger/torque switch spawn points on Thrashball, it would give the lower team some hope of combatting an entrenched team in the stands.

@Ben: a full team, working in concert with either HB or Lancers are almost impossible to beat.  When you are playing with just one or two of your crew and a couple of randoms...you can get RUN over by a team working in concert.  Completely.  Therefore I agree that positioning is key.  I really feel like teamwork in the beta is rewarded more so than in either Gears 1 or 2, where one strong lone-wolf character could dominate a match.

@Diablo: hells yeah, if I hear a chainsaw reving next to me, I don't even try to kill them any more, I GTFO of dodge.  As quickly as possible!  I'd like to see them make it where the chainsaw drops if you are hit again, but that's just me.

@Lost Planet: You are correct sir, Smoke 'nades in CTL are your best friend, I've saved or been saved in many a matches by a late thrown smoke grenade!  CTL, *might* be my favored mode of this beta...

Totally agree with you that Gears 3 is ALL about teamwork and I'm loveing it.  It was getting a little old always playing games where one guy could stomp an entire team and then it was game over.  In Gears 3 if a team uses great teamwork and sets up team shots they are unstoppable, which is great.  In a team based shooter great teamwork should always be rewarded.