So, the spawns on Standoff.
I don't think they're actually that bad on the default map. It's true that a rampaging Warthog - or two! - can cause problems, but I'd say 95% of the time they work just fine.
The primary reason for this being, there are no long-rage weapons on the default map. No snipers, no lasers, no gauss cannon. When the longest range weapon is a BR, players can spawn on the opposite side of the map and see each other - they just can't blow each others's head off. It looks to me like the spawns were set after the decision not to put a sniper rifle on the map was made. I think it works well, most of the time.
This does NOT work well in Heavies or Snipers gametypes, because of the long-range weapons. Standoff is a fairly open map, but there is cover. And the spawns are generally placed near that cover. However, they are almost uniformly placed next to it, rather than behind it. This gives a good view for the spawner to have upon returning to life, but it leaves them terribly exposed to ranged weapons. To borrow a phrase from a current favorite song of mine, the spawns on Standoff favor player vision over visibility.
This is something that can be addressed largely with tweaks to the existing spawns. I went into the default map and did just that. I'll use a few examples and show the different views, and then just wrap up with an overview of a few areas.
First up are these spawns, placed on the hillside next to the side tunnel entrance:
The view the player has upon spawning is nice, but he's exposed to the entire other side of the map to laser or sniper fire:
Here's my tweaked version: place the spawns down in the tunnel entrance. Note the spawn on the left hand side is moved to behind the rock, instead of being out in the open like the others.
The view on spawn is this:
Minimal exposure to fire from the other side, a clear view of where the player is, and the option to back into the safety of the base in an instant.
Next up are the spawns by camo. Here are the default locations:
The view upon spawn:
The rock covers a small part of the view, but the player is still exposed from a large part of the other map.
Here's my suggested changes:
The three spawns are now in the shade of the rock, and protected from nearly all of the opposing side. The spawns down below are just down the hillside, also protected. Here's the view on spawn from one of them:
The player has the option to take one step back and be more sheltered, or one step forward and engage.
Next up, the spawns in the front line of rocks. Once again, there's ample cover but the spawns are all in the open:
The view upon spawning:
Good view of the opposing base. Quite often results in death from sniper fire and lasers.
My suggestion is to tuck the spawns behind the rocks like this:
Now spawning entirely protected from the other side, the player can choose to step out into the line of fire or back off to the base, protected.
The view on spawn is this:
One last before and after. The biggest problem are are these spawns out in the open, out the side ramp exit:
The view from the cluster of five:
Again, snipers from the high ground on the other side dominate these spawns.
My suggestion is to move them into the lee of the tunnel:
The view from the tunnel spawns:
Again, much more protected, and the players can choose to move into the base if they choose.
A few quick before and afters to wrap up:
On top of the base, now:
And after, again just tucking the spawns behind cover:
The silo, before:
And after, moving the outside two into the shelter of the ridge:
There are some spawns, such as the row above the base on the hillside, that should just be removed as there is no safe alternative.
Again, the spawns are mostly okay when there are no long-range weapons as on the default Standoff. But they can be a death sentence in Heavies and Snipers, and I think a series of tweaks along these lines would make a very big difference.
I like reading the H1 and H2 ones on HBO! 
