Call of Duty Wiki:Ask A Veteran/Camping

Camping is a tactic of waiting for enemies to come to the player, rather than actively seeking them out, for extended periods of time. Players usually camp in order to gain a tactical advantage over their opponents. Camping is a strategy that relies on a lack of patience in other players, counting on them to come after the player first, who would be lying in wait.

In several game types, camping is a legitimate style of play, often in defensive based games, comparable to 'turtling". In game types such as Capture the Flag, as well as Domination, it isn't nearly as detrimental to gameplay as it would be in game types such as Free-For-All and Team Deathmatch.

It often proves frustrating to, particularly to new players, as it rewards those who are very familiar with the map (as it allows them to know they layout and which areas provide the best defensive position as well as heavily trafficked areas. Many players consider Camping to be equal to cheating, especially in deathmatch-type games.  The most common reason for this is that if every player camps, there will be no opportunity for players to come into contact, and thus there will be no game at all.

Spawn Camping
Spawn camping is a form of camping when a player assaults the position(s) where opposing players just enter or re-enter (respawn) the map. The camper has the advantage in that they are able to kill players before they have a chance to collect their starting weaponry or even before they get their bearings and sometimes can shoot them in their back every time. This may be difficult due to random spawn points in some game types such as Free-For-All, as well as killcams showing the players who get killed by spawn campers the camper's location and let them prepare for their next respawn.

Sniping
Another form of camping is called sniper camping, or simply sniping. A player, or group of players, each acquire a high-powered, long-range, weapon with a scope such as a sniper rifle. The camper(s) then proceed to a safe area to snipe. Depending on the spot, the camper will have view of a portion of the game field, as well as ample cover against opposing players. And the ability to protect their flanks with other team members, or Claymores. The balancing methods in place are that the strongest sniper rifles have high recoil, loud muzzle report, and killcams (in non-hardcore game modes).

Base Camping
The term Base Camping refers to camping at the base (or defensive objectives) of one's own team in Capture the Flag, Search and Destroy, and possibly other types of games. One would sit in one's team base and wait for the other team to come. Though hiding in one's own team base, especially if done by a large group, makes it easier to survive enemy attacks, it is sometimes criticized. The general acceptance of Base Camping mainly depends on the map, the kind of game played. Game types in which one team is to defend its base, or protect a flag, naturally encourage this tactic.

One acceptable situation is in Search and Destroy, when there is only one player remaining versus several players on the opposing team. The single player will often camp for periods of play in a location that is easy to defend or has only one entry way, because this enhances their survivability when faced with superior opposition numbers. The other team will usually go into active hunting mode, expecting the single player to be hiding somewhere on the map. This type of camping is more accepted by gamers, because there is a valid reason for the outnumbered player to camp. By convention, when both teams are down to single players only, continued camping is frowned upon and both players are expected to come out and confront each other, otherwise the game will end in a draw.