When a Demigod match reaches its climax, with giants and catas dominating the lanes, a single portal can change the course of the game.
However, that stage of the game is fairly short compared to everything working up to it. During most of the game, are neutral portals an asset or a liability? Is the advantage gained from creeps pouring from the portal greater than the advantage the enemy gains from an extra portal's worth of gold and experience?
On one side you obviously have the additional creeps on your side. This means extra damage and meat shields. You also get an XP boost from capturing the flag, in addition to a teleport node, extra LoS, and more War Rank.
On the other side, your enemy now has another place to farm creeps. There are ultimately more allied creeps than enemy creeps making it theoretically possible for the enemy to level faster than you. Even if they stick to one lane, each neutral portal you capture gives them one more place to run to and farm without you harassing them.
Is controlling a neutral portal ever a bad idea? If so, when? When does it become a good idea? What kind of actions are appropriate when the enemy captures a neutral portal?
