Flood Mode Idea for Halo XB1

Games Halo 5: Guardians
#1

Please read the whole post (except for maybe the first part if your already familiar with how flood/infection works) and leave your feedback. If you don’t have time to read the whole thing I did leave a summary at the end of my post. I’d really like to hear what you guys (and gals) think. If your going to criticise please do so in a constructive manner (don’t just say no). I’ve got a few other ideas but I want to see how the community receives the overall idea first. Thanks. - CAVEMANcr

Overview of Flood (if you’re not familiar)

The basic idea of Flood (or Infection) Mode is that there are several Spartans who have to survive the spread of the Flood for a set duration. One lucky (or not so lucky) player starts the match as a Flood form and is given the task of infecting the Spartans. Once a Spartan has been infected, he/she joins the Flood. The gameplay continues until one Spartan remains. This Spartan is given the title of “Last Man Standing” and is often given some sort of buff to help him/her survive for the remainder of the round, as well as a waypoint to help the flood with their final infection.

New Idea

The idea of the gametype remains the same, one player starts the round as a flood form and tries to infect the other players who initially spawn as Spartans.

The differences come in the gameplay. Instead of one player spawning as a flood combat form, they spawn as a flood pure form. This player is given the ability to mutate between the 3 sub forms (Stalker, Ranged, and Tank).

The Spartans are not only given the task of surviving the flood onslaught but also protecting several civilian or marine AI’s, and/or a variety of other objectives (depending on the map and gametype selected in the voting round). One such objective could task the team of Spartans to extract a vital piece of equipment or information from a flood controlled zone.

Each Spartan will be given an ordnance meter. Spartans will fill their meter by killing flood and by surviving (as time expires the meter will slowly fill). Once a Spartan’s ordnance meter is full he/she can call in - wait for it…

An ODST Squad!Once this squad arrives the Spartan will be able to control them by using the D-pad or by using Kinect voice commands.

The game ends when there are no longer any surviving Spartans or the time limit is reached, at which point a UNSC drop ship will arrive to retrieve any survivors. This will be the final chance for the flood to infect any of the remaining humans.

Summary

The Alpha Flood is replaced by a Pure Form which can mutate between 3 sub-forms on command (Ranged, Stalker, and Tank).

Spartans are given the task of protecting civilians or marines depending on the map selected.

Spartans can call in an ODST squad once they fill their Ordnance meter. This squad can be controlled by the use of the D-pad, or via Kinect voice commands.

The game (or round) will end when there are no longer any surviving Spartans or the time limit is reached. If the Spartans survive reach the end of the round they will have to escort any remaining survivors to a dropship for EVAC.

Please note: This gametype is not intended to replace the current gametypes, but rather be present as a voting option alongside the current. It could be its own playlist if it is too far removed from the current offering of Flood.

1 Like
#2

I like it. This is the sort of innovation halo needs.

1 Like
#3

So it has been some time since I posted this and I am now ready to share a few more of my ideas. Here goes nothing:

Flood Abilities and Traits: Each of the 3 pure forms is very unique. The alpha flood player’s ability to mutate between the 3 forms will create a vast amount of combat situations.

Stalker: The Stalker is the most mobile of the flood pure forms but is limited by its relatively weak offensive capabilities.

Super Jump - The Stalker can easily traverse large gaps by jumping. This ability was showcased in Halo 3’s campaign. In gameplay the Stalker form will be used most for its ability to quickly flank and ambush.

Wall Climb - The Stalker can climb walls to gain a vantage point from which it can ambush its prey or mutate into a ranged form.

Ranged: The Ranged form is immobile but packs a punch with its precision spike attacks.

Missile Barrage - As a secondary attack, the Ranged form could fire a barrage of spikes at a group of Spartans. This would be similar to the Mantis’ ability to charge up its missile launcher and release up to 5 at once.
To keep this balanced: - 8-10 spikes / barrage - the spikes should be headshot capable - 4 hit kill / 7 hit kill w/o a headshot- there should be visible and audible cues that a barrage is being charged - the Ranged form is vulnerable while charging the barrage
Defense - Due to its immobility the Ranged form can cover its head and be immune to damage for a few seconds

Tank: The Tank is slow, strong, and is often compared or even confused for an infected hunter.

Charge - Similar to a Brute, the Tank form can charge on all fours for a short time. The player could use this ability to close the gap on a group

Reguritation - Often times the Tank form will spew a bunch of Infection forms from its mouth if it is caught out of position, or its prey is in cover.

Customizable ODST’s

Each player will have the ability to craft their own ODST squad. This will encompass both asthetic and gameplay altering customization. I think there should be 6 or 7 classes of ODST’s of which the player will choose 3 or 4 for their squad. Based on the classes, players will choose the weapons and gear that their ODST’s will carry on the battlefield (there should be some overlap between classes).

Elites vs. Flood

If Elites come back, an alternate mode would pit Elites vs. the Flood. Instead of ODST’s the Elites could request a squad of Jackals.

#4

This sounds quite interesting and innovative, however, I still want the more-accessible Infection gametype to return along with it.

This is definitely more interesting than the extremely limited Flood mode we received in Halo 4.

#5

Reserved for future use (community suggestions, more ideas etc.)

> The Spartans are not only given the task of surviving the flood onslaught but also protecting several civilian or marine AI’s, and/or a variety of other objectives (depending on the map and gametype selected in the voting round). One such objective could task the team of Spartans to extract a vital piece of equipment or information from a flood controlled zone.

Flood CTF:

  1. Survivors have to retrieve a cure and take it to another spot on the map in order to secure it (perhaps an evac zone). - hal0 m4n

  2. Survivors have to retrieve a target designator from a flood controlled ship or base, take it outside and blow it up with a MAC blast.

#6

I like this idea.

#7

Very well thought out idea. I like it. I have a question though. Can the infected player still infect other players as usual?

#8

> Very well thought out idea. I like it. I have a question though. Can the infected player still infect other players as usual?

Thanks, and Yes. Infected players will respawn as flood combat forms as per usual. The only player who gets to be a pure form is the alpha flood.

#9

Great Ideas!
I’ve been looking for any unique Flood Ideas since
Insanmiac’s ‘Carrier’ Idea…
Will there be a ‘bleed through’ mechanic? It would add much more teamwork, as proposed in the video linked above. I hope that it gives you some new Ideas!

#10

> Great Ideas!
> I’ve been looking for any unique Flood Ideas since
> Insanmiac’s ‘Carrier’ Idea…
> Will there be a ‘bleed through’ mechanic? It would add much more teamwork, as proposed in the video linked above. I hope that it gives you some new Ideas!

Perhaps the Stalker and the Ranged forms could have some sort of a DoT (damage over time) effect. The Tank would have a single hit melee, but would have a fairly slow base movement speed. Its charge attack would allow it to move at roughly the same speed as a sprinting Spartan.

With respect to my idea for objective based flood modes I see them being fairly similar to Insanmiac’s ‘Incursion’ idea. The main difference being the ‘phases’ and the tiered loadout system.

#11

It’s an interesting idea, but I think that it’s a bit much for your standard game of Matchmaking. Maybe if it was something special like Firefight or Spartan Ops., but it seems like way to much would be going on for it to fit into one game - especially when you consider how many rounds there are.

Not only that, but how would the Spartans be scored? Would it still be determined by how many Flood they kill, or would the people they escort to safety be considered their points?

#12

> Please read the whole post (except for maybe the first part if your already familiar with how flood/infection works) and leave your feedback. If you don’t have time to read the whole thing I did leave a summary at the end of my post. I’d really like to hear what you guys (and gals) think. If your going to criticise please do so in a constructive manner (don’t just say no). I’ve got a few other ideas but I want to see how the community receives the overall idea first. Thanks. - CAVEMANcr
>
> Overview of Flood (if you’re not familiar)
>
> The basic idea of Flood (or Infection) Mode is that there are several Spartans who have to survive the spread of the Flood for a set duration. One lucky (or not so lucky) player starts the match as a Flood form and is given the task of infecting the Spartans. Once a Spartan has been infected, he/she joins the Flood. The gameplay continues until one Spartan remains. This Spartan is given the title of “Last Man Standing” and is often given some sort of buff to help him/her survive for the remainder of the round, as well as a waypoint to help the flood with their final infection.
>
> New Idea
>
> The idea of the gametype remains the same, one player starts the round as a flood form and tries to infect the other players who initially spawn as Spartans.
>
> The differences come in the gameplay. Instead of one player spawning as a flood combat form, they spawn as a flood pure form. This player is given the ability to mutate between the 3 sub forms (Stalker, Ranged, and Tank).
>
> The Spartans are not only given the task of surviving the flood onslaught but also protecting several civilian or marine AI’s, and a variety of other objectives (depending on the map and gametype selected in the voting round). One such objective could task the team of Spartans to extract a vital piece of equipment or information from a flood controlled zone.
>
> Each Spartan will be given an ordnance meter. Spartans will fill their meter by killing flood and by surviving (as time expires the meter will slowly fill). Once a Spartan’s ordnance meter is full he/she can call in - wait for it…
>
> An ODST Squad!Once this squad arrives the Spartan will be able to control them by using the D-pad or by using Kinect voice commands.
>
> The game ends when there are no longer any surviving Spartans or the time limit is reached, at which point a UNSC drop ship will arrive to retrieve any survivors. This will be the final chance for the flood to infect any of the remaining humans.
>
> Summary
>
> The Alpha Flood is replaced by a Pure Form which can mutate between 3 sub-forms on command (Ranged, Stalker, and Tank).
>
> Spartans are given the task of protecting civilians or marines depending on the map selected.
>
> Spartans can call in an ODST squad once they fill their Ordnance meter. This squad can be controlled by the use of the D-pad, or via Kinect voice commands.
>
> The game (or round) will end when there are no longer any surviving Spartans or the time limit is reached. If the Spartans survive reach the end of the round they will have to escort any remaining survivors to a dropship for EVAC.
>
> Please note: This gametype is not intended to replace the current gametypes, but rather be present as a voting option alongside the current. It could be its own playlist if it is too far removed from the current offering of Flood.

This shouldn’t be in matchmaking or multiplayer. This should be a new mode like Firefight/Campaign/Spartan Ops. Think Gears of War Horde… the Beast mode… so could be Flood Versus… like Firefight versus. This way we can still have regular infection in matchmaking and a new awesome variant with Flood/Prometheans/Covenant/Humans… or whatever.

#13

I love it, and agree it should be a whole mode of its own.

What you describe details one of multiple possible factions this mode could have. Covenant, UNSC, Flood and Forerunner. Battles between the four races could vary (any combination would work really) and the real magic would come from three way battles (four ways are a bit overkill). The Flood could call in a horde of infection forms when the ordnance meter is up (the Flood’s meter should be based purely on time rather than points or kills), the Spartans get marines/ODSTs, the Elites get Grunts/Jackals and the Forerunners/Prometheans get sentinels/crawlers/Watchers. This would be especially epic on 16vs16 player battles on a limited list of huge maps (3 at launch, maybe).

Epicness would ensue.

#14

We need an actual flood gametype and this would be it. :slight_smile:

#15

I will say that I believe Flood/Infection has so much more potential than just being a Slayer gametype.

Having an option where having the highest time survived would change the gametype. But that’s just something minor.

Safe Haven was nice for something new, but its main concept didn’t work well. Having it where you can only pick up weapons/ammo at random weapon cache locations on the map by having Safe Havens switch to them would make the gametype much better.
But that’s just for Safe Haven.

Imagine playing Flood King of the Hill, where the Survivors have to get as much hill time as possible to win, while the Flood have to stop them by infecting them all.

Imagine playing Flood CTF, where the Survivors have to grab a case carrying viles of a cure (aka the Flag) and take it somewhere else and secure it, while the Flood have to stop them by infecting them all.

Imagine playing Flood Generator Defense, where the Survivors have to defend a generator or two from the Flood. Flood get points by damaging/destroying the generators, and Survivors get points by stopping Flood that get too close (something like earning points by earning related medals).

Imagine playing something like this: A 6v6, where the Survivors have a Survivor meter that says 100%. Flood lower the percentage by destroying barricades, auto turrets, generators, and killing Survivors (Survivors don’t become Flood when killed). When the meter reaches 0%, or the time limit runs out, the round ends.
Or something similar to Flood Invasion would very well work too.

Flood/Infection being just Slayer is nice/very fun. But using other gametypes for Flood/Infection is, IMO, the next step, which would show its true potential.

#16

yeah definitely
I especially like the objectives in infection and the idea of a elite version
maybe it could even be like similar to firefight or Spartan ops where their ship is taken over by the flood and you have to blow the ship up

#17

> I will say that I believe Flood/Infection has so much more potential than just being a Slayer gametype.
>
>
>
>
> Having an option where having the highest time survived would change the gametype. But that’s just something minor.
>
> Safe Haven was nice for something new, but its main concept didn’t work well. Having it where you can only pick up weapons/ammo at random weapon cache locations on the map by having Safe Havens switch to them would make the gametype much better.
> But that’s just for Safe Haven.
>
> Imagine playing Flood King of the Hill, where the Survivors have to get as much hill time as possible to win, while the Flood have to stop them by infecting them all.
>
> Imagine playing Flood CTF, where the Survivors have to grab a case carrying viles of a cure (aka the Flag) and take it somewhere else and secure it, while the Flood have to stop them by infecting them all.
>
> Imagine playing Flood Generator Defense, where the Survivors have to defend a generator or two from the Flood. Flood get points by damaging/destroying the generators, and Survivors get points by stopping Flood that get too close (something like earning points by earning related medals).
>
> Imagine playing something like this: A 6v6, where the Survivors have a Survivor meter that says 100%. Flood lower the percentage by destroying barricades, auto turrets, generators, and killing Survivors (Survivors don’t become Flood when killed). When the meter reaches 0%, or the time limit runs out, the round ends.
> Or something similar to Flood Invasion would very well work too.
>
>
> Flood/Infection being just Slayer is nice/very fun. But using other gametypes for Flood/Infection is, IMO, the next step, which would show its true potential.

I really think flood would benefit from the addition of objectives. Your CTF idea where the survivors have to grab a cure and take it to an evac zone would be fun. Another version of this could involve a flood infested ship. The survivors have to retrieve a target designator, exit the ship and then call in a MAC blast.

Another thing that would really spice up flood is interactive maps. Simple things like light bridges and doors that have player activated switches would add a lot to even the most basic gametype.