How Halo 5 can be better

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

This thread specifically deals with the changes 343i can make to the multiplayer of Halo 5, not the single player. The single player in Halo 4 was awesome and I give it to them.
But the main problem arose with the multiplayer: Dwindling populations,Noob elements,Lag,Pot Luck,No Teamplay, No Actual Skill required and No Map Control.

First off I would begin with the noob elements.

No more friendly fire – Yes, it can be annoying when you have been team-killed by a completely incompetent teammate who thinks that running over you with a Warthog is a good idea but it also promotes trigger happy play styles with no adverse penalties for example; previously in Halo games, if you had a Rocket Launcher and you were about to fire at an enemy who just happened to be in close proximity to one of your teammates, you would (if you were a half decent player) not fire for fear of killing your comrade. Now, you can just shoot indiscriminately regardless of your teammates positioning. Players can also abuse this so called immunity from death by teammate.

Promethean vision – Basically an x-ray mode that lets you see through walls. So much for the element of surprise. Remember a time when having something like this was akin to hacking? Oh how we miss those days.

Track radar whilst in scope – this was critiqued early on by many Halo veterans prior to the games release and for good reason; a sniper who just camps in one spot scoped in should be at a disadvantage. Why on Earth would you help a player like that by giving them access to a radar so that they can carry on camping safe in the knowledge that if someone does try to attack them close by, they have their trusty radar to warn them?

Active camoflague + snipers + big maps + obscure corners of the map – enough said

NO ACTUAL SKILL Required:
In Halo it used to be the case that you had to work hard for your kill. Not so much in Halo 4, which again, borrows another element from Call of Duty, as players appear to die far more quickly than they did in previous Halo games. The gameplay boils down to a simple case of who sees who first. Couple this with the fact the game has extreme bullet magnetism and auto aim compensation, Halo 4 has alienated the die-hard fans that once enjoyed the challenging gameplay and unique pace the franchise once presented.

LACK OF TEAMPLAY:
Halo has always had a strong reliance on good teamwork to ensure success, whether it be manning vehicles and coordinating attacks with the Warthog or working in groups of two to deplete shields and eliminate enemies. Now, due to how quickly players die and the inclusion of overpowered weapons, there is no such need for it.

POT LUCK:
The outcome of a game can sometimes depend simply on the ‘quality’ of the ordinance drop as opposed to player/team skills. Another feature in Halo 4 that enhances this problem of randomness is the fact that you are no longer taken out of scope when you get shot at, instead your aim is randomly thrown off. Say for instance you are in a 1v1 skirmish, the firefight just boils down who happened to have their aim thrown off the least. It can be incredibly frustrating when you are at the losing end of this through no fault of your own, unable to make a final headshot because your aim gets continually pulled off-target.

All these reasons explain the dwindling population.
However, the article may appear to you, I still am a Halo fan.
I get on Halo 4 time to time to play few matches of Griffball and other custom games.
It’s just that Halo 4 could’ve been so much more.
Hopefully, 343i makes Halo 5 a TRUE Halo.

2

all good arguments and i respect you for bringing them up but the fact of the matter is that what is “TRUE HALO”, as you have put it, is defined by nothing more than the characters and the canon. the mythos of the halo universe abounds in the series, and even the multiplayer was brought into canon. yeah, i wish they would still let me play sanghelli (sangheli? something like that) but i guess the elite models weren’t popular enough to give them player variants :frowning: i will miss them.

in short, i feel we need a new definition of what you seek, because with all due respect this image of “the one TRUE halo” seems only to be aimed at multiplayer, ignoring the story in entirety.

NOW, moving onto the arguments regarding multiplayer

1)no more friendly fire. i assume you mean no more immunity to friendly fire here, yes? i agree with you there, but this was a problem in earlier games, was it not? there are also variants in H4 with FF intact and in full effect. trust me, ive been booted more than once for someone jumping in front of me when i am driving. it’s there in some of the games.

in general i agree with you. friendly fire should always be a constant reality. no more sticking your allies with a sticky detonator, having him/her run into a crowd, and you walking away with a triple kill and no betrayals.

2)promethean vision: i dont like the idea of just removing it. i think if they gave it the ability to see through ONE set of vision blocking objects, it would be fine. also anyone who doesnt move shouldn’t ever be seen on it, similar to the standard radar function. if they changed it thus, itd be less cheap, and all us door ambushers will still have to be wary.

3)the Awareness package. i have no complaints, because they sacrifice a package slot to have that available. yes a sniper can hide on big maps, but if you track their shots, they’re done. every sniper round is a tracer or very bright. track them down and see how well Awareness works with crouched sneakiness or a stick to the face.

  1. skill or the lack thereof.
    the only thing i see so far is that, aside from unpredictable ordnance drops, the game has more elements than "camp at power weapon spawn point, grab before enemy does, grenade if you can’t, out-tech rather than outskill opponents(the only exception is sniper kills, those ALSO take skill). i suppose there is some amount of dedication to being able to drum down all the spawn points and clamping down on the map, but the new maps add opportunities and make it harder to do so-rise up to that challenge.

all this said i think a good strong “opt out of ordnance enabled battles” checkbox should be put into the next halo game. i dont mind ordnance but a lot of players seem to, and it would be a good way to maintain a certain flexibility, in this humble noob’s opinion.

5)teamplay

put simply, i call bollocks on your claim. a strongly founded team still eats a weaker team. it’s all a matter of coordination. i’ve seen it before and im sure ill see it more often. i think that’s why a lot of people hate the CSR rating in this game. it does not seem to factor team coordination capacity. i have no way of proving this, but it is a theory. it seems to be the one thing that is constant: one team out-circles the other.

  1. i mentioned it earlier, but a single filter option could change that.

what im surprised you did not mention was the lack of a set of connection filter options. i think the game would benefit from these as well.

as for the aim issue, you have my sympathy. i’ve had that happen a lot, but it isnt totally random. it seems to be scaled with damage and an odd direction to throw it off. getting hit with a sniper vs a dmr is significantly different. with a sniper, you may as well BE descoped for how far it throws you. im sure it’ll be addressed in the same fashion. i think descoping should be saved for extreme hits (i.e. those taken without shields up or those that strip shields, or any kind of explosion. all the rest should be flinch only)

again this is all my opinion, but i appreciate the opportunity to speak them

thank you

3

> This thread specifically deals with the changes 343i can make to the multiplayer of Halo 5, not the single player. The single player in Halo 4 was awesome and I give it to them.
> But the main problem arose with the multiplayer: Dwindling populations,Noob elements,Lag,Pot Luck,No Teamplay, No Actual Skill required and No Map Control.
>
> First off I would begin with the noob elements.
>
> No more friendly fire – Yes, it can be annoying when you have been team-killed by a completely incompetent teammate who thinks that running over you with a Warthog is a good idea but it also promotes trigger happy play styles with no adverse penalties for example; previously in Halo games, if you had a Rocket Launcher and you were about to fire at an enemy who just happened to be in close proximity to one of your teammates, you would (if you were a half decent player) not fire for fear of killing your comrade. Now, you can just shoot indiscriminately regardless of your teammates positioning. Players can also abuse this so called immunity from death by teammate.
>
> I agree. Tired of being blown up in playlists because people don’t realize friendly fire isn’t.
>
> Promethean vision – Basically an x-ray mode that lets you see through walls. So much for the element of surprise. Remember a time when having something like this was akin to hacking? Oh how we miss those days.
>
> I have no quam with PV. It’s a forward radar that doesn’t cover much distance. It’s really good for players who are new to a map or to find out campers. But a seasoned halo 4 player doesn’t need this advantage and benifits much more from other abilities.
>
>
> Track radar whilst in scope – this was critiqued early on by many Halo veterans prior to the games release and for good reason; a sniper who just camps in one spot scoped in should be at a disadvantage. Why on Earth would you help a player like that by giving them access to a radar so that they can carry on camping safe in the knowledge that if someone does try to attack them close by, they have their trusty radar to warn them?
>
> While i understand your point the perk itself is very situational. So i don’t see it as a huge issue. But i wouldn’t care if it was gone.
>
> Active camoflague + snipers + big maps + obscure corners of the map – enough said
>
>
> NO ACTUAL SKILL Required:
> In Halo it used to be the case that you had to work hard for your kill. Not so much in Halo 4, which again, borrows another element from Call of Duty, as players appear to die far more quickly than they did in previous Halo games. The gameplay boils down to a simple case of who sees who first. Couple this with the fact the game has extreme bullet magnetism and auto aim compensation, Halo 4 has alienated the die-hard fans that once enjoyed the challenging gameplay and unique pace the franchise once presented.
>
> I have to respectfully disagree. While maps (besides BTB) Really don’t have power positions you still need to control the flow of the map and power weapons. Plus core gameplay itself is still very much halo. If Your comparing to COD i have a hard time taking you seriously. While there are elements that behave exactly like COD (kill cams hitmarkers and instant spawn) the game itself doesn’t play like call of duty. I turn my fights around all the time so it doesn’t matter who sees/shoots first. The TU cut most weapons bullet magnetisim in half. If you want extreme go look at halo 2.
>
> LACK OF TEAMPLAY:
> Halo has always had a strong reliance on good teamwork to ensure success, whether it be manning vehicles and coordinating attacks with the Warthog or working in groups of two to deplete shields and eliminate enemies. Now, due to how quickly players die and the inclusion of overpowered weapons, there is no such need for it.
>
> Not halo 4’s fault. It’s happening in all FPS. You can’t force teamwork. This is a generation problem not a games problem.
>
> POT LUCK:
> The outcome of a game can sometimes depend simply on the ‘quality’ of the ordinance drop as opposed to player/team skills. Another feature in Halo 4 that enhances this problem of randomness is the fact that you are no longer taken out of scope when you get shot at, instead your aim is randomly thrown off. Say for instance you are in a 1v1 skirmish, the firefight just boils down who happened to have their aim thrown off the least. It can be incredibly frustrating when you are at the losing end of this through no fault of your own, unable to make a final headshot because your aim gets continually pulled off-target.
>
>
> POD can be tweaked to be more competitive. But the normal version is just fine for casual play. I think having to constantly adjust your aim takes more skill then simply just scoping back in. Just my opinion.
>
> All these reasons explain the dwindling population.
> However, the article may appear to you, I still am a Halo fan.
> I get on Halo 4 time to time to play few matches of Griffball and other custom games.
> It’s just that Halo 4 could’ve been so much more.
> Hopefully, 343i makes Halo 5 a TRUE Halo.

There are plenty of outside game reasons why the population is smaller. The changes are apart of it yes but there is no way to prove which reason caused the most to leave. And honestly population only matters when it comes to finding games. Considering none of us take 5+ minutes to find a game i’d say we are fine. Lastly please don’t say “true halo” halo 4 is true halo just like every other halo game. The story is what makes halo halo. MP like every other franchise evolves over time. No franchise stays the same.

4

This discussion belongs to the Halo Xbox one board :confused:

5

It can be bather by 343 not do a MP… Do just SG… 343 don’t have smart people for MP… It is easy…

6

NO ACTUAL SKILL Required:
In Halo it used to be the case that you had to work hard for your kill. Not so much in Halo 4, which again, borrows another element from Call of Duty, as players appear to die far more quickly than they did in previous Halo games. The gameplay boils down to a simple case of who sees who first.

…That’s the reason why I go back to Halo Reach!

7

> as for the aim issue, you have my sympathy. i’ve had that happen a lot, but it isnt totally random. it seems to be scaled with damage and an odd direction to throw it off. getting hit with a sniper vs a dmr is significantly different. with a sniper, you may as well BE descoped for how far it throws you. im sure it’ll be addressed in the same fashion. i think descoping should be saved for extreme hits (i.e. those taken without shields up or those that strip shields, or any kind of explosion. all the rest should be flinch only)
>
> again this is all my opinion, but i appreciate the opportunity to speak them
>
> thank you

Keeping flinch for starting weapons while integrating de-scoping for the heavy hitters sounds like a good idea. I can learn to live with that.

8
  1. Get rid of power and sniper weapons from PODs. They should only be map pick ups.
  2. Boltshot should NOT return
  3. Get rid of Pro-V
  4. Plasma Pistol should not be a Load out weapon
  5. Increase the Bloom on the DMR, similar to Reach’s
  6. Get rid of the primary and secondary weapon system and just let people use whatever weapon they want for load outs. It would possibly eliminate the need for covenant and Forerunner sidearms in load outs.
  7. Get rid of the perks and mods.
  8. Bring Sword parry back
  9. Don’t allow sword users any resistance when being shot while sprinting.
  10. A better way to keep all the amateurs and MLG players separated
  11. No aim assist for sniper weapons, PERIOD!
  12. A more robust video editor with Youtube upload ability
  13. A more comprehensive Forge mode(I have many ideas for how it could be improved, but I’ll save them for another discussion)
  14. Dedicated servers
  15. Make PODs only for resupplying Ammo, grenades, player boosters or changing a load out weapon.
  16. Make it so we have to press a button to pick up an objective object(Flag, ball, etc.)
  17. Bring back Territories, Assault and Firefight! (Race I can take or leave personally but whatever…)
  18. Take Infection/Flood out of competitive Matchmaking and leave it for custom games
  19. A longer campaign mode
  20. Bring back some of the classic weapons like the Plasma Rifle and such.
  21. Bring back the feature of popping out of crouch position automatically when shot. (flinching can stay though)
9

> NO ACTUAL SKILL Required:
> In Halo it used to be the case that you had to work hard for your kill. Not so much in Halo 4, which again, borrows another element from Call of Duty, as players appear to die far more quickly than they did in previous Halo games. The gameplay boils down to a simple case of who sees who first.
>
>
> …That’s the reason why I go back to Halo Reach!

Not entirely true. (the first part not your response) Players die quicker because of the weapon patch. While some argue that the kill times should be longer, I feel like these kill times are pretty good. They aren’t as slow as Reach, where I could easily run away, before you kill me, but they aren’t as fast as Cod, where you die after one shot to the head from any gun. Halo 2 had these kill times, and people widely regard H2 as one of the best halo games for Multiplayer.

10

> 1) Get rid of power and sniper weapons from PODs. They should only be map pick ups.Agreed
> 2) Boltshot should NOT returnI honestly think it can be fixed (maybe change the charge shot to a setinal beam like attack)
> 3) Get rid of Pro-VAgreed, same with Camo as an AA, and Jetpack
> 4) Plasma Pistol should not be a Load out weaponAgreed
> 5) Increase the Bloom on the DMR, similar to Reach’sIMO, It’s good where it is now, but that’s really opinion.
> 6) Get rid of the primary and secondary weapon system and just let people use whatever weapon they want for load outs. It would possibly eliminate the need for covenant and Forerunner sidearms in load outs.Or add to the system, and add in SMGs, scoped SMGs, Plasma rifles, a fixed Boltshot, and some other Promethean pistol.
> 8) Get rid of the perks and mods.Agreed, no more perks.
> 9) Bring Sword parry backThe energy sword is at a disadvantage as it is. (it loses to Gravity Hammer, Both shotguns, SAWs, and almost any weapon.
> 10) Don’t allow sword users any resistance when being shot while sprinting.Might be unfair, not sure right now.
> 11) A better way to keep all the amateurs and MLG players separatedcough H3 casual and ranked system Cough.
> 12) No aim assist for sniper weapons, PERIOD!Your funny. Just make it H3 levels.
> 13) A more robust video editor with Youtube upload abilityXbox One might have the Youtube thing.
> 14) A more comprehensive Forge mode(I have many ideas for how it could be improved, but I’ll save them for another discussion)Agreed
> 15) Dedicated serversConfirmed at E3 Halo Xbox One reveal.
> 16) Make PODs only for resupplying Ammo, grenades, player boosters or changing a load out weapon. Agreed
> 17) Make it so we have to press a button to pick up an objective object(Flag, ball, etc.)Agreed
> 18) Bring back Territories, Assault and Firefight! (Race I can take or leave personally but whatever…)How about all past gametypes and firefight?
> 19) Take Infection/Flood out of competitive Matchmaking and leave it for custom gamesTake it out of ranked and leave it in non-ranked.
> 20) A longer campaign modeAgreed, also add in extra reasons to re-play it.
> 21) Bring back some of the classic weapons like the Plasma Rifle and such.Mentioned above
> 22) Bring back the feature of popping out of crouch position automatically when shot. (flinching can stay though)Personally, Flinch shouldn’t be on snipers. But the crouching thing.