Halo 4 introduced ‘Specializations’. When you read through their descriptions, those specializations specialize and train Spartans for specific combat situations.
However, there is nothing ‘special’ about the way you complete the Specializations in Halo 4.
You are simply xp-leveling through them and after you complete them, they give you some fancy stuff.
In my opinion Specializations should be linked with certain commendations to make them more ‘special’ and to give both more of a meaning.
A successfully completed Specialization should reward you with a special armor set, an armor skin, a weapon skin, a stance, an emblem and an decoration for your player card to let other people know or to show them in what you are ‘specialized’ in.
(I left out perks as rewards like it is in Halo 4 because I simply do not like perks at all, especially in Halo they are unnecessary and do not belong in my opinion)
I think it would be a lot more rewarding to complete a Specialization that includes different kinds of commendations and after that you could actually call yourself a sharpshooter or an assassin, than to complete a single commendation or simply xp-leveling through a Specialization.
Now how could this kind of Specializations look like?
Here are some of my ideas and conceptions:
Hawkeye:
A Specialization that is specializing a Spartan in sniping.
Commendations:
- get a certain amount of kills with different snipers
- get a certain amount of headshots with long range precision
weapons - get a certain amount of snapshots
- get a certain amount of very long range headshot-snipes
Shadow:
A Specialization that is specializing a Spartan in stealth combat.
Commendations:
- get at certain amount of assassinations
- get a certain amount of kills with stealth weapons (sword)
- get a certain amount of kills while using Active Camo
Tank:
A Specialization that is specializing a Spartan with the use of heavy weapons.
Commendations:
- get a certain amount of kills with different heavy weapons (rockets, splaser, …)
- get a certain amount of kills with ripped-off turrets
- destroy a certain amount of different vehicles
Zealot:
A Specialization that is specializing a Spartan with the use of covenant weaponry.
Commendations:
- get a certain amount of kills with regular covenant weapons (carbine, storm rifle, plasma rifle,…)
- stick a certain amount of enemies with plasma grenades
- stun/EMP-kill a certain amount of vehicles/enemies with the plasma pistol
Promethean:
A Specialization that is specializing a Spartan with the use of forerunner weaponry.
Commendations:
- get a certain amount of kills with regular forerunner weapons (light rifle, suppressor…)
- disintegrate a certain amount of enemies
CQC:
A Specialization that is specializing a Spartan in close quarter combat.
Commendations:
- get a certain amount of kills with close quarter weaponry (shotguns, SMGs,…)
- get a certain amount of melee kills
- get a certain amount of Close Call, Bull True, etc. medals
Driver/Pilot:
A Specialization that is specializing a Spartan in vehicle combat.
Commendations:
- get a certain amount of kills with different vehicles
- get a certain amount of splatters
- get a certain amount of Wheelman medals
- get a certain amount of hi-jacks/sky-jacks
That was it from me.
Now I would really like to know what you all think about that. Feel free to comment and discuss, to add new Specializations or different commendations, suggest other names for Specializations or how the rewards like armor, stances, skins, etc. could look like.
Simply add, suggest or criticize whatever you like as long as it is related to the topic and constructive.