If 85% Bloom becomes the new standard for Social Playlists (Team Slayer, Squad Slayer, BTB, etc.), there needs to be several tweaks to make the system more viable (competitively). The chances of these changes actually being implemented are next to nil, but I’m just going to state what is blatantly obvious from my point of view. I’m not arguing that Bloom should be put in MLG, since it still randomizes battles, but adding in these changes would make the mechanic raise the skill gap.
> Change #1 - Remove the crouching benefit for Bloom. I don’t remember the exact percentage, but I believe that when crouched, the Bloom on your weapon reduces by 15%. Not only does this promote a more “camper” style of play from players, making it less fun from a social/casual standpoint, this also completely nullifies any real incentive for people to pace their weapons. Crouching is already inherently strategical, for it sacrifices lower mobility for a smaller hitbox, as well as (in motion tracker playlists) no detection on enemy radar. Adding another benefit onto crouching is pointless.
>
> Change #2 - Remove Bloom on all non-precision weapons.. Which means the Assault Rifle…and…uh…actually I think that’s about it. All Human non-precision weapons should be buffed by 5%. To compensate for Plasma weapon inferiority, all plasma weapons should be buffed by 10%, damage-wise (before anyone starts crying foul about how plasma weapons would be overpowered, keep in mind that they all still suffer from a stupid overheating mechanic that limits their effectiveness a lot, and they can’t be recharged.). Since Bloom is mostly supposed to keep in check precision weapon dominance, why bother putting it on the Assault Rifle, when even with 100% bloom the DMR still counters it in close range?
>
> Change #3 - Reduce effectiveness of scoping in and spamming. Like I said in my State-Of-The-Game thread, I perceive that no penalty for scoping in at full bloom and spamming was a major oversight on the part of 343i/Bungie. Since the DMR gives you an additional x3 greater accuracy when zoomed in, it would make logical sense to make the Bloom 3 times worse when scoped in, no? Make the Bloom 2 times worse when scoped in with the Needle Rifle since its scope only goes x2, and the same for the Magnum. There you go. Spamming is hindered.
>
> Change #4 - Reduce effectiveness of shooting at the body for Bloom weapons. THE SINGLE PRIMARY REASON THAT BLOOM FAILED IS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO INCENTIVE TO AIM AT THE HEAD. “What are you talking about?” You might ask. Think harder. Since headshots only count once the shields come down, players who are experts at manipulating and getting the most out of spamming will fire at their opponent’s chest, wrist, foot, leg, and shoulder. If you make bodyshots do 3 times less damage than headshots (even when the enemy’s shields are up), you give greater incentive to pace, since the head is a small target and is harder to hit when fully bloomed (unless you are up close). The head is also a reasonable target to ask players to aim for, unlike a finger or toe. This will promote pacing more than any other tweak to Bloom, and it raises the skill gap.
IMPLEMENTING ALL THESE CHANGES = 85% BLOOM BEING A MORE VIABLE ELEMENT OF CASUAL GAMEPLAY. (No Bloom should be the way to go for all competitive playlists).
PROBLEM SOLVED.
Hmmm actually while we’re on the subject of Bloom, even with all the changes listed above the Magnum needs a reduction in ROF and the Needle Rifle needs to have hitscan and 3x scope to be a viable alternative to the DMR.
Debuffs! Debuffs everywhere!
> Debuffs! Debuffs everywhere!
They aren’t “debuffs” (I believe the more accurate term is “nerfs”). They’re just simple tweaks to hinder the effectiveness of spamming with Bloom weapons, and it doesn’t take a genius to see that even at 85% Bloom, spamming is still frighteningly effective.
> Hmmm actually while we’re on the subject of Bloom, even with all the changes listed above the Magnum needs a reduction in ROF and the Needle Rifle needs to have hitscan and 3x scope to be a viable alternative to the DMR.
With 85% bloom the NR can be spammed and be left unhindered by bloom, however the DMR cannot. The NR already has the advantage over the DMR at 85%.
> > Debuffs! Debuffs everywhere!
>
> They aren’t “debuffs” (I believe the more accurate term is “nerfs”). They’re just simple tweaks to hinder the effectiveness of spamming with Bloom weapons, and it doesn’t take a genius to see that even at 85% Bloom, spamming is still frighteningly effective.
I was actually rather enjoying the ZB playlists. It seems to have less bullet magnetism than bloom.
> > Hmmm actually while we’re on the subject of Bloom, even with all the changes listed above the Magnum needs a reduction in ROF and the Needle Rifle needs to have hitscan and 3x scope to be a viable alternative to the DMR.
>
> With 85% bloom the NR can be spammed and be left unhindered by bloom, however the DMR cannot. The NR already has the advantage over the DMR at 85%.
Except it doesn’t really matter, since you’re acting as if shots only count when both people are pacing when the reticle is fully reset. In that case, yes the Needle Rifle would win. But a fully spammed DMR is > than a fully spammed Needle Rifle. Not only do the DMR shots travel faster and more accurately (hitscan), the Needle Rifle’s scope is less than that of the DMR’s, meaning that a DMR user has greater range. In addition, the killtime of the DMR is much faster.
> > > Debuffs! Debuffs everywhere!
> >
> > They aren’t “debuffs” (I believe the more accurate term is “nerfs”). They’re just simple tweaks to hinder the effectiveness of spamming with Bloom weapons, and it doesn’t take a genius to see that even at 85% Bloom, spamming is still frighteningly effective.
>
> I was actually rather enjoying the ZB playlists. It seems to have less bullet magnetism than bloom.
I agree, which is why I said that “zero bloom should be the way to go for all competitive playlists.”
Seeing as, however, that 85% will probably become the standard for all the Social playlists like Team Slayer, BTB, etc. I’m just proposing some changes in order to make the system function at maximum effectiveness (ergo, punish spamming, reward pacing).
> > > Hmmm actually while we’re on the subject of Bloom, even with all the changes listed above the Magnum needs a reduction in ROF and the Needle Rifle needs to have hitscan and 3x scope to be a viable alternative to the DMR.
> >
> > With 85% bloom the NR can be spammed and be left unhindered by bloom, however the DMR cannot. The NR already has the advantage over the DMR at 85%.
>
> Except it doesn’t really matter, since you’re acting as if shots only count when both people are pacing when the reticle is fully reset. In that case, yes the Needle Rifle would win. But a fully spammed DMR is > than a fully spammed Needle Rifle. Not only do the DMR shots travel faster and more accurately (hitscan), the Needle Rifle’s scope is less than that of the DMR’s, meaning that a DMR user has greater range. In addition, the killtime of the DMR is much faster.
Ah ok I see then, thanks for clearing that up for me.
> > > > Debuffs! Debuffs everywhere!
> > >
> > > They aren’t “debuffs” (I believe the more accurate term is “nerfs”). They’re just simple tweaks to hinder the effectiveness of spamming with Bloom weapons, and it doesn’t take a genius to see that even at 85% Bloom, spamming is still frighteningly effective.
> >
> > I was actually rather enjoying the ZB playlists. It seems to have less bullet magnetism than bloom.
>
> I agree, which is why I said that “zero bloom should be the way to go for all competitive playlists.”
>
> Seeing as, however, that 85% will probably become the standard for all the Social playlists like Team Slayer, BTB, etc. I’m just proposing some changes in order to make the system function at maximum effectiveness (ergo, punish spamming, reward pacing).
I don’t consider myself competitive AT ALL, but even I feel the whole issue of bloom and spamming seems to be a bit butthurt. How much have you played in the ZB types?
> > > > > Debuffs! Debuffs everywhere!
> > > >
> > > > They aren’t “debuffs” (I believe the more accurate term is “nerfs”). They’re just simple tweaks to hinder the effectiveness of spamming with Bloom weapons, and it doesn’t take a genius to see that even at 85% Bloom, spamming is still frighteningly effective.
> > >
> > > I was actually rather enjoying the ZB playlists. It seems to have less bullet magnetism than bloom.
> >
> > I agree, which is why I said that “zero bloom should be the way to go for all competitive playlists.”
> >
> > Seeing as, however, that 85% will probably become the standard for all the Social playlists like Team Slayer, BTB, etc. I’m just proposing some changes in order to make the system function at maximum effectiveness (ergo, punish spamming, reward pacing).
>
> I don’t consider myself competitive AT ALL, but even I feel the whole issue of bloom and spamming seems to be a bit butthurt. How much have you played in the ZB types?
“Butthurt?”
Uh, no. Like I said, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what’s wrong with Bloom. And I’ve played plenty of ZB gametypes. The TU Beta and Team Snipers is pretty much all I play now.
Then explain why rather than go with ZB which seems to work like a charm, you want to tweak an obviously busted game feature.
> > > > Hmmm actually while we’re on the subject of Bloom, even with all the changes listed above the Magnum needs a reduction in ROF and the Needle Rifle needs to have hitscan and 3x scope to be a viable alternative to the DMR.
> > >
> > > With 85% bloom the NR can be spammed and be left unhindered by bloom, however the DMR cannot. The NR already has the advantage over the DMR at 85%.
> >
> > Except it doesn’t really matter, since you’re acting as if shots only count when both people are pacing when the reticle is fully reset. In that case, yes the Needle Rifle would win. But a fully spammed DMR is > than a fully spammed Needle Rifle. Not only do the DMR shots travel faster and more accurately (hitscan), the Needle Rifle’s scope is less than that of the DMR’s, meaning that a DMR user has greater range. In addition, the killtime of the DMR is much faster.
>
> Ah ok I see then, thanks for clearing that up for me.
No problem 
> Then explain why rather than go with ZB which seems to work like a charm, you want to tweak an obviously busted game feature.
Because 343i will only allow a select few playlists to have Zero Bloom, and thus I"m proposing tweaks to the 85% Bloom that they’re going to implement throughout the whole game.
It’s a busted system. I’m just trying to put it on life support to make the casual experience more balanced. Like I said in the opening post (which I highly doubt you read, otherwise you would’t be asking me this) - Zero Bloom is the way to go for competitive playlists.
Only thing I agree with is that Plasma Repeater could be given a slight damage boost.
If anything, I would increase the bloom from the AR (and slightly boost damage to compensate). It’s already too effective at medium-range battles.
Increase damage and give it a fixed, slightly larger reticle.
You can’t remove bloom on the AR. It would be pinpoint accurate across the map.
edit: No to number 4 as well. That’s just not Halo.
> You can’t remove bloom on the AR. It would be pinpoint accurate across the map.
>
> edit: No to number 4 as well. That’s just not Halo.
No matter what Bloom percentage, the DMR, NR, and Magnum all dominate the AR. Removing Bloom would make the AR a more viable weapon in the social sandbox. And don’t get me started on the “pinpoint” accuracy. You’re acting as if when using an Assault Rifle with no Bloom, I would be able to kill you from the opposite end of Arena Zealot. Not going to happen buddy.
Also, who are you to say what Halo gameplay is? Guess what? The BR didn’t roll around till Halo 2. The energy pistol’s EMP effect and the Gravity Hammer didn’t come till Halo 3. Halo changes quite drastically with every new iteration, and for you to deny simple tweaks to a system that has been acknowledged as a failure by 343i themselves smacks of idiocy.
> Increase damage and give it a fixed, slightly larger reticle.
Uh, isn’t a fixed reticle the same thing as Zero Bloom?
Any more replies? No? Ok.