Intelligent view of the DMR issue in Halo 4

Games Other Halo
1

There is a lot of talk in the forums here about the DMR. And when I say “talk” that is an understatement. My goal here is show some facts and stats.

I care a lot about Halo 4. This game is very well done and pure fun to play. 343i should be given tons of credit for making this fantastic game and overall hits it out of the park.

Let’s look at my career at this moment.

I play Slayer pretty much all the time. Very rare I move away from it. Objective games in Halo, I have never liked. Doubt I ever will. Not my cup of tea.
Wins: 137
Defeats: 159

Kills: 3434
Headshots: 1014
Assists: 1358
Deaths: 2873
That math breaks down to +561 and a K/D of: 1.195. For me that is insane! In Reach I was about a 1.00.

Now lets look at just the DMR for me. Which is the only weapon I use anymore.

Kills: 1197
Deaths: 456
Headshots: 842.
That totals out to an accuracy of 70.342%. Basically 3/4 of my kills are finished with a headshot.
The spread on the DMR for me is +741.

Once again that is insane for me. I really am not that good of a player at all.

What I suggest and it has been suggested before is slow down the rate of fire for the DMR just a little bit. By little I do mean a hair if that. No need to change the damage. The DMR damage is perfect way it is now. But a slower rate of fire now gives the automatic weapons like the AR, Storm, Suppressor the edge at close combat and still allows the DMR to function at long range. Which is crucial in games like Big Team Battle.

This slight change will not change the game much except in small maps. It allows for both variety and balance. Yet, it also makes a player think. Long range? Close quarters? What map are you on? All those would be taken into account if a player wishes for success.

This slight change also makes players more accountable. The jumping like bunnies which I detest sooooo very much will still be there. But it now is a risk/reward. If you want to play bunny hop, you better be on target or you are done.

Really hope I presented this in an intelligent way and like to hear what other people think. Only thing I ask is that we stay on topic, be intelligent with the opinions, and do not feed the trolls that will no doubt be coming out from under their bridges in full force.

2

I admit even a 0.1 second change to the total kill time would be good. The BR kills 0.2 seconds slower so it’ll make the gap a little bit smaller.

3

…Or make the other weapons a threat to the DMR. Automatic weapons and the Light Rifle already work perfectly with the DMR. Since the BR and Carbine suck, you get shot at by a DMR most of the time.

The Light Rifle is the fastest-killing precision weapon. If one was to nerf the DMR, everyone would use the Light Rifle, and cry that it is “OP plz nerf.”

On a side note: blue and other dark colors are very difficult to read on a black background; I suggest you change that.

4

Not to discount your point at all, but I would like to point out that it’s normal for 70% of your DMR kills to end with a headshot.

Simply because 1 headshot kills them, while you need 3 more shots after shields down to kill them with a bodyshot.

If at any point in those 3 shots you get a headshot, it counts as a headshot kill. You have to miss headshot on all 3 shots to not have a headshot kill.

5

I totally agree that 343 should be commended - especially on the weapon balancing.

It’s just fantastic: Each weapon fits into it’s “class” yet feels distinct from the others.

The DMR is perhaps the easiest weapon in class to think is overpowered: powerful projectiles enabling two headshot kills, single shot per trigger pull and good accuracy despite the bloom. But you actually have to be good enough to land your shots, the DMR is a tad finky I feel - in fact I prefer the other entries in its class (primarily the BR and LR).

6

Actually lets go the other way and say does the AR need a rate of fire buff to be better close quarters and leave the DMR alone?

Think that could solve the DMR issue for close range?

7

> Actually lets go the other way and say does the AR need a rate of fire buff to be better close quarters and leave the DMR alone?
>
> Think that could solve the DMR issue for close range?

The Storm Rifle already does what you are describing.

8

I think the DMR is good as it should be. You should applaud yourself for using the DMR to its advantage, unlike everybody else who could not with their own weapons.