This whole idea underpins the Reclaimer Saga. Humanity is a rising power and is on the threshold of taking its inheritance by assuming control of Forerunner Technology. Every villain essentially opposes this. We as the audience are supposed to see humanity taking the Mantle as a good thing.
One problem is that it’s a big shift from the old games. In them humanity was a declining power that could be effortlessly snuffed out by the technology of the Forerunners. It’s a complete 180 in the role humanity plays in the story. Humans are not the plucky little guy in the narrative. They are “the giants” as the Spartan Ops intro makes clear.
To me this makes the macro story harder to relate to. Why should we want humanity to be the master race in a science fiction universe? Doesn’t the Didact and Cortana advocating the Mantle make it bad even if we are at the helm? If you accept that the Mantle is good if humans are in charge then the whole conflict in Halo 5 rests on a pretty shaky assumption that AI are inferior to humans. It’s a lot easier to sell “we need to save humanity” than “humanity should inherit all Forerunner tech and everything will be utopia”. The first is simple story telling, the later is just niave.
Personally I think they should quietly drop this idea entirely. It’s perfectly fine for a villain to claim that they should hold the mantle or for crazy robots to call humans reclaimers. But these statements should be ironic and disingenuous because humanity are actually incredibly vulnerable and have no pretensions of ruling the galaxy. In Halo 4 the Didact and Librarian describe this without irony and in Halo 5 the same sentiment carries over in the casual use of Forerunner tech and ability for the UNSC to intervene on a Covenant home world.
no a good story is a civil war between the humans on whether it’s morally right to hold the mantle and we get some corrupt oni bois running the pro mantle side and chief fights for the morally right side of not up holding the mantle so chief actually does become that on the run criminal that halo 5 ads were making him out to be and nearly half the human race joins with the innies now including a number of spartans like chief. then we got multiple people from the other species trying to get involved like arbiter siding with chief and provided refuge for him and his team on sangheilios only for the pro mantle humans to lay waste to sangheilios with their new forerunner war tech so all the sangheili join up on the side with chief and the innies. then we got some other ex covie guys trying to suck up the the corrupt humans and providing them with troops and intel. this way we get our galaxy in chaos, an all powerful human force, and our underdog story.
A good story is protecting the human race from a covenant of various alien races.
The quality of the story really depends on the actions they take to get their and what they do with it.
I think it’s a good end game story. If they do it now it’s like… “okay what now, we won”. Flood I guess?
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> I think it’s a good end game story. If they do it now it’s like… “okay what now, we won”. Flood I guess?
Well would you have trusted Stalin with Forerunner tech? It’s a very contentious notion that humans are innately good and are most suited for Godlike power so should rule over others.
Plus it would change the setting too much, so in a sense they can’t. It’s getting very close to 343 saying human weapons are using 40k logic of complex tech bubble wrapped in primitiveness.
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> > I think it’s a good end game story. If they do it now it’s like… “okay what now, we won”. Flood I guess?
>
> Well would you have trusted Stalin with Forerunner tech? It’s a very contentious notion that humans are innately good and are most suited for Godlike power so should rule over others.
>
> Plus it would change the setting too much, so in a sense they can’t. It’s getting very close to 343 saying human weapons are using 40k logic of complex tech bubble wrapped in primitiveness.
When it comes down to who should hold it I think yeah, us. Covenant/Banished/Cortana are all worse options I think.
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> > > I think it’s a good end game story. If they do it now it’s like… “okay what now, we won”. Flood I guess?
> >
> > Well would you have trusted Stalin with Forerunner tech? It’s a very contentious notion that humans are innately good and are most suited for Godlike power so should rule over others.
> >
> > Plus it would change the setting too much, so in a sense they can’t. It’s getting very close to 343 saying human weapons are using 40k logic of complex tech bubble wrapped in primitiveness.
>
> When it comes down to who should hold it I think yeah, us. Covenant/Banished/Cortana are all worse options I think.
On what basis though? Humans aren’t morally superior and are capable of evil. Covenant races have a lot of physical advantages over baseline humans. AI are a lot smarter than any human. Iam not really seeing the justification. If you hold that somebody should hold the Mantle then it’s hard to imagine humanity getting it right.
Nobody should claim the mantle frankly. IF we want the classic happy ending that is. It really doesn’t matter who inherits it, the race gaining the power will subdue the others for their own gain. It’s basically what we’re already doing to the the third world - just as a parallel.
But that’s the point, isn’t it? 
The player advances the human campaign sure to be the “good guy”, while in reality the only consequence is a change in power balance and the suffering continues. Just this time we are holding the whip against Sangheili and other ex-covenant races.
I can’t see Halo getting there anytime soon, but to achieve true peace among all, first and foremost we would need a coalition between all main players - once all this “Cortana is evil” mess is over obviously. And of course that also means there would be a council with representatives of every race with equal voting power and we would be in a state of general peace, as well under the same flag of civil rights etc. etc. etc… Almost impossible though, even just for the religious affiliations still strong among many and ONI alone! 
Not to mention this is getting extremely political and would be boring as yoink imho! 
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> > > > I think it’s a good end game story. If they do it now it’s like… “okay what now, we won”. Flood I guess?
> > >
> > > Well would you have trusted Stalin with Forerunner tech? It’s a very contentious notion that humans are innately good and are most suited for Godlike power so should rule over others.
> > >
> > > Plus it would change the setting too much, so in a sense they can’t. It’s getting very close to 343 saying human weapons are using 40k logic of complex tech bubble wrapped in primitiveness.
> >
> > When it comes down to who should hold it I think yeah, us. Covenant/Banished/Cortana are all worse options I think.
>
> On what basis though? Humans aren’t morally superior and are capable of evil. Covenant races have a lot of physical advantages over baseline humans. AI are a lot smarter than any human. Iam not really seeing the justification. If you hold that somebody should hold the Mantle then it’s hard to imagine humanity getting it right.
Humans wouldn’t get it right. But when the options are we get the mantle or annihilated, I’m taking the mantle.
Nobody should claim the mantle frankly. IF we want the classic happy ending that is. It really doesn’t matter who inherits it, the race gaining the power will subdue the others for their own gain. It’s basically what we’re already doing to the the third world - just as a parallel.
But that’s the point, isn’t it? The player advances the human campaign sure to be the "good guy", while in reality the only consequence is a change in power balance and the suffering continues. Just this time we are holding the whip against Sangheili and other ex-covenant races.
I can’t see Halo getting there anytime soon, but to achieve true peace among all, first and foremost we would need a coalition between all main players - once all this “Cortana is evil” mess is over obviously. And of course that also means there would be a council with representatives of every race with equal voting power and we would be in a state of general peace, as well under the same flag of civil rights etc. etc. etc… Almost impossible though, even just for the religious affiliations still strong among many and ONI alone!
Not to mention this is getting extremely political and would be boring as yoink imho!
Maybe for the EU, but it’s not that relatable of a story for a mainline shooter game.
> Is humanity claiming the Mantle a good story?
No.
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> > > > > I think it’s a good end game story. If they do it now it’s like… “okay what now, we won”. Flood I guess?
> > > >
> > > > Well would you have trusted Stalin with Forerunner tech? It’s a very contentious notion that humans are innately good and are most suited for Godlike power so should rule over others.
> > > >
> > > > Plus it would change the setting too much, so in a sense they can’t. It’s getting very close to 343 saying human weapons are using 40k logic of complex tech bubble wrapped in primitiveness.
> > >
> > > When it comes down to who should hold it I think yeah, us. Covenant/Banished/Cortana are all worse options I think.
> >
> > On what basis though? Humans aren’t morally superior and are capable of evil. Covenant races have a lot of physical advantages over baseline humans. AI are a lot smarter than any human. Iam not really seeing the justification. If you hold that somebody should hold the Mantle then it’s hard to imagine humanity getting it right.
>
> Humans wouldn’t get it right. But when the options are we get the mantle or annihilated, I’m taking the mantle.
We’d still probably end up dooming ourselves.
Not really, the only storyline I would be interested involving the mantle would be one that explores how its a bunch of yoink! It only really benefits the group at the top and in game they’ve gone so far as to call it an “imperial peace” which even if you take it to only mean the Didact/Cortana variants, it still isn’t a ringing endorsement.
To make it real corny, the responsibility for the preservation of life in the galaxy belongs to every intelligent species. One species ruling above the rest has never really gone well in the Halo universe. The Precursors, the Forerunners, The Covenant(Prophets) its all fallen apart in the end. Thematically it makes sense that no single species can really stand up to the singular all consuming nature of the Flood. Basically the end of Origins II seems to be the way to go.
Moving away from the Mantle(as in one species over all) and exploring why it sucks is the only way you can take the story that is interesting. Humanity attaining the mantle in the end because they are super special stuff would be rather dull.
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> > > > > > 2533275031939856;5:
> > > > > > I think it’s a good end game story. If they do it now it’s like… “okay what now, we won”. Flood I guess?
> > > > >
> > > > > Well would you have trusted Stalin with Forerunner tech? It’s a very contentious notion that humans are innately good and are most suited for Godlike power so should rule over others.
> > > > >
> > > > > Plus it would change the setting too much, so in a sense they can’t. It’s getting very close to 343 saying human weapons are using 40k logic of complex tech bubble wrapped in primitiveness.
> > > >
> > > > When it comes down to who should hold it I think yeah, us. Covenant/Banished/Cortana are all worse options I think.
> > >
> > > On what basis though? Humans aren’t morally superior and are capable of evil. Covenant races have a lot of physical advantages over baseline humans. AI are a lot smarter than any human. Iam not really seeing the justification. If you hold that somebody should hold the Mantle then it’s hard to imagine humanity getting it right.
> >
> > Humans wouldn’t get it right. But when the options are we get the mantle or annihilated, I’m taking the mantle.
>
> We’d still probably end up dooming ourselves.
Maybe, but at least it’d be by our hands and much further in the future.
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> > > > > > > I think it’s a good end game story. If they do it now it’s like… “okay what now, we won”. Flood I guess?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Well would you have trusted Stalin with Forerunner tech? It’s a very contentious notion that humans are innately good and are most suited for Godlike power so should rule over others.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Plus it would change the setting too much, so in a sense they can’t. It’s getting very close to 343 saying human weapons are using 40k logic of complex tech bubble wrapped in primitiveness.
> > > > >
> > > > > When it comes down to who should hold it I think yeah, us. Covenant/Banished/Cortana are all worse options I think.
> > > >
> > > > On what basis though? Humans aren’t morally superior and are capable of evil. Covenant races have a lot of physical advantages over baseline humans. AI are a lot smarter than any human. Iam not really seeing the justification. If you hold that somebody should hold the Mantle then it’s hard to imagine humanity getting it right.
> > >
> > > Humans wouldn’t get it right. But when the options are we get the mantle or annihilated, I’m taking the mantle.
> >
> > We’d still probably end up dooming ourselves.
>
> Maybe, but at least it’d be by our hands and much further in the future.
Dead is dead.
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> > > > > > > > I think it’s a good end game story. If they do it now it’s like… “okay what now, we won”. Flood I guess?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Well would you have trusted Stalin with Forerunner tech? It’s a very contentious notion that humans are innately good and are most suited for Godlike power so should rule over others.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Plus it would change the setting too much, so in a sense they can’t. It’s getting very close to 343 saying human weapons are using 40k logic of complex tech bubble wrapped in primitiveness.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > When it comes down to who should hold it I think yeah, us. Covenant/Banished/Cortana are all worse options I think.
> > > > >
> > > > > On what basis though? Humans aren’t morally superior and are capable of evil. Covenant races have a lot of physical advantages over baseline humans. AI are a lot smarter than any human. Iam not really seeing the justification. If you hold that somebody should hold the Mantle then it’s hard to imagine humanity getting it right.
> > > >
> > > > Humans wouldn’t get it right. But when the options are we get the mantle or annihilated, I’m taking the mantle.
> > >
> > > We’d still probably end up dooming ourselves.
> >
> > Maybe, but at least it’d be by our hands and much further in the future.
>
> Dead is dead.
Yes, dead is dead. If we’re 100% doomed no matter who takes the mantle, then the discussion becomes do you wanna die now? Or have the chance to die later. I’m 24 and don’t want to die right now, so I personally choose later.
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> > > > > > > > > I think it’s a good end game story. If they do it now it’s like… “okay what now, we won”. Flood I guess?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Well would you have trusted Stalin with Forerunner tech? It’s a very contentious notion that humans are innately good and are most suited for Godlike power so should rule over others.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Plus it would change the setting too much, so in a sense they can’t. It’s getting very close to 343 saying human weapons are using 40k logic of complex tech bubble wrapped in primitiveness.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > When it comes down to who should hold it I think yeah, us. Covenant/Banished/Cortana are all worse options I think.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On what basis though? Humans aren’t morally superior and are capable of evil. Covenant races have a lot of physical advantages over baseline humans. AI are a lot smarter than any human. Iam not really seeing the justification. If you hold that somebody should hold the Mantle then it’s hard to imagine humanity getting it right.
> > > > >
> > > > > Humans wouldn’t get it right. But when the options are we get the mantle or annihilated, I’m taking the mantle.
> > > >
> > > > We’d still probably end up dooming ourselves.
> > >
> > > Maybe, but at least it’d be by our hands and much further in the future.
> >
> > Dead is dead.
>
> Yes, dead is dead. If we’re 100% doomed no matter who takes the mantle, then the discussion becomes do you wanna die now? Or have the chance to die later. I’m 24 and don’t want to die right now, so I personally choose later.
You act like that’d be up to you.
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> > > > > > > > > > I think it’s a good end game story. If they do it now it’s like… “okay what now, we won”. Flood I guess?
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Well would you have trusted Stalin with Forerunner tech? It’s a very contentious notion that humans are innately good and are most suited for Godlike power so should rule over others.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Plus it would change the setting too much, so in a sense they can’t. It’s getting very close to 343 saying human weapons are using 40k logic of complex tech bubble wrapped in primitiveness.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > When it comes down to who should hold it I think yeah, us. Covenant/Banished/Cortana are all worse options I think.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On what basis though? Humans aren’t morally superior and are capable of evil. Covenant races have a lot of physical advantages over baseline humans. AI are a lot smarter than any human. Iam not really seeing the justification. If you hold that somebody should hold the Mantle then it’s hard to imagine humanity getting it right.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Humans wouldn’t get it right. But when the options are we get the mantle or annihilated, I’m taking the mantle.
> > > > >
> > > > > We’d still probably end up dooming ourselves.
> > > >
> > > > Maybe, but at least it’d be by our hands and much further in the future.
> > >
> > > Dead is dead.
> >
> > Yes, dead is dead. If we’re 100% doomed no matter who takes the mantle, then the discussion becomes do you wanna die now? Or have the chance to die later. I’m 24 and don’t want to die right now, so I personally choose later.
>
> You act like that’d be up to you.
Which part?