Map Design is probably the most important aspect in achieving a fair, balanced, well-working, inspiring and entertaining multiplayer experience in Halo.
If gametypes, weapons, vehicles, AAs, player movement, etc. work well or rather which work well or get supported in the end, eventually comes down to map design.
Most of Halo’s maps have tried to support nearly every element of the game what will simply not work well in the end because you just can’t support/implement everything, at least not properly.
Especially selectable AAs at spawn that enhance movement have caused trouble in that regard, since the player movement has a direct impact on map design.
I.e. Jetpack is generally considered an “annoying”, “overpowered” or “gamebreaking” AA because the maps are not designed for it and hence it attracts negative attention.
Another point is that it led to many uninspiring and repetitive maps in my opinion.
I think Halo’s map design has always had a lack of interesting and unique themes (I am not talking about aesthetical themes here) and that is very likely because the maps have always had to support nearly everything (too much) instead of only specific elements. There is too much context that has to be considered what causes heavy restrictions in the design and finally results in repetitive themes.
So what I would like to see is that maps get designed with specific, individual and creative themes in mind and hence will only be able to support specific elements of the game.
I.e.:
A map that is designed around the vertical/aerial combat/ Jetpack (what would of course make Jetpack a necessary default ability for such a map) or a map that changes/transforms on certain intervals.
Now what would that mean?
Maps that are specifically designed are able to develop and support the full potential of certain game elements.
You would need to design more default maps since the maps would only be compatible with specific elements but at the same time it would be easier to design much more unique and interesting maps since you would not have to consider as much context as before.
Being compatible with only specific elements will also require specific preset loadouts/settings.
Personally, I would rather be able to play certain gametypes or to use certain weapons or AAs on only certain maps but that have truly unique, interesting and inspiring themes and that are extremely well designed for those elements instead of being able to play nearly every gametype or to use nearly every weapon or every AA on “mediocre” maps that won’t be able to support all those elements properly anyway.
What do you think?