I, and many others, have put alot of time into Halo Reach multiplayer. And over the course of it’s run it has seen a long list of problems, solutions, imbalances, and worst of all random/unskilled play.
I wish to dedicate this thread to all the changes that are absolutely necessary to make Halo Reach matchmaking a fun and enjoyable experience no matter what playlist, gametype, or character model, you play as.
I do not plan to let this thread die. I do accept additional suggested changes, but will ultimately judge what suggestions get quoted into the OP. I will note what changes can be done entirely without a Title Update, and which ones would require one.
Gametype #1: TU Slayer
TU Slayer is in every right a fantastic gametype. I would argue that 80% Bloom fixes almost every problem I previously had with default games, save a few rare instances.
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Melee Damage MUST be reduced
TU Slayer suffers from Halo 3 Melee syndrome, a problem which rendered AR starts games completely unplayable, and caused Halo 3’s first year (pre-heavy BR Start weighting) to lose a fair number of avid Halo CE and Halo 2 fans. In a nutshell - Melee damage is just too strong, it throws off CQC combat instead of fixing it, which bleed through was meant to do. 75% or 50% are both acceptable, it’s too bad there isn’t a 60% or so because that would probably be perfect.’ -
Stickies and Armor Lock (Update Req’d)
While the ability to kick somebody out of Armor Lock is pretty good, and Armor Lock works properly in most situations, by keeping the player alive to endure One Hit Kill mechanics, there is still the problem of Plasma Grenades. Tweaking Armor Lock to prevent “Grenade Shedding” was an absolutely fantastic idea, but that doesn’t mean the Armor Locking player shouldn’t still survive the blast. If you are in Armor Lock, you should not take damage, period. -
Automatic Needle Rifle? (Update Req’d)
One small tweak that aught to be made is to the TU NR’s rate of fire, it is a little overboard to be capable of holding the trigger with perfect accuracy. I would suggest increasing the Automatic-Fire Rate of the Needle Rifle in order to cause a blooming effect on players who hold the trigger. Kinda like the Anniversary Magnum, only not a 3 shot kill beast machine. -
Bullet Bleed Through (Update Req Unknown)
Let’s face it the game played infinitely better when you KNEW one shot would kill you, not when you had to estimate. Please remove bullet bleed through, we only needed it on the Melee attack anyway.
Gametype #2: Elite Slayer
Ahh Elite Slayer, the bane of every skilled players’ existences. This gametype has needed a quick fix since day 1, and all Bungie gave us was a quick-swap for a primary weapon on ONE loadout. This gametype is in dire need of a MAJOR overhaul.
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Elite Gametypes Playlist
??? It’s still a good idea, not gonna lie, and if you fix Elite Slayer proper before you do it, maybe you can get people to like the gametype before it’s official. This should be a grab-bag, Slayer and Objective, maybe a 3v3 playlist? Less players to compensate for bigger faster characters? A 3v3 playlist would fill a hole currently taken by Multi-Team, which is purposefully avoided by 3-player lobbies. -
Do NOT use TU
Unless several of the changes listed above are acted on, TU ruins everything to do with Elite Slayer, Stickies make Armor Lock completely useless, 100% Melee damage makes every weapon save the Needler and Needle Rifle all but pointless, and of course, spawning with the automatic headshot machine kinda makes the loadouts one sided despite the Plasma Pistol (which we will get to). -
Loadouts need to change
There are several Loadouts in Elite Slayer that just ruin the gametype, adding little more than Chaos to the mix. One easy fix to this problem would be if every loadout should have the same weapons. In regular Elite gametypes it should be the Plasma Repeater, and the Plasma Pistol, and in Elite NRs it should be the NR and the Plasma Rifle. -
Fix weapons on map
A few issues Elite Slayer has can relate to Bungies laziness in simply setting the “Covenant Weapon” weapons on map setting and not even corresponding weapons properly in the gametype. Rockets = Fuel Rod, Spartan Lazer = Plasma Launcher, Shotgun = Energy Sword PLEASE… It would actually be interesting to see maps wholly reforged for Elite play, a Ghost on Powerhouse isn’t a terrible idea you know, but that may lead to confusion, please comment on this last point.
Cont’d…