I actually like Armor Abilities, that is, when they’re implemented properly. Reach had some issues with Armor Lock, of course, we know that. But 343i has done a good job with the Armor Abilities in Halo 4. They are much more balanced, for the most part, except for Active Camo, which needs another nerf in the future. I’m actually skeptical about Active Camo as an Armor Ability, and if it is one, then its access needs to be limited, to certain game types, for example.
As for Custom Loadouts, I believe they have no place in Halo. The vehicle gameplay in Halo 4 is a prime example of this, with PP and PGs immediately available. I also believe everyone should start out with the same weapons as well for balance, especially when there’s one weapon that easily overpowers all others in all categories, and a secondary weapon that has a 1sk capability like the Shotgun. Which weapons is everyone going to choose?
When I’m playing game types with no custom loadouts (Snipers or SWAT) or POD, I find myself enjoying the game much more. The problem is, these are some of the few game types that allow this. Where is Classic Slayer and other game types? What if we don’t want to play with your forced Infinity Settings for Slayer or whatever we enjoy most?
For the next Halo title, I propose nixing Custom Loadouts and POD altogether, and having Playlists with Armor Abilities much like they were in Halo 4 and without them for Classic Gameplay.
I don’t like Sprint either, make it an Armor Ability again, please.
As for armor abilities, there are some that I think fit the sandbox, and others that don’t. We can do without the Jetpack in my opinion and Promethean vision as well since we have a radar. Thruster could use more “umph!” to it. I like sentry turret, its not powerful, but its a useful deterrent. Hologram cool as well. I’m not going to comment on Active Camo. Hardlight shield and that shield regen bubble thing is okay. Just my opinion on AA’s.
It would be interesting if the developers actually made AA’s pickups for once.
As for custom loadouts, Halo doesn’t need them in my opinion. Also a classic slayer or general classic players would be great for Halo 4.
I enjoy the added variables that AA’s bring to the game. I hope they are here to stay (assuming the typical additions/subtractions/refinements in each Halo title).
I wouldn’t say no to non-AA set of playlist – people clearly want it. They did this in the CEA multiplayer release but that style of play is no longer for me.
As for loadouts, I like 'em but I feel they dropped too much on us too soon – people were still getting used to AAs! I would advocate Halo 5 should have a very slimmed down loadout functionality. Cutting down on the number of perks would go a long way to help users who cannot cope with all the variables.
What about 3 user-defined loadouts that cannot be changed in-game?
Or pre-defined loadouts that 343 provides for each playlist and the user selects from?
Or heck, just one loadout that you define while the match loads. I find I default to the same old perks more often than not; reducing the options and availability could reap benefits.
I think a good consensus would be that less is more.
Less options would be better to the gameplay. For armour abilities I would remove Active Camo (and leave it on the map, like overshield) and jetpack (because it breaks the sight lines). Everything else is relatively balanced.
For loadouts I would remove the ability to choose a secondary weapon and grenade. Stick with a primary, and perks.
Lastly I would not have ordnance, or if we absolutely have to have ordnance, I would only have it drop three types grenades, shields, speed boost, damage boost, and secondary weapons (pistol, boltshot, needler, plasma pistol, etc).
I feel the opposite. AAs have no place in Halo because it takes away from the core gameplay. People abuse them once they find one or 2 are better than others. JP users have easier and faster access to high ground. Camo encourages camping plain and simple. All power ups should be pick ups in my opinion.
I just made a thread on how rechargeable perks could replace AAs. Allow players to only pick ONE like AAs. Dexterity,Explosives,Mobility, Stability, Awareness would have limited use then need to recharge. No “help me” button pressing, no hiding, no flying over heads. Simple and VERY slight additions that dont slow or break gameplay .
So I’m in favor of Custom Loadouts . Biggest issue with custom loadouts is weapon balance. Now that 343 has admitted all other weapons need to be brought up to DMR level I feel Loadouts will work better.
Next time 343 should consider Vehicles have limited ammo instead of giving people PP/Pg at spawn because they kill vehicular combat.
I enjoy having Armor Abilities. And aside from active camo and promethian vision, they seem pretty balanced.
Camo should be a pick up item and go out when the player either shoots are is shot 3 or 4 times.
The jet pack is more of a “jump” pack now but it allows you to make a mistake when judging the angle to jump by giving enough juice to correct yourself. I like that. I like being able to get around the map quickly by boosting my way over obstacles that I can’t crouch-jump over. I enjoy being able to get up to a guy camping with a sniper rifle that would otherwise only be reachable by going down a long hallway or narrow ramp (sorry,one of my main issues from past Halos was sniper/rocket campers in hallways and sword/shotgun/mauler corner campers). The only issues I have with this though are the kill cams. As weird as it might sound to some of you, it just isn’t as fun to me if I know the EXACT location from where the shots were fired from AFTER they shoot me.
I would like to see sprint as an armor ability again, rather than a default setting.
I would also like to see more people using their abilities for teamwork. I feel kind of bad sometimes when I’m the only guy with an auto sentry or regeneration field, trying to support other players. I even use the Hard Light shield to help flag carriers get away and score for the team by distracting people and drawing enemy fire. I even made a video of me getting stuck with an enemy grenade, quickly backing myself into a corner, and putting up the Hard Light shield to make sure the teammates around me weren’t taken out by the grenade.
I’m not a fan of custom loadouts. The only game I felt like it worked in was Gears of War 3. In addition, the only game with successful loadouts that included “perk” type things was Crysis 2: the “perks” and weapons were very balanced and allowed you to set up classes based on your playing style, rather than what was believed to be “best” (people called me an idiot for using air stomp [an ability many people consider to be useless because of how difficult it is to use] right up until the point I started using it to surprise, confuse, and overwhelm them).