Here are some thoughts after a few hours:
Progression system is super slow to level. I think everyone can agree on that.
However, to me, if they want battlepass to exist solely as a cosmetic purchasing system why do we need a progression system? Remember when we played Halo MP without leveling? I think it’s time to do away with leveling. It’s created an expectation from gamers that the core part of MP is to level and not necessairly play the game. You see this in other objective based games where people don’t play the objective, they play the exp.
Ideally, we would kill off the leveling system completely. Now before you’re up in arms - this could replaced by in game badges/achievements for things like: Time played (24 hours, 50 hours, 100 hours, 500 hours). Total kills (1000, 2000, 5000, 1000). Most objectives played (100, 200, 500, etc). Then we’d be able to display our badges behind our name or in the card.
With leveling removed the way you’d collect skins/armor liveries etc is via paying. No more leveling or card achievements.
As for cards, cards are a great way to hand out FREE cosmetics. Do weekly and daily challenges similar to Forza 5. Once a player hits all the challenges of that week they get a free cosmetic.
This does a few things - players that want to pay for skins can. Players that want a few cosmetics but aren’t willing to fork over $100 can get a few cosmetics. Leveling is removed but you can still show off with your badges. Players focus on playing the game to get new badges or if they’re like me: Just to play the game.
I don’t know - too many games recently have been focused on leveling and cosmetics and I’d like the MP part of games to blend better for casual, moderately casual, and hardcore gamers. Leveling is not the answer to any of this. It’s just tired at this point.
Alright - critique away!