First of all, I propose that whatever AAs make it through from Reach and Equipment from H3 (I DO want Jetpack, Armor Lock, etc.) to H4 ALL BE EQUIPMENT. Custom Games should have the ability to start with certain Equipment, and even make the Equipment permanent.
But, I also propose that when the player chooses their race (and keep in mind that H4 will presumably have Spartan-IIs) they have permanent, Sprint, however modified it will be from Reach. Elites will always have Evade, however modified it will be as well. Maybe 343i should give players the opportunity THROUGH THE START MENU AND NOT SETUP LIKE LOADOUTS to change their race, so that it can be done if a player really wants to change mid-game but it’s a pain in the -Yoink-.
I am totally pro-freedom for Custom Games, so I think the ability should be switchable in CG. The option for loadouts should also be there, and maybe there should be a rare type of slayer called Class Slayer or something, and they can make a joke about it being classy.
Halo rarely ever uses the D-Pad, which it should use for switching Grenades and using Equipment, leaving a space somewhere on the controller for the “racial” ability.
Yes, some people want to be Evading Spartans, but admit it. It looks ridiculous (and too non-canonical for me), and I bet 343 will make it worth the sacrifice of not being a Spartan with almost equal customization of Elites. Besides aesthetics, assassinations, and the “racial”, there should be no difference between Spartans and Elites.
People have brought up the idea of Forerunners, Brutes, or unknown races being available, but I think that Spartans and Elites should be the only options. Instead of making them less appealing by having badass Forerunners in Multiplayer, 343i should honor the famous heroes we’ve used for a long time, and should make them have a much deeper customization than spreading it thinner among more races.
They could give us super detail in customization. Rather than selecting one chest, one selects the base then chooses from many additions that can be stacked, just not to a ridiculous degree. Elites could have their face customizable as well as skin color, not pink and yellow and bright green, but so there’s a difference. They can include so much more.
Other little things:
Give us the Jackal’s Shield Gauntlet, which would be an Offhand Dual-Wield weapon that, when the LT is held, be used to cover most of the body, but this makes shooting impossible while its used. The Shield should break easily, by one or two melees, but it should recharge similar to Shields for the player. It should be used up after 3 recharges.
Make Hijacks more like Assassinations, rather than just punching.
Replace the Spike Grenade with something similar but new
Bring Flame grenades into MM
Doing 2 melees should make the first melee different than the other one, which would be more realistic.
Bring back VIP and Escort