Thruster Pack
Right now, I feel like the Thruster Pack is functioning really well, and is well balanced. I definitely think there needs to be some dynamic between it and Sprint to prevent the two to from being used together to unfair effect. I digress. The main point I want to talk about is how Thruster Pack is unique among the Spartan Abilities, in that it runs on a timer for its recharge. It was brought to my attention that despite the Spartan Abilities having equal starts, the Thruster Pack creates a hidden dynamic with its recharge time. It prevents other players from knowing exactly when their opponent might be able to thrust. I thought for a bit, and realized that Halo already has a mechanic similar to this, and that’s your energy shields. It’s another mechanic that runs on a recharge timer and is hidden to your opponents. So why not deal with Thruster Pack in the same way Energy Shields have been dealt with. Have a quick visual indicator. I’ve already noticed you have one for when you reach terminal velocity from sprinting. And that’s that your thruster ports on your pack ignite like a burner, making it pretty easy to see that an opponent will be able to Charge or Slide. I suggest that when your Thruster Pack is recharged, other players will see your thruster ports flare up for a very short period of time, similar to energy shields as I mentioned earlier.
Ground Pound
I’ve got a few issues with this Spartan Ability, and suggestions for each of them. First off, the blast radius is too large for it. If you watch this clip I recorded (point of interest starts at the 16 second mark) you’ll notice that the opponent, despite being on the absolute fringe (perhaps even outside) of the blast radius, he still received 100% damage to his energy shields, and was propelled far back, disorientating him. The solution for this is easy, minimize the blast radius, and reduce damage received when not being directly hit by an opponent using Ground Pound.
The other issue I’ve noticed is that when hovering to use Ground Pound, you disappear off the radar because you are no longer moving. This often results in players I am attacking most likely thinking that I have simply decided to surprise them when they run into the building I am in. I have also been attacked completely unaware because of this. The solution for this problem, I feel, is again, simple. In Halo 4, when a player used Promethean Vision, it produced a wave on your radar, which would let you know two things: 1. That someone was indeed using it in your vicinity. 2. If a player was able to see you through a wall. A similar counter-balance can be used for Ground Pound. Have it so when a player is charging a Ground Pound, they appear on radar as a unique or slightly different symbol. That way, it will create even more of a skill gap for Ground Pound. It forces players to need to hit their opponent dead on as soon as possible, otherwise, the opponent will notice on the radar someone is preparing to Ground Pound in the vicinity, and stay away from them.
One final thought, when charging up a ground pound, you are still required to aim the attack using the stick designated for looking around. In my case: ‘RS’. I, however, use the Halo 4 control scheme, so my crouch button is mapped to ‘B’. As a result, I have to awkwardly take my left hand and use it to manipulate the stick. I’m quite used to it now, but when charging up a Ground Pound, you have no mobility in the air. Would it be possible to have it so that the aiming of a Ground Pound becomes mapped to ‘LS’. That way I would be able to grip my controller normally.
Thanks for your consideration.