Before all else, these are my opinions and ideas, take them as that.
So far, I feel that 343 has not really been sticking to equal footing for all players at the beginning of each match. Now this would not be a problem for me, I think it is cool that if I want to spawn with a BR or an AR I can choose that, but this is where it goes wrong.
As you rank up (I’d assume) you earn spartan points and can use them to purchase new mods and other loadout items. 343 says this is to let people tailor their loadout to their style, but why not have everything unlocked at start? I think it would be a great compromise between the veteran Halo fans and Halo fans that want something fresh if everything were unlocked from the start. I, personally, believe that progression should just unlock aesthetic choices, not choices that affect gameplay.
I didn’t really notice this at first until specializations were revealed. I thought specializations were a great idea, like “Hey! I get to choose a way I want to go, like a skill tree!” Then I realized what the problem is. I realized that it will give gameplay benefits to people at higher levels.
Here’s the analogy I use. In many older games, when you get to the highest rank, you get a super weapon! So say I have the golden sword, every game, I will destroy anyone I play with! Now, that is a huge exaggeration, but it’s the same basic idea. You shouldn’t get items that make you better if you’re a high rank. That’s basically like saying you make the best even better! Or in the case of a progression system, the people who play the most get rewarded. I don’t think that is how Halo should play.
tl;dr- Specializations and Spartan Points make me think that Halo 4 will be extremely imbalanced, where higher ranked people will have access to better stuff. I think that everything gameplay effecting should be unlocked from the start.
(I know, you will probably say that the system is made so that higher ranked players are matched together, but considering so far 343 has not showcased any such system, I will assume there is none.)