I’ve made posts in similar threads that say pretty much the same thing, but with fewer details. So, in greater detail, here are my ideas on what the AR should be in Halo 4.
As I see it, 343’s got 3 options. They can:
[/li]- Go back to the Halo 3 model.
Halo 3’s AR was nearly balanced. The “AR deathcharge” was pretty ubiquitous, but it did more damage than Reach’s AR, and had a kill time short enough for it to compete with the BR. (Note that I said compete, not beat.) To balance the Halo 3 AR, I would remove bleedthrough and make the targeting reticle larger (Reach-size).
The Halo 3 model also included the SMG. The SMG was an alternative to the AR. Weaker individually, but if dual-wielded it was more powerful than the AR. (At least in theory.) Dual-wielding would need to be improved as well if 343 goes back to the H3 way.
Only have a buffed AR.
Halo CE didn’t have SMGs or dual-wielding, or very many useless weapons. (Read: NO useless weapons) Instead, it had a powerful AR. If it weren’t for the 3sk pistol provided off spawn, everyone would’ve used the AR. This choice leads to a less diverse weapon sandbox, but it is easier to balance.
Keep the AR as is, but introduce the LMG.
The AR would remain as-is (minus bloom [fingers crossed]), but available on the map would be the LMG. Some stats to make it balanced that I’ve thought of:
On the subject of balancing, here are some of my thoughts.
-Same damage per bullet as the AR, higher Rate of Fire though
-lots of recoil; short controlled bursts are required
-60 round clip (like CE’s AR)
-never a starting weapon
-1.5 to 2 min respawn time
Any of these options will be fine with me so long as 343 makes it balanced. Only one of these options should be picked; having the SMG and LMG together would be dumb.
The AR should kill fast at close range like it did in Halo 3 so it has a niche again. I don’t like the idea of an LMG it seems like it would just be too strong and easy to use.
> The AR should kill fast at close range like it did in Halo 3 so it has a niche again. I don’t like the idea of an LMG it seems like it would just be too strong and easy to use.
You sure? It’s pretty much just an inaccurate version of CE’s AR. That was plenty balanced.
> The AR should kill fast at close range like it did in Halo 3 so it has a niche again. I don’t like the idea of an LMG it seems like it would just be too strong and easy to use.
I think the AR should have the LMG model (except the clip) and have the power/ sound of the CE AR
The LMG idea, I like. I think the primary thing I’m worried about with the AR, is the sound. If it sounds like the Halo 3 AR, I will never use it even if it’s a one-hit kill with a tiny reticle and a 60-round clip. The CE:A AR is the sorta sound they should make it.
Lets take Reach. The AR, and the DMR both use the same type of ammo. 7.62x51mm NATO. So do to it being the same type of ammo. If it takes the DMR 7 body shots to kill someone. The AR should also take the same amount of shots. But do to gameplay, and balance. The AR can do half as much damage as the DMR. So instead of 7 rounds, it would take 14 rounds.
My Halo 4 weapon specs: Precision Utility Weapon: Accuracy: It would be as accurate as the FAL in Call of Duty. So the slower you fire it. The more accurate you are. The faster you fire it. The less accurate you are. Magazine Size: 30 rounds. Affective Range: Medium-Long. Rate of Fire: Semi automatic. So the weapon will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger. Damage: Medium.
Assault rifle: Accuracy: Medium-High(Semi-Burst fires.). It would be as accurate as the Commando in Black OPS. Magazine Size: 60 rounds. Affective Range: Short-Medium. Rate of fire: Automatic. It will fire as fast as it does in Halo: Combat Evolved. Damage: Half of the Precision weapon damage.
Light Machine Gun: Accuracy: Medium-High(Semi-Burst fires.). It would be as accurate as the M60 in Black OPS. Magazine Size: 100 rounds. Something like the box for the M60. Affective Range: Short-Medium. Rate of fire: Automatic. It will fire as fast as the M60 in Black OPS. Damage: 75% of the damage that the Precision Utility Weapon can do.
> > The AR should kill fast at close range like it did in Halo 3 so it has a niche again. I don’t like the idea of an LMG it seems like it would just be too strong and easy to use.
>
> You sure? It’s pretty much just an inaccurate version of CE’s AR. That was plenty balanced.
It was balanced for CE. That doesn’t mean it would be balanced for Halo 4 or any other game.
The Assault rifle has to be the one from halo 3 beacause where would thhe master chief find the different models? unless they were on the ship, or if he encounters the UNSC Marines or the UNSC army
> The Assault rifle has to be the one from halo 3 beacause where would thhe master chief find the different models? unless they were on the ship, or if he encounters the UNSC Marines or the UNSC army
UNSC allies turning up throughout the story which suggest a UNSC frigate (or even a destroyer class ship) apart from FoD may make an appearance and thus have these better weapons and vehicles in great supply. It would make sense because Halo needs to have allies fighting with chief to make it feel like a Halo game… Plus we need a constant stream of UNSC weaponry and vehicles throughout Halo 4 to give it that CE atmosphere 343 want to bring back; without human allies that’s just not overly possible. So yes, most likely he encounters the UNSC military.
> It would make sense because Halo needs to have allies fighting with chief to make it feel like a Halo game.
Oh god, please, no! After the desaster that was Noble Team, I really don’t want to have any friendly AI fighting on my side.
> Plus we need a constant stream of UNSC weaponry and vehicles throughout Halo 4 to give it that CE atmosphere 343 want to bring back; without human allies that’s just not overly possible. So yes, most likely he encounters the UNSC military.
To be honest, I think it’s time we said goodbye to the bullet-based UNSC weapons. People have been wondering why they were still used in the 26th century, and rightfully so. Thus I wouldn’t mind at all if Master Chief runs out of ammo for the few UNSC weapons he has left and has to start using more high-tech weapons found wherever the new trilogy will take us.
Besides, why shouldn’t there be Forerunner/Precursor/whatever weapons that basically act like weapons from previous Halo games in term of gameplay, but look and sound completely different? I can very well imagine a small Forerunner handgun that acts like the magnum from any previous Halo game in all respects and purposes but looks and sounds like a Forerunner weapon and fires energy projectiles instead of bullets (and don’t travel as slowly as the Covenant’s plasma projectiles).
So you’re saying energy weapons as in the weapons in Mass Effect. Sure, why not But alas I’ll miss the AR… And no one can refuse to acknowledge the fact that this would drastically impact the Halo atmosphere so I think it unlikely to have any human weapons in Halo 4 that aren’t projectile based and instead like you said energy based.
Also allies are a must. The AI just needs to be improved so that they can drive, give supressing fire, not blow themselves up, not ruin stealth for the player, shoot back at the enemy and not stand out in the open being oblivious, dodge the enormous wraith shots, the ally with the best weapon sit in the warthog passenger seat etc (out of breath lol).
> The Assault rifle has to be the one from halo 3 beacause where would thhe master chief find the different models? unless they were on the ship, or if he encounters the UNSC Marines or the UNSC army
Ideally I would like to see the AR get a scope and become an M7S type weapon and leave the SMG for close range niche and it also is more comfortable for dual wielding to return.
The most important thing is for the AR and similar weapons to be balanced on the strength of their bullets alone.
No weapons should be designed to be used in conjunction with melee or grenades first. They should be effective using only bullets like utility weapons like the BR/Carbine.
People try and defend the POS plasma weapons in later games by claiming they are okay when used with melee and that is not an excuse. Weapons need to be balanced within their niche on the strength of their projectiles, grenades and melee should be secondary considerations.
There was never, NEVER, a time when automatics competed well with the utilities. SMG? AR? Plasma Rifle, Repeater? Needler? Spiker? OOOH! A BR/DMR!! Using the automatics is frustrating how they barely stand a chance with the pistol/BR/DMR.
Is that fair? Is that the gameplay we want to have for the rest of halo? It can still be the same, but at least give the community the option to buff/nerf certain weapons in custom gametypes.
But alas I’ll miss the AR… And no one can refuse to acknowledge the fact that this would drastically impact the Halo atmosphere so I think it unlikely to have any human weapons in Halo 4 that aren’t projectile based and instead like you said energy based.