Why we NEED Sprint in Halo!

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

So did you guys enjoy my joke of a heading?

I have seen countless threads implying how sprint destroys the nature of Halo. In example, “gameplay is much slower due to having the ability to remove yourself from a situation at a moments notice.”
OK, that sounds pretty valid to me…
But I have yet to see a decent argument on why sprint should stay in our beloved franchise. I ask those who are in the 89% to engage in a compelling argument of why sprint will make Halo. However in your argument I ask for factual effects on gameplay mechanics. Those who wish for the removal of sprint feel free to agree with me.

Arguments that include:

  • “According to the Halo Universe, Spartans can sprint up to 70 MPH!”- “If you dont like it go back to MCC!”- "This is 2015, the nostalgia train is derailed!"Will be overlooked as dumb…

Personally,
The vannilla gameplay should consist of no sprint, not the other way around. I dont want another Reach where the only playlist worth living on is overly modified.

In Example,
Halo CE: (MCC setup.)

  • Make starting weapon pistol.- Take off radar.Halo Reach: (MLG Playlist.)
  • No starting AA.- No bloom.- Make starting DMR.- Modified jump height.- Modified base player movement.- Take off radar.- Add bleedthrough.See all the things that CE did to get away from vannilla compared to Reach? (CE’s vannilla is plasma pistol with radar.) The MLG playlist in Reach should have been the building platform, not the other way around.

Why you ask?

  • Bloom provided randomness, which is never good for fair gameplay.- Sprint, I’m sure you’ve seen a thousand arguments on why its bad.- Base player trait was unreasonably slow. (Same with unmodified H3.)My point is, the core unmodified gameplay will decide for the most part how the game will be played throughout the years. We have one chance to get it right and thats it.
2

Also, repost…

3

My problem with sprint is I’m still unclear as to what it adds to gameplay. Thrusters in Halo 5, I can see what they bring to the table that was not there before. Armor abilities and powerups in Halo’s 3, Reach, and 4 I can see what they added to gameply (though I agree it was best that they were map powerups and not starting abilities). Sprint adds… what exactly? I’m just confused as to what it brings to the table that wasn’t already present.

4

> 2533274805842395;3:
> My problem with sprint is I’m still unclear as to what it adds to gameplay. Thrusters in Halo 5, I can see what they bring to the table that was not there before. Armor abilities and powerups in Halo’s 3, Reach, and 4 I can see what they added to gameply (though I agree it was best that they were map powerups and not starting abilities). Sprint adds… what exactly? I’m just confused as to what it brings to the table that wasn’t already present.

Completely agree,
I dont really care if they throw it in the game.
I just dont want it in the default settings.

People who say, “oh it makes gameplay faster!”
Trust me, all it does is add to a match. Everytime you’re about to die, you can sprint and or thruster out with the click of a button.

But who needs a skill gap right?

5

More Speed = More Fun in my opinion. Would consider only renting 5 if they returned to slow walking like pre Reach Halos. And, I’ve been here since the “good old days”. Can’t go back and enjoy them as much, although Halo 3 was my favorite Halo, it sucks to go back and move so slow.

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> 2533274852044078;5:
> More Speed = More Fun in my opinion. Would consider only renting 5 if they returned to slow walking like pre Reach Halos. And, I’ve been here since the “good old days”. Can’t go back and enjoy them as much, although Halo 3 was my favorite Halo, it sucks to go back and move so slow.

And Sprint is the only solution?

Many have suggested an increase in base movement speed instead of sprint, and then some have suggested an increase in FoV to make it seem faster.

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> 2533274852044078;5:
> More Speed = More Fun in my opinion. Would consider only renting 5 if they returned to slow walking like pre Reach Halos. And, I’ve been here since the “good old days”. Can’t go back and enjoy them as much, although Halo 3 was my favorite Halo, it sucks to go back and move so slow.

This is a great example of how not to make a pro-sprint argument at least!

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> 2533274835170373;4:
> > 2533274805842395;3:
> > My problem with sprint is I’m still unclear as to what it adds to gameplay. Thrusters in Halo 5, I can see what they bring to the table that was not there before. Armor abilities and powerups in Halo’s 3, Reach, and 4 I can see what they added to gameply (though I agree it was best that they were map powerups and not starting abilities). Sprint adds… what exactly? I’m just confused as to what it brings to the table that wasn’t already present.
>
>
>
> Completely agree,
> I dont really care if they throw it in the game.
> I just dont want it in the default settings.
>
> People who say, “oh it makes gameplay faster!”
> Trust me, all it does is add to a match. Everytime you’re about to die, you can sprint and or thruster out with the click of a button.
>
> But who needs a skill gap right?

Sounds like a player problem and not a game problem. Rarely did anyone in the beta escape me because of thruster and sprint.

People say it closed the skill gap but I did not see it. For me the gap between the good player and the bad player only got bigger.

9

> 2533274835170373;7:
> > 2533274852044078;5:
> > More Speed = More Fun in my opinion. Would consider only renting 5 if they returned to slow walking like pre Reach Halos. And, I’ve been here since the “good old days”. Can’t go back and enjoy them as much, although Halo 3 was my favorite Halo, it sucks to go back and move so slow.
>
>
> This is a great example of how not to make a pro-sprint argument at least!

I’ll respect your opinion, but I disagree with it.
My argument shouldn’t have to be that I have more fun sprinting and rushing/chasing then walking around.
Because if that’s the case, I shouldn’t argue. You’ve made up your mid, and you won’t accept anyone else’s opinion.

10

Why would you want to put your gun down and not be able to shoot or do anything, in an arena first-person SHOOTER, while playing on horrible stretched maps? Doesn’t sound like much fun to me.

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> 2533274846700578;10:
> Why would you want to put your gun down and not be able to shoot or do anything, in an arena first-person SHOOTER, while playing on horrible stretched maps? Doesn’t sound like much fun to me.

That’s implying you’ll be sprinting the entire match, in every single encounter. Stretched maps relative to what? The original trilogy? Halo 5 is its own game, and its maps are proportional to its mechanics and gameplay.

12

Simple. My favourite part of sprint is that it makes it harder for one person to carry an entire team. The fact that it is easier to escape/flee leads to chasing, which inevitably leads to the chasers’ death.

The difference between escaping and fleeing. Not sure how familiar you all are with the MOBA League of Legends, but i shall be using it in this example. Now kiting is a huge part of this game, where TTK is not as high as a normal game, and team fights are always preferable to single person engagements. Regardless of Halo 5’s TTK, it is still higher than the many other myriad shooters on the market. This leads to chasing. Most people who “escape” are smart and run towards teammates, someone they have contact with. The others simply flee as best they can. In either case, more likely than not, a team of 3 or 4 would have had no problem killing the person who was by himself.

Unless you arent running with a team, and you are simply lone wolfing the game, which is what Halo has never been about. In fact, sprint does so much in seperating this game from the likes of CoD and BF that i wish they had put it in sooner. Halo 3’s TTK is much higher than Halo 5, but the chance of escape is inveitable. This is not skill, these forced encounters between two players. Any smart player would prefer to kill someone without them getting a single shot off, and that is what Halo 5 will favour the most in gameplay.

See you Q4 2015

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> 2533274848599184;12:
> Simple. My favourite part of sprint is that it makes it harder for one person to carry an entire team. The fact that it is easier to escape/flee leads to chasing, which inevitably leads to the chasers’ death.
>
> The difference between escaping and fleeing. Not sure how familiar you all are with the MOBA League of Legends, but i shall be using it in this example. Now kiting is a huge part of this game, where TTK is not as high as a normal game, and team fights are always preferable to single person engagements. Regardless of Halo 5’s TTK, it is still higher than the many other myriad shooters on the market. This leads to chasing. Most people who “escape” are smart and run towards teammates, someone they have contact with. The others simply flee as best they can. In either case, more likely than not, a team of 3 or 4 would have had no problem killing the person who was by himself.
>
> Unless you arent running with a team, and you are simply lone wolfing the game, which is what Halo has never been about. In fact, sprint does so much in seperating this game from the likes of CoD and BF that i wish they had put it in sooner. Halo 3’s TTK is much higher than Halo 5, but the chance of escape is inveitable. This is not skill, these forced encounters between two players. Any smart player would prefer to kill someone without them getting a single shot off, and that is what Halo 5 will favour the most in gameplay.
>
> See you Q4 2015

So you essentially agree and enjoy that sprint lowers the skillgap? As you stated, yes it does make for easy getaways. That’s normally a bad thing. Anyone with half a brain can run to the nearest teamate when one shot. The strategy you described is like armor lock in a way, stall and wait for help.
Escaping in Halo 4/5 is nothing like 3 or 2. Players are always on even terms. If a kid is oneshot he is forced to fight his way out. Of course these variables change with situations. (Such as already behind cover.) And the biggest factor you are not forced to lower your weapon to pursue an enemy.

14

u should probably change your title, it’s misleading

15

I like sprint because it adds another layer.

Halo 4 was the most proactive game in regards to the newest layer to modern shooters: mobility.

What game reinvigorated the idea if mobility in FPS? That’s right, Titanfall. Halo 4 came before that, and 343i is now expanding on that principle in a significant way.

With the the advent if Titanfall, shooters will now go through a period if mobility as a new layer to the current gameplay.

Mobility that, if utilized effectively, leads to more skill-based gameplay as it adds another layer to the already growing number of layers.

So mobility can only be seen as a boone to the Halo franchise because it refreshes the gameplay while also raising the skill cap of the game itself.

Now sprint is, of course, only a small part if mobility that is, without a doubt, easier to use. However, the balance comes down to effectiveness vs ease of use. For example, any derp can use the AR, but you’re objectively less powerful than someone using a harder to use weapon like the DMR. Same applies.

Sprint lowers your ability to react, but it allows you to traverse terrain more easily. Strong upsides and strong downsides.

So yes, even if your near guaranteed kill ran away, you will still have the upper hand regardless of your decision, be it chasing him, running to the nearest power weapon, or simply chilling out.

16

I did not like sprint in Reach or Halo 4, but I like where its headed for Halo 5. The beta sprint was fairly well balanced, and post-beta changes have increased base speed and decreased sprint speed.

I think sprint is in a well balanced spot for Halo 5.

17

I will attempt to bring to the table some benefits of sprint:

Map Traversal: Sprint in general allows faster map traversal, but as people are so fond of pointing out, this wouldn’t be a problem if the maps were smaller. Take it as you will.

Reinforcements: It allows allies to quickly get to your side as well as let yourself get to your allies. If there is a combat zone, players when they respawn, will likely sprint to the location, keeping large firefights going.

Cover to Cover safety: Often times when players are attempting to get to objectives, or better positions with safety in mind, traversing open spaces is SUPER dangerous. Pros say that you should always have your gun out. well if your in the wide open, just about everyone will have the drop on you, not the other way around. Fighting back while trapped in the open is not going to help. So In that case, sprint allows the player to travel open spaces faster to get themselves to cover. As everyone would agree the less time spent out of cover the better, so sprint can fill that hole.

SURPRISE!: More often than not, people crouching are the ones that get the jump on people. But unprepared campers and people not watching their radars closely will be taken by surprise, especially when pared with shoulder charge.

Punishment: Players who are better will get some easy kills on those who don’t know how to use it, and with the new balance act they have going, this is just fine.

Escape: No matter what you say, or if it ticks you off, it allows escape tactics. Don’t think for a moment it is unfair for prey to run, that is how it works.

Feels right: Sure, this is weird, and to some not a good argument. But some of us need to have the ability to use it. Like, we complained when we couldn’t sprint, but we got it and now we’re upset again. Sprint, even if a not widely used tool, just being there is something that many of us just feel comfort in. That, and custom games can take in the mechanic and make you feel it. Like Indie runs? How does it feel to walk from a boulder coming at you versus running from it? Obviously sprinting from it feels more intense.

This is what I had in mind on the fly, maybe another time I could come up with more things.

18

I like what you did here. It lures in people to try and defend sprint, which (don’t have time right now to go into all the reasons why) all are good reasons why sprint is bad for Halo gameplay. They’ve all been explained before as to why they are bad for Halo and good for other titles, so most of peoples responses shouldn’t need me response, but I’ve always wondered what people though Sprint was good for and obviously, people don’t really get that the reason they need sprint is because it’s included in the first place. All it does is make the game more generic and easier to play.

19

It adds nothing-

Encounter A (no sprint)- Two players enter a fight. One wins… (it’s difficult to escape a 1v1 fight without sprint, and therefore doesn’t happen often)
Encounter B (with sprint)- Two players enter a fight, One wins OR a player runs away, prolonging the encounter/game (escaping is much easier/ drags a player out of position

This is a basic explanation, but when you cater in the fact that actually crossing a map takes the same amount of time as a game without sprint, its pretty easy to see why sprint SLOWS down gameplay. Not the other way around…

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> 2533274793162835;8:
> > 2533274835170373;4:
> > > 2533274805842395;3:
> > > My problem with sprint is I’m still unclear as to what it adds to gameplay. Thrusters in Halo 5, I can see what they bring to the table that was not there before. Armor abilities and powerups in Halo’s 3, Reach, and 4 I can see what they added to gameply (though I agree it was best that they were map powerups and not starting abilities). Sprint adds… what exactly? I’m just confused as to what it brings to the table that wasn’t already present.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Completely agree,
> > I dont really care if they throw it in the game.
> > I just dont want it in the default settings.
> >
> > People who say, “oh it makes gameplay faster!”
> > Trust me, all it does is add to a match. Everytime you’re about to die, you can sprint and or thruster out with the click of a button.
> >
> > But who needs a skill gap right?
>
>
> Sounds like a player problem and not a game problem. Rarely did anyone in the beta escape me because of thruster and sprint.
>
> People say it closed the skill gap but I did not see it. For me the gap between the good player and the bad player only got bigger.

Great anecdote, it’s not an argument though. Fact is sprint gives the player the ability to run away easily and slow down the game. It doesn’t matter if you never saw it, it still is an issue, that’s like saying global warming isn’t real because It snows in my home town of anchorage Alaska.