OP:
The reason the BR wasnt called out at being a OP in Halo 3 is because Bungie decided the loadouts for each playlist and said ‘Deal with it’. There was no customisation, and the only thing comparable to the BR in terms of being a precision utility weapon in H3 was the Carbine, which of course, was never included as a starting weapon. If the BR was replaced by the Carbine in Halo 3, then it would have been a Carbine fest and nobody would have complained then, on the competitive side of the scale.
Halo 4 of course, introduced something that was always going to be difficult to balance by its very nature: Custom Loadouts.
Call it what you want, Call of Duty copying or whatever, I couldnt care less, it is what is, its here to stay so we may aswell just shut up and get used to it. Yeah I enjoyed knowing what everyone on the battlefield was going to have in Halo 3 too, I loved it, but I also appreciate certain things with the Loadout system.
I like that 343 put 4 precision weapons in Halo 4.
I like that they TRIED (at launch) to give every weapon an optimal role on a map by map basis.
It adds another level of planning and skill to the game. You cant just bash out Halo 4 and get super good with one weapon because you know it can carry you at al ranges, you have to get good with MULTIPLE weapons and depending on the map utilise it correctly.
The DMR has been the exception, and this is why I said 343 had TRIED to balance the weapons at launch.
In regards to the Weapon Update thus far, 343 are doing a very good job (one that probably should have been done pre-launch when you think about it given the changes they are proposing. Heck its almost like very little play-testing was done at all, and if it was, it was never expanded to include a multitude of skill ranges/gamers).
The DMR’s nerf:
- Ive followed the Bulletin’s closely since 343’s revelation of the Balance Patch and their proposed nerf of reducing the Red Reticle Range (aim assist is at its strongest when your reticle is red while aiming at an enemy). IS the perfect nerf. Nerfing any more than that would damage Halo 4’s already fragile population. You have to remember there are ALOT of casuals and lesser experienced players out there who will use nothing but the DMR because its so easy to use, thus buffing all the other weapons including the AR’s to prevent close range domination by the DMR is the perfect solution. It allows players to still feel comfortable with the weapon they have over-used for months now, while giving those against its use the opportunity to truly utilise each weapon in its optimal playspace.
The BR’s Buffs:
- Matching the Rate of Fire of the BR with the DMR while pushing it down to a 4 shot kill on the 11th bullet (very important that it was the 11th not the 12th), has given the BR its space back, the close to mdeium battles should always have tipped in favour of the BR, and yet, it has always been far too easy to waltz in with a DMR and beat the BR. No more, that occurance will come far less often, as it should of at launch, and finally, the BR can dominate at its allocated playspace.
Pro Tip: If you are still trying to cross map people on Complex after the patch with the BR, you have no right to complain about being dominated by the DMR. You have forfeited your right to complain by actively preventing yourself from improving at Halo 4 by not accepting that every weapon has its optimal range.
The Carbine’s Buffs:
- This buff is the one I’m most excited for. Requuring one less shot to kill with absolutely NO penalty is a ridiculously generous buff and the proposed tightening of its spread to truly underline the Carbine’s PRECISION weapon potential will make this weapon absolutely deadly at Close - Medium range. In the hands of the skilled user, this weapon will be brilliant, and yes I know its not for everyone but that is merely the nature of a Loadout system.
The Light Rifle’s Buffs:
- This for me will be the prize jewel many of us DMR haters will be looking forward to the most. The secondary fire’s increased rate of fire of the already fastest killing precision loadout weapon in the game (in case you didnt know) coupled with the increased Red Reticle Range to match the DMR’s, will be what truly dethrones DMR users on maps such as Complex / (Insert BTB Forge Map here). Heck even now, its amazing how few people understand the effectiveness its secondary fire has in team situations. Most people even now, dont realise that A SINGLE SHOT of its secondary fire onto a fully shilded enemy, will allow a teammate using a DMr or BR to finish that damaged player in just THREE SHOTS. In Team Doubles Ive been taking full advantage of just that with my teammate in Doubles Pro. All I have to do is put one zoomed shot into both the enemies, and they are now 3 shot kills for my teammate using a DMR / BR, and thats not counting any more hits I may land while zoomed in. I wish more people would understand its strengths, its disappointing not seeing this used more in War Games, but alas, Im certain it will on June 3rd, it wont take long for people to start wondering why that magicly easy 5 shot on Complex across the map isnt coming as easy to them as it was before. This my friends, will be the King of Long Range duals, and so it should be and should have been at launch. Its primary fire, well I never used to understand why it was so bad at close range until I realised the Light Rifle’s burst fire mode shoot’s ALOT slower than the BR, and its unbelieveably easy to miss single shots of a burst just by over-relying on aim assist when battling at Close Range using its primary fire. However, Im not complaining about this, I understand where its strengths are which is why I actively attempt to avoid Close Range situations with the Light Rifle.
June 3rd.
The day Halo is re-launched.
Get ready for it.
Its gunna feel new, and its gunna feel real.