Your team of four land in the midst of the night near a covenant outpost (thing, whatever). Your objective is to sneak into enemy territory without being caught. Unlike previous stealth like missions (truth and reconciliation/nightfall) you land with no weapons due to landing issues or something. All you can do is sneak up behind enemies and assassinate them. This part heavily relies on team co-ordination; keeping everyone out of enemy sights and choosing carefully which targets to eliminate.
Mid way through you come across your weapons and the team splits into two teams of two (say alpha and bravo) in front a large canyon. Alpha team is given AR’s while Bravo is given Snipers. Bravo team takes the high roads while Alpha goes straight through the middle. Alpha team’s objective is to cause a distraction while Bravo team takes out any enemies. This part relies more on team communication with Alpha issuing orders on who to take out first and Bravo watching Alpha’s back and calling out enemies.
The last bit of the mission involves Alpha team taking two data cores (insert-generic-goal-here) as Bravo provides cover via Snipers as they both head towards pick-up.
Would you guys like to see something along these lines for a mission in spartan ops?
> > Problem is, It doesn’t seem sanboxy enough.
>
> what exactly what does this mean?
I think he means that with this style of gameplay, there would be more progression forward, as for awhile you would have to remain hidden, and thus keep moving in order to get to more enemies instead of a bunch all at once like we’re used to in Halo. Plus, they couldn’t see the bodies or they’d know you’re there, and the whole stealth thing’s kaput.
> > Problem is, It doesn’t seem sanboxy enough.
>
> what exactly what does this mean?
I think he means that it seems a little bit like the game is telling you what to do.
Perhaps a better way would be this: you loose your weapons on insertion, but you can steal weapons from the first group you ambush. you can recover your human weapons later as you find them. After you gain weapons it opens up. one way of playing would be the stealth way, and if you break stealth there may be more enemies that are alert. the second part (Alpha and Bravo split up) could also be an option, but the game would allow all players to go the same route.
Give the players the option to go about it in a tactical manner, but it might not be good to force it on players, as not all players like stealth missions, and for other players it limits replay ability because there is only “one” way to complete the mission, that way being the way the mission is scripted to play out.
And remember 343 said the missions would be doable solo. i think your idea as is would be impossible for solo play.
I’d like something more than a gimmicky fire fight with story narrative. I want objectives and a bit of imagination put into these missions. What if you needed to cross open ground with covenant vehicles (ground and air) patroling the territory. So to accomplish this mission you travel in the UNSC Mammoth and use it to launch your own vehicle and troop attacks. When the enemy manages to baord the mobile base you have to dock and clear.
Something like that would make me giddy with excitement.
I like your idea but stealth should be optional if you want some action (it should be much harder to complete without stealth but more option is better). Also sniping should be optional part. Other than that nice idea. I’d like to see assassination missions as well.
> > > Problem is, It doesn’t seem sanboxy enough.
> >
> > what exactly what does this mean?
>
> I think he means that it seems a little bit like the game is telling you what to do.
>
> Perhaps a better way would be this: you loose your weapons on insertion, but you can steal weapons from the first group you ambush. you can recover your human weapons later as you find them. After you gain weapons it opens up. one way of playing would be the stealth way, and if you break stealth there may be more enemies that are alert. the second part (Alpha and Bravo split up) could also be an option, but the game would allow all players to go the same route.
>
> Give the players the option to go about it in a tactical manner, but it might not be good to force it on players, as not all players like stealth missions, and for other players it limits replay ability because there is only “one” way to complete the mission, that way being the way the mission is scripted to play out.
>
> And remember 343 said the missions would be doable solo. i think your idea as is would be impossible for solo play.
Completely forgot about the whole optional thing lol. I do like your ideas as they do add optionality without deviating too far from the original concept. As for solo play I suppose in theory you could grab the Sniper + AR from the mid point and go rambo on the enemies. That is assuming you’ll be alone in solo and the other players won’t be replaced with A.I.