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  • Subject: My opinion on whether ranks matter
Subject: My opinion on whether ranks matter
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People argue constantly that ranks don't matter. They say it is just a number, and they are right. But that number does have a value to it (pun). In a race being number #1 means something. A lot of people put time into playing halo and for that most of them see the number get bigger and "better". It is just a natural human reaction to like rewards for actions. and when you take away their rewards, in this case their numbers, it is a natural human reaction to be upset. It doesn't mean that they devoted their life to a rank or their priorities are screwed up. you just gave them a cookie for doing well and then while they were enjoying the cookie you took it away and told them they had to earn it again. On the other hand halo 3 is coming out and these ranks will officially mean nothing then but for right now, i can understand why people have an issue with the ranks reset.

[Edited on 05.11.2007 10:59 AM PDT]

  • 05.11.2007 7:09 AM PDT

Posted by: Recon Number 54
Use your head. The one on your shoulders. No really, just try. Please?

˙sɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɥʇıʍ pooƃ os ʇou ɯ,ı 'ǝɹǝɥ ʇǝƃ sıɥʇ pıp ʍoɥ 'lol

You could have used one of the other 777 threads about the stat reset.

  • 05.11.2007 7:11 AM PDT
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Part of the reason rank doesn't matter is that the system is flawed. Not just because people don't care about rank. People would care more about it if it was a true reflection of Halo skill. Here are a few of the more glaring flaws:

1) You are getting individual rank for the play of teammates. Individual rank should be judged on individual performance.
2) You are only playing players of like or lesser rank. A true rank judges you against all types of players, good and bad.
3) Hardware and connection speed variences make for gameplay advantages.
4) Integrity of other players can't be factored in. (mods, circle boost, standby, de-ranking, bridging host, superjumps)

  • 05.11.2007 8:47 AM PDT
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Posted by: a bad mo fo

1) You are getting individual rank for the play of teammates. Individual rank should be judged on individual performance.


Dude this is a TEAM Game. You realize this right? There's more emphasis on T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K in Halo 2 than individual skill. Sure, having a good BR is definitely something we all try to aim for, but it's useless when you get double teamed and can't take on both.

This game is about Team work. To say that rank should be based on individual skill is WAY off, unless you're only talking about Rumble Pit. You know this is how the high ranked people get their ranks right? They're good, so they play with other good people. Why else do you think there are players out there who play 2000 games of slayer and are still level 25's? They play by themselves, thus, they can't rank up.

2) You are only playing players of like or lesser rank. A true rank judges you against all types of players, good and bad.

Incorrect. A lot of the times you get matched against people much higher than you. A guy can be a 35, match a 28, win and get a 36, then match a 40 next game. And no matter what, you'll either be playing someone higher or lower ranked than you.

3) Hardware and connection speed variences make for gameplay advantages.

I'll give you that. Host in the hands of a good player who knows how to "abuse it" (i.e. host shotty, host gauss, host sniper, host BR) will usually be a deciding factor among players of equal skill.

You get that one, but it's not something to dispute the rank of someone over. Like, it's not fair to say someone is unlegit just because they have a good connection and pull host often.

4) Integrity of other players can't be factored in. (mods, circle boost, standby, de-ranking, bridging host, superjumps)


Can't argue with this one.

  • 05.11.2007 8:58 AM PDT

Yes, this is very much a team-oriented game. More so than halo 1.

  • 05.11.2007 9:09 AM PDT

Strange evolution how people have come to believe
That we are it's greatest achievement
We're barely, we're just a collection of cells
Overrating themselves

Posted by: ICEMAN ASSASS1N
Posted by: a bad mo fo
[quote] 4) Integrity of other players can't be factored in. (mods, circle boost, standby, de-ranking, bridging host, superjumps)

Can't argue with this one.

..and is exactly why rank means nothing.

  • 05.11.2007 9:11 AM PDT

Posted by: ICEMAN ASSASS1N
Kevin's post = breath of fresh air.
Take it from this guy people, he knows what he's talking about.

Second accounts are NOT cheating:
http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=13824

The question here should'nt be wether or not rank is important or if it matters. The question should be wether or not it matters to YOU. Who cares what all the other losers in this game think, if rank is important to you then go for it and if its not then just play customs. I dont even see why this is constantly in debate.

  • 05.11.2007 9:13 AM PDT
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Posted by: KEVINBROCK
The question here should'nt be wether or not rank is important or if it matters. The question should be wether or not it matters to YOU. Who cares what all the other losers in this game think, if rank is important to you then go for it and if its not then just play customs. I dont even see why this is constantly in debate.


Wow that made a lot of sense..........I think Kevin nailed it.

  • 05.11.2007 9:16 AM PDT
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1) My point is, there are alot of players inTeam Slayer with a high rank that aren't very good. They just play with good players. How a true rank in Team Slayer would work is if there were set teams, with team names and everything, and then everyone on that team got the same rank for team play. You would never have a team with 4 guys with all different ranks. You would be ranked as part of the team, not as an individual. Now, you can have a guy get 1 kill and 20 deaths, but as long as the team wins, he gets to move up in rank.

2) I hate to tell you this, but ranks 25 - 35 are pretty much the same skill level. The differences being some guys go in alone, some guys go in with the same party of good players, some guys have a better connection, some guys have played easier opponents...

3) Correct. I didn't say having a good connection didn't make you "legit". It does give you an advantage, therefore putting another fly in the ointment as to the legitimacy of the entire system.

Besides, why do you need a number beside your name to tell you how good you are? You know how good you are. I guarantee there are thousands of players that have a higher rank than their true skill level just because they played on a good team and have a good connection.

I'm not saying you're a bad player. I'm not attacking anyone with a high rank. I'm just saying that rank doesn't mean you're good. Your game play means you're good. I don't need to see someone's rank to know how good they are. When they kick my a$$ I pretty much get the idea.

[Edited on 05.11.2007 10:06 AM PDT]

  • 05.11.2007 9:42 AM PDT
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Let me add some more to this. Ranks do not mean jack -blam!- about how good of a player you are. But they do matter, they do mean something to the people that earned them. It is a form of a reward to most people that play halo. So no, you can't say just because someone got a 40 that they are a good player. They could have cheated their way up there. But someone that spent the time to get to that point legitly spent a lot of time and energy in the game and it just got erased. I mean, you can't tell me that wouldn't suck something huge. Now, if they did it once they could do it again. But still. I'm just tired of someone saying that it sucks that they lost their rank and then someone else coming in and saying ranks don't matter, because they obviously do matter to that person. They worked for whatever rank they had. But again,. ranks in no way equal skill. If someone wants to put time into getting their lvl up, don't clown on them. Everyone has their own deal. Even tho in 5 days almost eveyone will be playing the beta and halo 2 won't mean -blam!-.

  • 05.11.2007 10:37 AM PDT
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That's my point! I'm trying to ease their pain. I'm trying to show them that they shouldn't judge their gaming experience on a rank that they have very little control of. It's like getting pissed at the weather. There's nothing you can do about it, so just enjoy it, rain or shine.

  • 05.11.2007 10:46 AM PDT
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Posted by: a bad mo fo
1) My point is, there are alot of players inTeam Slayer with a high rank that aren't very good. They just play with good players. How a true rank in Team Slayer would work is if there were set teams, with team names and everything, and then everyone on that team got the same rank for team play. You would never have a team with 4 guys with all different ranks. You would be ranked as part of the team, not as an individual. Now, you can have a guy get 1 kill and 20 deaths, but as long as the team wins, he gets to move up in rank.

2) I hate to tell you this, but ranks 25 - 35 are pretty much the same skill level. The differences being some guys go in alone, some guys go in with the same party of good players, some guys have a better connection, some guys have played easier opponents...

3) Correct. I didn't say having a good connection didn't make you "legit". It does give you an advantage, therefore putting another fly in the ointment as to the legitimacy of the entire system.

Besides, why do you need a number beside your name to tell you how good you are? You know how good you are. I guarantee there are thousands of players that have a higher rank than their true skill level just because they played on a good team and have a good connection.

I'm not saying you're a bad player. I'm not attacking anyone with a high rank. I'm just saying that rank doesn't mean you're good. Your game play means you're good. I don't need to see someone's rank to know how good they are. When they kick my a$$ I pretty much get the idea.


I was gonna dispute your number three point, but the rest of your post was really sensible, so Imma just agree with you for the most part.

  • 05.11.2007 11:54 AM PDT
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GT: AccidentsProne

"A wise man once told me don't argue with fools, cause people from a distance can't tell who is who"

What is the argument here? That ranks are a good gauge of skill or do they matter to a particular individual?
I think Bungie does a good job a matching players of similar skill.
If a level 35 plays a level 25 in a game of 1v1 the 35 will win 4 out of 5 times, yes there are exceptions but for the most part the levels are a good indication of skill.
Most people do care somewhat about their skill level, not just because I want to show off my level, but to play in games where I'm not paired with retards who betray if they don't get the sniper or whine if you stole their kill

  • 05.11.2007 12:02 PM PDT

I am a halo noob, and rank matter to me. The only reason it does though, is because i only want to be matched with people of my skill level. Before the rank reset i was around level 12, and i really hated playing an unranked match with someone who was like level 25. I don't care about winning every singe game that i play, but i hate being in the game when second and third place are like 15 kills behind the leader. It's unbalanced, and makes for lousy gameplay.

  • 05.11.2007 12:15 PM PDT
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I have a level 8 in thc at the moment - that makes me kind of happy :D.

I do agree on host issues as well (but I have a bad connection) and I don't cheat (not even button glitches). So I earned what I got :P.

  • 05.11.2007 12:18 PM PDT
Subject: My opinion on whether ranks matter
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-TW1ST3D-

i have honestly dont care about the ranks being reset, but what has definitely made mad is that more games are unranked now. (To Bungie: WTF are you all thinking, I thought the people at your company were actually gamers, I guess not.)

[Edited on 05.11.2007 12:39 PM PDT]

  • 05.11.2007 12:21 PM PDT
Subject: My opion on whether ranks matter
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That's terrific for you. You can put whatever emphasis on rank you want. I'm not saying you're stupid for caring about rank. To each his own. I'm just saying that in my opinion, you are in for some long frustrating games, just like this thread is complaining about, if you care too much about rank because most of it is out of your control.

  • 05.11.2007 12:26 PM PDT
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I enjoy hard games - before the reset I over 950 games of thc played and I was at level 22. I don't care about ranks the same way you do. I play the game how it was supposed to be played - without worrying about my rank EVERY game. If you do that you stop carring about each win and loss he frustration stops (believe me this is much better for health).

Anyway the point is don't play to raise your level, play for the experience. Ranks do mean something, but not everything...

[Edited on 05.11.2007 12:38 PM PDT]

  • 05.11.2007 12:38 PM PDT
Subject: My opinion on whether ranks matter
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I used to think rank was unimportant until this reset! I was always hovering between a level 20 - 25 and didn't care about rank but did love a good close hard fought game. Since the reset I am getting pwned in almost every single game and spend my time cussing more than having fun. I will be glad when everyone gets settled back to where they belong and start having fun again. For now I am hating this game that I used to love.

  • 05.11.2007 1:05 PM PDT
Subject: My opion on whether ranks matter
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Posted by: Accidentus
What is the argument here? That ranks are a good gauge of skill or do they matter to a particular individual?


The argument is that i want people to stop saying rank doesn't matter. Your rank doen't necessarly reflect your skill level because of cheating and host advantages etc., but ranks matter intangibly to the people that spent their time getting to a certain level. People have a right to feel some frustration for losing their ranks and you are ignorant if you just reply to someone that ranks don't matter. Someone else's rank can't really tell much about how good they are, they could have cheated or they might have another account etc. but you know that the rank you have earned yourself means something to you, some more that others. Now the people that come in and whine obsesively are rediculous but the people that are genuinely upset by the rank reset have a decent reason to be, they lost something they worked for.

  • 05.11.2007 1:20 PM PDT
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I agree. I'm just saying you are going to be frustrated then, because you will ALWAYS lose rank because of factors out of your control.

  • 05.11.2007 1:37 PM PDT
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GT: AccidentsProne

"A wise man once told me don't argue with fools, cause people from a distance can't tell who is who"

Posted by: lonoma3
Your rank doen't necessarly reflect your skill level because of cheating and host advantages etc

Rank reflects your skill level 9 times out of ten. Yes I've played with 40's who suck, but more often than not (80% of the time) a level 35 is better than a 25.

Now the people that come in and whine obsesively are rediculous but the people that are genuinely upset by the rank reset have a decent reason to be, they lost something they worked for.
Worked for?? LOL alright I work 8 hours a day and I can tell you that playing Halo is not work. Actually playing Halo is usually the thing I do to get away from work. I can understand if you said they lost their ranks they spent time getting, but it's not working

  • 05.11.2007 1:37 PM PDT