- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Let's see, you didn't flaunt your skill in Halo, yet you brought up strong evidence that you've had experience with the pros. That's something I don't see often on this forum. You get a gold star.
Anyway, I agree with you completely. Mods can really take the fun out of playing, online or at LANs, unless, of course, you're just goofing around shooting Spartans out of the LAAG or something. Then it's hilarious.
As for your second point, I also agree. Halo2 will most likely have more options towards weapon spawns and such, but you could always take out the rocketlauncher in Halo:CE anyway. You can always choose plasma, rifles, snipers, shotguns or any other weapon setting that doesn't include rockets. Even if they had the option to turn it off now, I don't think most tournaments would turn it off because it's abused. After that, they'd just camp the sniper rifle instead.
You're also right about spawn times. Spawning on top of a grenade really takes a lot out of the chances you have at getting anything done, and people like me are too lazy to learn them, but still want a fair chance at winning.
There are two things I'd like to throw in while we're talking suggestions. I know it's been said before, but it's worth saying again. Power-ups should be optional/not present in Halo2 multiplayer. When abused they usually ruin any chance of a confrontation being decided by skill. Ritz is right about the timers, and I remember the first time I went up against Zero-Tolerance there was one thing that really griped me about the whole thing. I was then and am now what you'd call an amateur, but I skill (aiming, shooting, etc.) that I'd say is respectable. Whenever we were on equal terms (same weapons, no powerups) I could usually beat them with my trusty pistol, but that scenario was pretty rare (they may tell you different, but I've got the real story here). They used their stopwatch not just for the rockets, but also for the powerups. Hardly ever did I encounter one running around who wasn't camo'd or didn't have an overshield. Now I know it's possible to beat people with these powerups, and I've done it before. However, at the skill level of the majority of tournament players, that just isn't possible.
It doesn't bother me that much when I'm beat because my opponent outclassed me with his shooting (heck, my friend used to do it all the time), but that game with Z-T really left a bad taste in my mouth. I knew I at least could have won, but lost because they had control of powerups. It's like losing a bet or a game on a small technecality.
Another thing about Halo multiplayer are the differences between humans and elites in multiplayer. There are none, or atleast there aren't any from what I've heard. While I understand this is done to ensure both sides are balanced, I think something should be done to distinguish the sides. I'm not necessarily saying 'one is stronger, but the other is faster' or anything like that. Those things would take a lot of time to perfect and properly balance, but I think they at least deserve a different weapons loadout. I've heard from an XBL alpha tester (char), at least one other person who tried it at E3 that weapons in Halo2 are very well balanced. If that is the case, then a different weapons loadout wouldn't make any significant difference in gameplay. That would draw a distinction between species without giving any one side a major advantage.
Just some thoughts.