Character Artist -- Electronic Arts
Posted by: TheBigShow
Posted by: All of humanity
Posted by: TheBigShow
Increasing the weapon range would open up the gameplay more and allow players to utilize the maps in unique ways. Usually what dictates a players use of a weapon in the map geometry. In close quarters parts of the map, close range weaponry is generally used. When the map is more open, longer range weapon is used. However, in Halo 3, the weapon ranges, aside from the sniper rifle, are laughably short. You can't effectively use any of the common weapons, BR more specifically, on many parts of the map. You are forced to engage at close range because thats the only time you can be effective.
I want the game to allow players to use skill and be able to effectively engage enemies from more parts of the map and force players to think more about their exposure and movement. I'm not asking that it be super easy to kill enemies from far away - it should be very hard to do so, but it should be limited by the players ability, not some arbitrary spread of the weaponry.
So what you're saying is that's it not necessarily the range of the weapon but the size and how the map is configured? Though I partially agree about the lack of range.
Sort of; the range is the issue, but the map plays a large role in how it all comes together.
When I ask for longer ranges on the weapons, most people immediately think that the BR (or other mid-range weapon) will be used everywhere and that no other weapons will be used. Thats not the case. The map and how its configured plays a large role in which weapon is the best to use.
In Halo 3, most of the maps are quite diverse in their geometry. They all feature small, tight areas and they all feature areas of long sight lines and good angles. Logic would dicate that in the smaller, tight areas, close range weapons should be used and in the more open areas, longer range weapons would be used. However, Halo 3 doesn't provide players with a common (meaning readily available) weapon that allows them to take advantage of the longer sight lines and more open spaces. Instead, we're given a huge amount of spamming close range weapons, and a few "mid range" weapons that can't even effectively use the open spaces on the smallest maps in the game.
If the every weapon were given a range increase, some more so than others, then the maps would become much more accomodating. Rather than players being forced to play a close range game because the game doesn't give them anything to use a mid to long range, players could choose their engagements. They could still play a close range game, by using the close range areas and intelligently moving about the map, but they could also engage in long range battles in the more open areas of the map. It would create a much more diverse gameplay that accomodates all play-styles rather than forcing players into close range encounters.
Your definition of Long Range is pretty dramatic.
Why don't you provide some specific sight lines on a specific map.
Because I consider the BR to be Mid-long range.
As far as providing the player with weapons to engage with at long distances, thats up to the gametype. The only thing they would need to change is a reduction in the Carbine's Rate of Fire, increase its damage per round, and give it a higher zoom of 8x or something.
But speculation only goes so far. A change like weapon range across the board would be impossible to truly evaluate without testing extensively with a diverse population of players and player types.