Halo: Reach Forum
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  • Subject: the H3 BR is perfectly balanced
Subject: the H3 BR is perfectly balanced
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Your friendly and eccentric Sangheili forum-poster. :)

The BR in Halo 3 is the most random, over-rated, unrealistic weapon I've ever seen, and believe me, I've seen a lot of them! They shouldn't have messed with the Battle Rifle in Halo 2, it was perfect, a true example of a weapon of the future, just like most others before they went through the "Balance" process.

  • 07.23.2009 6:16 PM PDT

Multiplayer Gameplay
Halo:CE------------------Reach--------Halo2-----------------H alo3
Campaign Experience
Reach----Halo:CE-----------------ODST-----Halo2---------Halo3

Glad that Halo 3 garbage is dead, thanks to Reach.
Unfreakenbelievable!!

Posted by: SweetTRIX
Also i'm not too sure how you came to this opinion of my "idea", I use the BR when I play, frequently, but that does not make it balanced. Quite honestly short-range should only ever be dominated by mid-range, in the mid-range, but with the BR that is not the case. That is my issue.
I could say that the M6G Magnum is effective outside of its mid-range intended use. At close range you can just take out the shields with something and then headshot. That is the case with all headshot-capable weapons. And, that will always be like that with Halo, as long as there are shields and a headshot bonus. But, that doesn't make the BR overpowered. I could say that the Sniper can be used outside of long-range; in fact, I like using it more than a Shotgun up close. Just because it can be used in other areas of gameplay does not make it an unbalanced weapon.

The problem I have with the Carbine taking over the BR's role is that it is too inaccurate, which causes Sniper defense to suffer. That is really the sole reason for the BR having a burst-fire in the first place. Random error of bullet trajectory + single bullet = easier time for Snipers, and I see that as a bad thing. The only way a single shot works for this game's balance is if it is very accurate, similar to the M6D's accuracy. Of course I would have a different opinion if Sniping was harder in this game.

But, don't get me wrong. I hate the fact that the BR does gradual damage and that it's more of a spray tool than a precision weapon. However, the programmed randomness of these weapons give an upperhand to the long-ranged Snipers and Vehicles. It just would not benefit gameplay, IMO. However, a M6D-accurate single shot would work IMO, because skill could overcome the imbalance of the Sniper, and there are also ways to make long-range shooting harder than it was in Halo:CE, like less zoom and less magnetism.

I just think that close-ranged weapons are very limited in what they can do. This is why I believe that saying that the BR is overpowered is just misobservation. Mid-range is the most commonly fought range in a Shooter anyway. The ranged weapons, Sniper included, just have that ability to fight within the close-ranged area; that is kind of the nature of having less limitations.

  • 07.23.2009 6:43 PM PDT

Clearly because the desktop uses a 3 prong plug and a laptop uses a 2 prong plug, the microwave will fill your car with tostitos better

Posted by: Rakata
Let the people that get paid to develop the game decide instead of a community that can't agree on anything. Seriously some say its overpowered, some say it's balanced and others say it's to weak (spread).


I kind of agree that there should be less moaning and "Change this..." threads. They do need to know what the community wants, but at this point its just become overbearing, although what else are we supposed to post about at this point, we really know nothing about Reach aside from its going to be an FPS and that it's coming out in 2010.

I think its a good sign that there are large groups of people who both think that the BR is overpowered and those who think it are fine or underpowered. It probably means that they did a good job of balancing the weapon, better than most people (myself included) realize.

  • 07.23.2009 6:57 PM PDT

Doc: "i'm a pacifist"
Caboose: "your a thing that babies suck on?"
Tucker: "no dude, that's a pedephile"
Church: "tucker, i think he means a pacifier"

Posted by: Jiggly Luv
Posted by: SweetTRIX
Also i'm not too sure how you came to this opinion of my "idea", I use the BR when I play, frequently, but that does not make it balanced. Quite honestly short-range should only ever be dominated by mid-range, in the mid-range, but with the BR that is not the case. That is my issue.
I could say that the M6G Magnum is effective outside of its mid-range intended use. At close range you can just take out the shields with something and then headshot. That is the case with all headshot-capable weapons. And, that will always be like that with Halo, as long as there are shields and a headshot bonus. But, that doesn't make the BR overpowered. I could say that the Sniper can be used outside of long-range; in fact, I like using it more than a Shotgun up close. Just because it can be used in other areas of gameplay does not make it an unbalanced weapon.

The problem I have with the Carbine taking over the BR's role is that it is too inaccurate, which causes Sniper defense to suffer. That is really the sole reason for the BR having a burst-fire in the first place. Random error of bullet trajectory + single bullet = easier time for Snipers, and I see that as a bad thing. The only way a single shot works for this game's balance is if it is very accurate, similar to the M6D's accuracy. Of course I would have a different opinion if Sniping was harder in this game.

But, don't get me wrong. I hate the fact that the BR does gradual damage and that it's more of a spray tool than a precision weapon. However, the programmed randomness of these weapons give an upperhand to the long-ranged Snipers and Vehicles. It just would not benefit gameplay, IMO. However, a M6D-accurate single shot would work IMO, because skill could overcome the imbalance of the Sniper, and there are also ways to make long-range shooting harder than it was in Halo:CE, like less zoom and less magnetism.

I just think that close-ranged weapons are very limited in what they can do. This is why I believe that saying that the BR is overpowered is just misobservation. Mid-range is the most commonly fought range in a Shooter anyway. The ranged weapons, Sniper included, just have that ability to fight within the close-ranged area; that is kind of the nature of having less limitations.


I honestly do see where you are coming from and you explain your view rather well. Seriously speaking I would have no issue with it if it wasn't so effective outside of it's intended range. I do agree about the Carbine, and that is exactly why people weigh towards the BR, but therin lies the issue, there are several situations in the game due to map design, gametype and player strategy that push people towards the BR. Again I have nothing wrong with this playstyle or the people that use it (outside of spawn trapping, I think that crap is cheap as hell), but everyone using something with high frequency and accepting something as a "staple" weapon doesn't make it balanced.

I would love to see a total overhaul of the weapon selection for Reach, a total re-design made to fit in this new game. If we get more of the same in a different setting I'll be pretty dissapointed.

  • 07.24.2009 10:17 AM PDT

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Posted by: ODST is a SCAM
ok so theres 5 ranges

melee range-close range-mid range-long range-extreme long range

the BR is a mid range weapon that will suffice in the adjacent ranges(close and long range)but is useless in the further ends of the range spectrum(melee and extreme long)

that is perfect balance...the BR is meant for mid range but will give you a chance in close and long range vs close and long range weapons respectively

example....the BR will give you a chance vs an AR in close range and a sniper at long range....not a guaranteed win not a guaranteed lose

thats perfect...it leaves the gameplay flexible and makes sure it never becomes a rigid who has the better gun rock paper scissors match

but its not overpowered bcuz in the further ranges from the BR it will give you a guaranteed death

examples-in melee range vs a sword(or shotgun hammer mauler)you will will lose if you have a BR...same goes for extreme long range vs a sniper or laser


as far as the "oh you get too many BR kills vs other weapon kills"

this is true but its not the BR's fault....the BR takes up all the mid range niche...theres no other weapon...while in CQC you have a multitude of weapons spreading out your CQC kills

so in reality the TOD stats are skewed bcuz your CQC kills are spread out over multiple weapons while your mid range kills are all lumped onto the BR

My problem with it isn't that the weapon isn't balanced (because it is), but because there's a Battle Rifle on every corner on every map. It's versatile to the extent that it's the only weapon that you can really use without constantly dying.

My solution is to simply lower the amount of Battle Rifles on maps in Halo: Reach.

  • 07.24.2009 10:27 AM PDT