Halo: Reach Forum
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  • Subject: Clans
Subject: Clans

"I blame canser its going slutting itself around now so are bodys act like were aging faster stupid whore of a desies" ~ GruntX

Does anybody remember the clans of Halo 2? Well, if you don't (and, hopefully, this isn't the case, as that would be embarrassing), I'll explain what they were and how they worked.

IGNORE BELOW SECTION IF YOU KNOW WHAT A CLAN IS.
Generally speaking, clans were just groups of like-minded players that chose to play as teams against other clans. In Halo 2, there was the ability for anybody to create a "Clan", give it a name, and recruit members.

The clan's founder was given the rank of "Overlord", which gave them full control of the clan (recruiting, promoting, demoting, and booting members). The next rank was "Staff", which had slightly less privileges than the overlord. This was followed by "Members", which only had the ability to recruit other members. Finally, there were "Peons", which essentially had no privileges other than participating with the rest of the clan online.

Once a member joined a clan, they were only allowed to be in that one clan. If that player should want to be in a different clan, they would first have to leave the clan that they were in.

As far as functionality was concerned, there wasn't any. Clans in Halo 2 were essentially a separate friends list with a hierarchy system tacked on, and nothing more. As such, they were considered pretty useless. It is for these reasons that Halo 3 had no clan functionality.

Another reason, some speculate, that Halo 3 had no clan functionality was because of a rumored Xbox LIVE update that was intended to enable clan functionality for all games -- not just Halo. This rumor was, however, virtually as old as Halo 2, and nothing of any real substance has ever really come out of it.

IGNORE ABOVE SECTION IF YOU KNOW WHAT A CLAN IS.
I'm not here to say that Halo Reach should bring back the clan system of Halo 2. What I'm here to say is that Halo Reach should create a completely new clan system, far more dynamic and functional than Halo 2's clan system could ever have hoped to be.

My question(s) for you: Would you even want clans for Halo Reach? What would you do to give clans a purpose?

[Edited on 07.21.2009 8:12 PM PDT]

  • 07.21.2009 8:00 PM PDT

VETO!!!!!!

Id love to see a return of clans. I wonder if Bungie does bring them back if they will bring a clan match playlist in?

  • 07.21.2009 8:11 PM PDT

I want clans to make a return.

  • 07.21.2009 8:12 PM PDT

"I blame canser its going slutting itself around now so are bodys act like were aging faster stupid whore of a desies" ~ GruntX

Posted by: Thattacker
Id love to see a return of clans. I wonder if Bungie does bring them back if they will bring a clan match playlist in?

Posted by: GrnDragn
I want clans to make a return.

This is pretty much the opposite of what I want. I don't want clans returning, as that implies they would be as functional -- or functionless, to be specific -- as they were in Halo 2. What I would like is a complete overhaul of the concept of clans. Clans, should they be introduced into Halo Reach, ought to be so much more than those in Halo 2.

Clans ought to have:

1. A unique symbol or badge, similar to personal emblems in Halo 2 and 3, that is shown in addition to a player's own emblem.

2. A color (such as red or blue) to be applied to the team, and possibly their vehicles, during clan matches.

3. A ranking system, separate from matchmaking, that serves to both grade individual clan members and their contributions to the clan, as well as the clan as a whole.

4. A clan-centric file sharing system which allows clan members to more easily access, download, view, rate, and comment on other clan member's forged maps, gametype variants, and videos.

5. A theme, much like BUNGiE.net groups have, that would allow clans to select things such as preferred race (Human or Covenant), heavy vehicle (Scorpion Tank or Wraith), light vehicle (Mongoose or Ghost), etc. These settings could be used to determine how, or with what, clans spawn in clan matches where the gametype is "team's choice".

6. BUNGiE.net group functionality. This idea may be a little out there, but I would love to see the groups of BUNGiE.net serving more of a purpose than just another forum away from the public eye.

  • 07.21.2009 8:29 PM PDT
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Posted by: Achronos
It isn't our shiznit anymore.

Posted by: KneeChee27
My question(s) for you: Would you even want clans for Halo Reach? What would you do to give clans a purpose?


Sign a contract in blood with Bungie.

Anyways, the clan system in Halo 2 was great, but I don't get why it wasn't transferred over to Halo 3. Maybe if Reach has clans, there should be a way of identifying yourself to a clan from the lobby, like when you scroll to their name it shows their service tag. Just include the clan name beside that.

I think if Bungie included clans in Reach, they would be instantly popular. The reason the Halo 2 clans weren't loved was because fans had recently came over from Halo: CE, which had no clan system. But the existing clans in Halo 3 will definately want to stay together when Reach comes out.

EDIT: Also, instead of the predetermined Overlord, staff, member, and peon ranks, why not let the leader choose? The leader would choose what and how many ranks in the clan, the preferred emblem, armor colors and perms. Also the leader could have an option to force the rank requirements on its members (when a member goes up a rank, their character's colors, emblem, etc. changes instantly to that rank's emblem, colors, etc.).

[Edited on 07.21.2009 8:38 PM PDT]

  • 07.21.2009 8:31 PM PDT

"I blame canser its going slutting itself around now so are bodys act like were aging faster stupid whore of a desies" ~ GruntX

Posted by: P3P5I
EDIT: Also, instead of the predetermined Overlord, staff, member, and peon ranks, why not let the leader choose? The leader would choose what and how many ranks in the clan, the preferred emblem, armor colors and perms. Also the leader could have an option to force the rank requirements on its members (when a member goes up a rank, their character's colors, emblem, etc. changes instantly to that rank's emblem, colors, etc.).

I like this idea, so long as these changes to the player's armor, color, emblem, etc. are only present during clan matches. Or, better yet, give the clan's founder the ability to choose when certain clan-centric changes to a member's personal appearance take effect.

This way, players won't be forced into always dawning their clan armor. The leader might have it set up so that players only have clan armor during clan vs clan matches, clan-run custom games, both, or neither.

In fact, this opens up another possibility that I hadn't considered. What if achieving something as a clan unlocked special armor permutations or emblems to be used by the clan and even its individual members?

  • 07.21.2009 8:54 PM PDT

If you want to see the MC die, play Legendary. If you want to see MC finish the fight, play Halo 3. If you want to see MC finish the fight by dieing, why did you waste six years when you could have done it yourself right now?

☼►Popular Fusion - Doing anything, everything, and then some.◄☼

I like the idea of having a playlist for individual players. A clan free for all. May the best representive win. I also like having custom vehicles and the ability to choose the type of tank you want... but first off, the Wraith should be a lot more useful to keep up with the Scorpion, but that's another story.

What would be well welcomed into the community is the ability to customize vehicles as much as they can customize their armor and emblem. Unlockables and all.

Also, if it is possible, I'd like to see the limit on the number of clan members per clan disappear. Some clans in H2 became so popular they had to create branch clans to keep everyone organized. It became a mess. I say take away that limit. If clans get so big that they reach the thousands of members, maybe a search feature would be necessary to find members online, and playing Halo: Reach and then even more specific, in a joinable party.

  • 07.22.2009 10:32 AM PDT
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Posted by: Achronos
It isn't our shiznit anymore.

Posted by: KneeChee27
What if achieving something as a clan unlocked special armor permutations or emblems to be used by the clan and even its individual members?


Brilliant! It would make many more armor perms. But if I may extend this, make clan challenges in both campaign and MM that unlock those armor perms.

For campaign, make the challenges really hard. Probably something like Bungie's recon challenge (levels with all skulls turned on legendary).

For MM, in certain playlists (like Bungie day, for example) have a challenge where each clan has to get a certain exp. The amount of exp would be determined by the size of the clan (members x 30?). That way large and small clans have equal chances at completing the challenges.

  • 07.22.2009 10:52 AM PDT
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Legends never die.

Clans r -blam!-

  • 07.22.2009 10:52 AM PDT

"Dear Humanity; we regret being alien bastards. We regret coming to Earth. And we most definitely regret that the Corps just blew up our raggedy-ass fleet!"
—Avery J. Johnson
click it you know you want to

Posted by: P3P5I
[EDIT: Also, instead of the predetermined Overlord, staff, member, and peon ranks, why not let the leader choose? The leader would choose what and how many ranks in the clan, the preferred emblem, armor colors and perms. Also the leader could have an option to force the rank requirements on its members (when a member goes up a rank, their character's colors, emblem, etc. changes instantly to that rank's emblem, colors, etc.).

in halo 2 all new members automattically became a member, but the leader could choose what rank they had in the clan(i.e. overlord, staff, member, or peon)

  • 07.22.2009 11:41 AM PDT

I liked the halo 2 clans, good idea, and what I would like is that in a clan you can make your own emblem, and everyone had to wear it, that would be awesome.

  • 07.22.2009 11:42 AM PDT

Didact's Reprisal -
Now is the time of our unworlding
One final effort is all that remains
And I am not afraid
We shall fulfill our promise
We fight for the grace of the Mantle
And this time none of you will be left behind

One can dream..

  • 07.22.2009 11:55 AM PDT

i do want them back. i remember in halo 2 alot of people took alot of care into the clans they would make websites, team practices, their own ranking system but i would love to see the clan system back into halo where it belongs. they need to make a few changes or improvements is the better word for it. make a custom ranking system you allowed to have as many ranks and call them what we want (of course there will be a censor in it). when you hit the start button you can select a page and it goes to ur clan page showing roster schedule and news.

  • 07.22.2009 11:59 AM PDT

The H2 clans were so good. now there's people going around asking if want to be in a clan. If you say yes then it's a 3 hour step by step method to change your entire gamer card. Clans these days suck.

  • 07.22.2009 12:04 PM PDT

"I blame canser its going slutting itself around now so are bodys act like were aging faster stupid whore of a desies" ~ GruntX

Posted by: Dustinw1
Posted by: P3P5I
[EDIT: Also, instead of the predetermined Overlord, staff, member, and peon ranks, why not let the leader choose? The leader would choose what and how many ranks in the clan, the preferred emblem, armor colors and perms. Also the leader could have an option to force the rank requirements on its members (when a member goes up a rank, their character's colors, emblem, etc. changes instantly to that rank's emblem, colors, etc.).

in halo 2 all new members automattically became a member, but the leader could choose what rank they had in the clan(i.e. overlord, staff, member, or peon)

I think you're misinterpreting what P3P5I said. He suggested that instead of there only being four ranks, each with a predetermined name, that the rank system provide you with various rank "slots" (similar to what is done for BUNGiE.net groups) that can be assigned names and privileges by the clan's founder. While having a limitless number of ranks might be unfeasible, having more than four would certainly be welcomed.

Posted by: sPidey kOon
I liked the halo 2 clans, good idea, and what I would like is that in a clan you can make your own emblem, and everyone had to wear it, that would be awesome.

Remember, this is more of a plea to have a completely new clan system employed -- not a request for BUNGiE to revive the old system from Halo 2. Ideally, clans would be more than just a secondary friends list. As far as forcing clan emblems is concerned, I think a better idea would be either to have a separate clan emblem that displayed next to each clan member's personal emblem or to only display one's clan emblem when playing as part of that clan (in clan vs clan matches, for instance). It shouldn't be necessary for a player to always have the same emblem as every other clan member.

Posted by: Rauch51
The H2 clans were so good. now there's people going around asking if want to be in a clan. If you say yes then it's a 3 hour step by step method to change your entire gamer card. Clans these days suck.

Becoming part of a clan is so much more difficult these days because there's no official support for them. Xbox LIVE has no enabled clan functionality, and no games have a clan system of their own (at least, none that I know of). Ideally, Halo Reach clan support would give players a place to organize while in-game. Following that same train of thought, it shouldn't just be a list, like it was in Halo 2. Ideally, Clans would function like a customizable player hub.

  • 07.22.2009 1:21 PM PDT

If there was no bungie there would be no fun.

Posted by: Thattacker
Id love to see a return of clans. I wonder if Bungie does bring them back if they will bring a clan match playlist in?


dito some kind of clan ranking system. Also Clans get to chose how many ranks they want. Also the clan emblem etc....

[Edited on 07.22.2009 1:30 PM PDT]

  • 07.22.2009 1:24 PM PDT
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Posted by: Achronos
It isn't our shiznit anymore.

Posted by: KneeChee27
I think a better idea would be either to have a separate clan emblem that displayed next to each clan member's personal emblem or to only display one's clan emblem when playing as part of that clan (in clan vs clan matches, for instance).


I like it, but how would the game be able to recognize if the player is in a clan match versus a regular custom game (I'm assuming Reach will have a similar setup as Halo 3)? Maybe when a high ranking officer in the clan joins your game all members automatically change their appearance. Or perhaps all high ranking officers can turn on clan appearance (thus changing all member's appearances) in just the game they are in. It could be a small setting off to the side.

  • 07.22.2009 2:10 PM PDT
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I loved clans in H2. My friends and I would always make one together.

  • 07.22.2009 2:13 PM PDT

"I blame canser its going slutting itself around now so are bodys act like were aging faster stupid whore of a desies" ~ GruntX

Posted by: bansheeownz
I like the idea of having a playlist for individual players. A clan free for all. May the best representive win. I also like having custom vehicles and the ability to choose the type of tank you want... but first off, the Wraith should be a lot more useful to keep up with the Scorpion, but that's another story.

What would be well welcomed into the community is the ability to customize vehicles as much as they can customize their armor and emblem. Unlockables and all.

Also, if it is possible, I'd like to see the limit on the number of clan members per clan disappear. Some clans in H2 became so popular they had to create branch clans to keep everyone organized. It became a mess. I say take away that limit. If clans get so big that they reach the thousands of members, maybe a search feature would be necessary to find members online, and playing Halo: Reach and then even more specific, in a joinable party.

Choosing a color scheme for your clan's vehicles (or having clan colors assigned to vehicles) would be interesting, as would having the clan's emblem or custom decal placed onto the vehicle. Even if it were just made to look like a rough paint job, it would add a feeling of ownership to the vehicles that your clan spawns with. It would also feel that much more satisfying for an enemy when they steal it and use it for their own benefits.

Posted by: P3P5I
Posted by: KneeChee27
I think a better idea would be either to have a separate clan emblem that displayed next to each clan member's personal emblem or to only display one's clan emblem when playing as part of that clan (in clan vs clan matches, for instance).


I like it, but how would the game be able to recognize if the player is in a clan match versus a regular custom game (I'm assuming Reach will have a similar setup as Halo 3)? Maybe when a high ranking officer in the clan joins your game all members automatically change their appearance. Or perhaps all high ranking officers can turn on clan appearance (thus changing all member's appearances) in just the game they are in. It could be a small setting off to the side.

Well, there are a few ways of dealing with it; though, it would probably be a mix between what the user chooses and what the game determines based on what the user has chosen.

When in a party, the group leader would probably have an option to turn a "Clan Mode" on and off. When clan mode is off, it would be like a normal online party. When clan mode is turned on, it would filter out all party members who are not part of the clan. It could also potentially promote the highest-ranking clan member in the party to the status of party leader (though, I'm still on the line about whether or not something like that should happen). The system might also require a clan member of a certain rank to be present if it is to function at all.

Once clan mode is turned on, players' armor type and color would be altered (depending on what the clan founder chose for the clan's settings). The party would then be able to enter a clan vs clan matchmaking playlist, which would pit clans against each other in team games. Each individual player would accrue their normal experience points, but they would also being to build up additional, personal experience inside their clan. On top of this, the clan itself would gain or lose XP based on whether or not its members succeed.

Obviously, the idea needs to be fleshed out a little more, but that's the basic premise for how it would probably work.

[Edited on 07.22.2009 5:47 PM PDT]

  • 07.22.2009 5:16 PM PDT

You know you are running a hard course when your ears pop during the meet.-me

They should make an in game gamebattles with win-loss records for official clan matches. There would be a matchmaking to compete with other clans and a challenge system to challenge clans.

No disputes because the game would know who won! then update stats automatically afterwards.

They might think: let's not do this unskilled/new players won't like it.

But this would help seperate hardcore players from unskilled ones through a more targeted matchmaking.

  • 07.22.2009 5:42 PM PDT

"I blame canser its going slutting itself around now so are bodys act like were aging faster stupid whore of a desies" ~ GruntX

Posted by: Shadowfox117
They should make an in game gamebattles with win-loss records for official clan matches. There would be a matchmaking to compete with other clans and a challenge system to challenge clans.

No disputes because the game would know who won! then update stats automatically afterwards.

They might think: let's not do this unskilled/new players won't like it.

But this would help seperate hardcore players from unskilled ones through a more targeted matchmaking.

I think clans would actually help to better integrate the "hardcore" and "unskilled" players, as it would provide a kind of training ground for those who may lack skill to play alongside and learn from those who have more experience. Currently, matchmaking pairs people up according to their skill, meaning that unskilled players play alongside, and against, players with relatively the same level of skill. Clan matches would be more or a mixing pot, allowing people with varying skill levels to fight others with a similar variation in skill.

Posted by: Achronos
One of the things I often do toward the end of the year is spend some time thinking about tools and technology for future bungie.net related projects. While I can't normally share a lot of this process with you guys because of how it intricately ties to our game projects, occassionally there are ways that you can be helpful. This is one of those times.

As you may know, one of the less well developed areas of bungie.net is the group system. First, a bit of history - the group system was once the primary focus of bungie.net. It was designed to provide a way for people to organize into lan party groups to play the original Halo with. After Xbox Live came around, this purpose was lost, and it because just a general social group system. This was enough for a while, but there are lots of other larger and more feature rich social gathering points on the Internet now (Facebook, MySpace, etc.)

Let me be clear - Bungie.net's groups need to be refocused to a specific purpose. An obvious source of that purpose is our games. So, I open the floor to you. I'm looking for ways you'd want a social group to hook into the games. Ideas should not contain things that would require you to modify/patch Halo 3 itself, so don't go there. An example would be how you think fileshares, tagging, or stats could be used in a group related way. Or, what is there now that prevents you from doing things the way you want? How's group discoverability to you? What would you change? We're talking big ideas here, not silly little things about how you want more security roles or colored text or stuff like that. That is not what this discussion is about. Think bigger than that.

Remember, the goal is to make the groups have purpose appropriate to bungie.net. I'm not interested in ways you think we could change groups to compete with MySpace or Facebook - we're not trying to do that.

Please bear in mind that this is a hypothetical discussion, and I'm mostly looking for things to spark my own brainstorming, albeit informed by my knowledge of our future projects. In other words, don't expect anything from this, but you never know.

Note: people being idiots in this thread will face a severe ban, don't test me.

No, Achronos didn't post in this thread, but I thought that I would bring it up, as the idea of clan's having group functionality has been floating around my head for some time. I'm an avid group goer, spending most of my time on BUNGiE.net in my private chapters (and spending most of my time online, on BUNGiE.net).

The ability to link clans to groups, much like players link gamertags to their BUNGiE.net profiles, would add a whole new level of purpose to BUNGiE.net's private chapters. Being able to post news that is available to both clan and group members would be amazing. Imagine being able to manage group settings both on and off Xbox LIVE. There seems to be a lot of potential for both groups and clans, and I'd like to see BUNGiE.net playing a far greater role in Reach, as well as any of BUNGiE's future titles.

  • 07.22.2009 8:24 PM PDT

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Posted by: KneeChee27
Posted by: Thattacker
Id love to see a return of clans. I wonder if Bungie does bring them back if they will bring a clan match playlist in?

Posted by: GrnDragn
I want clans to make a return.

This is pretty much the opposite of what I want. I don't want clans returning, as that implies they would be as functional -- or functionless, to be specific -- as they were in Halo 2. What I would like is a complete overhaul of the concept of clans. Clans, should they be introduced into Halo Reach, ought to be so much more than those in Halo 2.

Clans ought to have:

1. A unique symbol or badge, similar to personal emblems in Halo 2 and 3, that is shown in addition to a player's own emblem.

2. A color (such as red or blue) to be applied to the team, and possibly their vehicles, during clan matches.

3. A ranking system, separate from matchmaking, that serves to both grade individual clan members and their contributions to the clan, as well as the clan as a whole.

4. A clan-centric file sharing system which allows clan members to more easily access, download, view, rate, and comment on other clan member's forged maps, gametype variants, and videos.

5. A theme, much like BUNGiE.net groups have, that would allow clans to select things such as preferred race (Human or Covenant), heavy vehicle (Scorpion Tank or Wraith), light vehicle (Mongoose or Ghost), etc. These settings could be used to determine how, or with what, clans spawn in clan matches where the gametype is "team's choice".

6. BUNGiE.net group functionality. This idea may be a little out there, but I would love to see the groups of BUNGiE.net serving more of a purpose than just another forum away from the public eye.


I would love it to be just like this ^^^^^

H2 clans were basically a second friends list, once they got rid of the MM clan matches. IF they can make clans more like the above post, they would be an instant hit.

  • 07.22.2009 8:28 PM PDT

javelin

Bungie doesn't have to make their game around clans so there can be clans. You just have to make your own website and use uniforms like different coloured armour, bio, motto, and emblems. Although if you were able to make a free clan tag and have special playlists and everything else it would be easier.

  • 08.06.2009 10:03 PM PDT