From what I can gather from looking around this forum, there are two distinct groups of people wanting very different things from the campaign. Some people want a campaign experience similar to previous campaigns just with better graphics and gameplay while others want a completely different, freeform campaign.
I propose that for Reach there be three different gametypes
-Campaign
-Classic multiplayer
-Battles of Reach (working title, I'm sure bungie can come up with a much more baddass name, but for now I'll call it Battles of Reach)
Campaign would follow the team of spartans, or whatever we play as in Reach, through a linear campaign following a set story and missions. Everything stays the same as it was but with more content and (hopefully) a longer, more in depth story.
Classic multiplayer would be the same spartan vs spartan action we have seen from previous games. Lots of weapons all over the map and quick action.
As a wise man said "If it ain't broke. Don't fix it"
Battles of reach would be something completely different, I suggest that in each map there would be covenant forces pitted against the UNSC with the humans on defence and the covenant on attack. Each map would have a major objective point which the covenant have to destroy or capture. There would be a lot of covenant forces fighting a pitched battle against the UNSC. Players would play spartans, their actions would sway the tide of the battle.
To reach the objective the covenant would have to push through UNSC territory to get to the objective. Players will be put into squads of 4 and given a series of missions to complete, these could be anything from defend this bunker from the covenant for X minutes, to, clear the covenant out of this spot to make a LZ for reinforcement pelicans. Each completed mission would keep the covenant back for longer while failed missions would allow the covenant to advance.
Players would be given free reign on how to complete objectives, but teamwork would be imperitive.
For this kind of game there would have to be 2 or 3 HUGE maps. Every game would be different. Each map would contain a mix of wide open spaces and close combat areas. There would be no more "small maps=use a shotgun, big map=use a sniper" Players would have to think on their feet and be prepared for a fight in any enviroment.
Possible locations could be a UNSC base with countriside surroundings, a power generator in the middle of a city, a radar empacement in the mountains. Each map would have to bring different challenges.
A countryside map would have infantry fighting in the woods while vehicles and snipers fight through the fields. A city map involve more close quarters combat through winding streets with large squares breaking them up.Combat in the mountains would see pelicans playing a big roll to transport troops across canyons and untraversable terrain.
[Edited on 07.23.2009 10:43 AM PDT]