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  • Subject: Fixing the BR While Keeping Matchmaking Accessible in Halo Reach
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Subject: Fixing the BR While Keeping Matchmaking Accessible in Halo Reach
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We all know that Bungie makes great popular games. Have you ever spent the time to think why halo is so popular and why its so accessible? I believe that Halo games are so great because they excel at giving so much variety to players that virtually anyone can find something that they enjoy.

Just look at all of the options that there are in Halo 3's custom settings and forge. The possibilities are endless. All of these options have allowed the spawning of things that we have all come to know and love. This includes, Team snipers, Grftball, Team Slayer, Lone Wolves, Rocket Race, MLG, Swatt, Puzzle Maps, and the list just goes on and on. The fact that players have the power to create their own experience is what makes Halo games so awesome.

I have seen several threads of people asking Bungie to permanently weaken or even remove the Battle Rifle from Halo: Reach. This goes against the very nature of Halo games. Instead of creating more options for players this would remove options and variety.

I do understand that Bungie is a business and needs most of their playlists to appeal and be accessible to the general public, but I also understand that people should not be forced to only play a certain way. That goes against the very nature of giving creative options to the fans. So ideas like removing weapons from the game and making irreversible changes to those weapons are bad because they limit the audience and potential market. Variety is why Halo is so popular the more variety the better.

That is why I propose that Bungie give a few more settings in Halo: Reach as a gesture to players that have stayed dedicated to their games and put the most time into them. These would include options in custom games to alter BR spread, accuracy, and fire rate. Those three settings alone would be monumental to competitive gaming and I for one would be extremely appreciative to know that Bungie put a little effort into the competitive player.

With that being said I (and probably most competitive players) would be perfectly content if Bungie decided to extensively weaken or even remove the BR from most matchmaking playlists. I and many players who enjoy MLG are perfectly fine with having only one playlist and custom settings as our medium for that style of play.

Giving more options to the player is what makes Halo games great in my opinion. I hope that Bungie continues this tradition and thinks about the ideas that I have put forth. Thank you for reading, and I hope people gain a new perspective by the end of this article.

  • 07.31.2009 3:36 PM PDT

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Great post. Maybe make it so we can have the Ce pistol and see how that works out?

[Edited on 07.31.2009 3:56 PM PDT]

  • 07.31.2009 3:56 PM PDT
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Posted by: cpt falcon911
Great post. Maybe make it so we can have the Ce pistol and see how that works out?


I was thinking that if Bungie gave us the same options for the pistol and an option for a scope that would be pretty interesting.

  • 07.31.2009 3:58 PM PDT

Halo 3: Lone Wolves - 44
Team Slayer - 38
Team Doubles - 46
Team Snipers - 25
MLG - 20
Team SWAT - 28
Halo: Reach: Brigadier Grade 2 - 73% Armory Completion

ya i know tns of pros. none of them would be "content" with weakening the BR. what a load of bs

  • 07.31.2009 4:59 PM PDT
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Posted by: stutzand
ya i know tns of pros. none of them would be "content" with weakening the BR. what a load of bs


I was talking about the BR being weaker in playlists that pros hardly ever play. Squadbattle, Team Slayer, Lone Wolves, and Double Team would be playlists that have a supper weak BR. Look at any pros game history and try and find one who plays any of those playlists more than MLG.

If what I am suggesting would happen then MLG would be given a BR as good as the one in halo 2 or better. Do you know any pros that don't want that?

  • 07.31.2009 5:13 PM PDT

I agree, I mean, at the moment I actually associate matchmaking with the BR, like the two are inseparable. Because it's basically the best weapon in the game, and that's bad.

  • 07.31.2009 6:12 PM PDT
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I think that if it is AR starts and everyone has to run to a BR in order to stand a chance that is pretty lame. It ruins the whole point of having fun using all of the weapons. If a game type is AR starts I think that BRs should almost be a power weapon with 2-4 on the map. So that you don't get team shot as much off spawn with little protection.

However I am an avid MLG player and get a lot of satisfaction out of the intense amount of teamwork and awareness that BR starts gameplay creates. When you spawn with a BR you can instantly defend your self against almost any weapon off spawn. That is one of the reasons that I enjoy MLG's settings. Another would be that the best players play it and nothing is better than beating pros, once in a while, at a game that they play more than you.

  • 07.31.2009 6:45 PM PDT

Every time you sneeze into an open Febreze portal the boner-tree drive shaft will spin into ketchup. But it doesn't stop at the number two pizza bell, not even close. It continues into the seventy eight minute long pile of green, sobbing cheese trains with no more butter, but more like the steak owed the tin cans some lovin'.

Maybe the BR's spread could be tightened and the damage decreased, so it takes maybe 6 bursts to kill instead of 4. That'll make other weapons more useful at close range, and at longer ranges where the current BR isn't accurate enough and may take more than 4 shots anyway, it'll be pretty much the same, but more consistent.

  • 07.31.2009 7:10 PM PDT

The BR is overpowered. I am sorry. But it is.

Have you noticed how in a BR game, the only weapons that are picked up are the sniper, shotgun, and rocket launcher? And those who pick up other weapons normally die very quickly.

Most people aren't trying to weaken it. They are trying to give other weapons purpose. This can be done while keeping the BR useful.

The BR should be decreased in power, and other weapons should be given a boost. That way, every weapon has an equal chance of beating another. So if two players face off with an SMG and a BR, whoever wins knows their weapon better.

Then Halo can be a test of true gun skill. Not just who can squeeze the trigger 4 times faster than the other guy.

[Edited on 07.31.2009 9:52 PM PDT]

  • 07.31.2009 9:51 PM PDT

I hunt for the Prophet of Contentment, the San 'Shyumm that murdered my son, and stole his birthright, his Energy Sword. They call our species Heretics. They claim to all that our tongues sting, our words a vile poison that feeds on the unworthy. I have seen the true face of Heresy. The head of a gallant warrior lay on the ground. His neck scorched and blistered, scarred by his own blade. I shall retrieve the weapon, and drive it through that bastard's heart! Punishment for his sins is nigh.

The BR, CE pistol, AND Carbine should all disappear, that would fix the game.

  • 07.31.2009 10:12 PM PDT

That is just being rash. There are ways to keep them in. We just need to think of one.

  • 07.31.2009 10:33 PM PDT
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Posted by: headcrab53
Maybe the BR's spread could be tightened and the damage decreased, so it takes maybe 6 bursts to kill instead of 4. That'll make other weapons more useful at close range, and at longer ranges where the current BR isn't accurate enough and may take more than 4 shots anyway, it'll be pretty much the same, but more consistent.


This is a good idea. In custom games all you would have to do is turn up the damage for MLG settings. In Bungie MM the BR would be pretty weak, but still able to keep snipers out of scope.

  • 07.31.2009 11:17 PM PDT

I've never had a problem with BRs in matchmaking. If you're being shot by a BR stop running in a straight line. Strafe randomly, you are much harder to hit. Some people don't understand this concept.

[Edited on 07.31.2009 11:52 PM PDT]

  • 07.31.2009 11:52 PM PDT
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The best thing to do when you are in a game dominated by BRs is to be aware of when you are in cover and when you are in the open. Sounds pretty obvious right? If you are more careful to avoid being out in the open away from any cover then getting away from any mid to long range weapon is nearly impossible. So stick close to walls that you can hide behind (or escape) whenever you need to if you start getting shot.

Most things that make people good at Halo are just plain common sense. Another example would be awareness of power weapons spawn times.

  • 08.01.2009 4:53 AM PDT

Yea, there is no reason to weaken or remove the BR. IF they did that, think of how squad battle would be. Everyone running around with a AR and a pistol. It would be ridiculous. Everything would become way out of balance.

I think altering any weapon even the slightest in Halo 3 matchmaking is completely retarded and shouldnt be done at all. If anything add a new weapon but dont remove or change existing ones, especially one so versitale as the BR.

Because to be honest i have never met someone over the rank of 25, possibly lower, that didnt like the BR and those people are at that level because they dont learn it. If you removed it because someone at level 25 doesnt like it, think of what it would do to the guys like me who are up in the 48-50 level range of TS.


Again, out of the question for me.

  • 08.02.2009 12:53 PM PDT

umm..... your an elite go not suck and uhh the BR is your most used weapon smart one

  • 08.02.2009 1:51 PM PDT

Please never make any games OP >_>

  • 08.02.2009 2:06 PM PDT
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Posted by: Fos Tis Krisis
The BR, CE pistol, AND Carbine should all disappear, that would fix the game.
Then you would be complaining that the Sniper Rifle is overpowered, or do we remove that too?

The truth is, the game would be broken without the BR. There would be no weapon to bridge mid and long range, and no weapon to defend yourself from snipers. Making the BR less effective than it already is, isn't an option either.

  • 08.02.2009 2:15 PM PDT

I agree with the OP and i support this idea. More options = better game. More customization = better game.

  • 08.02.2009 2:18 PM PDT

Posted by: SamYoolSun
I agree with the OP and i support this idea. More options = better game. More customization = better game.


The OP and this guy^ speak good sense. People complaining that Halo 3's BR is overpowered or otherwise unfair in games probably never played Halo 2. I barely even played Halo 2, and I still vividly remember how good it was; compared to H3's BR, it's closer to the sniper rifle (at least with BxRs, etc.).

I would have thought it was clear that Battle rifles were generally meant to beat Assault rifles, because they are more versatile, more accurate and, in the hands of a skilled user (nevermind how good the AR user is), more likely to win.

Customisation of weapon aspects is the best solution I can see for people who believe the BR is overpowered (or even underpowered) in the current state of affairs.

[Edited on 08.02.2009 4:44 PM PDT]

  • 08.02.2009 4:41 PM PDT

Posted by: Tonoottu
Never design a game OP... seriously for those who don't know how to use the BR already have the Social playlists.....the BR is just fine as it is now


If Social playlists are for people who don't know how to use the BR, why are BRs in the Social playlists? I think you are mistaken

  • 08.02.2009 4:46 PM PDT

Here’s what Luke had to say about the differences in treatment between the Spartans and Elites in Reach:

“Instead of piece-by-piece customization like the Spartans, Elite customization is a full model swap with models selected from the various Elite classes appearing throughout the Campaign. There are all kinds of reasons for this, not the least of which is our continued emphasis on the Spartan as your identity in Reach.”

Why restrict it to a certain weapon?

Why not allow adjustments to all weapons, per gametype?

  • 08.02.2009 4:48 PM PDT

com on the BR is awesome if u cant use it then dont dats y dey also give u n AR wit it but bout the matchmaking how bout making ranking up a little easier im just saying here

  • 08.02.2009 4:51 PM PDT
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Posted by: SamYoolSun
I agree with the OP and i support this idea. More options = better game. More customization = better game.


Finally someone who understands what I am saying. More options and more customization is better for everyone. From MLG players, to zombie lovers more options=win.

  • 08.03.2009 11:42 AM PDT

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