Halo: Reach Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: The AR and BR
  • Subject: The AR and BR
Subject: The AR and BR

Posted by: urk
Eat raw meat.
Punch a bear in the face.


If you don't know who I am, the feeling is mutual.

It's likely that two signature weapons, the Assault Rifle and the Battle Rifle, are going to return in Halo: Reach. However, I feel that some things will have to change. The BR in Halo 3 outclasses the AR is almost every area and is probably the most powerful weapon in Halo 3. After some thought, I think I have some ways to balance these guns.

The BR is the best rifle of the two because of it's high accuracy, high damage, and long range. All I think would work to balance it is to increase the time between each burst. That way, it is weaker in close-range combat. It should also be given a 3x scope (rather than 2x) for longer range combat.

The AR I think needs a bit more change. Honestly? The Halo 3 AR is bad. On open maps like Avalanche and Valhalla, it is suicide to run around without a BR. It has low range, low damage, and a small clip. The SMG is much better. The AR in Reach should behave like a rifle. The BR is supposed to be a rifle given to designated marksmen, making the AR the standard issue rifle. There should be a reason as to why the lives of every average soldier of the UNSC should rely on this thing. All it needs is longer range and a slightly larger clip (maybe 42, because it's divisable by seven). The Assault Rifle should live up to it's name. It should be used in close and medium range combat. Against the Covenant, the current AR can only chew up two Grunts or tear off a Brutes armour. The Halo: CE AR could take down four Grunts and an Elite with one clip and a single melee. The AR needs an upgrade.

Uncle Kulikov had a good idea. When an enemy's shields is down, the AR finally gets a headshot bonus. Thanks, dude!


[Edited on 08.03.2009 8:42 PM PDT]

  • 08.03.2009 8:11 PM PDT

The Hybrid a FanFic by Tehface

"Look for the signs, the keepers of the flame. They will lead you to war, and perhaps, to victory."

I agree with you. The BR needs to start playing its real role. And the AR is overdue for a little tune up.

  • 08.03.2009 8:16 PM PDT

Posted by: RabidNutCase45
It's likely that these two signature weapons of the Halo games are return.

Not sure if the zero wing-esque grammar was intended, just wanted to point it out in case you wanted to fix it :)

I think the AR is a solid close range combat weapon. With just a bit of strafing, grenade work, and jumping, I can easily beat BR users at close range with the weapon or find myself a BR spawn if I need one. Naturally it isn't as useful on most the big team battle maps, which is why we should have our weapons spawns tailored to the map. BR AR starts default for the big team battle maps, AR pistol starts default for the smaller maps, and then gametypes that alter this starting combo.

I like your idea about increasing the time between bursts though, its one that I hadn't thought of.

  • 08.03.2009 8:19 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.”

Posted by: Hylebos
I like your idea about increasing the time between bursts though, its one that I hadn't thought of.
Maybe give the AR bonus damage for headshots when the target's shields are down.

  • 08.03.2009 8:22 PM PDT

This is my signature nub.

Witha choice between the AR and SMG, you should always go with the SMG, especially if you can dual-wield it. It's a lot more powerful than the AR and is ver underrated AND unexpected ;) .

  • 08.03.2009 8:28 PM PDT

Posted by: Uncle Kulikov
Posted by: Hylebos
I like your idea about increasing the time between bursts though, its one that I hadn't thought of.
Maybe give the AR bonus damage for headshots when the target's shields are down.

I suppose that would be more realistic.

Posted by: BaMunki
Witha choice between the AR and SMG, you should always go with the SMG, especially if you can dual-wield it. It's a lot more powerful than the AR and is ver underrated AND unexpected ;) .

Spikers are more godly than both the SMG and the AR.

[Edited on 08.03.2009 8:30 PM PDT]

  • 08.03.2009 8:29 PM PDT

I intend to live forever, or die trying,

so far, so good.

I think the AR at close range is powerful, but anything past that, your wasting bullets. And I would like to see a bigger magazine.

HALO CE AR magazine was 60. Why not go back to the roots. As Reach is set just before HALO CE. It would make sense.

Plus, having a much larger magazine, would tune it up alot.

  • 08.03.2009 8:35 PM PDT

The BR does not need much changed to it. The problem lies in the AR spread. The AR needs to see a slight spread decrease, a damage increase, and a firing rate decrease. Even if implemented minimaly these changes would make the AR a more skillful weapon and a more versatile one. Also I like the idea of it being headshottable.

  • 08.03.2009 8:37 PM PDT

Posted by: urk
Eat raw meat.
Punch a bear in the face.


If you don't know who I am, the feeling is mutual.

Posted by: Hylebos
Posted by: RabidNutCase45
It's likely that these two signature weapons of the Halo games are return.

Not sure if the zero wing-esque grammar was intended, just wanted to point it out in case you wanted to fix it :)
Yeah, that was a mistake on my part. :P

Posted by: Uncle Kulikov
Posted by: Hylebos
I like your idea about increasing the time between bursts though, its one that I hadn't thought of.
Maybe give the AR bonus damage for headshots when the target's shields are down.
I really think that makes sense. I was wondering whether or not the AR should do more damage, because it is still a deadly weapon at close range. With longer range and a larger clip, I thought that more damage isn't necessary, but I think shieldless headshots are a good idea.

  • 08.03.2009 8:39 PM PDT

i think we should make weapons customizable so we can pick and choose how we decide to upgrade. A scope should be allowed on all weapons and clip customizations kinda like cod's version of weapon customization

  • 08.03.2009 8:42 PM PDT

Just Lucky

The BR is near perfect. And the AR is damn good it actually has a very long range if you know an enemy's sheild is down you can kill them from very far away if you burst it like you should.
But the best thing would be for us just to spawn with both everytime. BR for mid to long, and AR for close-quarters. good plan ; ) can i has recon now?

  • 08.03.2009 8:49 PM PDT

Posted by: urk
Eat raw meat.
Punch a bear in the face.


If you don't know who I am, the feeling is mutual.

Posted by: THOMSY99
HALO CE AR magazine was 60. Why not go back to the roots. As Reach is set just before HALO
I loved the old AR, but I love the SMG even more! The M7 was added because the AR behaved more like a SMG rather than a rifle (Just as the Halo: CE Pistol was removed and replaced by the BR and Halo 2 Pistol). The SMG is fine and doesn't need change, but the AR needs to fill the niche between the spray-and-pray SMG and the long-range BR. That's why I suggested longer range and a larger clip, to put it inbetween those two weapons.

Posted by: PeachyPit
i think we should make weapons customizable so we can pick and choose how we decide to upgrade. A scope should be allowed on all weapons and clip customizations kinda like cod's version of weapon customization
A scope on your shotgun? Blasphemy!

That's fine in most cases, but it just seems that people would make a BR with a long scope and a GIGANTIC (Caps and bolded for emphasis) clip. People would abuse the system and eventually find a super weapon that dominates all. Either everyone would have it or lose all the time.

That idea would work well in single player, but I don't like it for MP Halo.

  • 08.03.2009 8:51 PM PDT

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The Halo REACH Script (post thoughts in thread)

Writing Lead of Whisper Studios. Check out Heron!

Look... I'm on bungiepedia!

I agree... the AR in the Halo games is simply pathetic. It's a glorified SMG. In Halo 2 and 3, the only versatile weapon is the BR (and the Carbine, but Bungie doesnt let you spawn with that and its not on many maps). Everything needs to be able to work at midrange, in the right hands, even the Shotgun, like in Halo 1.

They would not be guaranteed kills at midrange, but you would no longer be guaranteed to die at midrange if you have an AR or PR while your opponent has a BR.

For the BR...
Re-skin the Halo 1 Pistol as the BR, but make it take 5 shots to kill (rather than Halo 1's 3 shots) so it kills about as fast as the BR. It would take more skill, though so it would not be used as much as in Halo 2 and 3. Especially with all other weapons becoming versatile. 2x scope.

For the AR...
Same sound as the Halo 1 AR. 45 rounds/magazine. 10 rounds/second. 20 bodyshots or 10 headshots to kill. Fired full auto, its as accurate (well, in-accurate) as in Halo 1. You can pulse it (2-5 rounds) for a 2x range bonus, and you could use single shots for a 4x range bonus. Firing it single shot would be very accurate, but also a very slow process, so it would be used mainly for peppering snipers or riflemen from afar. It would have a 2x scope like the Halo 3: ODST scope.

[Edited on 08.03.2009 9:37 PM PDT]

  • 08.03.2009 9:36 PM PDT

Posted by: urk
Eat raw meat.
Punch a bear in the face.


If you don't know who I am, the feeling is mutual.

Posted by: MLG Cheehwawa
For the BR...
Re-skin the Halo 1 Pistol as the BR, but make it take 5 shots to kill (rather than Halo 1's 3 shots) so it kills about as fast as the BR. It would take more skill, though so it would not be used as much as in Halo 2 and 3. Especially with all other weapons becoming versatile. 2x scope.
What I see wrong with that is that the Carbine becomes completely overshadowed by the BR. I thought that by giving the BR a longer scope and more time between each burst, that would keep the Carbine and BR two different weapons.

Posted by: MLG Cheehwawa
For the AR...
Same sound as the Halo 1 AR. 45 rounds/magazine. 10 rounds/second. 20 bodyshots or 10 headshots to kill. Fired full auto, its as accurate (well, in-accurate) as in Halo 1. You can pulse it (2-5 rounds) for a 2x range bonus, and you could use single shots for a 4x range bonus. Firing it single shot would be very accurate, but also a very slow process, so it would be used mainly for peppering snipers or riflemen from afar. It would have a 2x scope like the Halo 3: ODST scope.
I like how you started describing. The bonus damage just sounds weird and may be exploitable (Quickly firing bursts would do monsterous damage). I still think you're right about how it should be innaccurate but does extra damage for headshots.

  • 08.03.2009 9:47 PM PDT