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Subject: Specialties +++ A Way Classes Could Work
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Many of you here are very opposed to the idea of a class-based Halo. I can see why because the same formua has been so successful for so long, but I believe there is a way to add not exactly class-based gameplay but more of a "specialization" kind of thing.

Since the weapons in Halo are not meant to be balanced or good for classes, classes could not exist where you spawn with your choice of weapon. Obviously, everyone would just pick the sniper or rocket and there would be no point in the classes. This would just destroy the game. This means that the only thing that would pertain to "classes" would be your character's preformance.

What I suggest is where you choose what your Spartan excels at. This could easily be done by going to the normal menu where you change control scheme, armor, etc. You would choose "Specialty" and a list of specialties and what they do would come up. This list would include things like:

Fighter---------------------Melee attacks do 25% more damage
Scout-----------------------Active camo lasts 50% longer
Airborne-------------------Jump height is increased by 25%
Survivor--------------------Shields are increased by 25%
Accelerator---------------Speed is increased by 25%
Heavy Weapons--------Turrets, missle pods, lasers, and rockets do 15% more damage
Pilot------------------------Vehicle speed and weapons damage are increased by 10%
Sniper---------------------Weapons with zoom can zoom in 15% more

This is just an idea of what it would be like, not actual suggestions. Bungie would be much better at balancing them out, but you get the general idea. With this system, you would have so much more customization that would only benefit your style of play and not take away from the gameplay. Please share your thoughts on this =)

P.S. If anyone has a good idea, I will add it here

NEW IDEAS:
Thanks go to Jacoby04 for this. Instead of this system being for main multiplayer, there could be just a playlist for it. That way, both the classic Halo fans will be kept happy, as well as the ones who enjoy more of a class-based multiplayer.

[Edited on 08.29.2009 6:37 AM PDT]

  • 08.27.2009 1:39 PM PDT

GT: BigstickToucan

My old Bungie.net account was created February 6, 2008. Unfortunately, I had signed up using my brother's email account (we then shared an Xbox Live account which was linked to my old Bungie.net account), and he changed the password, meaning I couldn't log in. Thus is why I have this account.

No offense, but this idea is just flat out awful.

If Reach has any classes in it I will not buy it at all. I'm sure a lot of people agree.

  • 08.27.2009 1:47 PM PDT
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Did you even read it? I said not classes... can you give me a reason WHY this idea is "just flat out awful'?

  • 08.27.2009 1:48 PM PDT

GT: BigstickToucan

My old Bungie.net account was created February 6, 2008. Unfortunately, I had signed up using my brother's email account (we then shared an Xbox Live account which was linked to my old Bungie.net account), and he changed the password, meaning I couldn't log in. Thus is why I have this account.

Posted by: evanhalo3
Did you even read it? I said not classes... can you give me a reason WHY this idea is "just flat out awful'?
Yes I read it.

It would be completely unbalanced.

  • 08.27.2009 1:51 PM PDT
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I'm one with the warrior inside. The evidence can't be denied. The entire world will stare. Into this battlefield tonight. As I stand before you with a warrior's heart now. I can feel the strength that will Ensure my victory this time

Posted by: NKS22
Posted by: evanhalo3
Did you even read it? I said not classes... can you give me a reason WHY this idea is "just flat out awful'?
Yes I read it.

It would be completely unbalanced.

Not unless everyone picked the same thing.

  • 08.27.2009 1:52 PM PDT
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AGAIN did you read it?! I said that those are NOT suggestions because Bungie could balance it

  • 08.27.2009 1:53 PM PDT

GT: BigstickToucan

My old Bungie.net account was created February 6, 2008. Unfortunately, I had signed up using my brother's email account (we then shared an Xbox Live account which was linked to my old Bungie.net account), and he changed the password, meaning I couldn't log in. Thus is why I have this account.

Posted by: magog_rules
Posted by: NKS22
Posted by: evanhalo3
Did you even read it? I said not classes... can you give me a reason WHY this idea is "just flat out awful'?
Yes I read it.

It would be completely unbalanced.

Not unless everyone picked the same thing.
But then it would be pointless to put them in the game.

  • 08.27.2009 1:55 PM PDT

Everybody in the world's tryin' to get out of Washington And we're the only smocks tryin' to get in!
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he just said that bungie could balance it out

  • 08.27.2009 1:55 PM PDT
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Posted by: BOMB3RMAN2396
he just said that bungie could balance it out


^Someone that actually read it. Thank you.

  • 08.27.2009 1:57 PM PDT

H2 Forever

I have to admit it is hard to put classes in a game without making only certain weapons accessible to each character ( Team Fortress 2) or like in Killzone 2 medics can heal themselves or other players and stuff like that but then if halo did that they are pretty much Killzone 2

it could be done but would destroy the halo multiplayer we know and love.

nice idea though

  • 08.27.2009 1:59 PM PDT
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My second paragraph explains exactly what you said about weapons not working. I don't really think it's that hard to put classes in a game without making certain weapons accessible to each character...

  • 08.27.2009 2:07 PM PDT
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Posted by: ZHomitz9229
I have to admit it is hard to put classes in a game without making only certain weapons accessible to each character ( Team Fortress 2) or like in Killzone 2 medics can heal themselves or other players and stuff like that but then if halo did that they are pretty much Killzone 2

it could be done but would destroy the halo multiplayer we know and love.

nice idea though


Pretty much my whole post was about how it would just allow you to customize to your style

  • 08.27.2009 2:56 PM PDT
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This kind of seems like the Star Wars: Battlefront System.

  • 08.27.2009 3:03 PM PDT
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Posted by: evanhalo3
Many of you here are very opposed to the idea of a class-based Halo. I can see why because the same formua has been so successful for so long, but I believe there is a way to add not exactly class-based gameplay but more of a "specialization" kind of thing.

Since the weapons in Halo are not meant to be balanced or good for classes, classes could not exist where you spawn with your choice of weapon. Obviously, everyone would just pick the sniper or rocket and there would be no point in the classes. This would just destroy the game. This means that the only thing that would pertain to "classes" would be your character's preformance.

What I suggest is where you choose what your Spartan excels at. This could easily be done by going to the normal menu where you change control scheme, armor, etc. You would choose "Specialty" and a list of specialties and what they do would come up. This list would include things like:

Fighter---------------------Melee attacks do 25% more damage
Scout-----------------------Active camo lasts 50% longer
Airborne-------------------Jump height is increased by 25%
Survivor--------------------Shields are increased by 25%
Accelerator---------------Speed is increased by 25%
Heavy Weapons--------Turrets, missle pods, lasers, and rockets do 15% more damage
Pilot------------------------Vehicle speed and weapons damage are increased by 10%
Sniper---------------------Weapons with zoom can zoom in 15% more

This is just an idea of what it would be like, not actual suggestions. Bungie would be much better at balancing them out, but you get the general idea. With this system, you would have so much more customization that would only benefit your style of play and not take away from the gameplay. Please share your thoughts on this =)


NO. were not palying call of duty. plz leave the halo forums. this game series is about equal players, on equal maps, so that only skill will save you. not an enhanced ar beatdown.

[Edited on 08.27.2009 3:07 PM PDT]

  • 08.27.2009 3:06 PM PDT
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Thanks for the input...

  • 08.27.2009 3:07 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"

My only issue with any type of class based idea is that there is no way to balance it, no matte what any may have you believe. There will eventually be some class that is the best to exploit for online play.

A good example of this is the perk system from COD4. It didn't take long before people found out what perks benefit them and what perks thrived on the "glitchyness" of online play. The term "balance" sounds all fine and good, but actually achieveing it is rather difficult, especially when you have more variables to consider.

  • 08.27.2009 3:12 PM PDT
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I'm putting my belief in Bungie that they will be able to balance it very well. Since specializations don't give you THAT much of an advantage over the normal spartan, there shouldn't really be a problem

  • 08.27.2009 3:22 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: evanhalo3
I'm putting my belief in Bungie that they will be able to balance it very well. Since specializations don't give you THAT much of an advantage over the normal spartan, there shouldn't really be a problem


I have no personal qualm with Bungie or any dev, but balance is always upset once the players figure out how to abuse whats there. It's as inevitable as death and taxes. Look at how unbalanced gameplay is with the BR, yet instead of lessening it, they increase it. Bungie will ultimately work to please fans.

  • 08.27.2009 3:37 PM PDT
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How is gameplay unbalanced with BR? Everyone spawns with one. It just allows for those with good aim to succeed. Same goes for specializations. I really don't think there is a way to abuse them. If you melee a lot, you would use fighter, if you use BR or snipers a lot, you would use sniper. It only helps your style of play. Please give an example as to how you could "abuse" it.

  • 08.27.2009 3:41 PM PDT
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This idea is worse then classes

  • 08.27.2009 3:44 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"

How is gameplay unbalanced with the BR, seriously? It promotes spawn camping/trapping more than it prevents it, as well as offers an advantage right off the bat for those that are better shots. If someone finds a BR and owns with it, then good on them, but it shouldn't be a spawn weapon for typical games. It's fine in specialized playlists, but for regular gameplay it is entirely unbalanced as a spawn weapon.

Based on the model that you are suggesting (hypothetically of course) I could see two huge exploits. The airborne and the accelerator. This will be an issue do to allowing better vantage points bringing about more, you guessed it, spawn camping, and the accelerator one is pretty obvious. Give me a shoty or sword or mauler and 25% more speed, and make your game hell.

I'm not trying to trash your idea, but balance is only good on paper. The players prove time and time again that any attempt at balance is just as easilly upset by a new exploit. The best solution is to remove specializion, which is why simplistic gameplay is a better route for all around "fair" gameplay. Im speaking strictly in regards to MP of course.

  • 08.27.2009 4:08 PM PDT

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The whole point of a class based system is so we can spawn with the weapons we want. By doing something like this, not only are you defeating the whole purpose of classes (for an FPS) but you're making the game severely unbalanced. One of those is always going to be superior to the rest. This is not an FPSRPG.

  • 08.27.2009 4:13 PM PDT
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You both have good points that players would exploit the specialties but they can be taken out or modified according to how everything develops. Over time bungie would see what gives some players an unfair advantage and what only promotes gameplay so that only balanced specialties would be there in the end. You have to remember, I am not a game developer so my specialties of course will not be balanced. Don't go by the examples but by the idea in general.

  • 08.27.2009 4:18 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: evanhalo3
You both have good points that players would exploit the specialties but they can be taken out or modified according to how everything develops. Over time bungie would see what gives some players an unfair advantage and what only promotes gameplay so that only balanced specialties would be there in the end. You have to remember, I am not a game developer so my specialties of course will not be balanced. Don't go by the examples but by the idea in general.


I understand that, which is why I clarified that i'm not trying to trash your idea personally. But what i'm trying to get you to understand is that even with updates, you can't maintain permanent balance. Trust me, i've been gaming for two decades and i've seen a lot of how this crap happens online. Games released, exploit found, game patched, new exploit found, etc, etc, rinse and repeat. Gamers are tenatious dude, there is always some dude in his mothers basement working hard on finding an exploit or a cheat of some sort. Once it's found, they spread like wild fire.

  • 08.27.2009 4:22 PM PDT

lucky member no.999 of SAS Halo3

Posted by: evanhalo3
Posted by: BOMB3RMAN2396
he just said that bungie could balance it out


^Someone that actually read it. Thank you.

i read it too i like it bungie could balance it out

  • 08.27.2009 4:24 PM PDT

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