Halo: Reach Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Shadow Mode- Make campaign harder and easier at the same time.
  • Subject: Shadow Mode- Make campaign harder and easier at the same time.
Subject: Shadow Mode- Make campaign harder and easier at the same time.

OK the title is a little vague on purpose. Here's my thought with a little background on the idea.

When I play campaign games, I want to win. But I don't want it to be too easy. I want a challenge. But I don't want a challenge that makes it boring- like you have to wait behind cover, shoot, get back, etc. That's boring. So how do we make it so it's not too hard, but beatable? I propose a thing I'm gonna call Shadow Mode for now, for lack for a better name.

Say I play campaign on Normal. I'm in the middle of a fight. I lose about 2/5ths of my health. A little reminder in the corner pops up. It's the Legendary Symbol. This symbol would indicate that if you were playing on that difficulty, the damage you've taken would kill you. When you take some more damage, the 'Heroic' Symbol pops up in the corner. If you were playing on Heroic, you'd be dead.

I think this is a tool that would make the game more interesting. When you see that symbol, you know that you would have needed to be more careful. You can quickly get back behind cover. Be more cautious. Adopt a different strategy. It could help add variety to the game.

The only thing I see that may cause an issue is in the AI itself. When on a higher difficulty, the AI acts different. That can't be helped. Still, a little addition like that might be useful. I personally like this because I figure if I want to play on an easier difficulty but I want a challenge, when I see that symbol I know to get back quick. Even though I would be dead by then, it is a way to get accustomed to that. style of play.
It's something very small that would be easy to implement from my understanding. I just thought I'd throw the idea out there- get some thoughts on it. I only thought of it a few minutes ago so there could be improvements most probably. Anywho:

Discuss.

  • 09.06.2009 3:30 PM PDT

Just enjoy the damn game!
Who cares about BR vs AR

Burrito? Separated from his beloved Halo 3 forum? This I got to read.

I have read it, and think that its a decent idea. It reminds me of the ghost cars you have in racing games, and I suppose this is where you got the name Shadow Mode from. It makes sense I suppose.

What happens if you have skulls on?

[Edited on 09.06.2009 3:38 PM PDT]

  • 09.06.2009 3:36 PM PDT

Posted by: NME Overlord
Burrito? Separated from his beloved Halo 3 forum? This I got to read.

Well I'm sitting here watching Band of Brothers and I got bored.
:P

  • 09.06.2009 3:37 PM PDT

I'd like to be half-man half-tree in an octopus' garden in the shade.

It sounds like a fun idea, especially if they add a new difficulty mode/make Legendary harder. You could practice at a point in the game that you can't normally beat on Legendary.

It can't hurt, so why not?

  • 09.06.2009 3:39 PM PDT

Just enjoy the damn game!
Who cares about BR vs AR

*Off Topic* Which episode?

*On Topic* What happens if you have skulls on?

  • 09.06.2009 3:41 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Nice idea, this could improve c. skill, or maybe you can play the test mode, same mission but elites and all the army is a vision, a virtual thing(hologram), im just thinking something like that right now =)

  • 09.06.2009 3:43 PM PDT

*off topic*
They're about to get run over by tanks 7 days after DDay.

*on*
Nothing. The idea I have right now is solely based on health. It could be modified of course and suggestions are welcome. But I figure that since you'd never be in the exact same place because it would depend on the enemy, this idea can't really take into affect the AI's actions with skulls like 'Catch'.

But things like Thunderstorm? Just take it up as if it were the same rank on Legendary. Still comes to damage though I think.

  • 09.06.2009 3:44 PM PDT

I completely agree with you on this. Btw, this idea sounds rather interesting. Perhaps this could be used to have a difficulty molded to you?

I applaud you dear sir. *applause*

[Edited on 09.06.2009 3:49 PM PDT]

  • 09.06.2009 3:44 PM PDT

Just enjoy the damn game!
Who cares about BR vs AR

Black Eye skull? I suppose it does come down to damage done.

*Off Topic* Thats a fantastic episode.

  • 09.06.2009 4:00 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Fabled Legendary Member

An interesting idea. As for the AI comment, it wouldn't be too big of a difference because developers like to make the AI more powerful, aggressive, and harder to kill to make the AI seem smarter.

  • 09.06.2009 4:12 PM PDT

Oz and Al: Those are two totally different ideas, but they do help with the overall goal, yeah. I wasn't really suggesting a whole new feature- just a little thingy in there. Not a big change.
But you could add a new mode if it were something like... Make it so you can't die, but it tells you if you would have died. Set the AI to whatever you want.

  • 09.06.2009 5:59 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

that a real cool idea burrito.

  • 09.06.2009 6:02 PM PDT

Member of team Master Theory.

17th Mythic Conqueror of Halo 3.
5th Mythic Conqueror of ODST.
If you would like to know more about Mythic difficulty please go to this thread. Thank you.

Please do not send me "recruitment messages" as I'm not interested in joining any groups currently.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but I can't really see the point of it other than to compare your playstyle on a lower difficulty with the projected results of that style being utilised on a higher difficulty. Why not just play on the higher difficulty settings and then revert if the player finds the style of play required too bland?
Maybe something that could be looked into would be something similar to Halo Wars' "Automatic" difficulty in that the game keeps track of your overall deaths, kills and betrayals (and possibly time taken to complete missions) and adjusts the difficulty and points awarded accordingly? Maybe something like Firefight in that the game could activate difficulty modifiers if it seemed you weren't being challenged? An example could be that the game activates Iron for a player who has survived for x period of time without dying, resulting in all deaths from that point on triggering a reset.
Of course such a mode would have to be pre-selected by the player to allow for those who just want to play the game and those who would prefer a challenge.

Anyway, this is interesting so I'll save it and come back later to see how things have developed.

[Edited on 09.06.2009 6:11 PM PDT]

  • 09.06.2009 6:08 PM PDT
  •  | 
  • Exalted Legendary Member
  • gamertag: TB823
  • user homepage:

As you progress throughout your life you realize that the older you get the closer your are to death, the only thing you cannot change.

This is one of the best things I've heard all day!

I don't see to many flaws with it either, and it would just take some creative thinking to iron out the few that remain, and I would love to see Angry German Kid scream to that....while playing on easy.

  • 09.06.2009 6:17 PM PDT

Posted by: MATCLAN
Why not just play on the higher difficulty settings and then revert if the player finds the style of play required too bland?

I don't want to play on a higher difficulty setting is why. As I've said, I find that I want more of a challenge, but I don't want to keep dieing and whatnot.
Maybe something that could be looked into would be something similar to Halo Wars' "Automatic" difficulty in that the game keeps track of your overall deaths, kills and betrayals (and possibly time taken to complete missions) and adjusts the difficulty and points awarded accordingly?

That's a possibility. As I said, this was only an idea that popped into my head that I figured would help my goal easily. Maybe something like Firefight in that the game could activate difficulty modifiers if it seemed you weren't being challenged? An example could be that the game activates Iron for a player who has survived for x period of time without dying, resulting in all deaths from that point on triggering a reset.
That seems a little too... I dunno, scripted to me (if I can use that term when talking about a campaign which is totally scripted). You can always turn the skulls on in the beginning like in Halo 3. I mostly meant ordinary damage levels. Just let you know when you need to chill when playing.

  • 09.06.2009 6:18 PM PDT

What a waste....

Posted by: burritosenior
Posted by: NME Overlord
Burrito? Separated from his beloved Halo 3 forum? This I got to read.

Well I'm sitting here watching Band of Brothers and I got bored.
:P
And I'm guessing you also left your halo 3 g@yness?

  • 09.06.2009 6:18 PM PDT

Interesting thing they could add. Just as a little feature among other improvments. I see no reasons why it could not be used.

If no one suggest these kind of things, they wont get made. Nothing else to say but good job.

  • 09.06.2009 6:20 PM PDT

Member of team Master Theory.

17th Mythic Conqueror of Halo 3.
5th Mythic Conqueror of ODST.
If you would like to know more about Mythic difficulty please go to this thread. Thank you.

Please do not send me "recruitment messages" as I'm not interested in joining any groups currently.

Posted by: burritosenior
Posted by: MATCLAN
Why not just play on the higher difficulty settings and then revert if the player finds the style of play required too bland?[/quote]
I don't want to play on a higher difficulty setting is why. As I've said, I find that I want more of a challenge, but I don't want to keep dieing and whatnot.

That clears things up a little, it makes sense when you mention not dying.

Maybe something like Firefight in that the game could activate difficulty modifiers if it seemed you weren't being challenged? An example could be that the game activates Iron for a player who has survived for x period of time without dying, resulting in all deaths from that point on triggering a reset.
That seems a little too... I dunno, scripted to me (if I can use that term when talking about a campaign which is totally scripted). You can always turn the skulls on in the beginning like in Halo 3. I mostly meant ordinary damage levels. Just let you know when you need to chill when playing.

Possibly, but it could also reduce the difficulty too, maybe by ranking enemies down (i.e Brute Captain Ultra downgrades to Brute Captain Major) or "dumbing" the AI slightly. It depends on how the system would work and whether it would use realtime variables or data gathered after completion of a mission.

And like you, the ideas I mentioned were kinda spontaneous and I do actually like the ideas posed in the OP even though I didn't mention so in my previous post. It would be good for seeing how damage received changes based on difficulty amongst other things. :-)

  • 09.06.2009 6:31 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

My new B.net account is Grizzled Ancient. If you see him, its me.

genius burrito, absolute -blam!- ing genius.

SKULLS: having them on shouldnt make a difference... they dont affect the amount of health u have or the toughness of it, it only affects getting it BACK and the health of enemies. so it shouldnt be a problem

  • 09.06.2009 6:55 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: Deathtrap462
It sounds like a fun idea, especially if they add a new difficulty mode/make Legendary harder. You could practice at a point in the game that you can't normally beat on Legendary.

It can't hurt, so why not?

  • 09.06.2009 7:57 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Deep Down South Mississippi
I aint neva had -blam!- but I could -blam!- a bad -blam!- quicker than you could count to six 1 2 3 4 5 6 ya here I dont play I lay law u my size I break jaws I get disrespected at all I set if off.

Halocharts profile

Mythic Conquer # 23 baby
I've beaten ODST and Halo 3 on Mythic.

I just don't think this feature would be used enough, or give Bungie the desire to emplement it into the game.

That being said, its a either way for me. I don't really need it, but I wouldn't mind having it.

  • 09.06.2009 8:35 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

it seems like something interesting to implement in-game, i hope bungie reads this thread.

  • 09.06.2009 8:47 PM PDT

Nevermind. I read it wrong. Good idea though. How about you play on normal and turn some skulls on? That's what I do.

[Edited on 09.06.2009 8:51 PM PDT]

  • 09.06.2009 8:50 PM PDT