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Posted by: Jiggly Luv
The issue I find with Halo 3's balance and the reason why so many label the BR as "overpowered" is the fact that Bungie designed the game trying to bring more advantage to close-ranged weapons with a complete disregard of their ranges. They did this because Bungie is stuck on their idea that a close-ranged spray tool (as like the AR or SMG) is the answer for a starting weapon.
What Reach is in great need of as far as balance is a design that revolves around the mid-range game. In other words, you spawn with a range-capable weapon, which would allow you to shoot or fight off your spawn, and you can choose to upgrade your mid-ranged weapon and/or find a weapon more suitable for close-ranged scenarios. This would also require that your starting weapon be headshot-capable in order to balance to Power Weapons and any other major disadvantage that may be faced off your spawn until you are able to upgrade. I wholeheartedly agree with this. I think TW made a very good point about adding skill to all weapons, by allowing for more precision when pumped. I have no problem with creating weapons like this, reducing reticule size, etc. If you look at his ideas about how all weapons could be HS capable, I find it very interesting.
As you said, starting with a mid-range weapon can allow you survive and even thrive on a map (it doesn't boil down to rock paper scissors like it does now). However, if playing against another team who has better weapon selection and better aim, you'll lose. Each weapon should have a niche it fits into, providing it with some advantages/disadvantages. I don't think Bungie has balanced that right in this game. In H2 the BR was an all purpose weapon, and even in H3 people rarely put it down for closer combat. But now they've taken the precision away.
Posted by: Jiggly Luv
I believe this starting weapon should be similar in functionality to the M6G, but with near perfect accuracy. And, the weapons that should be looked at to pick up are mid-ranged weapons that kill slightly faster, like a 3-shot/4-shot-esque Pistol or single-shot Rifle; but, there should be more of these effective ranged-capable weapons. You're not talking about the starting weapon that should be like the M6G, right? It's the mid range weapon we would pick up? SO right now we'd start off with something similar to the kill speed of the BR (or slightly longer), but the alternative mid-range pickup would be like the M6G? I think that's a great idea. Start with a decent weapon, but not a super weapon.
Posted by: Jiggly Luv
As for the close-ranged weapons (which includes about 3/4ths of the weapons), they already perform as they should: as powerful up-close, in your face weaponry, where some are more powerful than others, but isn't to the point of "Rock, Paper, Scissors". I think some of 'these' weapons (AR, SMG, PR, Spiker, etc.) should have a considerable increase in range, however, and become useful in more situations; there is not reason at all that the PR or Spiker should have random shot trajectories. I don't think they're different enough to ever pick them up. Other than a PR paired with something else, why would you ever pick up a dual weapon? Even that isn't the best because of the disadvantage of no grenades or melee unless you drop a weapon.
Posted by: Jiggly Luv
This idea that all these close-ranged weapons should be used more (in regards to Halo 1,2,3 balance) and that is why the BR is "overpowered" is completely misguided. The lack of balance is due to them only being effective as a close-ranged weapon. How many FPSs can you say that everyone runs around with a Shotgun and has that as their main tool? Not many; maybe sometimes in COD4-like games, but even then it is uncommon. Halo is a run-n-gun Shooter where close-ranged use is situational only within close-quarters. I don't like CQ combat as much, and I think more mid range weapons need to be added to Halo. That being said, there really is no choice in close to mid range weapons. There is a huge difference between sword/shotgun/hammer, but when we extend the range a little, there isn't that much functional difference between weapons. The BR isn't overpowered because it makes CQ weapons obsolete. In fact, it should make them obsolete at mid range.
The problem is that the BR is still too useful at closer ranges to have its own niche. It only takes 4 shots, and the burst capability makes headshotting very easy. IMO, a weapon that is this easy to aim and get headshots with should have a little less power, making it more like 5 shots or even 6 (if you keep the HS capability). That prevents it from being good at close range and gives it some longer range capabilities. Then add an accurate carbine which takes 8-10 shots (as fast as you can fire), and you have a weapon that would be GREAT at medium to longer ranges, but would be hard in CQ because of the single fire capability, small reticule, and the fact that you have to land 8-10 shots with a headshot from this.
Posted by: Jiggly Luv
So let's shift the range of weapons more towards mid-range and decrease the amount of weapons only effective within close-quarters. I could agree with that completely. But I don't think they have to decrease short range options. They could make some interesting weapons with interesting pros and cons. But they DEFINITELY need to add more medium ranged, precision weapons.
Posted by: Jiggly Luv
The big disagreement I have::
I don't agree that the mid-range, headshot-capable weapons should have lower damage (as you indicated with the Carbine). That would slow the pace of the gameplay, which I am heavily against, and what I fear could happen considering the current direction of the Halo series. If anything they should increase the pace and bring back the 3-shot.
I don't think ALL mid range weapons should have a slower kill rate, just the starting one and the BR if it is kept burst capable. I think the burst makes for cheap and random gameplay that detracts from skill.
That being said, I really like Halo's gameplay and how it is so different. When I play COD or other games like it, I get frustrated so fast with how someone just lays down in the grass and sprays bullets. I go behind a wall and get killed by ONE random bullet. Some guy is spraying an area and kills one guy, randomly killing me too. Yes, there are some skills in COD, and yes there is some random acts in Halo. However, overall I love how Halo gives you a chance to fight back against campers and surprise attacks. If the attacker isn't smart or plays things incorrectly, your skill can beat them. I don't think kill times should be 10 seconds (except for the plasma pistol :), but I like having time to react. On top of that, just because it takes your weapon 3 seconds to kill doesn't mean it has to. Add a grenade to it, a melee, or team fire and you have pretty quick gameplay as it is, but also with a chance to fight back.
I love the feel of Halo more than any other MP shooter. It takes a different skillset. It combines aiming, reactions, weapon selection, teamwork, and map control perfectly, and a large part of that is due to the health system. Yes, there could be some tweaks (shorter/longer shield regeneration, less shields more body or vice versa). But overall I like the general aspect of Halo taking a longer time to kill an opponent than other games.
Posted by: Jiggly Luv
The introduction of the BR and its burst functionality has done nothing but slow the pace. It made hitting your target almost automatic at most ranges which causes many players to have to retreat. The lowered damage as in the 4-shot only caused more retreat than fight. For example, in HaloCE, you could make a 180 and 3-shot someone who was shooting you in the back and win the fight; it encouraged fighting no matter what the situation. Some of that may be with the single-shot functionality which is hit or miss rather than progressive damage as with the spray weapons (includes H3 BR). It actually does slow the pace now. The H2 BR had a burst, but the spread was not substantial. The current burst/spread in H3 slows the pace unless you're relatively close. Yes, it does mean you will probably hit the target with at least one bullet (which is lame when it comes to random headshots), so I understand your point. But one BR bullet barely scratches you. And if you read my statements again, I'm not for all weapons to be lowered, just the BR, because a burst weapon shouldn't have that headshot capability in randomness. However, I'm all for a relatively quick kill weapon (8-10 carbine shots as fast as you can fire) at a range, provided your aiming skills are good - not reliant on luck.
On a final note, you have to remember that in H2, team firing was perfected. A 4 shot BR wasn't really a 4 shot BR, it was a 1 shot. When everyone fires on you, it's instant death, because that's what Halo is all about. Heck, it even happens in H3 against good players. You just think it's slow because it is 1v1. It is NOT slow at all in team games. Watch MLG sometime.
Posted by: Jiggly Luv
Also, lowering the damage would do nothing to its close-ranged effectiveness. That has to do with its headshot capabilities, since you can toss a Grenade and pop the head before your opponent knows what is going on. But, again, the BR makes that ability much easier, much much easier. Though, I do it all the time with the M6G Magnum, so it won't make a huge difference. If it took longer for a BR to kill you, it would give more time for the CQ weapons to kill it. I understand the grenade thing, but you can see my point by trying to traverse the middle of Guardian on a BR start game.