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This topic has moved here: Subject: Madness or Stupidity, not sure which this falls under
  • Subject: Madness or Stupidity, not sure which this falls under
Subject: Madness or Stupidity, not sure which this falls under
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I enjoy playing H2 with certain skulls active, it is the one thing that makes it very different than playing CE. I typically have never done much campaign play with Assassins going, not really sure why. I have done something that either qualifies as Madness or Stupidity, not sure which, feel free to weigh in on it:

Active Skulls-Assassins, Blind (that turned out to be a poor choice to have going, made it even harder but it was the only one I was playing with when I decided to keep picking them up), Envy, Catch, GBP, Sputnik
Level-Cairo Station (yes, you read that right, moron ain't I?)
Results/Info-Yeah, after picking up Assassins playing Regret and cutting my teeth on getting used to it battling the hordes protecting the Prophet Regret, I decided that I should try to do as much of campaign as possible with Assassins active, starting with Cairo Station. Stupid, right? Madness, right? Yes, 1000% correct on both counts. Given that making it through the level on Legendary usually requires that one use the noob combo I knew that this was going to be very frustrating. Having figured ahead of time, I made sure to get Sputnik, Catch and GBP before I started CS. I had just Blind and Envy when I picked up the Assassins skull and knew I was going to need as much of an offset to being on my own for the most part (marines only fire at what they can see), and not being able to noob combo the elites in the hangers.

I have made it past both hangers, took me darn near an entire day to make it that far, and am paused at the first battle with the jet pack elites. Some very interesting things have happened:

1-It turns out that my least favorite weapons (SMG and Plasma Rifle) are now two of my closest friends. Because I can dual wield them it gives me the ability to "light up" targets for the Marines. Granted the marines never survive long on CS legendary, but any help was welcome. If I dual wield with one of each, there is no rise to the SMG even on full auto, it appears to only do that when you wield SMG's in both hands. The dual PR combo has much better range than I ever imagined, and my hoarding of them for the second hanger saved my butt. You can create cover and angles with the crates to basically unload fire into Covie troops waiting down by the boarding craft from far enough away that they do not return withering and deadly fire unto my butt. Taking out enough Grunts, turding out their 2 plasma's as they drop, followed by a head shot with the BR to living or dead grunt and wah-lah....large amounts of secondary explosions sending bodies everywhere (very satisfying!). I died probably 30 times during that second hanger battle until I found the right combo of tactics. That trick only works 2 times, so the remaining elites have to be taken out mainly with plasma grenades. Until you whittle their numbers down to 1 or 2, it is just not safe to venture in with the sword. By swording the large crates into a blocking position it is possible to get close enough to get a simple short toss onto a hunkered down elite, so as to not waste the small amount of plasma grenades you can be left with on errant longer inaccurate throws. Most of the time I was dying it was due to staying exposed too long when trying to lure them closer for sure throws or my camo ran out while I was trying to find a few more plasmas laying on their side of the hanger. Those double PR wielding elites are straight from hell, camo'd or not.

2-The skull seems to have an effect on covies making them a bit less aware of what is going on around them. It seemed that at times the elite would just stand there even if I was right in front of him (that happened alot on Regret, but it might have been caused by my standing on the raised lip of the ramp into the "arena" rather than on the ramp itself, sword elites would just stand there, oh, and then growl when I planted a plasma on their gonads). One thing for sure that it does do is cut down on the dialogue, even after they killed me. I cannot tell you how nice it was to NOT hear how they had earned their journey and all that other crap with how often I was dying. The camo seemed to have duct taped their mouths to a certain extent. Probably in keeping with the "hidey and sneaky" aspects of being cloaked, doesn't do you much good to be invisible if you are jibber-jabbering away for all to hear (and aim at).

3)As much as the Blind Skull made this harder in many ways, not having anything to distract my vision of the whole screen actually gave me an edge in detecting enemies that I had let get too close. In the end, I figure that was a fair trade. I died quite a few times at the hands of sword elites or dual PR elites during Regret because I just was moving too much to catch sight of one working his way towards me. During CS, things move at a slower pace, and the un-obscured view given by blind allowed me to avoid death quite a few times in the hangers especially.

I expect I will finish it tonight, especially as the hardest part is over, the two hangers. I would be curious to know, do you think it is just stupidity or madness? I am sure you all will come up with some other creative ways to describe it. HAHA!



[Edited on 05.31.2011 10:59 AM PDT]

  • 05.31.2011 10:54 AM PDT

Halo 2 for Life!

you should post this in Grumpy1's thread on skulls

  • 05.31.2011 7:21 PM PDT

"Die? Didn't you know? Spartans never die." - Kurt-051's last words.

TL;DR

  • 05.31.2011 8:25 PM PDT

Posted by: Ultra Force
TL;DR
Too bad, you missed out.

Good read womy, madness is my vote. Cairo's hard enough on Legendary without skulls.

I never could beat Cairo Legendary with Sputnik, GBD and Catch and you added Assassins, lol.

You're right about Blind though, I actually find it easier to play with it as long as I keep track of the nades and such. Headshots are harder but it teaches you how to feel your shots and I like that.

I'll have to look into the dummy-down effect of those AI when Assassins is on. I noticed it before but I thought it was a glitch. Heh, maybe their HUD is off too but it doesn't account for being able to walk right up to them sometimes.

  • 05.31.2011 8:41 PM PDT
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Finished it up last night as expected and moved on to outskirts. Fortnately I have played that level enough that even with Assassins on locating the Jackal Snipers was no problem. Taking them out with Blind active is always a challenge though. Normally I would let Johnson keep his sniper rifle till after the Hunter battle, but not tonight, took that bad boy off him right out of the gate. I did find that the covie troops were more aggressive in coming up the stairway when cloaked. I found myself with more company up there than I ever remember having. It did allow me to change my normal hide out spots, using the far end of the lower alley more to snipe from (I took it from Johnson, figured I should use it). The battle at sniper alley, and just beyond was different by choice as I really changed up my approach on where I fought from. With Catch on there were just too many grenades coming from angles blocked by buildings to use the normal spots.

My big dilemna right now.....for -blam!-s and giggles I decided to see if the IWHBYD spawned.....it did......fear, alot of it caused me to pause, go to bed, and sleep on whether I should pick it up or not. I do not think it can be done with this skull combo and I am not even sure I want to attemp it (one can take only so much frustration and I am not sure I like the idea of one month from now still being at the attempt, I would do that given my stupidity and stubbonrness!)

As an update to the changed behavior, I believe the elites end up crouching and creeping more when they are cloaked with the Assassins skull, keeping in line with the stealthy aspect of the skull.

  • 06.01.2011 6:27 AM PDT
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halo 2 still the best game in the series. long live halo 2.

Dam, I miss the old days playing halo 2 with my old brothers in arms. Thank you my old friends for giving me this account, I shall continue our legacy.

Its both madness and stupidity.

  • 06.01.2011 7:53 AM PDT

"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First!" - The fighting first's motto.

Losing internet 9/7/2012 until i don't know when. See you starside folks.


Fada beo Halo 2!

Posted by: totallymassive
you should post this in Grumpy1's thread on skulls

  • 06.01.2011 6:05 PM PDT

Posted by: Chief077
Posted by: totallymassive
you should post this in Grumpy1's thread on skulls
Womyfts and I go back a ways, he's one of the better skilled players and rarely plays anything but Legendary. I'm glad he posted this as a thread so he can keep an update going every few days.

  • 06.01.2011 6:41 PM PDT

Halo 2 for Life!

well I haven't gotten skulls yet, so I don't want anyone to spoil it sort of.

I saw this person explain it very well and thought it would be a good addition to your skull thread.


I'm sure if I were to read it I might have not said that but I'm sure the info might have spoiled my skull expoerince.

That and it's really long... lol which doesn't mean it's bad or good but it does mean it takes a while to digest...

It is good that others are coming here now, we might have better conversations about halo 2.

  • 06.01.2011 8:31 PM PDT

Posted by: totallymassive
It is good that others are coming here now, we might have better conversations about halo 2.
Yeah I enjoy reading someone's description about different battles.

Reading it will not spoil anything in my opinion, it might even heighten your anticipation.

  • 06.01.2011 8:45 PM PDT
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Thanks all for the continued interest, always nice to see that people still follow what some would consider a "typed out" subject matter (gameplay on a game...oh how many years old?).

So, last I spoke, I was considering picking up the spawned IWHBYD skull. Yeah, not too happy bout that. I am stubborn, stupidly so at times, so after the first two hours of play, and never getting past the third wave, I tipped my hat to the game and moved on. Just not gonna happen.

Given that I really do not enjoy the Arbiter levels to begin with, I decided to jump to Delta Halo (I will go back to the Arby ones, out of respect, but I am motivated to be the kick ass MC right now). It was kind of funny to have the marine I gave the rocket launcher to just standing around, or firing off at nothing except the occasional turret grunt (it was also alot SAFER for me!). The opening battle (up to the pelican drop) on Delta Halo with this skull combo gave me a good run for my money. There is so much blocked lines of fire even without Assassins going that using the terrain's high spots seemed to be the best idea for much of the battling. That opening battle in DH is one of my favorites in the whole game, and differences in elevation of that part of the map are one of the reasons. Due to that I was able to explore how about ten different strategies worked. One thing I did get to do finally was spend some quality time in a turret myself. The turret on the hill to the left of the structures stays intact when nobody rockets it. That turret can be used pretty safely during the last two waves of covie troops dropped in as it is far enough away that you don't take a pounding from whomever is down below. Me likey turrets.......

Rather than taking the hog, i decided to walk for the next battle for the bridge. With a Rocket Launcher in tote, beam rifles all saved and a barely one clip BR, off I went.....to alot of dying. The Jackal Snipers werent the issue, it was the darn ghosts. I experiemented with how to best use the five rockets I had, taking out either turrets or ghosts. But almost every time I would end up getting smushed to death by a grunt in a ghost. I would take out one and the other would run my ass over. After about 20 attempts I finally got it sorted out (it has to be one of the absoulutely luckiest shots in the world to take out a ghost fuel tank with blind on, while the ghost is moving, saved my kiester since I was out of rockets). There is one nicely placed turret that allows you to take out the one wraith (before the other spawns) if you can do so before it zero's in on your hide. Got that done, got the checkpoint and then went a bit bonkers. I had been spending an hour trying to be in a ghost on the structure side of the bridge (up, not down) and see if I could get blown across the chasm/opening on a functioning ghost with a well placed plasma grenade, making it across without actually lowering the bridge. Grumpy, if you have any suggestions (I do not know how to sword fly), I would love a tip here cause I really want to see what the game does if you get across without activating the bridge!

[Edited on 06.02.2011 9:32 AM PDT]

  • 06.02.2011 9:29 AM PDT

Ah yes, Delta Halo, one of my favorites. Thank goodness for all the snipers in map 2, eh? I always stay back at the boulders overlooking the bridge tower and I lure each Ghost up to me one at a time (I wait until each Ghost is separated from the others). After showing myself to a prospective victim, I hide and wait. As soon as the Ghost appears at the rock I cloak and hijack. Once the Ghosts are gone I'm free to pick off enemies at will (plenty of sniper ammo thanks to the Jackals earlier).

Crossing the small chasm is an easy 1 frag or 1 plasma. It's a good place to practice beginning launches because after picking off the enemies with the sniper from the rock outcropping, you have checkpoints (CP's) saved up. The key to all launches is a CP because if you time a CP right when you are going to toss a nade to launch you can launch over and over again with no setup.

I have that launch somewhere but it's real easy if you get that CP. I use a plasma and aim the Ghost at the other side. I stand behind the Ghost and try to stand as close to the Ghost as possible while avoiding attaching the nade to the Ghost when it is tossed. Always keep the 'Press x to enter vehicle' in your screen as you aim for the nade toss, that way you toss and get in (that still shows even with Blind on).

At that point timing is all that remains because you want to boost right when the nade goes off. This will gain you the distance.

So.....Get vehicle in position
Get CP
Toss nade and enter vehicle
Boost as explosion occurs
Revert and toss again as many times as needed

You do not need Black Eye for small explosions like this. If you get good at this one launch, it opens up vast areas in the rest of the game. One eye will always be looking for a place to launch to, lol.


[Edited on 06.02.2011 10:10 AM PDT]

  • 06.02.2011 10:08 AM PDT
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Outstanding!

Thanks for the tip Grumpy, as usual your immense knowledge of the game comes to the rescue (rescuing us from boredom and many failed attempts).

When I am done working for the day I will be sure to give er a rip. Let you know.

  • 06.02.2011 10:20 AM PDT

Posted by: womyfts
Outstanding!

Thanks for the tip Grumpy, as usual your immense knowledge of the game comes to the rescue (rescuing us from boredom and many failed attempts).

When I am done working for the day I will be sure to give er a rip. Let you know.
I remember my first vehicle launch. Dantheman87 had explained to me the same info I gave you. It was on OS and I had finally gotten it through my head how important a CP is. I kept launching without much success, adjusting where I toss the nade when wham, out of nowhere I went flying. I couldn't believe I went so far and when I realized the whole game was wide open free roam baby, I was hooked.

Also, if launches are not going well, move to another launch spot because the maps in H2 are soft in some areas and hard in others. You might only have to move 10' and find you can launch twice as far.

Anyone who gets into launching on H2 will also find 'the big one' as you launch. We called it the 10 times rule' because every 10 launches (or so) a humongous launch will take place, hurtling you across the whole map, heh heh.

[Edited on 06.02.2011 10:55 AM PDT]

  • 06.02.2011 10:54 AM PDT
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Ok, failed miserably at the launches, and decided to just chill out for a day or three.

Made my mind up to try as many levels with the combo as possible. Cairo Station went smoothly, since I had the benefit of hindsight on how to handle the situation that the skull combo puts me in. I ended up using the sword more this time, and one of the harder parts from last time (the first jet pack elites) went just peachy smooth. OK, I got lucky by dispatching one by the airlock back into the station with a Plasma, the other two just sat there with their backs turned. I mean, what am I supposed to do when they offer such inviting targets for a sword?

Outskirts was much easier this time, other than the JS'rs. A few days off and my aim sucked for headshots at distance so I would hit them with a burst or two from the BR and they would annihilate me before I could do more than send them back a step or two. I did have the bonus fun time of listening to an elite with a sword hack away at Johnson for almost ten minutes while I was taking out other enemies. God that was funny, heard Johnson make some pain noises I had never heard before.

Not sure why I did it, but rather than going through the hunter battle, I grenade jumped the roofs to get to sniper alley while there was still one Elite running around in the courtyard. This delayed the Hunters from coming through (since Johnson wont fire at an enemy he cannot see, the Elite is still roaming out there I presume) and kept Johnson pinned behind those un-opened doors. It did not stop the Pelican from spawning in the broken highway area though. It was cool to be able to explore (could not get into the Pelican to save my sorry butt) around it while it stayed in place. Did you know that there are no pilots in that Pelican? Yup, empty seats! It was really an odd experience hearing the Pelican's engines running the whole time I was fighting through the alley and beyond.

Now things got weird...I went after the first set of JS's with normal tactics...beam rifle or sniper rifle, as well as the buggers and normally camo'd elites, then the madness/stupidity hit again. I decided to see if I could do the rest of the alley using only dual wielded plasma pistols. The first two jackal snipers are not too bad, as long as I do not expose too much of my meagerly armored (against a beam rifle anyway) butt for them to ping away at. I am usually able to get the first two easily. The second spawner at the end of the alley by the van, he is a stone cold BIT%% to get consitently, he moves around to much and gets better angles on me. Yah, I die alot. When I do get him, the one that spawns in between the buildings over by the smg ammo and frags, he is not too bad, he has yet to kill me. Oddly enough, depending on where I go to take him out, sometimes a sword elite comes and gets me from behind, it is very disconcerting! It only happens when I go to the rooms on the right of the arena to take care of that jackal. I do not go any futher than the fire in the corner area, but three times last night, an elite comes up and whacks me in the head (or rather through the head) from behind. Very odd! This part of the "challenge" is driving me a bit nuts. I must be approaching 40 deaths and I keep running out of plasma pistols or catching a well tossed plasma from a grunt.

The funniest thing to happen so far-----I tossed a plasma grenade at an elite during the courtyard battle in Outskirts, knew right away that the toss was errant, so tossed another. The first one explodes, and before the second can reach the elite, the first explosion ends up sending the second sizzler right onto my face, end of MC! I laughed for about ten minutes after that one, wish I had been able to record it, it was an instant classic! I have a feeling that I did that grunty run around move with that thing sticking to me!

  • 06.13.2011 10:46 AM PDT

Great writeup. There is most certainly a pilot, my friend. We just can't see them unless one is squeezed out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWJj955n4bo

There is also a Phantom pilot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Z7IlvbQRI

I laughed like crazy at the sword Elite smacking you, that guy has me paranoid.

Heh, when certain skulls are on even little grunty's are deadly.

You can easily do things with that Pelican, you know. OS is a beautiful level.

  • 06.13.2011 11:16 AM PDT
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Another amusing sword elite anecdote:

I was using the rooftops over the arena to get clearer close shots with better cover using the dual PP combo and went far enough to spawn the roof jumping gold elite with the sword, so I backtracked and came down at the entry to the arena and he started towards me after I pinged him a few times from range. Yeah, he will follow you for as far as you will let him, I had him pursuing me all the way into the area where the unbroken doors kept Johnson pinned, cloaked, hauled ass and pinged from behind, got him following again all the way to the blown out building under the 2 JS spawn area. He will not follow down into the rubble, just stands there. Sword Elites do teh same thing on Regret at the battle with Regrets forces. If you stand ON the side piling of the ramp into the arena, they will jsut look at you. PR wielding elites will send you off to heaven, but sword elites will just stand there until you attach a plasma to their nads. That is what I eventually did with this stalker!

  • 06.13.2011 11:21 AM PDT

Lol, another fun thing to do on easy with Thunderstorm is piss off as many Elites as you can (beach areas are best) and they will all draw a sword and follow you around in single file. Hilarious, especially in coop so you can get a good view.

Also, to others, OP is using Assassins, Sputnik, Blind, Catch, Envy and GBD. This is a special combination and very difficult.

[Edited on 06.13.2011 11:40 AM PDT]

  • 06.13.2011 11:36 AM PDT
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TO Ultra Force:

I've gotten banned before for posting that to an even lamer discussion you know...

Please, show some respect, the man has got some good points.

TO OP:

Womy, I do not agree with you that the Skulls are the sole reason for a change between Halo CE and Halo 2, but do see that it is a multiplier. Halo 2, in my opinion, was incredible, even without half of what it had, even without its skulls.

[Edited on 06.15.2011 7:59 PM PDT]

  • 06.15.2011 7:58 PM PDT
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I must be getting old, I did not realize that I had been "dissed".....what the heck does TL;DR mean?

[Edited on 06.16.2011 10:34 AM PDT]

  • 06.16.2011 10:34 AM PDT


Posted by: womyfts
I must be getting old, I did not realize that I had been "dissed".....what the heck does TL;DR mean?
Lol, too long; didn't read.

  • 06.16.2011 11:31 AM PDT