- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
(Note: This'll take 2 posts, so bear with me for a lil while. It is, indeed, quite long.)
Now on multiplayer for Halo2 you can choose two character models, Elite or Spartan which are both completely balanced and that’s nice but what about if we add health in the form of two other characters? ODST Marines (ODST’s because they are stronger) and Brutes. That would mean everything would have to change so I’ve made adjustments to everything that would hopefully work.
Armor: Halo:CE and Halo2 I believe have many problems in balance of weapons that come from a lack of thought of the actual armor the character models wear. This means snipers and cheap combos such as the dreaded PP/BR combo even I hate. Also, you should be able to see your health and shields just like in Halo:CE but they should be both in bars like shields.
Spartans. If anyone knows of what curved armor is then I hope you’ll agree with this idea because it stops instant death from snipers. Ok, Master Chief has a helmet super heavy armor and the armor is slightly curved yet that doesn’t stop a head shot from a pistol. More importantly it is slightly curved. Now what curving is supposed to do? It’s used to deflect bullets at certain points so why not? If Master Chief was more immune to bullets because of his armor that would make sense. This would mean no more snipers deciding who wins a match because their shots wouldn’t always work. Also, that would make it slightly harder to do an instant kill head-shot with any weapon making those who believe the battle rifle plasma pistol combo is newbish or cheap happy. Oh and the bouncing off also applies to beam rifles.
Avantage: You’re more resistant to instant kills and bullets.
Disadvantage: You can still be killed by head-shots in the right place and plasma fire is still just as effective as before. Also, remember this only works for when your shields are down other wise a headshot will still bring your shields to 0 but you could be ok.
ODSTs. ODST would have a different advantage through their new cool black armor. Though their new armor isn’t curved, it still is completely made up of heat resistant bullet proof armor. To compensate for regenerative health issues they could have injected bio-foam. Now they could have an armor meter (ever play Half Life? Kinda like that) that shows how well their armor is doing, (their armor is twice that of a Spartan’s but don’t worry its balanced.) and their helmets prevents bullet shots to the head except through the center visor (Since anything else would just damage the outside of their skull.). If shot in the visor, it would be as if you were normally being shot elsewhere on the body (remember, it’s a balance issue). Also, to balance their resistant ability to instant kills, they’re hurt through their armor but the armor protects them well. So, instead of 100% damage to them it is about 20% damage even by armor piercing weapons (such as snipers). Frag Grenades will hurt you’re armor in the same way since your armor is heat-resistant. And physical attacks would only be blocked at most 50% since their armor is mostly fabric but it wouldn’t affect the armor. Their armor would be able to regenerate through means of tiny nano-bots fixing the fabric, (it’s the year 2552 for god’s sake, why are they still using just metal or fabric to defend themselves!?!? Or it’s magic who cares it just should be.) Both health and armor recovers at the same time.
Advantage: You’re practically immune to headshots and fairly immune to bullets and frag grenades.
Disadvantage: You’ll always be hurt through your armor by everything so even at nearly full armor you can die. You’re the weakest at close range combat by far! If you even THINK of facing a Brute, you’re already dead.
Elites have a few issues. I can think of no reason why Elites would have more plasma resistance or more bullet resistance so I used a concept someone came up with to balance them out.
Advantages: none
Disadvantages: Everyone else has advantages.
Brutes are great in this category. With their natural defense against shotguns and other extremely deadly weapons they are fairly perfect already. Their helmets would help protect them from instant kill head shots like in the game but it would take two shots in the head to kill them with a sniper rifle (one to knock off the helmet two to finish them off.) or one shot through the eye (That would be very rewarding.) Most likely they would just have to be toned down in this category to balance them out or (like ODST’s) they could be hurt more through plasma weapons. Also, for balance issues, with no armor, except for helmets, they would have their health regenerate very, very slowly so that there’s no real hiding to regenerate health if you’re a brute. The attack either works or it doesn’t.
Advantages: Where should I start? Shotguns and plasma swords aren’t instant kills unless you remove the helmate. You’re very immune to headshots. And you get an enormous amount of health. You can charge in and get out fairly easily before you die.
Disadvantages: You’re health recharges so slow It’ll be hard to take out enemies since they can duck, recover quickly, then attack you again. Also, Over-Shields won’t work as well since you have no shields it’ll only give you one layer of shielding as balance but you do get to keep active camo. You’re a lot bigger of a target than most races are too so you’re a walking target.