Halo 4 should be an attempt to play and feel like halo 3, in terms of mulitplayer. Making maps from scratch is exactly what a strategic game like halo craves for by the system its built on and its fans. Now assuming that armour abilities are making a return, i suggest that you make them built in the spartan you choose pre game instead of a preload out choice every death. ALSO, if abilities do make a big presence in the game, keep the options of them low. That is to say, make the game feel new, but dont dissapoint those who are expecting their halo game to feel like halo 3, not Halo Reach. Mabey it will be possible to have simple armour abilities (sprint, jetpack, and maybe evade and some simple new one that maybe reduces explosive damage for 1 second upon activiating it) while on the other hand have the map equipmemt return from halo 3 creating a stronger reason for map controll than just getting powerful weapons.
If the clan system Halo 2 was mixed with Halo 3 ranked system, this game would be closley resembling god himself. If Halo Reach had these things, I belive id still be playing it 24/7. Seeing as how Halo Reach did not incoporate ranking up with both exp and a highest level like in Halo 3, I found myself playing endless games with no real sense of competivtivness.(is that even a word?) Halo 4 should present itself as a fun games for those who want it to be fun, and challenging for those looking for more than just killing noobs in big team battle, or being obliterated by a full 8 party team of inheritors. Definitley think about bringing these to factors back into matchmaking.
Im pretty sure the developmemt of the game is clear cut by now, but i am wishing that if anything you guys at 343i really take these aspects into consideration. Dont lose sight of what halo is supposed to be, but dont overdue a already amazing game (halo 3) into something that feels to diffrent from its predecessors. I would go into further detail on every aspect, but that would not be helpful because their are always diffrent opinions on specific game mechanics. Gl u guys, and... MASTER CHIEF BETTER NOT CRY NO MATTER HOW DEEP YOU GO INTO HIS HUMAN SIDE OF STORY TELLING. bye.