FalafelCopter

I think that balance issues would actually be the easiest part of implementing my suggestion, the hardest being actually programming in solid physics for a banshee spinning out. Here are some possible solutions: 1. A flat reduction to the health/armor or damage capability of the banshee. This is the least interesting solution, but it's the easiest way to start balancing pretty much anything. 2. Make it so a direct hit to the pilot portion of the banshee (that would do enough damage to destroy it) results in an immediate explosion, but a hit to the wings results in a blown off wing and a loss of control. Either way, your banshee's days are numbered, but if the guy aiming at you doesn't have good aim, you might be able to get away. 3. A new AV weapon that EMPs vehicles at range. This could be used to cause a banshee to crash into scenery or off a cliff. This option is nice because it relies on existing mechanics. I should say that in any of these options, if someone's damage results in a targeted banshee exploding, they should be rewarded some points regardless of whether the pilot got away or not.

I'm a long time banshee pilot since halo 2, and I would like to address how frustrating it is to have a banshee destroyed, especially with the laser. Since banshees are one of the most game-changingly powerful items on the maps which have them, they tend to have very long respawn times. Since they're flying vehicles, they tend to be very quickly destroyed by AV weapons like the laser. This leads to extreme moments of frustration where you don't get a banshee until the end of the match and then blow up immediately. I think that it would be nice if something were done to make that sudden removal of your vehicle into a more engaging gameplay experience. As it is, it is very jarring, especially since it can often be very difficult to tell that you are being targeted by a laser until after you've mysteriously exploded. My suggestion is that a banshee should be shot down rather than blowing up in the sky. This would entail some kind of loss of control through damage that would cause your vehicle to crash. A skilled pilot would be able to steer themselves down for a soft enough landing to escape the wreckage intact. (Or to at least bail in a safer position.) This would be more satisfying for the pilot because they would be engaged in the experience of losing their banshee, rather than feeling like it was suddenly taken from them for no visible reason. Not only that, the person shooting down the banshee would get the satisfaction of seeing their target crash and burn. I realize that it's far too late for a change like this to make it into this particular game, so it's a suggestion for the far future. Some other options that would also work: 1. The delayed explosion mechanic from the Reach beta. I was extremely disappointed when this mechanic was removed. Again, it engaged me in the experience of losing my vehicle. I was able to choose whether to bail, to fire off a couple more bombs, or to do a kamikaze dive into some enemies. I still don't understand why they reverted that change, was it that people couldn't adapt? 2. A higher prevalence of smart weaponry like missiles and rockets and a lower prevalence of the laser on maps with banshees. Rockets and missiles are about as effective as lasers are at taking out banshees, but evading them is far more fun and engaging. 3. A long range laser style EMP weapon! Make me crash into a wall!

Relic and waterworks were two of the best BTB maps of all time. They were both excellent maps that flowed very well and I have a lot of good memories there. I also wouldn't mind seeing turf again.