In my experience, I've found that this game is far more random than prior ones, mainly in the Infinity playlists, this is due to several factors:
1. Unbalanced Ordnance Drop layouts for each side on two-sided game types. (Probability: 50% chance you'll spawn on the better side)
2. The coin-flip nature of Personal Ordnance.
- Probability: Changes based on the map.
- Probability: Up to 10% chance you'll get the weapon choices you want in any one drop.
3. Trueskill's weighting system practically devoid from the game.
- Probability: Unknown
4. The previously know Halo-nemesis: Lag.
- Probability: Differs based on your position in the world.
- Probability: Differs based on your connection type.
- Probability: Differs based on what Halo 4 itself decides your connection type is.
(For example, on Halo 3 my connection is Moderate, on Halo Reach it's Open and on Halo 4 it's strict).
You've also got to remember that these apply to the other team, essentially meaning you can't predict or prepare for anything they call in via Personal Ordnance for example, and there's a 50% chance they'll additionally get the better side.
This means that doing well outside of a dedicated team or clan that can overcome these obstacles is down to luck more than anything else. Obviously there's a skill-based factor on how you'll do against someone with your starting loadout, but it means nothing when they appear in front of you with Rockets/Variant or across the map with Sniper/Variant. Essentially, someone will eat the death every time before everyone else is aware that an enemy has a power weapon. In Halo CE, 2, 3 and even Reach this would not be the case.
