A6ENT of CHA0S

@ Tietokone I agree that the Promethean threat (whatever form they may take in the next game) wasn't agressive enough. It's one of the reasons I'd like to see the Brutes return. In addition to being agressive enemies in the Campaign, it would be great to play as them in a spiritual successor to Invasion. Loadouts should definitely not be in competitive gametypes, but like you said, they can be fine in some. I would love to see Invasion re-envisioned more along the lines of Gears of War's "OverRun" mode. The more I think about a team who can work up to being larger threats like Brute Chieftains to take an objective, the more I want it to become a reality. I'm not suggesting for 343i to make a "carbon-copy", but to work on that concept and make it work for Halo matchmaking. It would make for an awesome gametype.

Every Halo game seems to bring a new gametype or two to mix up gameplay. What are your ideas for a new, innovative mode for the next Halo title?

@ForgeMonitor What point would ordnance be if they just went with the classic formula of weapons-on-map? If everyone earned up to, say, a Battle Rifle at about the same time (through ordnance), one team will win that skirmish, take the enemies' ammo, and mop the floor with them for a while longer until their BRs run out. In the original trilogy of games, weapons were set up so that people could pick them up, even after losing a BR duel without needing to desperately try to kill enemies with better weapons. Imagine a scenario of Sandtrap BTB where one team got BRs and the other got ARs... Its not pretty... Not to mention, after the BR holders got more kills, they wouldn't need to go anywhere to find ammo (avoiding potentially dangerous ventures into close-quarters). They could just call down more BR ammo. It would make it where a team with a better start would be able to dominate for the rest of the game, unless AR team went into hiding... and nobody wants that.

Not that I don't believe you, but what source is that from? I'd love to read up on it and learn the details

No, I don't believe it will. Microsoft is aiming to make the XBOX One in a way where there is no backwards-compatability. I've even read that 343i have at least thought about making a Halo 4 re-release, though I can't remember where. On that note, Microsoft does have a lot to fix with the media, as its console reveal was a disaster. I read up on what all the hate was about and, I have to say, I'm scared FOR Microsoft...

Personally, I think that loadouts should be scrapped. The Halo games that have them have been criticized for having problems with their gameplay elements. I believe that's because of the fact players don't spawn on equal footing. They're no longer scavenging the map for something better to use. There has been a risk/reward element to the games prior to the addition of loadouts, and is no longer as prevalent. It is especially noticeable in Halo 4, when you see people with N00B combos as their loadout, not to mention Plasma Grenades at spawn. I do like Armor Abilities, however. I think they are a refined version of Halo 3's Equipment, but don't think they should be equipped at spawn. Having them positioned on the map, akin to power weapons of sorts, would mean players would go after them and they could have a bigger impact on the actual dynamics of gameplay. After all, sometimes less is more.

Don't startle the Witch!

Actually, they are about as different as you can get. The Heretics in Halo 2 were against the lies told by the Prophets and fought to oppose the Covenant's goal of activating the Halo Array. The "Storm" Covenant Remnant in Halo 4 are still following the Prophet-made religion to an extent, trying to seize the Forerunner technology to decimate Humanity and the Elites that oppose them.

Ah yes, the black nights of navigating the enemy-occupied streets of New Mombasa. I remember them fondly. Even though I got burned to death by a few Stalker Brutes throwing Incendiary Grenades at me before I realized they were there, only to be shot in the head by a Mauler pistol... Good times. I would trade the Boltshot to have the Mauler back any day.

How is camping at AA spawns any different than what people have been doing for all of the Halo games? It means that they can become points of interest that teams will want to control, just like a Rocket Launcher or Sniper spawn. Besides, I envision the maps having more than just one or two armor abilities, but that really would depend on the layout. I do understand what you mean by the desperation aspect that Sprint brings, but that has really always been there. Its just easier to evade danger now. As for everyone using a dominating AA, everyone having it doesn't make it any less problematic. Imagine everyone just jetpacking above the map for every skirmish in a match. It not only would result in the map being relatively pointless, but also makes gameplay bland. This is a rare case, but I have seen it happen... even on maps that originally didn't even have AAs e.g. Battle Canyon ( Halo CEA )

I've been thinking about the return of Brute weapons. It would be awesome, but I can't help but think that the Spiker may need an overhaul, similarly to how the Plasma Rifle was re-envisioned as the Storm Rifle. Imagine having a more rifle-looking automatic Brute weapon with a large bayonet sticking out under the barrel (think Retro Lancer from Gears of War). I could imagine it having a lot of damage, but also having reasonable spread, since the Brutes are not known for their accuracy. I also think that Brute weapons should do a bit more melee damage and, before anyone says that that's crazy, let me tell you that's what Bungie had done to an extent in Halo 3.

@spartan123 Sometimes, its important to realize that what you added wasn't best for the next game you're making e.g. Bungie took out dual-wielding and Equipment in Halo: Reach.

I would kinda prefer a more traditional way of implementing Armor Abilities. Having them set around the map similar to the Equipment of Halo 3. I also like the idea of just starting out with ARs and Magnums. Let players go back to scavenging for better weapons. The thing with random ordnance drops is that you don't need to know the map well enough anymore, just get a few kills, get lucky, and blow people away with a Fuel Rod Cannon or Incineration Cannon that you called down. Also, does anyone else kinda regret how Sprint works? It was meant to speed up gameplay, but I never saw that gameplay was slow in the first place. Now it seems that people can just sprint to the other side of a map in seconds, especially with Mobility...

The thing is, Halo's gameplay is elegant and simple. The weapons are balanced and have their respective roles. Attachments to weapons would tarnish the games' charm with unnecessary modifiers. It is a cool gameplay mechanic, but not one suited for Halo

That is a good point. In Halo 4 and Reach, Sprint may have sped up the gameplay a bit, but that was never a significant problem in the previous games. The exclusion of Sprint could also make the Thruster Pack armor ability (or whatever would be the equivalent of it in the games to come) more of a valuable ability. Having armor abilities set on the map like Halo 3's equipment would make people look upon them as an actual enhancement, rather than a standard-issue kit. They would learn to use them in more effective ways. Not to mention, if a map could be dominated by something like Jetpack, the solution would be easy: don't place Jetpacks on the map.

I started this forum to get a better understanding of exactly what people want done differently in the next Halo title. Any opinions that you have, please share and respect the ideas and opinions of others. Sorry for needing to say that, but we are on the internet... For me, personally, Halo 4 was a great game. However, I couldn't help but think how far it is detracting from the winning formula of previous titles. There are a few things I would like to see return, and a few things that should be left behind, in my opinion. 1. I would like to see Brutes make a return. They provided a barbaric enemy with an arsenal of weapons and vehicles that helped to make Halo 3 the game that it's praised for being. Brute Shot, Spiker, Mauler, Spike Grenades, Brute Choppers, and even Incendiary Grenades gave the game more variety. 2. Dual-wielding... Do I really need to say more? 3. I would like to see a new Covenant vehicle, or rather, a reiteration of one we never had the real pleasure of facing. The Locust (exclusive to Halo Wars) was a quadrupedal mobile mining platform used as a weapon, similarly to the Scarab, but on a smaller scale. I think it would make a perfect counterpart for the UNSC's Mantis. 4. Many may think this next one is a step back, but I view it as a step closer to home: Getting rid of loadouts... Reach tried many new things, such as armor abilities and loadouts. However, Halo 4 took it even further. I like the idea of armor abilities, but think that they should be an item to pick up on a map, rather than something at spawn. In the "Golden Age" of Halo, everyone started with the same kit and then had to go out of their way to find something better. Halo 4 does the opposite, granting you the option to choose a DMR for long range and plasma grenades to defeat vehicles immediately at spawn. Many will argue that it is fair, because everyone has the choice to use these things, but that's not the only issue. Halo players used to scavenge weapons on the battlefield to survive in multiplayer, but now can just spawn with a N00B combo, or more recently the Tryhard combo (DMR and Boltshot). The additions to the sandbox are great. The method of acquiring them is not. 5. I think Halo 4 had a big improvement on Armor Abilities. The one thing that I question is the Hardlight Shield. While an improvement of the abused Armor Lock, it still does little but postpone inevitable deaths in most cases. My idea is that, rather than an Armor Ability, this type of defensive device should take the form of a "weapon" e.g. the Jackals' Point Defense Gauntlet. Using it as a dual-wielded weapon, similar to the flag in Halo 4's CTF, it could be used while fighting back.

Haha. Whoops! Well, I guess its true what Lasky said. "We're just people." Good eye catching that mistake on my part, by the way

Smiled when I read the Cortana quote, but you're right. They can still be around, and if they are, the Didact could certainly recruit them with ease. He obviously knows at least something of their current state, as evidenced by the Gravity Hammer in the Campaign. The only one in the whole campaign is on his ship.... I'd like to think it was more than just an excuse to have the Hammer for Grifball On a side note, the Brutes' aggressive nature and "gung-**" attitude is what made them enjoyable to fight. The threatening banter, the "full-frontal-assault" mentality, and the berserk brutes desperately trying to kill you in any way they can... It brings back so many memories. Makes me wish the Covenant still spoke our language.

I agree. Many gamers who care about the fanchise may be in denial about how little time 343i has to make this game. Halo 4 was in development before Reach's release if I'm correct, and still wasn't complete upon its retail release. With even less time on their hands, it is doubtful that they will make any major changes. I do hope that this preconcieved notion is wrong, as we all are at times, but to produce something with as much content as is standard in an exceptional game usually takes longer than 2 years...

I agree that the way you can use personal loadouts is a step in the wrong direction. As much as I love being able to choose what weapons, grenades, and equipment I can use, it's not how Halo was intended to be played. Halo gameplay starts everyone on equal footing and, as they scavenge the map for weapons while fighting, they can get better weapons. No one ever seemed to complain about this aspect because it was an integral part of the multiplayer experience. The inclusion of "armor modifications" can give people an unfair advantage. Examples: Stealth, Stability, Shielding, and many more. Many will argue that it is fair, because everyone has the choice to have these abilities, but that's not entirely true. You can only unlock some of the more effective ones after reaching a certain rank. The changes made in Halo 4 were supposed to welcome new gamers not yet accustomed to Halo's gameplay, but still alienates any late players and the faithfull followers who have loved the franchise for years. Reach brought about many changes, but not all of them should have been reproduced, e.g. Armor Lock, significant bloom, loadouts.... and yet, loadouts have tried to become even more integral of the Halo experience. I hate to make this analogy because I can partially understand why they wanted to do this, but if you graft a piece of CoD onto the wounded Halo, it won't be able to heal.

I believe it can be reasonably speculated that the construct seen is a Forerunner War Sphinx or the model that made it obsolete. They are incredibly powerful by human standards and were used by the Didact's children before their deaths. As for the cloak, I think it was obviously pointless. He's Master Chief... in armor. No need for rags to cloak him other than a dramatic reveal that it was him.

Forgive me for not knowing this, but I'm curious to hear about your AI idea. Care to elaborate?

I believe it was in Halo: Glasslands.

Guys, in case you didn't know, Erde-Tyrene was the name for Earth in the time of the Forerunners (before the Activation of the Halo Array). Also, the War Sphinx was a retired model by the end of the Forerunner-Flood War. If such a powerful thing were to appear in the next games, it should just be background appearances or exclusive to the Campaign, like the Broadsword run in Halo 4.

In my opinion: The Falcon would be too cramped in the multiplayer maps, so the Hornet would be more plausible. The Spectre should be avoided, since that is a potential Overkill if fully loaded. Not a good idea when you can lose half your team in an instant in BTB. The Brute vehicles would be amazing to have back, especially the Chopper. The Prowler has the same problem as the Spectre, so I could handle it's abscence. In terms of how to get the Brutes back into the storyline, the Didact would probably want to recruit as many "primitives" as he can to combat the UNSC. Its not hard to imagine the Elites and Brutes putting aside their differences to serve what they consider a "living God".