A6ENT of CHA0S

True, but if they would only be used for machinimas and custom games, it would be unlikely for them to see it as a priority now, either. If they brought back something like Invasion and then built upon it ( in my opinion, a GoW-style "OverRun" mode would be amazing), then they could certainly have Elites return, as well as being able to play as Brutes, Jackals, and Grunts... Heck, with a gamemode like that, why stop there! There's Drones, Hunters, and Prometheans to add to the mix. This would also mean individual hitboxes for all of these, which shouldn't be too difficult, considering they would already have them for the Campaign.

I have to say, when I read the title of this topic, I had assumed that you would be complaining about Master Chief/John-117 retiring his iconic armor for something the Spartan-IVs wear. I was already prepared to inform you that those MJOLNIR armor variants couldn't fit the Master Chief, but then you mentioned the Mark IIV... An entirely possible change, given that if any Spartan were to be given such advanced armor, Halsey's first choice would've obviously been him. That said (sorry for regurgitating what you may already know), another Spartan has already received Mark IIV armor, but it'd be no stretch of the imagination to think that Halsey would give the "next step of Humanity's evolution" the same or an improved version, seeing as how Nicole had been wearing it and it had begun to improve itself. During this transfer into a new suit of armor, hearkening back to the beginning of Halo 2, they could even introduce a new AI. A.... replacement for Master Chief, as Cortana had hinted before her supposed demise. As for telekinetic abilities, I have my doubts. 343i is making an FPS, after all. Adding telekinetic powers would detract from that and possibly ruin gameplay. I needn't remind anyone of the Armor Lock abuse in Halo: Reach, and I doubt that 343i would make a mistake like that. But still, that would only pertain to the multiplayer as a Spartan-IV...

As epic as that sounds, Halo vehicles are usually balanced in terms of mass and speed. Having a rolling mechanical monster paving through enemies and then set up to be a miniature AA gun would break that balance, as would a sprinting Mantis. It would be remniscent of Scorpions and Wraiths being able to keep up with a Warthog or Ghost. Besides, it would be criticized for being too much of a rip-off of the Droideka/ Destroyer droids from the Star Wars franchise.

What would be interesting would be to have the Elite group of Halo 4 use the mining tools they have as weapons. That's what the Scarab of Halo 2 most likely was (an excavator to unearth the portal to the Ark), and it became clear in the Spartan Ops map "Harvester" that the titular structure was being used to mine resources, so they obviously do have at least limited access to such tools. For them to use an "antique" mobile mining platform, such as the Locust, would not be hard to understand. Gameplay-wise, I think it should fire something along the lines of a continuous beam (like the Sentinel Beam or Focus Rifle, just to a greater degree). It would be able to lock down areas of interest and hold the line, but could only fire when not moving. The left trigger could even be the "Overdrive" mode, where it does more damage, but becomes more vulnerable. One way to do this (besides the obvious shield-draining) would be for vents of some sort to open on the sides and back of the "abdomen", leaving it more susceptible to damage, like the cylinder on the side of a Ghost or the back "turbine" of a Wraith. Could certainly be a unique and interesting addition to the Halo 5 sandbox. On a side note: It would probably be better for gameplay reasons if the Locust's shields were not in the dome-like shape that is was in Halo Wars, since people would simply use it as a mobile bubble shield. Would be better to have the shields form around the chassis and limbs, like that of the Mantis itself. Would love to see the battles between these two insect-monickered repurposed warmachines

Dear 343i, I am a simple fan of the Halo franchise with ideas of ways to further improve the game you have inherited. I greatly enjoyed and am still enjoying your latest installment, but have found a few things that could be changed to further revolutionize the Halo multiplayer experience for your next title. I do, however, understand that you have a very capable staff that has more comprehension in regard to weapon balancing, sandbox gameplay, etc. Please continue reading this and, at the very least, consider the suggestions. Weapons The additions to the Halo sandbox in Halo 4 injected new life into the multiplayer experience. Power weapons like the Scattershot, Binary Rifle, and Incineration Cannon made the tried and true combat more diverse. However, many of the previous games’ weapons have been left behind from the Great Journey into the “Reclaimer Trilogy”. In truth, I obviously don’t know what’s going to happen canonically in the next Halo games, but I do know that the Covenant remnants include the Brutes, more specifically the Halo 3 era Brutes. Reintroducing Jiralhanae technology, even creating a new weapon, would further allow more diverse gameplay. The return of the Brute Shot, Spikers, Maulers, and Spike Grenades would bring a sense of nostalgia to the screaming hordes of Halo 3 lovers and further pacify players with the inclusion of assassination animations using the signature blades on said weapons. Also, a return of dual-wielding could be used to reclaim Halo from the Fall of Reach. Bringing back the SMG, Brute Spiker (sorry for repeating myself), Mauler, and include two M6- series UNSC sidearms would allow more diverse combos. Two M6 variants to consider are the M6C/SOCOM of Halo 3: ODST and the M6H of Halo 4. In regard to integrating dual-wielding back into the gameplay, consider the following: individual sidearms (assuming their inclusion in loadouts) obviously do less damage than primary weapons. When dual-wielding, players cannot throw grenades, melee/assassinate, use armor abilities, and have a longer reload time. These countermeasures should help prevent overuse of this tactic, but not make it useless. Also, while on the topic of sidearms, perhaps the movement speed should be increased when having a single sidearm equipped, as well as increase the melee speed. This could also be used for melee weapons like the Energy Sword and Gravity Hammer. An additional melee weapon such as a UNSC machete/kukri (similar to Emile’s from Halo: Reach) or the forearm of a Promethean Knight would surely be a welcome addition. Armor Abilities The invention of armor abilities has helped shape how players engage in combat in more recent Halo games. Halo 4 definitely improved upon the concept from Reach, but a few alterations can still be made. The Hardlight Shield, while far better than the abused Armor Lock, still does little more than postpone inevitable deaths in most cases. Perhaps a shield should not take the form of an armor ability, but a weapon. Canonically, the Spartan IIIs would salvage point-defense gauntlets from fallen Jackals, due to the lack of MJOLNIR armor being standard-issue to these “budget” Spartans. The surviving Spartan IIIs were offered to become IVs when the program was started, so it is possible that these experienced soldiers still use these shields when available and that this tactic can spread throughout the Spartan IVs. Considered a power weapon, the Jackal Shield could prove to be a game changer in the War Games scenarios. In terms of operation, the shield could take a specific amount of damage before diminishing. The shield would then go on a recharge period, similar to the cooldown of some Covenant weapons, but can only recharge from complete collapse a given number of times. Possible experimentation could be the inclusion of a secondary weapon being used, as if the shield were dual-wielded. This would prevent the use of grenades and melee while being more heavily protected. Vehicles Vehicles have always been an integral part of the Halo experience, from the iconic Warthog to the wailing Banshee. Some vehicles have been left behind, but are sorely missed. I am sure you are aware of the community’s want of a UNSC aerial vehicle, such as the Hornet, and will certainly try to deliver. Back to the subject of the return of the Brutes, why not bring back the Brute Chopper as well? It was a better analog to the Warthog than the Ghost, in my opinion, and would fit nicely into the ever-growing sandbox of the Halo games. Spartan Ops/ Firefight Although I enjoyed the addition of Spartan Ops, I couldn’t help but feel like it had more potential. Firefight in Halo: Reach had many ways to customize the experience, something that may or may not work for Spartan Ops if it returns. In any case, the return of Firefight couldn’t hurt, especially if it included Brutes, Prometheans, or even the re-emergence of the Flood. A gametype in Matchmaking similar to Overrun Mode in Gears of War could also fill the void left by Firefight. Playing as the enemy Elites or Brutes would further the variation of gameplay opportunities that Halo offers. Invasion in Halo: Reach was very similar to this concept, but was not executed as well as it could have been. However, I’m sure that, with your experience and assets, you could further improve upon this gametype, following the basic formula of Gears of War’s successful iteration of an “Overrun” mode. If you’ve read through to this part, I sincerely thank you for your open ears, eyes, and minds. I know that some of the things I have mentioned are more challenging than others, and that you already have your own ideas for what directions to take the franchise. I just wanted to voice my opinions on what has made Halo great in the past and what can make it greater in the future. I know that the Halo universe is in very capable hands and wish you all the best of luck. Sincerely, A fan not only of Halo, but of 343i

An acceptable plot point would be that the Elites will do whatever the Didact says without question (I don't believe he died in Halo 4). That would include aligning them with the Brutes, as both species would zealously follow his command without any hesitation. From a multiplayer standpoint, the Brute weapons are excellent at diversifying gameplay and are one of the driving causes to Halo 3's success. Also, as many people would like to have the option to play as Elites and Brutes and even Prometheans (whatever iterations of Prometheans may be present after Requiem's destruction), it must be understood that this variation can ruin competitive multiplayer unless executed correctly. The answer may lie in adding a new gametype altogether. The inclusion of Invasion in Halo Reach was innovative, but not done in the best way. If the mode was re-envisioned as something more like Gears of War's Overrun mode, that would allow for a less competitive playstyle (similar to the way Infection/Flood is handled) that would allow players to choose between several races of the Covenant and/or Prometheans. Imagine a team playing as suicide grunts, jackal snipers, elites, and even earning up to being things like Brute Chieftains or Promethean Lancers, all while the other team plays as Spartans trying to defend or attack an objective.... Glorious!!!