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[Fracas]

UPDATE: Go here first, this explanation is from 343 themselves. http://halo.xbox.com/halo4/en-US/?#...izations/c907f20c-89c4-4849-9f58-d32b31d05e77

Here's the info from that page:

"During their Spartan careers, players are offered Specializations through a variety of channels, allowing them to enlist in specific rank paths that come with armor sets, armor mods, emblems, and a variety of other components. Once a player has advanced through the standard fifty (50) rank levels allotted to Spartans, they will have access to a selection of Specializations. These paths are composed of ten rank levels each, which the player, once opting for the Specialization, must complete in order to improve their rank and before being allowed to enlist in a separate Specialization.

Each Specialization unlocks the following items as you progress across its 10 levels:

• Armor Mod
• Armor Set – Helmet, Chest, Left Shoulder, Right Shoulder
• Armor Set Skin – Texture skin for Helmet, Chest, Left Shoulder, Right Shoulder
• Armor Mod
• Weapon Skin – Texture skin of one of the loadout weapons
• 4 Foreground Emblems
• 1 Background Emblem
• 1 Visor Color

WETWORK
Spartan optimization for stealth operations which focus on the elimination of an enemy target with the goal of leaving no tactical footprint behind.
The Stealth armor mod allows users to move quickly and silently in combat, executing enemy assassinations with lightning fast dexterity.

PIONEER
Spartan optimization for deployment into uncharted, hostile territory, such as uncolonized worlds or Forerunner constructs like Requiem, for the purpose of gathering and relaying information.
The Fast Track armor mod allows Spartans to gain more experiential data from each encounter, effectively ranking up quicker during the process.
This Specialization will be available at launch.

ENGINEER
Spartan optimization for the subversion, repair, and or reconstitution of a wide range of technology, including Covenant and Forerunner complex networks.
The Drop Recon armor mod allows users to predict the location and time of an ordnance drop through an external suborbital monitoring system.

TRACKER
Spartan optimization for long-range target tracking (trans-continent and off-world), particularly in scenarios where conventional tracking has failed or such a substantial time has passed that the trail has gone cold.
The Requisition armor mod allows users the ability to recall their own ordnance requests in order to acquire more helpful weapons in the field.

ROGUE
Spartan optimization for single-operative missions which require a lone Spartan to be deployed on their own for incredibly long durations of time, even years if required.
The Stability armor mod allows users to increase their aiming stability when being fired upon.

STALKER
Spartan optimization for target shadowing missions which require tactical invisibility despite operating at an extremely close range to the target itself.
The Nemesis armor mod allows users to target and track down previous attacking enemies, highlighting them on the armor’s passive sensors.

PATHFINDER
Spartan optimization for deep, unconventional deployment within unknown enemy territory and with little to no assistance from command.
The Gunner armor mod decreases the time of weapon overheat when occupying a vehicle weapon position and increases Spartan speed while carrying a detached turret.

OPERATOR
Spartan optimization for the operation and control of a wide range of vehicles: space, air, ground, and sea.
The Wheelman armor mod gives Spartans the ability to coax every bit of stamina and durability out of vehicles they are piloting. "

---------

Here are the high-res pics:

Original post:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/15/halo-4-specializations-will-change-halo-multiplayer-
forever

You’re going to play Halo 4 this fall. You know it. Your friends know it. Your family knows it. Your significant other knows it (What’s that? You haven’t told them yet? Trust us, it’s probably best to do so sooner rather than later). For Xbox owners, there is simply no bigger game. But with today’s unveiling of multiplayer Specializations – essentially, Spartan mini-classes that will further customize, enhance, and prolong your Halo 4 War Games multiplayer experience – you’re probably underestimating just how much of your life is about to be spent with the Spartan IVs. We’ve got a breakdown of all eight Specialization classes, starting with the basics, along with details straight from the mouth of Halo 4 Spartan Ops designer David Ellis. Buckle up, people.

Wetworks


Halo fans who wore the Hyabusa armor proudly in Halo 3 can now walk the walk in addition to talking the talk. As you may have heard in previous Halo 4 multiplayer footage, these Spartan IVs make some serious noise when they move. How could they not? They’re seven-foot-tall superhumans running around frantically while wearing one-ton metal armor. Enter the Wetwork armor mod, which boasts a couple of key stealth-related benefits.

“When someone’s using Promethean vision, they show up on screen as a big red figure,” says Ellis. “With this [mod], you still show up, but the only thing that shows up is your outline.

“And also when you sprint, it adds some sound dampening so you don’t make as much noise when you sprint.” Furthermore, the assassination animation will happen faster for you, leaving you vulnerable for a shorter duration of time. Though Ellis did also clarify an immediate question we had, saying, “You definitely still show up on radar, let me make that clear.” Wetworks is one of the two immediately accessible Specializations available to all players out of the box.

Pioneer


We can’t imagine anyone not starting out by spending a lot of time as a Pioneer, and not just because the other Specializations that everyone will have access to on November 6. Simply, the Pioneer’s Fast Track mod nets you experience points towards the next level at a higher rate, bringing you closer to your high-level goals.

And because we can already hear the gears turning in your head, Ellis and 343 have already planned for the potential exploits of this particular class. “You can change loadouts mid-match, but we put fail-safes in,” Ellis begins. “For Fast Track, you only get extra XP for the amount of time you were using it. You can’t just turn it on right at the end of a match and think you’re going to get extra XP for everything you did in a match.

Engineer


In Halo 4 multiplayer, weapon drops won’t be predictable. Rather, they’ll appear dynamically both in location and in content. You might get lucky and get a rocket launcher, and you might be fortunate enough to have that SPNKr drop a mere feet from your location. In the event something good is falling from the sky, the Engineer’s Drop Recon armor mod provides an advantage. “A couple extra seconds before everyone else sees the [drop] coming down, the Engineer is gonna get a heads-up,” Ellis says. Secondarily, he adds, “Based on the distance to the weapon, you can get an arrow pointing you to where the nearest timed ordinance drop is coming in. It extends the range of those popping up on your HUD.”

Tracker


Alternative to the same situation the aforementioned Engineer faces, of course, is this: What if you truck halfway across the map only to discover a lame Covenant plasma rifle? Bummer, right? Well, the Engineer has the ability to turn that frown upside-down with his Drop Recon armor mod.

“When you get an ordinance drop, you get a choice of some grenades, a weapon, and a power-up,” Ellis explains. “What this allows you to do is essentially re-roll. So if the three choices that you have don’t suit your play style, you get a chance to re-roll and get an all-new selection.”

Rogue


“In past Halo games, when you’d be zoomed in and take a shot, you’d be taken out [of your zoom],” Ellis reminds us. “Now it’s not necessarily the case. As you’re taking shots [with the Stability mod], it allows you to keep your reticule more stable.” Yep, this one is almost straight out of Call of Duty, as it will also improve your from-the-hip firing accuracy. The Rogue Specialization is tailor-made for players who prefer to snipe their foes from afar. [Editor’s Note: If only Halo 4 had a Halo 1-style super-pistol to go with this mod, I’d be unstoppable. MUHAHAHA!!!]

Stalker


Described by 343 Industries as “Spartan optimization for target shadowing missions which require tactical invisibility despite operating at an extremely close range to the target itself,” the Stalker packs the Nemesis armor mod, a passive skill that, according to Ellis, “Pops up on the HUD an icon of the last person that killed you.” This also applies to attacking enemies as well, making it useful for both retaliation and revenge. Teams that communicate well can make fantastic use of this perk.

Pathfinder


This one is pretty self-explanatory. Pathfinders enjoy the Gunner mod, which reduces the cool-down on vehicle weapon overheating and allows you to move faster when carrying a detached emplacement. “If you like grabbing turrets,” suggests Ellis, “This will make you a little more powerful than you would be otherwise.” Ellis may or may not have had an ear-to-ear grin on his face when he said this.

Operator


This one’s for all the vehicle lovers out there. “In the past you’ve been able to use an EMP pulse to freeze a vehicle,” says Ellis, recalling far too many memories of having a Running Riot interrupted by a well-placed overcharged plasma pistol burst. “This [Wheelman armor mod] gives you a bit of a resistance against that. It won’t necessarily stop you in your tracks [anymore].”

But wait, there’s more: “This also allows you to recharge the health of a vehicle a little faster. It won’t be fast, but if you can get out of harm’s way, you’re going to recharge the vehicle’s health faster than you would otherwise.” And 343 is encouraging this in a key way: “You’re going to be rewarded a lot more for [driving well and getting assists] than you were before,” clarifies Ellis. “We’re going to encourage people to want to be the driver.”

Before you get the same idea I did, though, take note: multiple armor mods of the same type do not stack. So if you fill a Warthog full of Operators, you won’t create a magic, invincible ride. Sadly.

 

[Bowler]

duh fuck? trying to rain on sony's parade today?

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

As a clarification specializations are not unlocked until you hit the MAX RANK. These are end-game content.

 

[Tawpgun]

Stupid and dumb

 

[Spawnling]

Meh. I honestly don't know how I feel about it. It's only for MAX ranked players anyways. I wonder if the ranking system will take longer than Inheritor compared to Reach.

 

[Fracas]

I do not like this one bit.

Gives a huge advantage to long-term players.

 

[Synth_floyd]

Not sure if it will be good or not but obv Halo is taking a ton of stuff from CoD.

 

[NullPointer]

(specializations)

 

[NerdEyeBlind]

As a clarification specializations are not unlocked until you hit the MAX RANK. These are end-game content.

Really?! That sucks. I want these out o' the box

 

[Orayn]

I thought I could rely on Halo to keep multiplayer fair and only reward people for mastery of the game, not pure time invested, matches won, etc.

Guess not, huh? Go soak your collective heads, 343. I want no part in your CALL OF HALO: SPARTAN WARFARE garbage.

 

[Genesis Knight]

I do not like this one bit.

Gives a huge advantage to long-term players.

I don't get it when Halo fans say this stuff. How will that affect us? We're going to be the ones bagging on new kids with these time-investment unlocks.

 

[MarauderShields]

As a clarification specializations are not unlocked until you hit the MAX RANK. These are end-game content.

Unless you buy the limited edition

I dont like the sound of any of this

 

[zap]

These seem terrible.

Goodbye balance

 

[Genesis Knight]

Unless you buy the limited edition

I dont like the sound of any of this

Even if you have the LE, you can't get it until you hit max rank.

This article was poorly written. It's also wrong about the 'steady aim' stuff. That's not true, confirmed by 343 in the Halo OT.

 

[base shagohod]

Even if you have the LE, you can't get it until you hit max rank.

This article was poorly written. It's also wrong about the 'steady aim' stuff. That's not true, confirmed by 343 in the Halo OT.

I'm a little confused. If you only get these Specializations when at max rank, why would you wanna use Pioneer?

Simply, the Pioneer’s Fast Track mod nets you experience points towards the next level at a higher rate, bringing you closer to your high-level goals.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Unless you buy the limited edition

I dont like the sound of any of this

No, these are end-game for everyone. LE just gets all of them open off the bat, you still have to get to the end rank to pick one.

 

[JaggedSac]

I'm a little confused. If you only get these Specializations when at max rank, why would you wanna use Pioneer?

That is a good question. I too would like to know, I have not been keeping up with Halo as of late.

 

[Trickster]

The game looks fucking amazing. But this sounds just, ugh...No thanks.

 

[Fracas]

That is a good question. I too would like to know, I have not been keeping up with Halo as of late.

I'm a little confused. If you only get these Specializations when at max rank, why would you wanna use Pioneer?

Who knows, to be honest. 343's done a pretty bad job of clarifying things.

 

[Trumpet909]

I'm a little confused. If you only get these Specializations when at max rank, why would you wanna use Pioneer?

In the wetworks description, it says it is "one of the two immediately available specializations". I'm assuming Pioneer is the 2nd.

 

[Genesis Knight]

I'm a little confused. If you only get these Specializations when at max rank, why would you wanna use Pioneer?

This is speculation, but there seems to be a prestige system in place. Once you get your Pioneer specialization, it's back to Level 1 and you'll have to rank back up to 50 in order to try for another specialization.

We'll know more with tomorrow's Halo bulletin from 343.

 

[KSai]

Operator is going to make banshee attacks even more unbearable. Big Team Battle is not looking good.

 

[DopeyFish]

This is speculation, but there seems to be a prestige system in place. Once you get your Pioneer specialization, it's back to Level 1 and you'll have to rank back up to 50 in order to try for another specialization.

We'll know more with tomorrow's Halo bulletin from 343.

Iirc it was 10 levels for the extra specializations

 

[base shagohod]

This is speculation, but there seems to be a prestige system in place. Once you get your Pioneer specialization, it's back to Level 1 and you'll have to rank back up to 50 in order to try for another specialization.

We'll know more with tomorrow's Halo bulletin from 343.

Ah, makes sense actually. Guess we'll see if that's the case.
Honestly I don't know how I feel about this stuff being in multiplayer. I feel like it'll discourage newer players later on, because they'll feel even more outclassed with people who have been playing longer.

Not writing War Games off completely, of course. Just concerned.

 

[Genesis Knight]

Iirc it was 10 levels for the extra specializations

Yeah, so:

1 - 50.
Pick your specialization.
Get to 60.
BONUS!
Go back to 1.
Repeat, pick a different specialization next time.

1-50 isn't a one-time thing, I don't think.

More discussion here: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=484044&page=167

EDIT:

Actually, 343 just said this:

This is actually one of the things I said in the interview.

By enlisting in a Specialization you basically raise your own level cap. With each one, you can extend the level cap a little further. You DO NOT have to rank all the way through again.

 

[snoopeasystreet]

None of them sound fun. I like Halo 1-3 cause it was the closest thing to a console designed version of Quake. Going into a fight knowing that the enemy has control over something that you have no influence on breaks high level play. That said I'm sure there's the equivalent of hardcore mode for those of us that care about that kind of thing.

 

[Jarlaxle]

If they're for already maxed out players, what's the point of the pioneer? All it does is give you the ability to earn extra EXP, but if you're already maxed out.....?

Edit: Sorry, just read that someone already brought this into question. I just read the OP and then posted.

 

[DR3AM]

The more they talk about the MP, the more it sound like CoD. If I want CoD, I'll buy CoD.

 

[The Xtortionist]

Rogue or bust

 

[Cassius]

Still skeptical.

But then again, maybe I'm just sour about the support that Reach received.

 

[Ken]

Armor looks good.

 

[Ichabod]

As someone who doesn't care about Halo turning or not turning into CoD, these specializations seem really...meh.

 

[Visualante2]

I haven't even played Halo multi since 2, but I read about the Call of Duty like elements being included in the Edge preview last month. Seems like they've borrowed quite a lot more than I hoped. The perks stuff seems fine to me but I'm over XP at this point.

To me it feels like artists control the game design now, they want everyone to experience every shitty gun they've spent months designing and modeling. They're afraid nobody will play with their toys once people work out what the ideal loadouts are. Or that people will trade it in because they're bored sooner. I just don't get it.

None of them sound fun. I like Halo 1-3 cause it was the closest thing to a console designed version of Quake. Going into a fight knowing that the enemy has control over something that you have no influence on breaks high level play. That said I'm sure there's the equivalent of hardcore mode for those of us that care about that kind of thing.

Homogenisation will eventually lead to cannibalisation.

 

[Ein Soph Aur]

I'm not really bothered by this.

 

[thetrin]

Yeah, so:

1 - 50.
Pick your specialization.
Get to 60.
BONUS!
Go back to 1.
Repeat, pick a different specialization next time.

1-50 isn't a one-time thing, I don't think.

More discussion here: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=484044&page=167

EDIT:

Actually, 343 just said this:

I never understood prestiging in COD, but maybe that's because I'm so used to RPGs. I would never willingly be reduced back to level 1, just to do the whole thing over again.

 

[TacticalFox88]

Can I please just get an HD remake of Halo 2 please? Fuck this noise.

 

[Conor 419]

Meh.

 

[Kiryu]

I still will take "Rogue" or "Operator"

 

[Kuroyume]

So you hate getting killed by vehicles the entire time you're playing an FPS? Here's some perks for vehicle abusers to make your game time less enjoyable!

edit: Ellis says there are more weapons to destroy vehicles. I'll remain a bit skeptical but I'll cool down on the hating for now...

 

[ChimpBottle]

Oh, how I miss Halo 3's Run-Jump-Shoot-and-Whack gameplay

 

[Barrel Cannon]

Rogue mod..... so bad.... they aren't even hiding the fact that they are trying to copy cod anymore. I pray there will be plenty playlists that let us forgo this all.

 

[MarauderShields]

Can I please just get an HD remake of Halo 2 please? Fuck this noise.

How about just let me play it on XBL. I dont even need a remake.

 

[OverHeat]

Oh, how I miss Halo 3's Run-Jump-Shoot-and-Whack gameplay

So much truth in this post :s

 

[vatstep]

Either I'm getting too old or MP games are getting too convoluted. I'd rather just go back and play some UT2K4 or CoD4.

 

[AwayFromInfinityx]

I do not look foward going into a lobby full of these people who have these perks.

NOT ONE BIT.

 

[Overdoziz]

I miss Halo.
I miss its simplicity.

 

[-PXG-]

Don't do what Bungie did, 343. Throwing in the kitchen sink isn't a good idea. Sometimes, less is more.

I'd rather have more maps and game variants, then all these "classes" and perks. This stuff is going to be hell to balance and well, just not going to be fun. If I wanted CoD bullshit, I would play CoD. Simple as that.

 

[Conor 419]

This game seems to be straying so far off the edge in ways that I can't help but feel that Truskill (or the lack of) will make or break the title.

 

[Plain Ben]

I miss Halo.
I miss its simplicity.

Seconded. Halo 3 is basically unplayable on my connection now too, damn netcode.

 

[Demoncarnotaur]

These all seem subtle enough, or at least they wont lead to frustrating advantages such as extra health, extra damage, etc. I like it that way. Anyways, pics: