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[Iknos]

Nice post Dani.

Please be right. Please Dani. I beg ya!

Invasion could be made better. No offense to the designer at Bungie that created that particular setup...but it is very bland.

This means that Invasion can be made scalable to the number of players on a custom server. A group of 6 friends can make an Invasion mode that works well with 3 vs 3 and use a smaller portion of the map.

That...or make an epic large scale 7 objective Invasion that uses every inch of the map and has you carrying the final objective right through the middle of the map.

Begs the question: if a gametype like this is editable...can loadouts be edited for custom games?

 

[Blueblur1]

Elite Armor Lock looks pretty sweet. Much cooler than the Spartan animation.

 

[electricpirate]

Nice post Dani.

Please be right. Please Dani. I beg ya!

Invasion could be made better. No offense to the designer at Bungie that created that particular setup...but it is very bland.

This means that Invasion can be made scalable to the number of players on a custom server. A group of 6 friends can make an Invasion mode that works well with 3 vs 3 and use a smaller portion of the map.

That...or make an epic large scale 7 objective Invasion that uses every inch of the map and has you carrying the final objective right through the middle of the map.

Begs the question: if a gametype like this is editable...can loadouts be edited for custom games?

loadout palette customization has been confirmed.

 

[MrDaravon]

Several people in this thread have previously said five, and I myself have only had 3 daily ratings and am not placed in a division, so I assume five is correct.

It can't be though, because I just double-checked, and people were getting their division placements on the 6th, and the Arena didn't go up until the 3rd. I don't think it places you in a division until the "end" of the 3rd day you had daily rankings. I did my 3rd day of daily placement today, so I guess we'll see if I have something in the morning or not.

 

[ToyMachine228]

Did Arena for the first time today. Got my three matches in and ended with a 1605 rating. Went 28-3 in one game with two Kill Frenzy's, and a Running Riot.

Overall I stuck with Invasion for most of the day as today was one of my first days in a while to really get in depth with it. I like it a lot. I like that it's rooted in a fictional scenario with chatter from both the Spartan and Elite commands in between phases. It makes it unique among other Halo modes which are just X number of players in a box killing each other.

In Invasion I think the Spartans and Elites are balanced pretty well. Spartans get better Load Outs for sure, but Elites are craftier in general with the regenerating health, higher jumps, spawning with more grenades, the evade armor ability, etc. So Spartans SHOULD have better weapons if they are to defend successfully. On Boneyard I think things are balanced very well.

My only complaint about Invasion is that it's only 1 Round. You don't get a chance to play both offense and defense in each game. Maybe Bungie's concern is quitters ruining this? Like if they get destroyed on Offense, they'll just quit instead of playing Defense? Understandable as I've already seen a number of quitters in both Invasion and Invasion Slayer, but it still kind of sucks as Invasion games don't take forever. It'd be nice to be able to go on both O and D in every game.

As I said in my previous post I'm impressed by both Invasion and Boneyard. Definitely a worthwhile and unique addition to the other modes.

Also played Headhunter for the first time today. I don't usually do FFA stuff in any game too frequently. It's quirky, but definitely frantic and fun. Another cool addition. I got a Skullamanjaro and won my first and only game I've played of it so far:lol

Bring on Generator Defense! Can't wait to try it.

 

[Wiggum2007]

There seems to be a lot of Swordbase hate here, but man I am loving it. While I recognize its problems with the team-based games, ctf and such, slayer is a blast on it. The only thing that disappoints me about it is that it is similar enough (not in exact map layout, but verticality and such) to Prisoner from Halo 1 that it's probably an indicator that we probably won't be getting a remake of that map in Reach. :lol

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

There seems to be a lot of Swordbase hate here, but man I am loving it. While I recognize its problems with the team-based games, ctf and such, slayer is a blast on it. The only thing that disappoints me about it is that it is similar enough (not in exact map layout, but verticality and such) to Prisoner from Halo 1 that it's probably an indicator that we probably won't be getting a remake of that map in Reach. :lol

Swordbase >>>>> Powerhouse, IMO. I love that map so much for Slayer.

 

[Sanic]

It can't be though, because I just double-checked, and people were getting their division placements on the 6th, and the Arena didn't go up until the 3rd. I don't think it places you in a division until the "end" of the 3rd day you had daily rankings. I did my 3rd day of daily placement today, so I guess we'll see if I have something in the morning or not.

Oh, alright. I was just going off of my own experience and what others were saying. Hopefully someone can verify either way.

 

[LAUGHTREY]

Swordbase >>>>> Powerhouse, IMO. I love that map so much for Slayer.

Uhm. Swordbase would suck if it wasn't for Jetpacks.


Really, it's a mathmatical fact. You would just camp the top with no way to get up there except lifts or exposing yourself on those wide open bridges, and have the shotgun and plasma launcher all day.

 

[kylej]

Uhm. Swordbase would suck if it wasn't for Jetpacks.

Slayer Pro creates some great standoffs between red lift and yellow lift. It's a taste of the chess game that I like in my Halo.

 

[AwesomeSyrup]

I hate Powerhouse but love Sword Base. Boneyard >>>>> both though. Also when is Generator Defense gonna be up?

 

[Sill4]

The system isn't the problem. But letting Spartans spawn with shotguns is a bad idea.

No it's not. It works just fine as long as the Elites have something to counter it like the Sword or a jet pack. And once the Elites get the core into the open, Shotgun and doin shit for ya unless you get up close. It makes the Elite team work to get the win, like they should.

I'm actually very impressed that Bungie has made a way to balance out all of the loadouts. You can always switch to something for whatever situation you need, and nothing is too op'd.

I agree wholeheartedly with all the people saying vehicles are too fragile.

If any Bungie dudes see this, then I ask, Does hitting certain parts of the vehicles give different damage? As in, the vid Ghaleon posted where his virgin Wraith got BTFU, it looked like the shell hit the ass of his tank, where the powersource would be.

It seems like certain parts of the vehicles are more fragile than others. If this is true, I like it (although tank is still too dainty, imo)

 

[les papillons sexuels]

No it's not. It works just fine as long as the Elites have something to counter it like the Sword or a jet pack. And once the Elites get the core into the open, Shotgun and doin shit for ya unless you get up close. It makes the Elite team work to get the win, like they should.

I'm actually very impressed that Bungie has made a way to balance out all of the loadouts. You can always switch to something for whatever situation you need, and nothing is too op'd.

I agree wholeheartedly with all the people saying vehicles are too fragile.

If any Bungie dudes see this, then I ask, Does hitting certain parts of the vehicles give different damage? As in, the vid Ghaleon posted where his virgin Wraith got BTFU, it looked like the shell hit the ass of his tank, where the powersource would be.

It seems like certain parts of the vehicles are more fragile than others. If this is true, I like it (although tank is still too dainty, imo)

shotgun > sword

 

[JesseZao]

Slayer Pro creates some great standoffs between red lift and yellow lift. It's a taste of the chess game that I like in my Halo.

Yeah I hate jetpack n00bs. Pro games are so much more tactical and fun, especially on Sword Base.

Sprint fo' LYFE!2!

Spoiler

not being sarcastic

 

[Sill4]

shotgun > sword

Not always, it depends on the situation. Plenty of time I've been on Team Elite and had epic battles in the core room with pro pipes, needles, shotguns, AR and plasma all over the place, and we came out on top. Remember you can get a guy or two to cover you from the openings in the rooftop.

More on vehicles. I think the best way to take down a Scorpion is with the Ranger Elite. Fly over it and hit it with plasma to disable it. Even if the tank is surrounded by spartans, you have a chance to land on it, board, and plant a grenade.

I wonder how the map would play differently with no Spartan Laser and no Covie nade cannons.

 

[Wiggum2007]

I wonder how the map would play differently with no Spartan Laser and no Covie nade cannons.

The more I play, the less overpowered the Plasma Launcher seems to me. But then again what do I know.

 

[AwesomeSyrup]

The more I play, the less overpowered the Plasma Launcher seems to me. But then again what do I know.

Remove the lock on and it's fine. The lock on ruins it.

 

[GhaleonEB]

No it's not. It works just fine as long as the Elites have something to counter it like the Sword or a jet pack.

Allowing weapons such as swords and shotguns - which have hitherto been accurately described as 'power weapons' - is very much a problem. Adding more power weapons to the mix is not a solution.

Unrelated: Boneyard is simply too big for Invasion Slayer 6v6, and I don't understand the balancing mechanisms between Elites and Spartans in it. It seems like using a single class would be a much more natural fit to a more open Slayer gametype; Spartans vs. Elites works for one-sided objectives.

 

[TheSeks]

I don't see the quitting ban helping out the issue too much IMO

At best, it might get those kind of people to go AFK instead.

This, pretty much. Incorporate Naughty Dog's AFK check and then auto-kick them if they do that and the quit ban may have some effect.

But honestly, I can't see it changing anyone's game-style. I'll still quit (though generally to the dashboard while the gametype is loading, thereby I'm not exactly "part of the game") if I have to replay One Flag CTF AGAIN AFTER FIVE FUCKING TIMES and not playing Team SWAT [Dear BUNGIE, please let this be a playlist like Halo 2/3 instead of Grab Bag like the beta. :|] or some other gametype I may want [*cough*Invasion Slayer*cough*] *cough*Server Browsers are nice, guys, you should really use them instead of matchmaking and forcing me into modes I don't want to play*cough cough*.

And sore-losers will still quit if they're losing. So... *shrug* You may stop them for a little while but it isn't going to drastically reduce the quits. (It may, and I'll be surprised if it does, but right now... just don't see it)

 

[WickedLaharl]

i gotta agree that you should be able to quit in the pre-game lobby. i cringe everytime 1 flag on swordbase comes up.

say if you quit before a match starts why not go back to searching and pick up another player? sure this will increase the wait to get into a game but i really don't think being forced to play a gametype you hate is ideal.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Had some great Invasion games tonight-- won 7 in a row, which for me is unheard of-- including one where we (Spartans) managed to halt the Elites' offensive with the data core three meters away from the extraction point in the third phase. In the next game, we (Elites) faced a roughly similar situation, but managed to swarm the tower until we scored. Felt like it was raining jetpack rangers at the end! :lol Good times.

Also, I really have to give props to Bungie for the netcode in the Beta. I've played 138 games-- many of the Invasion recently, when I'm assuming the game is most stressed-- with all of 5 or 6 that I'd call laggy, and even then, still playable. Much smoother overall than Halo 3.

 

[RebornYeti]

I feel like I've been away for like a week. I need to get caught up on all the Beta talk and stuff. :lol

But I played Invasion for the first time yesterday, and it felt really one-sided. It's favored towards the Spartans in my opinion. Once the Elites have to take the Data Core to the Drop-Off point, it's basically game over for them right there.

Invasion Slayer on the other hand is super fun. I love how hectic it can be, and the vehicles make it so much fun.

 

[soldat7]

i gotta agree that you should be able to quit in the pre-game lobby. i cringe everytime 1 flag on swordbase comes up.

You'll have much more variety in the final game, of course. Plus, 1-Flag CTF on Swordbase is awesome, play it and love it. That's Halo's style of matchmaking these days: majority rules.

 

[Mr. Lemming]

Not feeling the new Warthog controls. Driving is not as loose as earlier renditions which takes a bit of the fun away from driving it. Despite the heavier feeling the slightest bump makes the damn thing flip end-over-end.

 

[Odrion]

Uhm. Swordbase would suck if it wasn't for Jetpacks.


Really, it's a mathmatical fact. You would just camp the top with no way to get up there except lifts or exposing yourself on those wide open bridges, and have the shotgun and plasma launcher all day.

Lmao, I'm a armor locker and swordbase is awesome. It's not too hard to navigate around the map.

 

[VGChampion]

You'll have much more variety in the final game, of course. Plus, 1-Flag CTF on Swordbase is awesome, play it and love it. That's Halo's style of matchmaking these days: majority rules.

The group of friends I play with just pass the flag along each level by jumping. Takes about 15-20 seconds when we get that.

 

[Thagomizer]

Is it weird to anyone else that it takes less to kill a tank than a Warthog?

 

[Sill4]

Is it weird to anyone else that it takes less to kill a tank than a Warthog?

I really do think it depends on where the tank is hit. I disabled a Scorpion and stuck two plasmas on the front of it and it survived. Later I hopped into a fresh scorpion and took a frag to the back and got BTFU.

 

[NullPointer]

Lmao, I'm a armor locker and swordbase is awesome. It's not too hard to navigate around the map.

Same here. And I hated that level at first, but it's only because it gives a very confusing first impression.

 

[zedge]

Invasion is pretty cool, nice to see some new multi gameplay modes.

 

[Tashi]

I'm starting to like the Needle Rifle.

 

[Wiggum2007]

Just out of curiosity, is Noble 6 a mute a la the Rookie in ODST? I'm not too fond of silent protagonist so I'm hoping he's voiced.

 

[Sai-kun]

Just out of curiosity, is Noble 6 a mute a la the Rookie in ODST? I'm not too fond of silent protagonist so I'm hoping he's voiced.

Voiceless!

 

[Wiggum2007]

Voiceless!

Boo!!!!

 

[Digital-Hero]

Boo!!!!

Yup.

Voiceless needs to go the way of the dinosaur.

(Don't respond with Crono or Gordon Freeman... blah blah)

 

[Plywood]

So in the final version of Reach MP will we be able to choose between boring male voice or superior Russian female voice?

 

[NameGenerated]

How do I see screenshots I have taken?

Nevermind found it.

Bug I encountered after an Invasion game ended.

And now that I notice it, it says "GOAL" over where the core drop is, but they didn't even get to phase 3. Strange.

 

[Plywood]

Fuckin' magnets, how do they work?

Why we still got separate polarities?

 

[Wiggum2007]

Yup.

Voiceless needs to go the way of the dinosaur.

(Don't respond with Crono or Gordon Freeman... blah blah)

I got my hopes up after reading the Halo wiki page, which said there would be a seperate voice actor depending on the gender you chose for your character. So much for that.

 

[Thagomizer]

You know how, if the Spartans win, the game auto-kills the Elites?


Well, for some reason, I had those kills attributed to me a few games ago. I got a Killtacular literally by doing nothing. :lol

I'll get a vid up tomorrow, but here's a link to the game, for now.

EDIT: wow, I've gone from Gold to Bronze in the Arena :lol

 

[Dirtbag]

i really want some walk on the walls/ceiling gravity boots AA, or some type of wall-run move.
Would be a blast to use.

 

[Ramirez]

I have such a love/hate relationship with this game, I never wanted to turn the Halo 3 beta off, but I turn this one off in disgust regularly.

I also feel like in almost every game I play with people I know, it seems like no one is really having fun. :lol

 

[Trickster]

I have such a love/hate relationship with this game, I never wanted to turn the Halo 3 beta off, but I turn this one off in disgust regularly.

I also feel like in almost every game I play with people I know, it seems like no one is really having fun. :lol

Sounds more like a relationship based purely on hate more than a love/hate relationship :lol

Personally though, I like the Reach beta much more than I liked the Halo 3 beta. Snowbound and High Ground really didn't click well with me.

 

[Tashi]

I have such a love/hate relationship with this game, I never wanted to turn the Halo 3 beta off, but I turn this one off in disgust regularly.

I also feel like in almost every game I play with people I know, it seems like no one is really having fun. :lol

You gotta play with me, I still have fun

Actually today I was getting pretty frustrated with SWAT. The connections were obviously shitty and I was shooting guys in the head and they weren't dying. The headshot animation was happening too, you know, when their heads jerk back. I was watching that happen, I got so mad. :lol

 

[Trasher]

You gotta play with me, I still have fun

Actually today I was getting pretty frustrated with SWAT. The connections were obviously shitty and I was shooting guys in the head and they weren't dying. The headshot animation was happening too, you know, when their heads jerk back. I was watching that happen, I got so mad. :lol

I have a word for you that sums up that feeling perfectly.

Spoiler

HAGGARD

 

[Ramirez]

Sounds more like a relationship based purely on hate more than a love/hate relationship :lol

Personally though, I like the Reach beta much more than I liked the Halo 3 beta. Snowbound and High Ground really didn't click well with me.

My main beef with the game is still the gunplay, it's so slow, random, and unrewarding. I could write a book on the problems I have with the game at the moment, but I don't really think it's worth typing out. The game has went in a drastically different direction than what I've come to love about Halo, I like it ok enough, but I just don't see myself playing 10K games like I have with Halo 3 unless some major changes happen. =\

Tashi, you hate Arena and that's like the only list where I have a decent amount of fun in. :lol

 

[Striker]

Sounds more like a relationship based purely on hate more than a love/hate relationship :lol

Personally though, I like the Reach beta much more than I liked the Halo 3 beta. Snowbound and High Ground really didn't click well with me.

Halo 3 had the Carbine and trip mine, two things that got nerfed and rendered useless, respectively, in the final game. The only weapon I hope is taken in this contsxt this time around is the Plasma Launcher.

I am loving Reach for the most part. Few quirks and things that I'd like changed in some manner, but I have enjoyed this more than Halo 3's beta. Though to be fair, I thought I enjoyed Halo 3's beta more than the retail game in the end.

 

[Nutter]

I have a word for you that sums up that feeling perfectly.

Spoiler

HAGGARD

Dude, havent you noticed, even the Elites say something to the effect of "Haggaaard" :lol

And I agree with Ram, the haggardness trumps the fun in almost every game.

Tashi, stop playing against srubs in Grab bag, no wonder you are having an ok time with it.

 

[Tashi]

Lol so Haggard.

But nah, I can't play the beta competitively like I want to. I just don't have fun. There's too much bullshit, not Vanilla enough. If I try to take it seriously I just get angry. Like, why is this guy sprinting up to me with Hammer? Wait, why is hammer here? This radar is like having a waypoint over my head. My shot didn't register and I just got double melee'd. This guy is chasing me so hard and I just ran out of sprint and have no health :/ :lol But I'm not sweating it. It's just the beta, there will

Spoiler

hopefully

be more maps suited to my style. I just for once though want to try DMR + Magnum, no radar, no other weapons and maybe sprint only. I'll have to wait for that though.

 

[thatbox]

Whatever quitting restrictions they put in won't be enough to compel me to play the one or two gametypes I absolutely do not enjoy. I never quit once a match has begun, but I play games to have fun and I don't have fun playing SWAT so whenever that comes up I just turn off the Xbox and take a break.