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[Deputy Moonman]

Flag Running has been an inherent part to Halo CTF, at least at competitive levels, for a decade now, but I can understand that some people might be annoyed by the Announcer. Either an option to turn off the Announcer, or something like making it say Flag Dropped only once the flag has been dropped for 3 seconds, I don't know. Whatever keeps us both happy

I think that mechanic should be done away with. If you drop the flag you shouldn't be able to instantly pick it up and get extra speed out of it. But to each their own. I won't die if it remains in the game.

 

[Kapura]

Lol, it's music to my ears.

Like Navi in Ocarina of Time, right? HEY, LISTEN. FLAG DROPPED.

 

[EazyB]

I love the juggle mechanic in Halo 3. Adds a little depth and fun to flag running. You can choose to either go stealthy and slow or keep it moving but give away your exact position. I wanna rip my dick apart when I'm just chugging along without juggling. Bungie tried to get rid of it for 3 though so I'd expect them to nerf it in some way for Reach. At this point I'll be happy to get to play any flag/objective game that isn't grifball.

Wouldn't mind it if they made it so the announcer didn't repeat it the whole time but I barely notice it anymore.

 

[dilatedmuscle]

First Oonsk, now this?

 

[Striker]

The juggling should die, and the repeated offenses from the announcer just makes it worse. But the same happens in Oddball as well. "Ball taken!", "Ball dropped!", etc. Not as frequent as flag, of course, so it wasn't as much of a nuisance.

Like Eazy, though, I'll be happy for any CTF or Bomb variant. I grew tired of the near majority Slayer frequency from Halo 3.

 

[Tashi]

I love the juggle mechanic in Halo 3. Adds a little depth and fun to flag running. You can choose to either go stealthy and slow or keep it moving but give away your exact position. I wanna rip my dick apart when I'm just chugging along without juggling. Bungie tried to get rid of it for 3 though so I'd expect them to nerf it in some way for Reach. At this point I'll be happy to get to play any flag/objective game that isn't grifball.

Wouldn't mind it if they made it so the announcer didn't repeat it the whole time but I barely notice it anymore.

Hell yea. Flag juggling is a big part of CTF and I really hope it doesn't go away. We'll see how it changes from Halo 3 to Reach. In Halo 2, the flag used to be really floaty, bounced on the ground and given a little boost when you beat it down in mid air. However, for touch return gametypes it was a risk. Really great stuff there. Flag juggling allows you to make jumps with flags you otherwise wouldn't be able to as well. Flag juggling and touch return NEED to be in CTF for Reach.

 

[Ramirez]

Fond memories of bouncing the flag from one base to another on Colossus. :lol

It's depressing how bad I've become at this game, I will turn over a new leaf with Reach, believe.

 

[Lazslo]

Nevermind.

 

[EazyB]

It's depressing how bad I've become at this game, I will turn over a new leaf with Reach, believe.

You aint getting any younger. But don't worry, I've already decided that I will be to Reach as you were to Halo 3.

I'll be the TJ Ramirez that you can no longer be.

 

[Ajemsuhgao]

Working on modeling the Reach sniper rifle, just using the character renders posted on B.net of Jun. But, the center area has some serious scaling issues, and I can't seem to get it right, just based on the pictures. Anybody know of any better pictures I could use, or someone have some screencaps of the sniper shown in the vidocs, trailers, etc.?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[InvincibleAgent]

Dropping a flag should give you a penalty that you can't pick it up again for 3 seconds. I mean, you made the sacrifice of dropping it. You should suffer consequences.

Dropping a flag enables you to throw grenades, and fire your weapon. That freedom should be balanced by losing something.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Dropping a flag should give you a penalty that you can't pick it up again for 3 seconds. I mean, you made the sacrifice of dropping it. You should suffer consequences.

Dropping a flag enables you to throw grenades, and fire your weapon. That freedom should be balanced by losing something.

Hell no. Dropping the flag already has the penalty of showing every enemy on screen exactly where you (and the flag) are.

 

[Shake Appeal]

The rest of us played a bunch of L4D2, you just got it on the wrong platform

I have it on both! And I've played it more on 360.

 

[InvincibleAgent]

Hell no. Dropping the flag already has the penalty of showing every enemy on screen exactly where you (and the flag) are.

So, if the flag were visible all the time, you think it would be reasonable to give the flag carrier full speed? Please.

 

[Iknos]

or something like making it say Flag Dropped only once the flag has been dropped for 3 seconds, I don't know. Whatever keeps us both happy

Yeah...if they drop it on purpose it isn't mentioned until it is sitting there for 3-5 seconds. If they were killed and it fell it is immediately mentioned.

Bungie is probably on top of it.

 

[finowns]

Have they said if Clans are coming back in matchmaking?

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

So, if the flag were visible all the time, you think it would be reasonable to give the flag carrier full speed? Please.

That's not what I said or even implied. Why are you even suggesting that? I'm saying making players wait 3 seconds for dropping the flag is goddamned retarded.

 

[Deputy Moonman]

I love the juggle mechanic in Halo 3. Adds a little depth and fun to flag running. You can choose to either go stealthy and slow or keep it moving but give away your exact position. I wanna rip my dick apart when I'm just chugging along without juggling. Bungie tried to get rid of it for 3 though so I'd expect them to nerf it in some way for Reach. At this point I'll be happy to get to play any flag/objective game that isn't grifball.

Wouldn't mind it if they made it so the announcer didn't repeat it the whole time but I barely notice it anymore.

I understand what you're saying, but you're not supposed to be able to move fast with the flag. It's supposed to be a little harder to get away, which requires team work and good decision making on when to drop it and turn around to face your pursuers. I'd say that giving away your position is a small penalty, since it's usually not hard to figure out where the flag carrier is going even when he doesn't drop it.

I'm saying making players wait 3 seconds for dropping the flag is goddamned retarded.

Gonna have to agree with you there. But I would still rather have it so that if you drop the flag, you run too far past it and can't pick it up to gain an advantage.

 

[KidA Seven]

New here, been lurking since the start of Halo 3's thread.

On the topic of flag juggling, imo it should not be taken out. Like Eazy said, you can either choose to use the sneaky route by carrying the flag or go faster by juggling and revealing yourself. Also, flag juggling is not overpowered whatsoever and anyone can stop the flag carrier when juggling. You'll just have to use teamwork and your brains. So there is no point in taking it out. I can't imagine playing a competitive CTF match moving like a turtle. You'll never score unless you're the far superior team.

Also, sup Tashi and Juices, finally posted here.

 

[Deputy Moonman]

You'll never score unless you're the far superior team.

I kind of disagree with this. People cap flags all the time without juggling it. Indeed, it does make it harder, but it's not that bad.

 

[Domino Theory]

I love the announcer calling out every flag juggle, but I hope the announcer actually realizes that we're juggling this time and do something like:

"Flag Taken"

"Flag Dropped"

"Flag Taken"

"u gettin' mad with all the flags?"

"Flag Dropped"

 

[Deputy Moonman]

Haha that would be funny.

He should just say "make up your mind" every now and then.

 

[Nutter]

People wanting the Flag juggle out of Reach... SMH... THANK GOD you guys are not game designers.

Have you guys tried to juggle the flag yourself? It takes skill.

 

[Deputy Moonman]

People wanting the Flag juggle out of Reach... SMH... THANK GOD you guys are not game designers.

Don't speak too soon. I don't think there has been any confirmation on how it will work in Reach.

Jumping and throwing the flag at least makes some sense, as it was in Halo1 and Halo2. But simply running on the ground and dropping it and picking it up real quick for a speed boost is stupid.

Have you guys tried to juggle the flag yourself? It takes skill.

mmmm I don't know about that. You run forward, press the trigger to drop the flag, and immediately hold the bumper to pick it back up, assuming that you're not doing any jumping.

I think we can probably both agree that actually jumping and throwing the flag makes more sense than getting a speed boost by dropping the flag, and somehow picking it back up in a split second while running.

 

[metareferential]

Jumping and throwing the flag at least makes some sense, as it was in Halo1 and Halo2. But simply running on the ground and dropping it and picking it up real quick for a speed boost is stupid.

I don't think it was designed that way. It has been exploited that way, and Bungie accepted it.

So yes, in Reach it could different.

 

[Deputy Moonman]

Either way, I'll live. I'll go with whatever Bungie rolls out with Reach. This is one of those minor things that if I had my own way I'd probably change, but it's not a game breaker for me or anything. I think I argue too much.

 

[The Librarian]

I like flag running, but the whole "FLAG DROPPED, FLAG TAKEN" gets really annoying really fast.

 

[Nutter]

Flag running does take skill, for all you novice flag runners out there I will give you guys a helping tip.

When you have the flag, always jump and throw. (you gain more distance vs just running and dropping). Also make sure your weapon clip is not full. Basically meaning you have fired off some bullets from the weapon, what does this do? ; well Reload and flag pickup are the same button, by having the clip not full, the game thinks you are trying to reload the gun and when you run over the flag it picks the flag up instead, cancelling your reload. Rinse and repeat for victory.

What it basically does is, it gives you extra "time" to pick up the flag because you are doing your reload animation; as long as you get close enough to the flag while still doing your reload animation you will pick it up, vs if you had a full clip you have to time your button presses to pick up the flag. Makes it alot easier imo.

 

[Thermite]

I think with Reach and all its various armor abilities, solely juggling will become a thing of the past. We, at the very least, now have sprint and jet packs available to us to help get the flag back to your base much faster. Juggling in mid-air obviously wouldn't work, and if the ViDoc is anything to go by, sprinting will be way too quick to juggle the flag while using it. I think using armor abilities as a means to mix up ways to carry the flag home is a step in the right direction. Not that I felt there was anything necessarily wrong with the way it is now, mind you. I'd just like there to be other ways to get the flag home, instead of just pressing B, Y and then B again over and over (excluding vehicular means).

That said, taking it out completely would be a really weird decision. Not sure if I'd like it being totally gone..

 

[InvincibleAgent]

Making a flag run is supposed to be a risk. Making it possible to run full speed and have the option to drop it and become fully equipped fails to make it a risk.

 

[Apath]

Funny that people are mentioning flag juggling, as just the other day I was bitching to my friend watching TV (two TV in 1 room ftw) about how the announcer wouldn't shut up when people were juggling the flag.

I don't mind people juggling for that speed boost. In fact, I like how you can either go for the fast straight shot back to base or the slow stealthy way. What I do mind is the constant spamming of the announcer. Should be an option to disable flag announcement sound when the flag is picked up and dropped twice in a row or something.

 

[KidA Seven]

Making a flag run is supposed to be a risk. Making it possible to run full speed and have the option to drop it and become fully equipped fails to make it a risk.

When a player decides to take the flag, the game becomes 3 v 4 slaying wise. I'd say that balances it out.

 

[NJ Shlice]

*edit

Nevermind. So yeah new info is sweet.

 

[Skilotonn]

The announcer should still mention those, as it's something to at least move a group of randoms on the team to get the point that the flag is gone when they don't have mics... keep it in.

In fact, keep them all in - I like knowing when the bomb is armed, or when time is counting down.

So, if the flag were visible all the time, you think it would be reasonable to give the flag carrier full speed? Please.

I hope you aren't on some creative team, since I certainly can't come up with a proper reason why a Spartan would not be able to pick up a flagpole for three seconds after he just held it like it was nothing - these are the nonsensical balances just for the sake of balance that I hate in gaming - like sticky mines not being able to stick on any wall except door frames (yes, Splinter Cell 2, I'm looking at you)...

 

[JaggedSac]

Yeah, flag juggling is pretty lame. Feels like all those Halo 2 button glitches.

 

[squidhands]

The funniest thing about flag juggling is that because so many people do it, no one ever seems to come an find me when I just normally march the flag back to my base. I love it. :lol

 

[Thermite]

Making a flag run is supposed to be a risk. Making it possible to run full speed and have the option to drop it and become fully equipped fails to make it a risk.

The risk would still very much be there, though. While it's true that you can grab the flag and hit X (or whatever the button happens to be) to activate your armor ability to help get away fast, everyone on the opposing team will have the exact same armor ability selection that you have. So, even though you're running super fast or boosting with the jet pack towards your base or what have you, someone from the opposing team can activate their armor ability to combat yours, and have the ability to shoot you.

I can't wait to see what crazy ideas and ways the Halo community comes up with using armor abilities to help them in any situation. Makes me giddy just thinking about it.

 

[NJ Shlice]

Everyone had the same worries about Equipment in objective games when we first heard about it. In theory it seams so easy to drop a bubble shield and plant a bomb, or drop a gravity lift and jump up to a platform with a flag and you coast to freedom.

It rarely every works like that. Halo is still and will always be about timing and all of the elements coming together perfectly. You can play High Ground 1 flag ten times in a row and maybe once pull of something dirty like grabbing the flag, running in bunker and dropping bubble shield right at the door to stop grenades/bullets, and coast through the bunker to freedom.

 

[BladedExpert]

The funniest thing about flag juggling is that because so many people do it, no one ever seems to come an find me when I just normally march the flag back to my base. I love it. :lol

We call that being a "sneaky beaver". A friend of mine is always trying to "beaver" the flag in the MLG playlist.

 

[squidhands]

We call that being a "sneaky beaver". A friend of mine is always trying to "beaver" the flag in the MLG playlist.

It can be a real pain when playing with randoms. I've been betrayed a number of times because I was a n00b for not juggling. :-\

Even with all the issues that can hamper H3's matchmaking, they can't even come close to touching being in a bad game with dumbass random players who have no desire to work as a team.

 

[NJ Shlice]

The new Social Settings could really come in handy in finding teams in the Arena. I just hope enough people use the feature.

It would also be cool, even just for custom games. Where just as you select your team color, you could also designate your responsibility or primary focus for the task at hand. For example in a High Ground 1-Flag game, on defense you could designate your responsibility to "Defend Bunker Entrance" and it could be shown on the Summary screen when you hold the <Back button.

So when I die, people will see my X and know that they need to watch the bunker entrance while I respawn.

 

[Dirtbag]

I think some of the flag juggling will be replaced by jetpack / sprinting flag steals.

 

[randomlyrossy]

The new Social Settings could really come in handy in finding teams in the Arena. I just hope enough people use the feature.

It would also be cool, even just for custom games. Where just as you select your team color, you could also designate your responsibility or primary focus for the task at hand. For example in a High Ground 1-Flag game, on defense you could designate your responsibility to "Defend Bunker Entrance" and it could be shown on the Summary screen when you hold the <Back button.

So when I die, people will see my X and know that they need to watch the bunker entrance while I respawn.

I actually really like the idea of that. I think it'd be getting a bit too bogged down in the details though might put some people off. Very good idea though.

I think some of the flag juggling will be replaced by jetpack / sprinting flag steals.

Mind blown.

I do hate flag juggling personally, I never do it myself, always just make a sneaky (beaver?) run for it, not always successful but I find there's a bit more tension to it. I think you're right though Dirtbag I doubt juggling will be an issue with the abilities things will probably be drastically different.

 

[feel]

Flagrunning is awesome because of the Speed vs Stealth choice you have to make. Most people just run it, so like it has been said, it's great to go the stealth route and make the other team become desperate looking for you. I kind of like the announcer calling every drop/pick up, but make him stfu once the flag runner scores and just make him go straight to "Flag Captured!".

Flag running does take skill, for all you novice flag runners out there I will give you guys a helping tip.

When you have the flag, always jump and throw. (you gain more distance vs just running and dropping). Also make sure your weapon clip is not full. Basically meaning you have fired off some bullets from the weapon, what does this do? ; well Reload and flag pickup are the same button, by having the clip not full, the game thinks you are trying to reload the gun and when you run over the flag it picks the flag up instead, cancelling your reload. Rinse and repeat for victory.

What it basically does is, it gives you extra "time" to pick up the flag because you are doing your reload animation; as long as you get close enough to the flag while still doing your reload animation you will pick it up, vs if you had a full clip you have to time your button presses to pick up the flag. Makes it alot easier imo.

Sweet tip. Thanks.

 

[NJ Shlice]

With the information we know now, I can see myself almost exclusively using the Jetpack ability (If we are given the option to chose.) If they are picked up on the map, then I'll use whatever I come across.

Active camo is cool but I'm not crazy about the radar jammer built in. Even though they can't see me, they'll know i'm there. And I'll get my first kill off, but as I light up like a lightbulb I will be quickly taken down.

Bubble Shield animation is sick but until we know more about it I don't see me using it too much.

It doesn't look like you can shoot while sprinting. As fast a pace as Halo is, I'm not keen on the idea of giving up a first shot to someone because I'm mid-sprint.

Roll/Dodge doesn't interest me. Hopefully it will have more properties to it than just rolling forward.

 

[feel]

Speaking of armor abilities, I hope next week we finally get the explanation on how these don't totally ruin Halo as we know it. They better have really long cool off periods, it's the only thing I'm still worried about.

 

[electricpirate]

Speaking of armor abilities, I hope next week we finally get the explanation on how these don't totally ruin Halo as we know it. They better have really long cool off periods, it's the only thing I'm still worried about.

Yea, with the sage info bomb coming in, I really hope we get to hear about loadouts, and how we select AA and such.

 

[BladedExpert]

With the information we know now, I can see myself almost exclusively using the Jetpack ability (If we are given the option to chose.) If they are picked up on the map, then I'll use whatever I come across.

Active camo is cool but I'm not crazy about the radar jammer built in. Even though they can't see me, they'll know i'm there. And I'll get my first kill off, but as I light up like a lightbulb I will be quickly taken down.

Bubble Shield animation is sick but until we know more about it I don't see me using it too much.

It doesn't look like you can shoot while sprinting. As fast a pace as Halo is, I'm not keen on the idea of giving up a first shot to someone because I'm mid-sprint.

Roll/Dodge doesn't interest me. Hopefully it will have more properties to it than just rolling forward.

Thats something I've really not given any thought to. I like the idea of jetpack, but I'm just not sure how useful I'll find it with my style of run and gun. Sprint, like you said, will be useful in certain situations but I think it'll get me killed more than it will help (happens all the time in MW2).

I'll probably go with Camo. I can get the first shot off more often then not. Get behind enemy lines and flank (which I like to do). I'm not worried too much about my radar being jammed as I play a lot of MLG and I'm kinda used to not looking at a radar anyway. Camo ftw!

 

[Lunchbox]

BALL DROPPED

 

[randomlyrossy]

BALL DROPPED

Congrats, might have had to consult a doctor if it took any longer.