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[ManCannon]

In your opinion, would you say the Laser is currently balanced?

Well for me, I've honestly never even seen/used a Spartan Laser yet in Reach so I have no first hand perspective yet. I always pick the one load-out that doesn't include the laser.

Spoiler

MOAR JOKES. The last part. The first part is true, I've never even wielded it or come across it in a game thus far.

 

[Shake Appeal]

I've never even wielded it or come across it in a game thus far.

Have you had it fired at you? How did it feel?

Did it feel bad?

 

[Gui_PT]

Well for me, I've honestly never even seen/used a Spartan Laser yet in Reach so I have no first hand perspective yet. I always pick the one load-out that doesn't include the laser.

Spoiler

MOAR JOKES. The last part. The first part is true, I've never even wielded it or come across it in a game thus far.

Thanks

 

[Schmitty]

Well for me, I've honestly never even seen/used a Spartan Laser yet in Reach so I have no first hand perspective yet. I always pick the one load-out that doesn't include the laser.

Spoiler

MOAR JOKES. The last part. The first part is true, I've never even wielded it or come across it in a game thus far.

I have hope now. I will now wait until I get the beta for more judgment

 

[Shishka]

Well for me, I've honestly never even seen/used a Spartan Laser yet in Reach so I have no first hand perspective yet. I always pick the one load-out that doesn't include the laser.

Spoiler

MOAR JOKES. The last part. The first part is true, I've never even wielded it or come across it in a game thus far.

What are you talking about? It's in every loadout.

Spoiler

Grats if you didn't explode upon reading

 

[EazyB]

Maybe if the lazer weakened the further away it blasts, so it's not a direct kill at long-range....
I duno but I hope something happens.

That's the thing though. There's been a tens of great suggestions, Shake's being my personal favorite, for how to tweak the laser so that it isn't as overpowered as it is in the hands of a competent player. I don't know how anyone could argue that Halo 3's laser isn't the single most influential component of the sandbox, whether you think a weapon that influential should be in the sandbox is another thing, and through the thousands of matches I've played with the weapon and the 2k+ kills I've gotten with it I feel it's way to influential. No single weapon should be able to nullify vehicle use for one team nor should a player be able to destroy both vehicle and infantry with so little aiming and anticipation.

Like I said, so many suggestions have been brought up in this thread alone and I'm sure if Bungie put their minds to it could come up with even better ones. It never even occurred to me that they'd throw it back in unchanged. Yes it only has 1 less shot per pickup but that fundamentally changes nothing. It's like the equivalent of increases the respawn time from 80 seconds to 100 seconds, it still screws up the sandbox it just does so a little less frequently.

 

[user_nat]

What are you talking about? It's in every loadout.

Spoiler

Grats if you didn't explode upon reading[/'quote]

Spoiler

Spoiler tags don't usually end with quote tags.

 

[wwm0nkey]

I think if it's in the beta trailer, it's in the beta.

...with the possible exception of the Phantom, because hey, what's up with that? An invasion, you say?!

I dont think we will actually drive the phantoms, I think they will just be used as a form of deployment in Invasion.

 

[Slightly Live]

On a different note:

The scale of gameplay changes from Halo 3 to Reach is at least as dramatic as the evolution from Halo 1 to Halo 3. While I'm not thrilled with everything, I'm just glad they're being so aggressive in expanding and refining the game.

In particular, there's a big emphasis on adding layers to everything (sometimes literally). The targeting bloom, depth of the radar, shield/health models, abilities (camo is a perfect example) all are much more nuanced than before. There's going to be a big separation between great and good players. Loving it.

My thoughts exactly. I was assuming, at least initially, that we'd see a Halo CE -> Halo 2 situation. They reworked the engine pretty damm well but the amount of gameplay and sandbox changes is rather sweeping. They are not playing it safe this time around and really going all out seemingly.

It's quite refreshing to see this coming from such a big developer such as Bungie, really puts to shame the safe sequels (COD?) and the yearly instalments with barely a tweak done.

 

[Kapura]

Spoiler tags don't usually end with quote tags.

PLAYLIST OVERLORD DOES WHAT HE PLEASES. HE IS AN ACTIVE ROOSTER.

 

[stephen08]

I like the laser. I think the biggest problem that arises from it's use, particularly on Standoff, is that once the other team controls it plus a Warthog a lot of players cannot break that control. Standoff has a lot of anti vehicle measures besides the laser like rockets, plasma grenades, plasma pistol and brute shot unfortunately everyone seems to just keep running out of the base and the kills stack up really fast.

Getting in a Warthog needs to have risk. If it doesn't a Warthog is a huge killing spree waiting to happen.

 

[ManCannon]

PLAYLIST OVERLORD DOES WHAT HE PLEASES. HE IS AN ACTIVE ROOSTER.

I guess Gaf forums aren't tuned properly for viewing through GUNNARS.

 

[big ander]

I have to agree with others that the lack of modification to the laser is a gigantic oversight.
I just find it strange that Sage and the sandbox team, who have, up until this news, displayed an immense amount of intelligence and a knack for perfect balance, decided that an unmodified laser was a correct decision. So many other weapons got fairly small tweaks (the shotgun not going beyond the reticule jumps to mind) but the laser just gets a shot taken off? This is by far the most disappointing point of Reach news so far.

The majority of the news on the sandbox is great though. The abilities are sounding very fine-tuned and fun to use, and loadouts actually sound like a cool gameplay twist.

 

[Self Induced]

Only problem with laser is there is no needler-based Covenant equivalent.

...sorry.

Anyway, if the laser is unchanged from Halo 3 then perhaps other aspects of it were changed instead, such as availability on maps and whatnot. So many things about the sandbox are being modified that perhaps the laser just doesn't need to be changed. There seem to be a lot of vehicle countermeasures being added but that doesn't mean there will be rockets and lasers on every map. Either way, the community has no evidence whatsoever that Reach's laser is going to be the exact same game-breaker as it was in Halo 3 (which I kinda disagree with). All we know is that it wasn't changed. Everything else, however, seems to have been changed... which means judging the laser (or anything in Reach, really) is futile and pointless at this time.

So just wait until the beta. If the laser breaks it, then we can bitch about it. Bungie will modify it as they deem fit, and Halo: Reach will be a better product as a result of it (after all, thats the whole point of this whole thing, right? If they didn't care about balancing the game, there wouldn't even be a beta in the first place).

There is no reason to get royally pissed off about one weapon in the game before we even see how its utilized in the sandbox. How about we talk about jetpacks?

jetpacks rule

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

It might just be me but I didn't think the laser needed that much tweaking, I feel it serves it's purpose. It is great against vehicles and infantry, it is a power weapon by definition.

I like new weapon additions that Bungie has included in Reach to help take down vehicles, I think it adds further balance. Pretty much I liked everything I heard today.

 

[big ander]

Only problem with laser is there is no needler-based Covenant equivalent.

...sorry.

Anyway, if the laser is unchanged from Halo 3 then perhaps other aspects of it were changed instead, such as availability on maps and whatnot. So many things about the sandbox are being modified that perhaps the laser just doesn't need to be changed. There seem to be a lot of vehicle countermeasures being added but that doesn't mean there will be rockets and lasers on every map. Either way, the community has no evidence whatsoever that Reach's laser is going to be the exact same game-breaker as it was in Halo 3 (which I kinda disagree with). All we know is that it wasn't changed. Everything else, however, seems to have been changed... which means judging the laser (or anything in Reach, really) is futile and pointless at this time.

So just wait until the beta. If the laser breaks it, then we can bitch about it. Bungie will modify it as they deem fit, and Halo: Reach will be a better product as a result of it (after all, thats the whole point of this whole thing, right? If they didn't care about balancing the game, there wouldn't even be a beta in the first place).

There is no reason to get royally pissed off about one weapon in the game before we even see how its utilized in the sandbox. How about we talk about jetpacks?

jetpacks rule

Jetpacks rule until I focus rifle you through the gut

 

[Schmitty]

jetpacks rule

+1.

Spoiler

New gametype: Jetrockets

 

[riskVSreward]

Can someone explain the term "sandbox" to me and when it suddenly sprung up? I only know it in reference to the map and large open-world games.

 

[Schmitty]

Can someone explain the term "sandbox" to me and when it suddenly sprung up? I only know it in reference to the map and large open-world games.

I've always thought of it as how the maps are open for you to play the game as you want. There are weapons and vehicles placed for you to use them however you want.

 

[Self Induced]

Jetpacks rule until I focus rifle you through the gut

grenade chain reaction... FROM THE GRAVE!

 

[Tashi]

I hear with Gunnars you can see a half a second into the future of the game you're playing. :lol

Just read the GI article. I always really really loved that in Halo, everyone in the game started out exactly the same and it was always an even battlefield. That seems to be changing with Reach. I do like however the idea that the loadouts can be changed by Bungie on a per playlist basis.

 

[Kapura]

Can someone explain the term "sandbox" to me and when it suddenly sprung up? I only know it in reference to the map and large open-world games.

Sandbox is anything that the players or enemies can "play" with. That is to say, any weapon, vehicle, piece of equipment, grenade, or attack whatsoever. If you can do something with it, it's in the sandbox. The sandbox requires balancing so that there are varried and unique weapons that don't overpower each other.

 

[Dirtbag]

It might just be me but I didn't think the laser needed that much tweaking, I feel it serves it's purpose. It is great against vehicles and infantry, it is a power weapon by definition.

Oh there is no question if it serves it purpose, it definitely does its job EXTREMELY well.
It just does it so well that if the other team has one, you eliminate a large portion of the most effective pieces of the sandbox from the other team - their vehicles. Objective games like CTF suffering the worst of such effects.

 

[Gui_PT]

nvm

 

[vhfive]

Oh man the focus rifle seems like a badass sentinel beam.

Can't wait for Reach finally my beams and needles gametype will become a reality.

 

[big ander]

Can someone explain the term "sandbox" to me and when it suddenly sprung up? I only know it in reference to the map and large open-world games.

This definition might not be 100% correct, but here's how I think of it:
The sandbox is the array of available weapons, vehicles, and armor abilities. Essentially, it's the collection of items that affect gameplay.

grenade chain reaction... FROM THE GRAVE!

>: respawn
>: loadout (pro pipe)
>: Kill Self Induced

Halo: Reach Dog Helmet Edition should come with REACH: THE TEXT ADVENTURES.

 

[The Librarian]

Oh man the focus rifle seems like a badass sentinel beam.

Can't wait for Reach finally my beams and needles gametype will become a reality.

Your avatar reminds me to wonder what Bungie has in store for us for April Fools (B.U.N.G.L.E. was April Fools, right?).

 

[Dirtbag]

Oh man the focus rifle seems like a badass sentinel beam.

Can't wait for Reach finally my beams and needles gametype will become a reality.

Focus rifle and the plasma repeater both have me extremely intrigued.

I also wonder if the needler and needle rifle use the same ammo, and if you can trigger explosions with both types of needles combined.

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Oh there is no question if it serves it purpose, it definitely does its job EXTREMELY well.
It just does it so well that if the other team has one, you eliminate a large portion of the most effective pieces of the sandbox from the other team - their vehicles. Objective games like CTF suffering the worst of such effects.

Yes, and that is why Bungie has introduced the alternate EMP function of the grenade launcher and the plasma launcher. I think by introducing those two it balances the game better and can leave the laser just how it was.

 

[big ander]

Your avatar reminds me to wonder what Bungie has in store for us for April Fools (B.U.N.G.L.E. was April Fools, right?).

Yeah, that playlist was awesome. So many flares and spikers :lol :lol

 

[Self Induced]

>: respawn
>: loadout (pro pipe)
>: Kill Self Induced

My pink needles of death await you on the battlefield.

 

[Kibbles]

Your avatar reminds me to wonder what Bungie has in store for us for April Fools (B.U.N.G.L.E. was April Fools, right?).

Yes it was. Tomorrow should be a fun day.

Also, Tom Morello knows more about the Spartan Laser than ManCannon!

Bow down to the Spartan Laser. It's back and it's I'm going to kick your asses. (Hopefully along with smiley face reticule to ensure maximum enjoyment out of lasering your foes.)

 

[Dirtbag]

Yes, and that is why Bungie has introduced the alternate EMP function of the grenade launcher and the plasma launcher. I think by introducing those two it balances the game better and can leave the laser just how it was.

Then why even put vehicles in the game, if they are all neutralized. Surely you see the flaw in this?

 

[big ander]

My pink needles of death await you on the battlefield.

Bring it.

 

[Ramirez]

No one has asked the most important question of the day, are the AA's mentioned the only ones (only ones for beta maybe?), or are there more that will be revealed later on?

Other than that, I'm liking everything I'm reading, the gameplay was due for some major changes, and I can't wait to try out what they've cooked up.

As for the laser, I never expected it to be changed, have it on less maps compared to 3 and I think they're will be less moaning.

 

[AwesomeSyrup]

Question for any of the Bungie guys, this may sound kinda stupid, but if you have your XBL status set to offline will you disappear from the active roster?

 

[Schmitty]

No one has asked the most important question of the day, are the AA's mentioned the only ones (only ones for beta maybe?), or are there more that will be revealed later on?

Luke said there would be more in the final release a few pages back, I believe

 

[big ander]

No one has asked the most important question of the day, are the AA's mentioned the only ones (only ones for beta maybe?), or are there more that will be revealed later on?

Yeah, I'd love to know this. We have confirmed for the beta: Camo, Jet Pack, Lock, Sprint, Evade. That's it, correct?
Where's mah Halo-gram?

 

[Shishka]

I hear with Gunnars you can see a half a second into the future of the game you're playing. :lol

It's true! Totally true, and completely awesome

Spoiler

and actually not at all true but thank you 8lbs 6oz baby jesus my eyes don't hurt anymore

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Then why even put vehicles in the game, if they are all neutralized. Surely you see the flaw in this?

I see a flaw in the thinking that they are all neutralized. :lol They clearly aren't because it appears that the new weapons introduced will take some more skill when compared to the laser (granted the plasma launcher is lock on but charging). I think overall it is going to be more balanced and who knows, with the rebuilding of the classic vehicles and the ones we haven't seen yet the lazer might not appear as overpowered.

 

[Hydranockz]

Guys, will the spartan laser kill in one when fired at a vehicle/perrson... or will it just pop their shields?

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

badass.jpg
Bring it.

I love the helmet on this Spartan.

 

[Blueblur1]

Random thought: Armor Lock will likely be more effective at stopping vehicles that the Tripmine was.

I love the helmet on this Spartan.

Same here... Except for the damn tongue.

 

[Metroidvania]

Same here... Except for the damn tongue.

I CANNOT UNSEE THIS.

 

[Dirtbag]

I see a flaw in the thinking that they are all neutralized. :lol They clearly aren't because it appears that the new weapons introduced will take some more skill when compared to the laser (granted the plasma launcher is lock on but charging). I think overall it is going to be more balanced and who knows, with the rebuilding of the classic vehicles and the ones we haven't seen yet the lazer might not appear as overpowered.

Unless they've changed the amount of damage it delivers, its warm up period, reduce your movement speed, or/and force a discharge after a certain point of charge up.. I don't see any reason to believe it won't have the same swing on vehicle combat. 1 team will be the haves, and the other the have-nots. I trust in Bungie's ability to deliver an amazing product, but someone made the decision in Halo 3 that the lazer wasn't too over-powered in it's current execution as to land it in the final product. I'm glad the clip is being reduced, but if they thought the Human sniper was in need of further nerfing, yet make no mention of the lazer.. I just don't understand.

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Random thought: Armor Lock will likely be more effective at stopping vehicles that the Tripmine was.


Same here... Except for the damn tongue.

Shit...I didn't even realize the tongue. Now it's ruined. :lol

 

[big ander]

Random thought: Armor Lock will likely be more effective at stopping vehicles that the Tripmine was.


Same here... Except for the damn tongue.

I'm not having too much trouble ignoring the tongue. All I see is the badassery.

 

[user_nat]

Random thought: Armor Lock will likely be more effective at stopping vehicles that the Tripmine was.

Random rocks around the map were more effective than the tripmine.

 

[2 Minutes Turkish]

Random thought: Armor Lock will likely be more effective at stopping vehicles that the Tripmine was.


Same here... Except for the damn tongue.

It'd be hilarious if you're just standing there while a hog charges you, driver thinks you're not at the controller, off taking a piss...

Hog charges.....

BAM!!!!!

armour lock. Hog is fucked.

 

[Not a Jellyfish]

Unless they've changed the amount of damage it delivers, its warm up period, or/and force a discharge after a certain point of charge up.. I don't see any reason to believe it won't have the same swing on vehicle combat. 1 team will be the haves, and the other the have-nots. I trust in Bungie's ability to deliver an amazing product, but someone made the decision in Halo 3 that the lazer wasn't too over-powered in it's current execution as to land it in the final product. I'm glad the clip is being reduced, but if they thought the Human sniper was in need of further nerfing, yet make no mention of the lazer.. I just don't understand.

Eh I think they nerfed the sniper to stop the quick fire shots up close and then one melee kill, but I don't know I have confidence in Bungie that the laser will balance out one way or another. Even if it is just really scarce in the types of gametypes it is in or the maps that it is on.