Just want to point out that I was (and still am) arguing that 12V12 would work well or at the most 16V16. While I'm not against 32v32 happening I doubt it will. I would like to give input on the matter though.
I also think that while slayer could work as well, objective would be what is best suited for this increase in size.
But again, think about how hectic BTB is currently, then practically quadruple the player count. That is insanity to the point it's no longer fun. The solution would seem to be make bigger maps, but then try playing them when you play 4v4. BTB maps are already cumbersome for smaller matches. I do not want that getting worse.
I personally really enjoy Halo BTB, even in 4 as long as I've got a buddy or 2. I don't think Halo 4 is a good example to use though given that while not the worst game ever, certainly isn't the best in terms of representing what the Halo can be. Its vehicle suite is lacking and the selection of maps could be better (in terms of quality not quantity). Not to mention many great game types are missing.
At that point, it ceases to be Halo. And plenty thought 4 accomplished that already (not me, but still). The way they are presenting Halo 5, with this talk of "arena multiplayer", I think 343i is going the opposite direction and is shrinking multiplayer. Again, just how it appears to me, and clearly my preference.
In regards to Halo 5 being more "arena focused", I highly doubt that applies to the entirety of the multiplayer. They're probably just emphasizing that yes, they are bringing back that kind of gameplay to the multiplayer in some form or another, which is awesome. However alienating one player base to please another is not what they are trying to do (I hope).
Myself and others have brought that up. Totally agree. Non-invasion games on Invasion maps were torture, especially since sprint wasn't automatically given to players. Had to sacrifice perfectly good AAs to just get to the action.
As I said earlier I'm not really arguing in favor of 32v32, however I don't think that BTB feels clustered as it is anyway. Not to mention the way Halo plays is drastically different from shooters such as Battlefield and Planetside. Which is why I think that it could still feel like Halo on a much grander scale. It must be mentioned as well that Armor Abilities aren't coming back so the issue of being at an disadvantage because you had to sacrifice something at spawn shouldn't really apply now.
Like you said though we have differing likes in this regard which I totally get.
Another drawback to going superhuge is the maps needed to support it are only really good for that gametype. Invasion maps weren't really useful outside of Invasion, and they had to be big enough to make 3-phase gameplay work (essentially had to operate as 3 maps in one)
Yet Invasion was still a brilliant addition and was loved by many. It brought a whole new objective experience that felt fun and unique. Though I agree the maps were not as well suited for other game types it was still tolerable and there were only a couple anyway so it didn't really take a whole lot away from the other game types selection of maps.
I don't see how it'll work with what is Halo game play. Halo is about Map Control, Weapon Control and player skill/team unity.
Now you can see it in 1v1, 2v2 and 4v4. People work together, they know what's happening on the maps, they watch weapon spawns, they watch areas. To a slightly lesser extent, you see it in 8v8 aka BTB. The maps do become larger, there are more players and more weapon spawns. 1 guy can still have an effect on game play, score though etc. And sure you run into scenarios where the other team can have up to all 8 Spartans in an area, but that's rare.
Contrast this with a 32v32 now. You'll need a super large map. You'll need several dedicated areas of encounters, and several weapon spawns. However the base game play, because it hasn't changed, will make it a negative experience. You say vehicles will be more prominent, I say they'll actually be less so. Someone getting a ghost in a 4v4 match is deadly, same with a warthog. Someone getting a Wraith, or Scorpion or Banshee in BTB is the same.
Now in 32v32, what does it matter if you get a Banshee. At any given moment, you can have say over 18 guys armed with BR/DMR look up and destroy vehicle in seconds. If the BR is 4SK, and you try and go up some Ridge and there are at least 10 enemy Spartans with sight of you, there is nothing you can do. No amount of strafe, jumping, running, anything is going to save you from the bullets that will come. In the end, the game play will either be like that, or will basically be again, 8v8 encounters or 4v4 encounters in smaller areas.
I don't know, it's late, and I'm rambling too, but I'm thinking of maps like Spire, Boneyard, heavies type stuff. Because there are so many people, you'll need more power weapons too. So you can imagine what it'll be like if 4-8+ players in a match have rockets, sniper, beam rifles all at the same time. I could see maybe 10v10 or 12v12 be supported to try and cater to those who want a bigger experience, but I feel like it'll completely take away from 8v8 which works, kind of like how 5v5 or 6v6 has impacted 4v4.
I just don't see how any player encounters could be meaningful. At times even BTB feels bad when you're up against 4 or more people. Now imagine if there were 9 Spartans making a push. Player health, vehicle health isn't changed, so even against people with shitty aim you're going down. Any utility weapon with over 2x scope will just create firing range gameplay. But then you'll also want a larger scope because the maps will be larger. For some reason, I just can't shake Hemorrhage on Reach ie. Heavies and with the DMR when I think of what it could be like. The middle of the map is basically a dead man's zone, the corners is where the action happens, and often times just becomes a boring camp fest where unless you have your whole team make a push, nothing you can do. Perhaps some of the worst BTB I've ever played.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTFFpn2oLss
This video personifies exactly the problem and why it affects Halo more than other games like Battlefield or Call of Duty. Here, there are all 8 enemy Spartans in a singular area, this guy jetpacks in to where they are. It takes less than a second for him to go down because there are just so many people. He barely even gets a shot off before he lands. Now imagine if you're in a Banshee, or imagine you are trying to take a flag, or capture some area of the map. Now with 32v32, sure you say, you'll have more people to make a push with, but that's exactly the point, a single person is all but irrelevant to the gameplay.
Since I was arguing that Vehicles could have a more prominent role in regards to a 12v12 or 16v16 set up I don't really know if you think that would still not work.
I don't think that 32v32 would necessarily break the game though. So these are my thoughts in that regard.
Halo 5 is a completely different game by the looks of things in comparison to previous entries. I'm making my arguments based off of what we know about the gameplay currently added on to how I feel it could work with what Halos sandbox has to offer so far (akll of it excluding Wars for obvious reasons).
Jet packs are likely not returning given that Armor abilities are out and I doubt they will be giving everyone perma jet packs alongside the various other Spartan Abilities. Not to mention Hemorrhage was NOT designed or fit for the DMR's affect on gameplay so that example wouldn't really apply here if the maps were designed around such a large scale battle system. The fact that the jet pack itself is probably gone already helps majorly in terms of map design and flow so that helps.
Assuming that sprint makes a return (hopefully it can be toggled on or off) that already makes the larger map size less of a problem for map traversal. Given that the maps would also be more vehicle focused that would mean that there would most likely be some mode of travel though if you don't want to do it on foot. I see your point about vehicle health however. It may need to be tweaked but it may not be necessary. A coordinated team could take down a couple vehicles sure however it don't know if you are taking into account the other teams ground forces. Even with a coordinated team people will be preoccupied with their own encounters and infantry is not going to be able to out gun several vehicles alone which is why the various roles are so important.
It's been said before that teamwork is a core part of Halo and a bigger player count does not change that. It does not mean the whole game needs to turn into Heavies 2.0 and it most certainly does not have to take away from the other game types.
tl;dr
Given what Halo 5 seems to be doing with its core gameplay and based off of the sandbox Halo has at its disposal, I think 12v12, 16v16, or even (in the EXTREMELY unlikely scenario) 32v32 could work and bring a new breed of gameplay that makes the most use of the vehicle suite.
Hopefully Halo 5 brings the best of Arena and BTB Halo together so we can all have a new era of mutual understanding, love, peace, and hugs.
