Today was pretty slow for Halo stuff, until Carl from Virgin gaming asked what farming techniques might be applied in Halo.

As well, BS Angel asked what our favorite and least favorite gametypes were in Halo 4.

I had plenty of tweets back and forth with both of them.

While tweeting with Carl, I mentioned my ideas for tiered weapons drops. This would be based on number of kills and you would get ver specific weapons in those drops. None of the randomness as it is now.

For example:
• Tier 1 – Awarded at 5 kills. You get your choice of Shotgun or Needler.
• Tier 2 – Awarded at 10 kills. You get your choice of DMR, Carbine or Concussion Rifle.
• Tier 3 – Awarded at 15 kills. You get your choice of Rocket Launcher or Fuel Rod.
• Tier 4 – Awarded at 20 kills. You get your choice of Sniper or Incineration Cannon.

Along the way, someone (I think it was Cyren from Beyond) added that there should be a death penalty placed upon this.  Basically you die, you either lose ALL of the meter towards those weapons drops or at least SOME of it. I definitely agree with that.

If this were instituted, skilled players would be rewarded for skill and those not so skilled wouldn’t. Yes, that might deter some from playing, however, it also takes out much of the awful randomness that Infinity drops put in the game currently. At present you can’t rely on what power weapons are on the map. With the ideas above, it still would be hard, but you’d know that later into the game, more powerful weapons are going to pop up. Also, you and/or your teammates can call-out in game when they are making a drop so your whole team knows when that weapons in coming into the game.

That adds tactics, which also equate to a portion of skill.

The tweets between BS Angel and myself talked about playlists. I mentioned I liked Team Objective the most. While I dont’ really have a least favorite, I mentioned CTF. Now, don’t get all “WHAT THE HELL” on me. I LOVE CTF. However, when 343 took out Team Objective and put just CTF in it’s place, WE the players LOST our ability to choose. This is PARAMONT to continued success of the game. Also, consider there are commendations to get in the likes of Oddball and King of the Hill for examples. Making those gametypes only available in the rotational playlists or in the rarely voted on option in BTB makes it difficult to work on those commendations.

Along the way, Cruellegacy (former Waypoint moderator) chimed in and mentioned how working on commendations changes gameplay. I do agree with that. However, changing playlists in a way that takes out CHOICE for we gamers changes what GAME those players are going to play. By that I mean, MANY people bolted for other games rather than sticking with Halo. Why? Well, certainly in part because classic playlists like Team Objective were gone. Team Objective was VERY popular in Halo 3 and Reach. Why 343 decided to take it out still confounds me to know end.

I’ll admit, I prefer objective over slayer matches any day of the week. I like the idea of working toward something OTHER than just killing an opponent. It adds more of a reason as to why you’re playing. Well, it does for me anyway.

So, if you want to see what all the hub-bub was about, I invite you to check out my twitter feed at: https://twitter.com/HaloFanForLife or @HaloFanForLife. And please, if you do, give me a follow if you haven’t already! THANKS!

-Sal