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The beta seems to be off to a rocky start. Matty and I played a couple of games with Farreg and then one more after he hopped off. Then during a game setup the matchmaking system froze... the only way to get out of this was to return to the dashboard and reboot the beta. Upon getting back in both Matty and I had a message stating the Reach beta matchmaking server was down.

As I suspected in games where you are off host getting kills with the single shot accuracy based weapons was considerably harder than using a BR. A strafing opponent is just that much harder to kill when you are lagging (even slightly on eastern states host) and only getting off a single shot each time.

The two maps I played both seemed fun and well constructed... though I can see that Sword Base has the potential to become a campers map with narrow lanes and corners.

A bad thing I noticed was the armor abilities. Last night on Sword Base it seemed everyone on the opposing team was using active camo... which not only makes them invisible but also induces a radar jamming device which is hell annoying. One camo power up on a map is fine but imagine a team of 4 invading your base with all their radar jammers going at once. Seriously you're screwed. Combining Halo 3 camo with Halo 3 radar jammer was always going to be overpowered. You got camo why you need a jammer too??? None of the other armor abilities are this strong because they don't combine two different equipments from Halo 3.

I think load outs will be a waste of time once it becomes apparent that certain load outs are favoured over all others. Right now it seems Sword Base may become the active camo level making the other choices somewhat redundant. And right now I think active camo will become viewed as over powered. Bungie may need to change the jammer so that it doesn't work at all if running.

I suspect by the end of the beta I'll be suggesting to Bungie in their beta feedback forum that active camo should not be a load out on Sword Base. What is the point in playing a map where eventually every player will be engaging the same load out? The problem is it doesn't matter than your camo isn't as good when running (Bungies mistaken attempt at balancing this armor ability) because the radar jamming is your biggest asset. Over powered!! When you run you should have NO jammer.

By contrast the active shield is somewhat useless in non vehicular levels I'd say. So there is another load out which would hardly be used on interior based maps. Under powered in team based non vehicular maps.

Another thing I have noticed is that Bungie have reduced melee damage whilst increasing grenade damage. So those of you who hate being bombarded with grenades you better get used to it as it is THE most effective way to take out an enemies shield before a headshot. Its kinda sucky now how you can melee an opponent and not headshot them afterwards. I think this will make close quarters combat far riskier unless you're carrying a shotty, hammer or sword.

I used the covenant focus rifle. In a green bar match in which I never lost contact with the opponents body it required firing until overheating to get the kill. I don't think this is a suitable replacement for the beam rifle. I'm suspecting they toned the weapon down due to the extra strength and abilities of the Elite models now with a consideration to spartans vs elites matches. However I hope they don't have many regular maps with focus rifle one side vs human sniper other side... because human sniper will own the focus rifle everytime.

The DMR sounds powerful but not convinced it will be ultimately as sought after as the Halo 2 and 3 BR. The pistol is good how you can zoom it but it is far from the super powerful secondary some think it is. The needle rifle is pretty cool though especially if you land enough needles to blow up your opponent.

I'll play some more tonight and accrue some more perspective.

Im on now!

Anyone keen ?

You should be studying young man!!

I just went to the library with a mate for a few hours, anyhow. Im studing now !

Heh Heh - Good!!

I'm such a parent!!

A few tricks you may want to know:



I have done the aerial assassination myself.

I believe it may have been on me aswell because u suck at stealth =p

Nah, it was on Powerhouse, someone jumped off a ledge and I jumped after them (no jetpacks) and the assassination was the same as in the vid.

That video has plenty of tips and tricks.