Buffing the Magnum by Nerfing the Sandbox

I do enjoy these settings, but I feel in the long run what 343 has to do is make the AR more skill based, as opposed to blatantly making it stronger, or going the H4 route of lowering their aim assist.

In Default H5, the weapon is at its most effective outside CQC ranges when fired in bursts, and conjunction with its new head shot multiplier holds the key to achieving this.

By keeping a faster killtime based on head shots, but having body shots being more punishing in extending the killtime, and making its initial spread tighter but hits inaccuracy more quickly, it becomes a somewhat more skill based weapon that provides a functionally opposite role to the Magnum.

We are provided with a weapon that functions in the way where using it at range requires constant burst firing, which dramatically increases TTK and alongside this it becomes harder to hit your Unshielded Headshots with it, further increasing its TTK, thus limiting its kill potential at range, but preserving its ability to at least threaten someone trying to attack you from range, but remains an utility CQC weapon that it has failed to be for the entire Halo series, however has its own skill gap to it by promoting burst firing to remain somewhat effective as a way to defend yourself, but not outright kill outside dedicated CQC, so that engagements don't become this guessing game of is there a guy right round the corner or further away? what weapon do I need?! PRESSURE!!!!! (you know, like breakout)

I think something that really should be explored is the Idea of Having the AR as some sort of Precision Utility/CQC Utility Hybrid. While using smart link it acts as a Shorter Range, Lower Aim Assist BR that maintains its Burst abilty for a few seconds after descope to avoid messy descope wars. this somewhat completely bypasses the issue altogether.

 

So a second but worse br only when scoped? Thats just a really odd and unnecessarily clunky design.

I also completely disagree with the ar being at its most powerful at longer ranges. The ar absolutely melts close range, and if you are using it at ranges that require burst firing, especially with smart scope, then you really should be using your pistol.

 

you should note I said its at its most effective outside of CQC WHEN burst fired, as in it can be used at said ranges by bursting. And, can be surprisingly effective at challenging magnums if the need arises even to further ranges, if aimed well. Its not something i make a habit of, but something i use in a clutch, and can be disgustingly effective in said clutch.

to address your first point, it's only clunky if its made clunky. The Light Rifle can provide a loose example of alt fire modes. i never get the feeling of clunk from it.

you dismiss it without full thought I feel. it stands right now, the SAW is at its most effective when burst fired at almost all times, and means that when using automatics in the current Halo 5 settings, we ought to be bursting often when we HAVE to over extend with the Automatics in a dire situation. and the defualt AR mechanics are a 12 shot headshot, 12 / 3 is 4, 4 bursts. this ties into where im coming from.

lets say its implemented. even as a req weapon we get to place in forge some time. without smart link, it provides a Dedicated CQC weapon WITHOUT the Smartlink to extend the noob friendly Automatic range, in fact, if it had the alt mode where it switched between Utility Precision and Utility CQC in this manner, it completely negates the issue of an over extending range on a noob friendly weapon.

When smart linking, lets say it gets Magnum Range, is a 4 burst kill, requiring all 12 shots to land for a perfect (current BR variants require 11), has less aim assist than the H5 BR, less Magnetism. When descoped, or simply leaving Smart Link, it remains in burst mode for 2-3 seconds, but this can be cancelled by holding the trigger. you could argue it borrows more from ADS than SL already does, I would argue it plays straight into what smart link should have done more of, Alternate modes.

"clunkiness" is quite often only caused by the execution, not necessarily the idea itself. Personally, I think it fits the Actual Utility Term given to a Utility weapon, and serves to prevent sandbox clutter. not to mention there is already a Weapon the the Halo Lore to build of off.

I think this bridges a large gap i what makes the Autos so hated, by making it not just some dedicated noob signature weapon, but actually putting it in the realm of skill based.

 

Name: Utility Slayer
Description: Press Y and aim for the head. The quickest possible kill times for the precision weapons remaim the same as default, but body shots and automatics are slightly less rewarding. A Tier 1 weapons nerf, which empowers the Magnum.

 

Less crouch camping with AR Slayer

 

I just have to say, you're naming skills are next level. You should be the official namer of all things.

 

The trick is put absolutely no effort into it.

 

Oh yeah, I misread.

Still not a fan.

 

I actually think it's fine currently, but I also liked how H2 SMG was no match to the BR wielder (why was SMG starts a thing?). The H3 AR was still a weak starting weapon, but I agree that it shouldn't reward autos so much and we have the Magnum filling that role of your prime weapon (or it should be)

When designing the weapons, I think you should break it down to shield depletion and health damage, though.
Here's an example:

Magnum - 4 to drop shields, 1 to head / 3 to body
AR - 10 to drop shields, 7 to body (headshots = 3 bodyshots)

Storm - 4 to drop shields, 8 to body (headshots = 2 bodyshots)
PP - same as Storm but slower rate of fire, but charged drops shields

Reason I used those examples were to show how Plasma weapons should drop shields very fast but not as effective to finishing the player off, while AR is slower to drop shields but finishes off the player faster.

However, in Halo 5 both the PP and Storm Rifle are power weapons and something to seek, just like Shotgun or Rockets. Storm Rifle, specifically, is not "overpowered" any more than the other Power Weapons are. Sorry, just annoyed people keep stating that it is without considering that it's a Power Weapon. But, saying that doesn't change my opinion that it should be a shield-focused weapon like the Plasma Pistol.

More on topic, I think it's interesting how 150% changes the STKs, while keeping the Magnum's focus. I would just wonder if some of the weapons become less of an advantage and not worth using causing players to only use the Magnum. Even the BR would be harder. I do like that it focuses on headshots though.