Halo 3 online mutiplayer beta.

[Crisp_Rapper]

hmm, are people really having trouble with choosing what weapons are best in what situations?

we need a n00b weapon FAQ up in here.

[Rossco]

Apologies is people kept inviting me last night, we were all at my mates house with everyone having a shot of the game playing matchmaking. Was quite funny seeing how **** some people are, especially the girls! One person played 3 full games and didnt get one kill! People I was playing with must have been raging.

I will be on tonight from half 10 if anyone is still on then, so give me an invite.

[Uli]

I think thats one of the problems with this mutiplayer, when it comes to Halo newcomers (or people who don't play halo much). It doesn't really give you a chance to get the feel of game and what weapons work best in what situtations as you're gonna be in a team situtation where stuff is happening and something has to be achieved.

This shouldn't be so bad when Halo 3 is actually released in Septemeber. You'll have single player (and online co-op I assume) to get to grips with the game and so on. You'll also have custom games available meaning you can learn the maps easier and play with ntsc-uk folk in a less competitive enviroment etc etc.

i played both Halo and Halo 2 to death on Legendary difficulty (and still play it). also i had a reputation as a deadly and reliable sniper in Halo 2 CTF games. unfourtunately this didn't help me much with Halo 3 MP. guess the learning curve in Halo 3 MP is even steeper and longer than in Halo 2 MP.

i agree that playing with your buddies in less competitive game types helps to get to grips with it, but in the end it all comes down to your personal taste: whether you get some satisfaction out of just fragging people over and over again or nor.

[El Leone]

Oh well. Hey Uli, check out this post which links you to another post. The information within that other post should make you pleased.

[MartyG]

The games were definitely better with all NTSC-ukers, it was when we starting going to match making and played against people who clearly spend 24/7 playing Halo that it all went Pete Tong.

It's definitely a good game with the right people, and I can see why people like it a lot - I just prefer less adversarial mutliplayer stuff.

[Concept]

Halo multiplayer can be very frustrating, in fact yesterday I just had to turn off the 360 because it was pissing me off so much. Likening it to surfing, when you're on the wave it's one of the best things out there, but its so easy to come off. With Halo when you are in the zone it's just immense; you can rack up loads of kills and you can basically start predicting what everyone is doing and where the enemy is hiding. Unfortunately there are also times where you cannot get a single kill and everything goes against you.

Halo multiplayer has a very harsh learning curve despite being fairly easy to pickup, and this is because some people are just incredibly good through playing it every single day.

I'm finding that too. It's enjoyable but fairly impenetrable. I doubt it'll be winning me over into becoming a multiplayer regular.

[in5ane]

hmm, are people really having trouble with choosing what weapons are best in what situations?

we need a n00b weapon FAQ up in here.

Despite not liking being called a noob, i would read that FAQ! I think my Halo noobery is spoiling my enjoyment of the beta. I never really know what weapon I'm picking up cos I don't really know what the icons mean... why can't you just turn on weapon names in text or something, might help a little. I'm sure I'd learn what all the weapons were etc with a more gentle intro to the game, and being alive for more than 30secs per average go

[Uli]

Oh well. Hey Uli, check out this post which links you to another post. The information within that other post should make you pleased.

did. thanks mate. i hope this is reliable info. oh man, this would really make my day!

[El Leone]

It was all found within the custom games glitch. And those guys are pretty reliable.

[1P_King]

I'm still in the noob camp and can understand getting killed every 20 seconds is not fun but you have to accept that you are not going to be as good as someone who has been playing it for years after only a handful of games.

Best match so far for me was on Snowbound with everyone having rocket launchers, and I was in the fooking zone with 21 kills compared the second placed guys 6 kills.

Order was resumed in the next games with me struggling to get off 1 kill but that moment of pure glory made it worthwhile.

[Crisp_Rapper]

Despite not liking being called a noob

stfu n00b.

right i could be playing halo3 instead of typing about it... i'm also not the be-all and end-all of halo3 knowledge i'm just typing what i've noticed whilst playing. if anyone else has stuff to add or correct me on then please feel free!

If at all possible, AIM FOR THE HEAD! historically, without the use of a head, a body is rendered dead, so shoot to kill!

Weaps talk for nublets.

righty, let's start off with your default weapon, the Assault Rifle (AR). The assault rifle has been massively improved since the original Halo, it is now a pretty formidable weapon in the right situations. This is now a short-mid range weapon (for the record, long range is sniper rifle, short range is SMGs/Shotgun) and used properly it can easily dispatch an enemy. It has a 32 shot clip which is enough for 2 enemies to be killed off before a reload. Aiming for the head is of course the best way to get the party started and the gun loses accuracy the longer you hold down the trigger so try to shoot it in bursts.

next weapon we'll move onto is the Battle Rifle (BR). This sits happily in between the Sniper and the AR and is able to dispatch people from a pretty long distance away due to it's accuracy. From distance you'll probably take half to 3/4 of a clip to take someone out, a little closer and aiming for the head (and hitting), that cat is going down in 3 bursts.

Covenant Carbine next, this is the Covvy version of the Battle rifle and some people prefer it. A solid mid range weapon This has no burst fire but is able to shoot as fast as you can pull the trigger. 18 shot (going from halo2 here) magazine before reload. Use this in the same manner as the AR, but watch the relatively small clip if you're not a sharp shooter as it can leave you open.

Sniper Rifle, the longest of all Long range weapons, the popper of skulls from a map length away. 4 shot mag, 12 shots in total when you first pick it up. As before, aim for the head, a single headshot from this is game over and elicits whoops of joy from the shooter and whinges of 'unfair' from the shootee. 2 shots from this anywhere will be your (or the person you're shooting's) demise.

Shotgun. the point blank player's favourite, there isn't much more satisfying than getting up close and personal and laying someone out with a shotty. Range is small and the spread of the shot isn't fantastic so use this only when you're toe to toe with an opponent. Had an 8 shot mag in halo2, I'm not sure if this has changed for 3.

SMG. One of my personal favourites for halo3. After a disappointing debut in halo2 (underpowered, terrible accuracy and range), the SMGs turn up massively improved for halo3. A single SMG on it's own won't get you far, but load up 2 and step into a close range fight and there's little to stop you making a complete and utter mess of your opponent. Clip size is generous too enabling you to spray and kill 2 people before a reload. Used well by players, these are truly fantastic weapons in a close combat situation and they sound truly menacing from the other side of the map.

Spiker. The covenant version of the SMG essentially and with a terrifying rate of fire when dual wielded. Use as you would an SMG and you won't go far wrong.

Plasma Pistol. The covenant plasma pistol was the choice for halo2 player wishing to drop your shields as quickly as possible. When it was used in conjunction with a Battle Rifle you could meet your doom in no time at all. Luckily for halo3 the plasma pistol has been toned down and no longer homes in quite as spectacularly. When charged, it will still drop shields instantly and now has the power to stop vehicles in their tracks leaving the driver/pilot and passengers sitting ducks.

Plasma Rifle - I've not picked one of these up yet!! someone else fill this sucker in with some info please!

Rocket Launcher. The default choice of explosives fiends everywhere, the rocket launcher has been downgraded slightly in that it no longer homes in on vehicles, this is now point and shoot. Use anywhere from close range to long range for instant devastation and a ball of fire.

Missile Launcher. New for halo3 is the missile launcher, this fires 8-10 (correction needed!) missiles one after the other reasonably quickly. These do home in on vehicles and chase them around nicely for an explosive kill. This can also be used to dispatch close range enemies, but be aware that carrying this around slows down your movement considerably! making you a sitting duck for anyone who gets the drop on you.

Laser. Anyone who has played Quake2 and used the Railgun onwards will feel pretty at home with the laser. A versatile weapon you can use from any range, a hit with this pretty much guarantees a kill. This is a little trickier to use than the Railgun as rather than instantly firing and then charging up the next shot, this charges up before the shot so requires a little more care in use. A very capable weapon in the right hands, luckily the clip on it is pretty small so it doesn't get spammed to hell.

Turret Miniguns. You can remove the turrets dotted around the maps and stomp around the battlefield with them! Like the missile launcher this slows your movement dramatically, but used well this is a deadly deadly weapon. When firing, this takes a few seconds to get the barrels spinning up to speed, at which point you're vulnerable. Once those barrels are spinning though, this thing spits hot death like no other gun can. I've scored mid-long an indeed close range kills with this, it's very accurate although the kickback causes your aim to move slightly so you need to compensate for this.

Halo3 is very much about being situationally aware, if you're running about a level which is mostly open then you don't really want to be running around with a pair of SMGs as you can guarantee that everyone else will have battle rifles and tear you a new one from a distance you can't even scratch them. Knowing what range weapons work at and level layouts can help you acquire the correct weapon for any situation, and being able to carry 2 weapons means you've a greater chance of having said weapon.

there's probably loads that i've missed, facts about weapons may be slightly out but if this helps at least one player think about how they're playing then it's worth the effort.

as before, if any of the other more veteran players have anything to add then do so, the more decent players we've got online at any one time the better...!!

[EvilBoris]

Plasma rifle, like all the the plasma weapons is designed to take out sheilds, combine with a flesh ripper like the SMG and you can quickly take down a target. Duel Plasma rifles are a deadly tool against VIPs as not even there overshielded asses will last long. The plasma rifles don't need to reload , but if they fire in a single burst for too long, they will overheat and you'll be left defenseless temporarily.

[Mr Pump]

Maybe we should start a I'm new at Halo Clan Rllmuk style when this gets released.

Don't forget Halo's Golden Triangle

Grenades
Guns
Melee

Don't stick to just using your guns, throwing grenades is a quick and easy way of softening up a target for the kill. Each one makes a distinctive sound so you should know what is incoming.

Melee attacks can do an immense amount of damage and will quite often finish a player off if his shield is down. A single hit to the back is an instant kill.

Grenades

Standard
Acts how you would expect, can be bounced around corners and does a fair amount of splash damage. Sounds like a metal pineapple bouncing around.

Plasma
Similiar to the standard, but will stick to people and vehicles. If you manage to stick a grenade to someone it will be an instant kill. Makes a fizzing sound.

Brute
Explodes into a mass of needles and will stick to practically anything. Particularly lethal in enclosed spaces. Makes a metalic thud as it sticks to a surface.

Mystery Fourth Grenade
It's a mystery.

[Yoshimax]

I'll be online about 7:30/8 tonight for some madness if anybody's about !

Shotgun has fantastic weight to it now !

And try throwing them trip mines whilst in mid-air off a man cannon jump - much hilarity can ensure as witnessed by myself watching Gerry do it yesterday and subsequently giving it a go myself - nothing quite like wandering solo on the battlefield only to see you've scored a double or triple kill

[Revolution6000]

Placing trip mines, just before the man cannon (if do it right, they're hard to see) or where people land from the man cannons is the best Can see a lot of whining coming from these mines.