Halo advice wanted for terrible player

[raxcoswell]

For whatever reason (well 2 reasons, mw2 and blops), cod's slipped off the radar, nothing else has really caught, and the only mp game anyone in my group ever plays except for Battlefield is Halo (well and L4D, but that's for another thread (if any of you play)). I have no background in this. Besides obligatory teenage Goldeneye/Perfect Dark marathons, I came to shooting with CoD4, and all this giant leaping, shields, weapon pickups stuff is completely alien to me.

And I am horrible at it. Tried to identify why. I'm pretty sure it's not the shooting. That's basically the same as all other games, and I tend to win bog-standard DMR duels. A lot of it I know is weapons (everyone else playing knows where the rocket launcher and gravity hammer are, I don't), but I guess that will basically just come in time as I learn the maps, or there will be game modes where this feature is removed (please tell me what they are I completely hate weapon pickups).

So basically it's moving that is letting me down. I don't know how to move in this game. It seems like the total opposite of what I'm used to. I don't sit behind cover because this just makes me less dynamic: it's more likely my target will just escape me. I don't flank because there is an always-on radar and TTKs are long enough for turning 90-180 degrees to be a negligible disadvantage. I don't jump because jumping in CoD and BF is ridiculous, but I see people jumping and doing great, and even using stuff like the jetpack -which in my mind is just a way to make yourself incredibly vulnerable- to great effect.
I basically just sort of run in there, more or less head on, and run around shooting my gun and punching people and throwing grenades until I die. Noticed close up, where movement choices are a lot more limited/defined, I do fine, besting most guys. But far away, where the movement options are far more open, I do a lot worse, because I just don't know what to do.


So, if anyone's great at Halo, some general tips on how you approach movement in this game would be really fantastic. If not I guess I'll just watch youtube videos for hours. Also general views on where Halo stands as a game (i.e. do you feel it's high quality/balanced/deep or w/e) I guess I am vaguely interested in. Also if dudes play L4D let me know, that's another game I cannot wrap my head around (expert is beyond me, and fairly often the opposing team in mp will just completely annihilate my guys over and over)

[n1gh7]

Generally my rule is that people who start out playing COD suck at Halo and those that start out playing Halo suck at COD. Mostly, this has to do with playstyle.

I can't really describe the playstyles, but in my experience Halo players play very similarly to PC promod COD players. It's very aggressive with a lot of dodging. In Halo you can "turn on" people more easily than in COD. (killing someone after they have gotten the first shot on you) And the aim is more "sluggish" to an extent.

I would say, work on putting shots on someone every engagement and also try to learn how to "escape" when you know you are going to lose. I see a lot of people coming from COD just give up and die when they start losing shields instead of trying to hit back and turn the tables, or at least pull the other guy's shields down a bit.

Another thing is teamwork. In COD team work is like, covering other's backs or blind spots, watching an objective or whatever, but what is important in Halo teamwork is helping a teammate lower someone's shields or even finish the other person off while your teammate retreats as to not give up that kill.

A lot has to do with how much health people have and everything. Just gotta be more conscious of the differences between the games in that aspect. Oh, and the fact that you have super jump haha.

Sorry that this is kinda unorganized and everywhere. I'll post some more if I think of things or if you have more specific questions.

[chip sandwich]

For the most part, free-for-all or team games tend to be fairly predictable - rush the most obvious power weapons. Other maps will just be tiresome camp-offs.Try not to get caught up in it.

More bits and pieces which may or may not be obvious. It's been about 10 months since I played this, so I may not remember much:
- Do not walk around with a plasma sword equipped. You will attract too much attention.
- If you get into a duel, don't panic. At least, until Bungie puts in their stupid patch to remove bloom.
- If you have no other option in a duel, jump over people instead of backwards. Otherwise, circlestrafe like a mofo.
- Armor Lock is a part of the game. Learn to adapt rather than ing about it. There's far worse doo-doo than armerlockarmerlockarmerlock anyway. If you stick with your team, it shouldn't be a problem - at that point, it just becomes a counter to grenade spam.
- Magnum and Sprint. Always. Run away from fights more efficiently - or get to them quicker. Whatever floats thine boat. Magnum is a mini-dmr, though you can't fire as fast efficiently - until Bungie removes bloom.
-WATCH YOUR TEAMMATES
- When sniping, "look" for general aiming, then strafe for precision.
- Keep your crosshairs at head level when walking down corridors.
- NEVER GO INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE MAP EVER. Not unless there is an objective there and your team is ready.
-Generally, when the enemy has a sniper rifle on a close range map, they tend to hang around the weapon spawning point. This is especially true for doo-dooty forge world maps.
-Forge world maps are doo-doo. Always vote to veto them.
-Forge world maps have terrible spawns. Always vote to veto them.
-Forge world maps have easy lines of sight into the enemy base and generally devolve into either stalemates or lolspawn fusterclucks. Always vote to veto them.
-Do not run and gun. You will die pointlessly.
-Try not to camp either - the other team will usually bumrush you with swords, shotguns or grenades.
-If you get hit from someone you can't see, don't bother fighting them, just run the Foxtrot away. Sure, that may be coawrdly, but it wasn't a fair fight in the first place. Sprint is the best armor ability.

-Don't try to flank too much unless your team is making a concerted effort. Just try to hold down the fort so to speak. Check from flank to flank, make sure everything's fine, WATCH WHAT YOUR TEAMMATES ARE DOING.
-Jetpack is doo-doo for avoiding people - it's only good use is for adding an extra dimension of exploration.
-If a building has many floors, you don;t have to worry too much about the radar.
-If an enemy is being pounded, they're probably not paying attention to their radar.
-Don't underestimate the plasma pistol's default fire mode.
-Sprint > all
-Try your hardest to steal everyone's kills. Don't get too antagonised when people steal yours.
-If you get surprise ed, and are going to die, don't divide your attention.
-If someone runs away, don't try too hard to pursue them.

SPOILER: Click to show

There'll be another time

-Be unconventional, to the best of your ability.
-Never sprint around corners (obvious)
-Never stand still outside - if you are outside, ALWAYS be prepared to run if someone bodyshots you with a sniper. Being caught without an escape plan is just asking for it. Never ever walk in a straight line either. Zigzag or circlestrafe like it's your 300th cup of coffee.
-Once again, don't be too fussed about people escaping your clutches. You should do the same in their situation.