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Halo 5: Guardians Req System Introduction (Text & Video Guide)

Stinkles

Clothed, sober, cooperative
I just know I'm going to be too scared to actually use my single-use cards. I'll probably end up hoarding them because I'll be afraid that I'll die right after spawning with some legendary weapon.


This is me and every game with Smart Bombs.

I often wonder how many I left unused over the decades.
 

jtar86

Member
I'm always a sucker for loot in all forms. This looks like a cool way to reward players for continuing to play plus it gets us free maps which I'm all for.
 
I just know I'm going to be too scared to actually use my single-use cards. I'll probably end up hoarding them because I'll be afraid that I'll die right after spawning with some legendary weapon.
I'm never going to use Nornfang cards 'cause I am terrible with the sniper rifle
 
I like this stuff for the cosmetic customization items. Not a fan of anything that changes the gameplay, but I will most likely stick to Arena BTB anyways.
 
A few more avis...

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From the last page:
Here's some quick avatars...

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Vire

Member
The system is actually really enjoyable and addictive, and this from someone who can't deal with RPG grind at all.

Caveat: I have a tiny conflict of interest.
I like the cosmetic stuff, no problem with that at all. Earning some crazy assassination animation is a great idea.

What I don't like is the idea of someone paying to get a one time use power weapon or vehicle in Warzone. It is what it is. Considering I doubt Warzone will be taken incredibly seriously from a competitive standpoint - it's not the end of the world... Just a little gross.

Points for Mister Chief though. I remember printing out that little constructible paper one you put in the BWU ages ago.
 

see5harp

Member
I just know I'm going to be too scared to actually use my single-use cards. I'll probably end up hoarding them because I'll be afraid that I'll die right after spawning with some legendary weapon.

Seriously in titanfall they almost give you too many. Plus you didn't have a nifty animation for opening packs like Hearthstone. (I really hope there's some nifty animation for opening the packs including fanfare when you get a rare card)

EDIT: how I understand it you can't just straight up buy a specific card. You'd still need to buy the packs to endure the RNG unless there's some system like Hearthstone where you can use the Req points for specify cards. That person would also need to wait in game for the energy so it's not exactly the same thing as straight up starting with a power weapon.
 

Grazzt

Member
This system sounds fun. Nice video guide btw.
1000 reqs at launch yesss! Don't know when I'm gonna have them all...
 

hawk2025

Member
Cautiously optimistic.

Having the permanent unlocks might give the multiplayer some nice longevity and fun things to look forward to, regardless of the impact on Warzone. My main focus will be on Arena anyways.
 

see5harp

Member
It sorta depends on how quickly you earn the req energy in game. You obviously don't want it to curve super fast so that there's a good pace for each match but you also want shittier players to have a shot at getting to use their powerful cards. Something like Titanfall where even the crappiest dudes on the team focusing on AI still have the timer and eventually be able to drop a Titan. It's always going to piss off the best of the best when they die to a noobs rocket launcher but even in a game with the steepest learning curve like Gears, even the best die eventually. No game is fun if skills are the only determining factor.
 
100% sure friend. Everything requires energy. Permanent just means when you open up your REQ station and see your energy use options/items it will always be an option once you obtain the card once. Non permanent means you need that card to use it each time as they are essentially burned when you use it.

The BR and DMR are reqs, yet they don't require energy.. I'm not certain.
 
The BR and DMR are reqs, yet they don't require energy.. I'm not certain.

They are permanently unlocked incest you reach a certain energy level.

For example you will have an BR req card but you won't be able to use it until you get to energy level 3 but once you get it is permanent and you will start with it each time you die.
 
What I don't like is the idea of someone paying to get a one time use power weapon or vehicle in Warzone.
The cynic in me sees this as conditioning a Halo audience towards spending real money for virtual items - in this case power items, and even worse imo, temporary/expendable/single-use items.

Its been a dream of the bean counters from the very beginning of last gen to condition gamers to spend real money on virtual expendables. Buying ammo was the classic example, but anything expendable could do the trick. This system swings that door wide open, though I'm pretty sure it was Mass Effect 2 that jimmy'd the lock in the first place.

So, yeah, kinda gross still, but I'm very happy to see a system that (assumedly) subsidizes free post-release map packs. That's a big deal, and a big problem in multplayer games, so its nice to see a real answer to it.

Now, when the Xbox launched last year we saw some launch titles like Rye and Forza had microtransactions, macrotransactions and free-to-play elements. This year we're seeing both Forza 6 and Halo 5 with game altering collectible cards and packs and rarities - and the similarities and differences are interesting. Forza hasn't monetized the packs in any way, and as far as I know they aren't used in competitive modes. Halo will monetize the packs, but has limited the game changing stuff to Warzone only, leaving Arena with the even starts the fans have demanded. The fact that both games come with these new systems makes me question the blog post's tale of this idea springing out of the team, as opposed to something that's more of a demand from the higher ups. It'll be interesting to see how these different takes play out, and what survives and what gets scrapped in the next games.
 

Bane

Member
This all seems pretty good for the most part. Only issue I have is everything coming solely from random packs. I'd love to also be able to save up my REQ points for specific items but, eh... I'll get over it.

Warzone is what I imagine I'll mostly be playing and it seems they balanced the power weapons and vehicles pretty well.
 

hawk2025

Member
The cynic in me sees this as conditioning a Halo audience towards spending real money for virtual items - in this case power items, and even worse imo, temporary/expendable/single-use items.

Its been a dream of the bean counters from the very beginning of last gen to condition gamers to spend real money on virtual expendables. Buying ammo was the classic example, but anything expendable could do the trick. This system swings that door wide open, though I'm pretty sure it was Mass Effect 2 that jimmy'd the lock in the first place.

So, yeah, kinda gross still, but I'm very happy to see a system that (assumedly) subsidizes free post-release map packs. That's a big deal, and a big problem in multplayer games, so its nice to see a real answer to it.

Now, when the Xbox launched last year we saw some launch titles like Rye and Forza had microtransactions, macrotransactions and free-to-play elements. This year we're seeing both Forza 6 and Halo 5 with game altering collectible cards and packs and rarities - and the similarities and differences are interesting. Forza hasn't monetized the packs in any way, and as far as I know they aren't used in competitive modes. Halo will monetize the packs, but has limited the game changing stuff to Warzone only, leaving Arena with the even starts the fans have demanded. The fact that both games come with these new systems makes me question the blog post's tale of this idea springing out of the team, as opposed to something that's more of a demand from the higher ups. It'll be interesting to see how these different takes play out, and what survives and what gets scrapped in the next games.



I hate, hate, hate what was done to Forza with wheelspins.

It feels to me like adding a tacky casino to my smooth gameplay experience, and significantly detracted from the Horizon 2 experience. It was so antithetical to the rest of the game and the feeling of breezy driving and exploration.

Conversely, for some reason these REQ packs don't seem to strike me the same way. Perhaps because I think it's more reasonable to see "loot drops" in FPS games, perhaps because Forza's wheelspins also had the terrible and in-your-face addition of being able to double rewards through buying a VIP pass.

I would like to understand the distinction more, though. Not sure why I feel this way.

Frankly, more Halo 5 and less Forza is where I would hope Microsoft goes in the future.



Disclaimer: I have not played Forza 6 yet to see how the wheelspins of Horizon 2 have evolved into the new main series.
 

Madness

Member
so is warzone pay to win or nah?

Pretty much like Mass Effect 3, TitanFall and Destiny (although you don't really pay for stuff in Destiny) kind of are. People who've been playing will have better weapons and vehicles. But the system is designed in a way they still have to earn the right to use them.

It's probably designed in a way where it isn't too unbalanced that it isn't fun, but yeah, if you pay, you can buy REQ packs to get you what you need faster. I think it's the evolution of Infinity style in a sense.

I'm excited to try it out. We also get some sweet guns as pre-orders so maybe we won't need to buy packs right away if they're decent.
 

Bsigg12

Member
This all seems pretty good for the most part. Only issue I have is everything coming solely from random packs. I'd love to also be able to save up my REQ points for specific items but, eh... I'll get over it.

Warzone is what I imagine I'll mostly be playing and it seems they balanced the power weapons and vehicles pretty well.

Since they'll be offering limited time REQ packs, I'm wondering if they'll offer packs that have its contents listed so you could say get helmet X, or power weapon Y for the limited time the pack is available to buy and use the points you earn to get those.
 

Madness

Member
I wonder if 343 will keep some secret overpowered or cool stuff for themselves, sort of like blue lightning, flaming helmet, Recon etc.

They probably wouldn't because people complained about not getting it themselves in Halo 3 and whatnot.
 

IronWarrior

Neo Member
Pretty much like Mass Effect 3, TitanFall and Destiny (although you don't really pay for stuff in Destiny) kind of are. People who've been playing will have better weapons and vehicles. But the system is designed in a way they still have to earn the right to use them.

It's probably designed in a way where it isn't too unbalanced that it isn't fun, but yeah, if you pay, you can buy REQ packs to get you what you need faster. I think it's the evolution of Infinity style in a sense.

I'm excited to try it out. We also get some sweet guns as pre-orders so maybe we won't need to buy packs right away if they're decent.

To make an analogy with Infinity, you could think of it as having an option to pay to get better options for your Ordnance. As anyone who played Halo 4 can remember, Ordnance could be pretty frustrating when you got thrown a Needler, Plasma Grenades and Speedboost and some other guy got the Incineration Cannon.

To me a lot of this kind of turns me off from Warzone, since my favourite part of Halo has always been that there's a certain flow to games that is decided by deterministic things like power weapon and vehicle spawn timers/positions. I know I'll have Arena and BTB post launch, but it would have been cool to have large 12 vs 12 matches with a more simplified, arena style setup.
 

-Ryn

Banned
I wonder if 343 will keep some secret overpowered or cool stuff for themselves, sort of like blue lightning, flaming helmet, Recon etc.

They probably wouldn't because people complained about not getting it themselves in Halo 3 and whatnot.
Based on what Frankie has said in the past about all the crap people would pull to get Dev exclusives, I'd say it is safe to say they won't do it. Which is a shame because I love that kind of stuff.
 
God damn that was a good video!
MISTER CHIEF!!!!!
I wonder who thought of that video to explain the REQ system and REQ Packs? I loves me some Mister Chief, I have him as my Avatar in The Master Chief Collection :).
 

Stinkles

Clothed, sober, cooperative
I like the cosmetic stuff, no problem with that at all. Earning some crazy assassination animation is a great idea.

What I don't like is the idea of someone paying to get a one time use power weapon or vehicle in Warzone. It is what it is. Considering I doubt Warzone will be taken incredibly seriously from a competitive standpoint - it's not the end of the world... Just a little gross.

Points for Mister Chief though. I remember printing out that little constructible paper one you put in the BWU ages ago.


I think you'll be surprised how well balanced it ends up being. To the point where I kindavrnjoybthe Shyamalan twists and better yet, winning despite them.
 

Madness

Member
Based on what Frankie has said in the past about all the crap people would pull to get Dev exclusives, I'd say it is safe to say they won't do it. Which is a shame because I love that kind of stuff.

Same. I still remember the first time I encountered someone wearing Recon in Halo 3 within the first month of launch. Obviously there is jealousy in not getting something exclusive, but who cares. Can't let a bunch of vocal nerds ruin your fun. If I was at 343 I'd get the design team to come up with a sweet armor no one else could get, or some kind of wicked gun skin. It would be too overpowered to give devs like one hit kill golden guns or whatnot.
 

-Ryn

Banned
Same. I still remember the first time I encountered someone wearing Recon in Halo 3 within the first month of launch. Obviously there is jealousy in not getting something exclusive, but who cares. Can't let a bunch of vocal nerds ruin your fun. If I was at 343 I'd get the design team to come up with a sweet armor no one else could get, or some kind of wicked gun skin. It would be too overpowered to give devs like one hit kill golden guns or whatnot.
Ditto. I think it's a cool way for devs to reward themselves and take pride in having worked on the game. When players see that the other person has that armor or dance or whatever, then they can also be all like "Holy shit I'm playing with someone who helped make this awesome game! Neato!"
 

Tashi

343i Lead Esports Producer
Based on what Frankie has said in the past about all the crap people would pull to get Dev exclusives, I'd say it is safe to say they won't do it. Which is a shame because I love that kind of stuff.

Actually Frankie has a level 7 REQ that only he can use.

Dongblainer - Forged from the depths of HaloGAF, hardened against the likes of EazyB, Juices and KyleJ, this Mythic Assault Rifle has slain many nerds.
 
Actually Frankie has a level 7 REQ that only he can use.

Dongblainer - Forged from the depths of HaloGAF, hardened against the likes of EazyB, Juices and KyleJ, this Mythic Assault Rifle has slain many nerds.

You guys should add a Mister Chief skin to the Mantis at some point (maybe DLC?). That would be hilarious seeing that stomp around Warzone maps.
 
I just realized, that they added an RNG system with the REQ systems via the certification level. So once you clear that level you can then get a REQ card in the REQ pack. Also the rarity of the items are colour schemed similar to Destiny, which is smart being its a very similar system so having a matching colour scheme is a good que for players who play both Halo and Destiny.
 
This is going to be fun. I dislike loadouts and things in Halo, but I also like unlocking weapons as I play multiplayer. So it's perfect that gameplay changers are Warzone only and I get to enjoy cosmetics in Arena. Since Warzone is its own thing I'lll probably enjoy the REQ items too, as long as there's a Halo CE pistol. Also, 343i should totally rename the studio Halo Town.

October 27th please get here faster.
 

Shrennin

Didn't get the memo regarding the 14th Amendment
What I don't like is the idea of someone paying to get a one time use power weapon or vehicle in Warzone. It is what it is. Considering I doubt Warzone will be taken incredibly seriously from a competitive standpoint - it's not the end of the world... Just a little gross.

It would be a bit different if people could purchase specific REQ cards, but they can't -- what you purchase, rather, are REQ packs, so consumers can't really try to get certain, specific cards for any type of planned advantage. The energy system in Warzone prevents any real advantages anyway, and it seems as if REQ points are going to be handed out like candy so the playerbase at large gets frequent REQ packs. It seems like a smart system because people will likely willingly purchase packs, but it shouldn't really hurt the playerbase that doesn't purchase them.

The fact that Arena is untouched as far as gameplay changing REQ cards are concerned is a very good thing as well. You may as well consider Arena to be separate from the REQ system at large, but with the added bonus of getting unlockable customizable cosmetic items that have various rarities attached to them. I doubt Warzone will even use the actual ranking system of Halo 5 -- it would be interesting if 343 just didn't track any type of stats related to Warzone (so people don't have to worry about their KDR, win/loss ratio, or anything else of the sort -- they can just have fun in this mode without thinking about how good or bad they are doing).
 
It would be a bit different if people could purchase specific REQ cards, but they can't -- what you purchase, rather, are REQ packs, so consumers can't really try to get certain, specific cards for any type of planned advantage. The energy system in Warzone prevents any real advantages anyway, and it seems as if REQ points are going to be handed out like candy so the playerbase at large gets frequent REQ packs. It seems like a smart system because people will likely willingly purchase packs, but it shouldn't really hurt the playerbase that doesn't purchase them.

The fact that Arena is untouched as far as gameplay changing REQ cards are concerned is a very good thing as well. You may as well consider Arena to be separate from the REQ system at large, but with the added bonus of getting unlockable customizable cosmetic items that have various rarities attached to them. I doubt Warzone will even use the actual ranking system of Halo 5 -- it would be interesting if 343 just didn't track any type of stats related to Warzone (so people don't have to worry about their KDR, win/loss ratio, or anything else of the sort -- they can just have fun in this mode without thinking about how good or bad they are doing).

I believe that 343i have said previously that there is no ranking system tied to Warzone, but instead people will be matched who have similarly unlocked REQ Cards.
 

Shrennin

Didn't get the memo regarding the 14th Amendment
I believe that 343i have said previously that there is no ranking system tied to Warzone, but instead people will be matched who have similarly unlocked REQ Cards.

I figured there was no ranking system, but I was talking more about stat tracking -- say a menu that you could pull up within the game mode itself (or in one of the game's menus, or on the website) where it would give you information on your kdr, win/loss, etc. for Warzone. I actually think if there was no stat tracking then that would prevent a competitive environment (which is the goal of Warzone) and then people wouldn't necessarily have it in their minds that they are doing bad or good. In other words, there wouldn't be a way for players to see any stats relating to Warzone. It's just about playing the game mode and nothing more or less. It's good that there's no ranking system though (and it's interesting that there's a matchmaking system tied to REQ cards).

I don't really know of any games that don't have a way for players to look at their stats even in non-competitive, non-ranked modes, but it seems like it would make sense for non-competitive modes to not even give players a way to look at them or for the game to even track them.
 
I figured there was no ranking system, but I was talking more about stat tracking -- say a menu that you could pull up within the game mode itself (or in one of the game's menus, or on the website) where it would give you information on your kdr, win/loss, etc. for Warzone. I actually think if there was no stat tracking then that would prevent a competitive environment (which is the goal of Warzone) and then people wouldn't necessarily have it in their minds that they are doing bad or good. In other words, there wouldn't be a way for players to see any stats relating to Warzone. It's just about playing the game mode and nothing more or less. It's good that there's no ranking system though (and it's interesting that there's a matchmaking system tied to REQ cards).

Yeah, I have no idea about stat tracking in Warzone. Maybe someone from 343i can clarify..... STINKLES!!!!
 

Bsigg12

Member
This is why the MP maps are free. Micro transactions inbound!

So? They're entirely optional and even if you decide to say drop $100 in REQ packs, you're both not guaranteed to come in with the best possible things and then in game you're restricted by 2 systems which slowly open up your ability to call in power weapons and vehicles. Oh and anything not just aesthetic, can't be brought into Arena.

Seems fair to me.
 
Yeah, Warzone does not have a Ranking System:

Josh Holmes said:
How will the ranking system for Warzone work?

Warzone doesn’t feature a skill-based ranking system like CSR, but there we do use a hidden MMR value to track and match players according to skill so that teams remain balanced.

Source: https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/community/blog-posts/halo-community-update-6-26-15

That Q&A does not specify being matched with people of similarly unlocked REQ Cards, though I know I read it about from an official source (unless I am going crazy and just imagined it).
 
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