WEDNESDAY NIGHT FIGHT: HALO 3

[Talisker]

Sooo, skull problem:
I cant get the stupid jump through ring one. Any tips? Ideas? I followed the sequence listed, both before and after killing everything in there, no dice.
anyone want to co-op it? I'm sick of that level, aside form the scarab fights.
Gotta do it after you do the deactivation thing. If you see me on, throw me an invite, and I'll come lend a hand :)

[ElGuapo]

Sooo, skull problem:
I cant get the stupid jump through ring one. Any tips? Ideas? I followed the sequence listed, both before and after killing everything in there, no dice.
anyone want to co-op it? I'm sick of that level, aside form the scarab fights.

I'll be on tonight. I've never even seen a skull in game.

[Moore]

I'll be on tonight. I've never even seen a skull in game.


!

Maybe I'll do a 3 person and we can get my last one, which is the most annoying one, and then fuck about getting some for you. The increased explodie one is fantastic.

edit: I wouldnt mind finish the campaign on legendary either, but we might need four for that if skull hunting, it gets hard in spots.

[Jarrodhk]

Yeah I still need some of the skulls (ie most of them)

[XPav]

I need most of the skulls (ie, all of them).

Did do my first co-op on Legendary last night, that was hella fun.

Also, played some team games with some residents of Missouri. Despite their location, it was still much fun. We kicked ass in many team games.

[Harkonis]

I've only played the first chapter and grabbed 1-2 skulls. Not sure the second one 'took'.

[krokodile]

!

Maybe I'll do a 3 person and we can get my last one, which is the most annoying one, and then fuck about getting some for you. The increased explodie one is fantastic.

edit: I wouldnt mind finish the campaign on legendary either, but we might need four for that if skull hunting, it gets hard in spots.

No you don't.

Legendary can be beat with 3, it just gets hairy in like, one spot, and thats on the first level, when you have to rescue Johnson. Otherwise... The scarab fights are easy, everything just kinda fits. OH, and the last level with the flood tower. Thats nearly impossible, with any amount of people, but its best if one person hangs back and is the movable spawn point.

[Moore]

I've only played the first chapter and grabbed 1-2 skulls. Not sure the second one 'took'.

you only get notified on the gold ones, the silvers have no achievements, so you cant tell they are recorded unless you check the match settings or whatever. The only way to fuck it up, I think, is to start at a checkpoint instead of the mission beginning.

[Moore]

No you don't.

Legendary can be beat with 3, it just gets hairy in like, one spot, and thats on the first level, when you have to rescue Johnson. Otherwise... The scarab fights are easy, everything just kinda fits. OH, and the last level with the flood tower. Thats nearly impossible, with any amount of people, but its best if one person hangs back and is the movable spawn point.

I dont mean beating it, I mean doing the goofing needed to get some skulls.

[Ryan Markel]

I would certainly be up for co-op'ing through Legendary with some skulls to both beat Legendary and grab the metagame achievements.

Anyone have any ideas as to which skulls would be easiest to pull off without the game becoming completely maddeningly impossible?

[krokodile]

Catch Skull - Increased Grenade throws by enemies (Not a big deal) 1.5x Multiplier

Famine Skull - When enemies drop their weapons, they will have considerably less ammo in them. (Not a big deal, weapons everywhere, regardless) 2x Multiplier

Thunderstorm Skull - Rank every unit up to the next highest rank. (Problem in later levels... but not TOO hard, if you've got a group of good players) 1.5x Multiplier

Extra, if you really are looking for points:

Tough Luck Skull - Enemy dives away always, never gets hit by needles, makes some good saving throws. 1.5x multiplier.

By my counts thats a Minimum of 5x multiplier, up to 6.5x, which should be enough for any good player that is tackling Legendary.

[Union Carbide]

I'm down for coop on Legendary, and/or a skull run. I've got Tough Luck and Black Eye so far.

I've completed the game in co-op on heroic, but didn't get credit for two levels because of disconnects and starting from a rally point.

[quatoria]

I'm down for both. I'd love some help grabbing the IWHBYD skull, it's a really tedious process, and I'd be happy to go through any level on legendary. I've got two done, but have no interest in running through the game again unless it's co-op. I'm online tonight, toss me a message and I'll ditch Warriors Orochi.

[Andrew Mayer]

I'll hop into a legendary co-op if you k-razy kids are around.

[Union Carbide]

You are the source of half of my disconnect problems, jerk!

Seriously though I'll try to go online tonight. I've got a co-worker who finally got his copy from Amazon (1 week later, jerks), he might be interested in joining us as well.

[quatoria]

I haven't had any problems with SheepShagger since he fixed whatever weirdness was wrong with his cable modem. Come on, let's go try to break the game scripting again, it'll be fun!

[Andrew Mayer]

Are you guys confusing me for someone with a similar name?

[quatoria]

Oh, sorry, Mayer. I didn't even read your post - UC was referring to Myers, so I assumed that's who he was replying to. Actually, I don't think I have you on my friends list - lemme go fix that right now. We should get both of you in the same co-op game. That would be awesomely confusing.

[Andrew Mayer]

Oh, sorry, Mayer. I didn't even read your post - UC was referring to Myers, so I assumed that's who he was replying to. Actually, I don't think I have you on my friends list - lemme go fix that right now. We should get both of you in the same co-op game. That would be awesomely confusing.

Well... we were on a two man team last night. We weren't confused. :-)

[metta]

Anyone had an issue with achievements not unlocking?

I finished mission 7 (The Covenant) and the achievement for it didn't unlock. I waited until the next mission had begun (as they seem to need that to unlock) but nothing happened; I went a minute or two into mission 8 and nothing unlocked for mission 7.

Ideas?

[quatoria]

What difficulty level were you playing at?

[Talisker]

Well... we were on a two man team last night. We weren't confused. :-)
Best Rocket Race team ever!

[metta]

What difficulty level were you playing at?

Heroic. I have no idea what I might have done differently from the first 6 missions.

[quatoria]

Heroic. I have no idea what I might have done differently from the first 6 missions.

Did you quit out, and then restart from a rally point? I know if you don't start from the beginning, you can't unlock skulls - it might be the same for completion achievements.

[metta]

Did you quit out, and then restart from a rally point? I know if you don't start from the beginning, you can't unlock skulls - it might be the same for completion achievements.

Huh. Yeah, I think that's what I did. I spread this mission over two nights, but picked it up from a rally point and not a checkpoint/save.

Bleh. Thanks Q. You're a diamond.

[quatoria]

Yeah, it's a shitty rule, especially for levels like Ark and Covenant, that are hours long.

[krokodile]

Anyone had an issue with achievements not unlocking?

I finished mission 7 (The Covenant) and the achievement for it didn't unlock. I waited until the next mission had begun (as they seem to need that to unlock) but nothing happened; I went a minute or two into mission 8 and nothing unlocked for mission 7.

Ideas?

Watch the opening cinematic.

[XPav]

Fun tonight, then I locked up, and decided to go to bed.

[Talisker]

Fun tonight, then I locked up, and decided to go to bed.
Schmidt was sad, 'cause he only had two targets to stick plasma grenades on instead of three :(

[quatoria]

Sorry for bailing on the co-op early, but I really wanted to finally unlock those last skulls and terminals. Managed to get the security shoulders, too - apparently those aren't properly unlocking at 700 points for a lot of people. Speaking of things that aren't proper, I need to get a screen shot of that moment when Xpav got stuck, backed into Andrew and I, and wiped out the whole team. :P

[Talisker]

Managed to get the security shoulders, too - apparently those aren't properly unlocking at 700 points for a lot of people.
Huh. I've got 'em, but I only have 690 points.

[quatoria]

That IS odd. Makes me suspect the conventional wisdom for their unlocking procedure is false. Although, as near as I can tell, mine did unlock when I hit 700 points. However, it could also be that they unlocked then I had all the terminals and all the skulls collected, since both happened at once. Anyone else here have those shoulders? If so, what's your point total, and do you have all the terminals and/or skulls? Perhaps we can find a common thread.

[Talisker]

Yep, I've got the terminals & skulls.

[forgeforsaken]

Best Rocket Race team ever!
I love that mode. Purple team rocked the house on sandtrap last night, totally saving the replay, maybe I'll upload it too. Had a bunch of good flip 10 times to land on our wheels and keep going, as well as a few steal the checkpoint at the last second from another team. Purple team rules, woo!

[ElGuapo]

I was a little confuse as to how rocket race worked, so much so that my partner took off with some other dude on the back of his ATV.

I did enjoy trying to cap that last point with the Elephant, though. :)

Ok, can someone explain what these skulls and terminals are? I see the achievements but I don't see any achievement guides for them yet.

[forgeforsaken]

Rocket Race is a VIP variant. It uses destinations that the VIP needs to get to, so in a two man team only one guy can drive and the VIP needs to sit brokeback on the mongoose. You could actually just run from point to point, but good luck with that. Also they got it set so the rockets can't kill you, just knock you around, it's pretty awesome that way as the rockets are a tool for knocking the other teams off course.

Gamevideos I think has a video on how to get all the skulls.
http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/15032
and
http://www.gamevideos.com/video/id/15031

[krokodile]

I thought I unlocked all the terminals, but how long do I have to sit there? Do I have to read them all?

[Moore]

I was a little confuse as to how rocket race worked, so much so that my partner took off with some other dude on the back of his ATV.

I did enjoy trying to cap that last point with the Elephant, though. :)

Ok, can someone explain what these skulls and terminals are? I see the achievements but I don't see any achievement guides for them yet.

ahahah were you blue? I was driving some blue guy away from the goals, I was gold. My gold partner was on the back of someone else who was scoring for us for a tiny while, hehe.

Krok: I think you need to stay in them until they catch you, lockup, and go red, then through the 2nd set of text.

[NuclearWinter]

I love that mode. Purple team rocked the house on sandtrap last night, totally saving the replay, maybe I'll upload it too. Had a bunch of good flip 10 times to land on our wheels and keep going, as well as a few steal the checkpoint at the last second from another team. Purple team rules, woo!

Brown got 0 points, we rock!

It was mass confusion at the beginning. I got killed right away before I could even get on the back of a mongoose (assassinated?) and respawned far far away, it was a lost cause from there. Looking forward to trying it again.

[krokodile]

Oif...

I don't really want to go through that all again, but I want those Shoulders...

Alright, I'm guessing they'll show up on normal, then?

[ElGuapo]

I was yellow or something, I think. I was partnered with sniper1999. As soon as we spawned everyone jumped on an ATV and took off and I was left there alone with one ATV, trying to get on it an failing, kicking the tires.

I also had a great fight with Moore on the very first map I played. Me on a Ghost and him jumping over me as I tried to shoot/ram him. He almost killed me and then eventually I got lucky and nailed him. Fun fight.

[delirium]

ahahah were you blue? I was driving some blue guy away from the goals, I was gold. My gold partner was on the back of someone else who was scoring for us for a tiny while, hehe.

haha, that was me I think. I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing. Didn't even realize you weren't on my team until I think you said something to your teammate and I could hear it through the speakers. I was also on the 3 person team, which made things even more confusing and I'm pretty sure my teammates didn't know what was going on either.

[Moore]

haha, that was me I think. I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing. Didn't even realize you weren't on my team until I think you said something to your teammate and I could hear it through the speakers. I was also on the 3 person team, which made things even more confusing and I'm pretty sure my teammates didn't know what was going on either.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1385/1478459836_c388040791_o.jpg

Image of the kidnapping for posterity!

[Moore]

Oif...

I don't really want to go through that all again, but I want those Shoulders...

Alright, I'm guessing they'll show up on normal, then?

Yes. But I have all skulls and all terminals and no shoulders.

[ElGuapo]

I absolutely love the fact that you can play this and then save the recordings.

I'm gonna have to play this again tonight. Anyone want to help me get the skulls on Legendary? First level?

Also, what does it mean to "Score 10,000 in the campaign meta-game"? That's an achievement. I never noticed a score after the levels.

[forgeforsaken]

Also, what does it mean to "Score 10,000 in the campaign meta-game"? That's an achievement. I never noticed a score after the levels.

You can turn campaign scoring on. The skulls modify scoring getting you point multipliers but making the game harder. So far every co-op game I'm in the host forgets to turn scoring on :(

[Moore]

You have to turn on the scoring in campaign options in co-op. Skulls also add multipliers.

I need to do everything except sierra 117 in legendary, but it's the wifes night tonight. Thursday I'm down for some legendary-skull-point-hunts.

[Ryan Markel]

I would recommend doing point runs on Heroic with a couple of skulls turned on. We tried with two of us last night, and it was so difficult that our deaths resulted in enough lost points to push us out of the points achievement.

Of course, this now means I'll have to run through on Legendary as well as once again on Heroic to get everything, but whatever...

[quatoria]

I thought I unlocked all the terminals, but how long do I have to sit there? Do I have to read them all?

Are you sure you actually grabbed all seven? One is incredibly nonintuitive - you have to deactivate the first shield tower, take the hornet, and fly to the *second* tower, the one the elites deactivated, to get a skull and a terminal.

[quatoria]

I've heard it suggested that the fastest way to get the score is to play on normal, with four skulls activated.

[Ryan Markel]

I've heard it suggested that the fastest way to get the score is to play on normal, with four skulls activated.

Wow.

If you did that, you could probably plow through the levels so fast that the time muliplier alone would save your skin.

[krokodile]

Are you sure you actually grabbed all seven? One is incredibly nonintuitive - you have to deactivate the first shield tower, take the hornet, and fly to the *second* tower, the one the elites deactivated, to get a skull and a terminal.

I swear I did. I might just go through and do them all over again on normal. It has the same effect.

[UncleSmoothie]

Across the map, over a wall, off the airlift sticky (http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/10/05/video-one-lucky-halo.html). Totally random and awesome to watch.

[quatoria]

Huh. I've got 'em, but I only have 690 points.

Well, I just found out something else about the security shoulders: they're bugged. I unlocked several new achievements today, and when I had finished, I'd lost access to the security shoulders. They now show as 'locked'. Awesome, eh?

[Ryan Markel]

Well, I just found out something else about the security shoulders: they're bugged. I unlocked several new achievements today, and when I had finished, I'd lost access to the security shoulders. They now show as 'locked'. Awesome, eh?

So it worked, eh? I need to do that either this afternoon or tomorrow; can we get that together?

[quatoria]

It's a shame there weren't more people on tonight - Papa Smurf, Jarrod and I stomped a succession of random enemies into the fucking dirt tonight. Best match was 50 to 15, where we, of course, had the 50. Shot up 10 skill points and two ranks over the course of the night, and had a lot of fun to boot. Ranked team slayer is really where it's at.

[bago]

Played 2 ranked games. First was sgt vs diamond. Second only had 3 ranks diff between top and bottom. Much funner. Though sticking someone 3 ranks higher than you is satisfying.

[forgeforsaken]

Playlists have been updated. Notably 16 player games now in Big Team Battle


Big Team Battle matches are now 16-player affairs.
In the Team Slayer playlist, the appearance of Shotty Snipers has been greatly reduced.
Now, when players veto Shotty Snipers, the game that results from the veto will not be Shotty Snipers.
In one-sided VIP matches, the attacking team will now see a waypoint for the VIP they are hunting.
In Lone Wolves, Slayer gametypes will appear more frequently.

[UncleSmoothie]

Playlists have been updated. Notably 16 player games now in Big Team Battle

Big Team Battle matches are now 16-player affairs.
In the Team Slayer playlist, the appearance of Shotty Snipers has been greatly reduced.
Now, when players veto Shotty Snipers, the game that results from the veto will not be Shotty Snipers.
In one-sided VIP matches, the attacking team will now see a waypoint for the VIP they are hunting.
In Lone Wolves, Slayer gametypes will appear more frequently.

Hell yes to everything on that list.

[XPav]

Playlists have been updated. Notably 16 player games now in Big Team Battle


In Lone Wolves, Slayer gametypes will appear more frequently.
Awwww... I suck at Slayer but could totally clean up on Oddball and King of the Hill.

[Wholly Schmidt]

Yeah, Oddball has always been my strength for whatever reason.

[Moore]

Same. I was hoping to get my overkill etc.. dealies in those gametypes too by just watching the ball and prepping an ambush.

[XPav]

Screw watching the ball, take the ball, sit on the other side of a door shield or bubble shield. Punch people that run in. They die, you win.

[krokodile]

Yeah... Thats how I've gotten most of my large kill accounts.

And speaking of Kill Counts, I got a Killionaire at a Lan the other night with 12 players. We went FFA, and for whatever reason... I don't know. It was amazing though. Wish I had it on my Xbox though... no way to prove it.

[Ryan Markel]

I'm looking forward to getting back home from this business trip so I can join you guys in the online beatdowns.

I'd be up for hitting some matchmaking playlists with you all, for sure. I'd rather play the team-based stuff than Lone Wolves, personally.

[jfletch]

Awesome on the Shotty Snipers thing.

[Moore]

Screw watching the ball, take the ball, sit on the other side of a door shield or bubble shield. Punch people that run in. They die, you win.

I need them all in 4 seconds though, better to keep an eye on the hill or ball with a rocket launcher.

[Ryan Markel]

I need them all in 4 seconds though, better to keep an eye on the hill or ball with a rocket launcher.

Steppin' Razor is harder than Overkill, unfortunately.

[Moore]

I know, I'm ALMOST tempted to just

http://www.mandarintools.com/namegif/8C9D.gif http://www.mandarintools.com/namegif/958B.gif http://www.mandarintools.com/namegif/6167.gif


like everyone else.

[metta]

Great fun with Quatoria and Tromik this evening!

What a joy to play with folks who aren't crying and/or yelling obscenities. (Well, Q does that but it's only when he has problems with his contacts :P)

[CSL]

Great fun with Quatoria and Tromik this evening!

What a joy to play with folks who aren't crying and/or yelling obscenities. (Well, Q does that but it's only when he has problems with his contacts :P)

Yes, great fun.

[tromik]

I was looking at my stats from last night and they were ridiculous. It looked like a stock price chart from Looney Tunes. That said, most of the teams we went up against were better than us, and we held our.

Game of the night was High Ground were we just played a defensive game. Nothing like making a ghost useless due to a barrage of melee attacks.

[tromik]

By the way, Sticktastic was freakin' awesome. I'm usually not a fan of custom games, especially things like pirates and zombie and stuff, but that was great. I grabbed it from some one's fileshare, but I don't remember who. Take a bow, whoever that was!

[metta]

By the way, Sticktastic was freakin' awesome. I'm usually not a fan of custom games, especially things like pirates and zombie and stuff, but that was great. I grabbed it from some one's fileshare, but I don't remember who. Take a bow, whoever that was!

I grabbed that too. I think it was from Daedalus. What mayhem! It was like taking a bunch of hyperactive toddlers, giving them sticky grenades, and stuffing them into a closet.

[tromik]

I grabbed that too. I think it was from Daedalus. What mayhem! It was like taking a bunch of hyperactive toddlers, giving them sticky grenades, and stuffing them into a closet.
Oddly, I still ended up with more melee kills than grenade kills, but that's just a testiment to the way I play the game: the same way I play every other game.

[Union Carbide]

I'm usually not a fan of custom games, especially things like pirates and zombie and stuff,

You have no soul. Seriously.

[tromik]

You have no soul. Seriously.
I do like rocket race, and I don't mind, but no one plays the way they're supposed to, and it completely ruins the game.

Sticktastic is a skill based custom game that doesn't require to learn any rules, and it's basically impossible for griefers to grief.

Hell, I was in another room when the game started, and jumped into it without having to ask someone what the fuck we were doing.

[delirium]

Zombies and Pirates are fun every now and then, but it seems like every time I join up with Qt3 people we're playing one of the two. I wouldn't mind getting some straight up team slayer games going.

[forgeforsaken]

I'd actually like to get on and get a group going and go join a playlist. Seems like it's always custom games with qt3 only folks. Would be fun to get a teams worth of people and fight some randoms.

[Moore]

I agree forge, we should get a group of 8 and do BTB vs. unwashed masses.

Like in about an hour and a half.

[Ryan Markel]

I do like rocket race, and I don't mind, but no one plays the way they're supposed to, and it completely ruins the game.

Sticktastic is a skill based custom game that doesn't require to learn any rules, and it's basically impossible for griefers to grief.

Hell, I was in another room when the game started, and jumped into it without having to ask someone what the fuck we were doing.

AGREED.

People who get off the bikes and walk around the whole time in Rocket Race need to be kicked.

[tromik]

AGREED.

People who get off the bikes and walk around the whole time in Rocket Race need to be kicked.
If they could somehow plant a flag point on a mongoose (or whatever ofther vehicle), and then implement that damage model from pirates, it'd be great.

[tromik]

Me, Quatoria, and Subtxt (I'm assuming Sub is from here) played 4v4 Team Slayer most of the night, and it was great.

I'm always up for ranked team slayer in the evenings, so if you see me online, send me an invite.

[Moore]

but I want big team battle!

[metta]

(I'm assuming Sub is from here)

/raises hand

:)

It was great fun! I hope we can coordinate again.

[DavidKaye]

By the way, Sticktastic was freakin' awesome. I'm usually not a fan of custom games, especially things like pirates and zombie and stuff, but that was great. I grabbed it from some one's fileshare, but I don't remember who. Take a bow, whoever that was!

Thank you, thank you!

If there's demand, I'll go back into forge and rework another map for the gametype. I'm thinking Construct might be a good one.

[tromik]

Thank you, thank you!

If there's demand, I'll go back into forge and rework another map for the gametype. I'm thinking Construct might be a good one.

I think Snowblind might work better. Construct is all about the corridor on the top level, the rest of the map is useless.

Epitaph was fine though, being a bit crowded made it better almost, because you'd get two, three kills at once, and finish what a lot of others had started.

Seriously, best custom gametype yet.

[tromik]

/raises hand

:)

It was great fun! I hope we can coordinate again.
I'll be on again tonight, 9pm EST, only for a couple of hours though.

[DavidKaye]

I think Snowblind might work better. Construct is all about the corridor on the top level, the rest of the map is useless.

Epitaph was fine though, being a bit crowded made it better almost, because you'd get two, three kills at once, and finish what a lot of others had started.

Seriously, best custom gametype yet.

Hmm, Snowbound could be fun actually. Those Ghosts could make for some interesting vehicle stick opportunities.

[Ryan Markel]

I hope to be playing late tonight.

[DavidKaye]

OK, new version of Snowbound for Sticktastic is now in my file share. Let's get sticking!

[quatoria]

We've been doing a ton of ranked team slayer, but it's mainly been Smurf, Jarrod, and I, occasionally with Guido, or UC, or Trom, or whoever else is on and interested. I've gotten the rank I was going for, though, so I'd totally be up for doing some QT3 custom gaming, especially if we could get more than 4 people at once.

[quatoria]

but I want big team battle!

The problem with Big Team Battle is that it seems to be where 90% of the idiots congregate. We saw more people fucking around, teamkilling, screaming, yelling obscenities, and generally acting like children in BTB than I've seen in a solid weak of doing ranked games. No thank you.

[Moore]

I meant w/ the qt3 crew. 8 of us vs. those teamkilling freaknits.

[quatoria]

Yeah, but there's no guarantee that it will even stick us on the same side. It didn't when we tried it last night, it split up the team and stuck some of us on both sides, as if to guarantee we all got saddled with idiots.

[Moore]

oh wtf? I thought in social matches with a party it kept you in your party. Thats fucking retarded. How the hell do competitive clans or whatever have 8v8 matches then?

[quatoria]

It does keep you in the same party, for everything that I've seen except BTB. I don't know why BTB is different, but when we tried it, it punted one of us over to play with a team that had three different split screen guys on it, who spent the entire prematch screaming about the ass they were going to be kicking any second now. Needless to say, they lost fucking horribly. It was actually kind of a morale booster, after a night full of fighting skill 30 majors and captains and such. (The 'trueskill matching system' does an absolutely fucking horrible job of matching you with people of similar skill.)

[Ryan Markel]

It does keep you in the same party, for everything that I've seen except BTB. I don't know why BTB is different, but when we tried it, it punted one of us over to play with a team that had three different split screen guys on it, who spent the entire prematch screaming about the ass they were going to be kicking any second now. Needless to say, they lost fucking horribly. It was actually kind of a morale booster, after a night full of fighting skill 30 majors and captains and such. (The 'trueskill matching system' does an absolutely fucking horrible job of matching you with people of similar skill.)

I think there just aren't that many people playing BTB. I've never had a real problem with the matchmaking finding people who are on my level.

[krokodile]

That and Halo 3 doesn't use Trueskill...

[rjcc]

I played BTB last night with a party of 7, never had anyone go over to the other team, and the matches always seemed pretty even.

[quatoria]

I think there just aren't that many people playing BTB. I've never had a real problem with the matchmaking finding people who are on my level.

I wasn't talking about BTB. I usually do three or four man ranked team slayer with a team of lieutenants, around the 20 skill level. We regularly end up against skill level 30-40 captains and majors, because the bungie system only tracks your skill level in the specific gametype you're in. So, if you're a skill 50 in lone wolves, but have barely played team slayer, you start there as a skill 1, and spend a great deal of time crushing teams who actually ARE what their skill level indicates. One would think these mismatches would happen rarely, but in my experience, they happen constantly. The system is set up so that if it doesn't find a bunch of games at exactly your skill level instantly, it will immediatly expand the search perameters by ten points above and below your team's skill, regardless of whether or not you've instructed it to keep to close matches.

It's a really poor system, in terms of matching two teams with roughly equal skills.

[DavidKaye]

I don't think this is the case, actually. The matchmaking system seems to make an effort to take into account your overall rank and your highest skill level. I'm up to 20 in Lone Wolves, but nowhere near that high in the other game types. Although the game prioritizes your skill level for the current game type, I'm pretty sure that it uses your highest skill as a secondary criterion so that you get matched up to people who are not complete noobs.

[quatoria]

In virtually every game that Jarrod, Smurf and I have played in the last week or so, there has been a captain or two in almost every match, and quite frequently, a major, as well. All of us are in the 20 skill range. Our lowest is 18, and our highest is 23. (Though the 23 was a 20, at the time.) Occasionally, we were joined by a 10 or less. Without fail, we encountered 30's and 40's. Often enough that it's not mere chance. In Team Tactical, every match we played was against majors, because they seem to be the only people who play the tactical gametype. If you haven't encountered the same problem in team ranked games, trust me - it's due to luck.

[Ryan Markel]

In virtually every game that Jarrod, Smurf and I have played in the last week or so, there has been a captain or two in almost every match, and quite frequently, a major, as well. All of us are in the 20 skill range. Our lowest is 18, and our highest is 23. (Though the 23 was a 20, at the time.) Occasionally, we were joined by a 10 or less. Without fail, we encountered 30's and 40's. Often enough that it's not mere chance. In Team Tactical, every match we played was against majors, because they seem to be the only people who play the tactical gametype. If you haven't encountered the same problem in team ranked games, trust me - it's due to luck.

One thing that you can do while matchmaking is to go into the options screen (with the X button) and take a look at the skill distribution curve. Some gametypes still have the curve placed very early in the progression, so if you're anything above 10 or 15 or so, you're going to run into places where you'll be match with people who are all over the map in terms of skill level.

I played a good amount of Team Slayer last night and was almost always matched up with people who were within 1-3 skill levels in that gametype. On the other hand, if I were to go and play some Team Tactical or Team Objective, I find that the skill levels are wider, because there aren't as many people and the progression hasn't moved down to the end of the scale yet.

(You also can't be matchmade with people who are already in a match.)

I play Team Slayer if I hop on and no one else is available to form a prty, mostly because it doesn't rely as much on you having a pre-formed team to do well.

[Zuwadza]

So is anyone still playing this? I just picked it up today.

[Wholly Schmidt]

I will be when my Xbox unbreaks.

[Union Carbide]

I was just playing with a bunch of QT3 people tonight.

[rjcc]

So is anyone still playing this? I just picked it up today.


nah, the fads over, it's pretty much dead. you may as well take it back

[Zuwadza]

nah, the fads over, it's pretty much dead. you may as well take it back

Damn, I was afraid Halo 3's might fade within a month of its release. Damn you Bungie!

[Kalle]

This is qt3. The only game people keep playing is Dominions. We are a fickle lot.

[Lizard_King]

I was just playing with a bunch of QT3 people tonight.
And that was some game. I think I have PTSD from seeing my spartan splatter uncomfortably on so many surfaces. :(

[forgeforsaken]

Think I'm going to try and be on tonight.

[tromik]

I'll be playing tonight.

[Moore]

I will be when my Xbox unbreaks.


five.

[Harkonis]

bah... you may rope me into playing the game I hate just so I can die to the people I hate ;)

[tromik]

I wish I had the patience and the memory to capture great Halo 3 moments. Hark, dropping a bubble shield, waiting until I run in and then dropping a 'nade was just pure evil.

Does anyone have any suggestions for custom games that can be played with a small/odd number of players (3 or 5-7 specifically)? Sticktastic is still awesome (make a new map already, Daedalus!) and probably the best custom game I've played so far. Works great with 5-7 players and doesn't have any special rules that players can break to grief others. Doesn't work quite as well with 3 players though, and playing back to back games on Epitaph can get boring.

[Andrew Mayer]

I have a regular Tuesday night thing going with some friends of mine.

The fun usually starts around 8pm PST. If you're on and on my friends list I'll throw an invite.

[Lizard_King]

I think the only thing missing from my multiplayer halo experience is the classic Wilhelm scream (http://www.hollywoodlostandfound.net/wilhelm/wilhelmtk4.html) to document my adventures for the benefit of other players. In some of those scenarios you guys played, my life-to-death ratios were so quick a few different death screams would have livened up my experience more than any number of other sound effects.

[tromik]

I think the only thing missing from my multiplayer halo experience is the classic Wilhelm scream (http://www.hollywoodlostandfound.net/wilhelm/wilhelmtk4.html) to document my adventures for the benefit of other players. In some of those scenarios you guys played, my life-to-death ratios were so quick a few different death screams would have livened up my experience more than any number of other sound effects.
What is great is that if you melee someone, you can usually hear their "Aww" or "What the fu-!"

[ProStyle]

What is great is that if you melee someone, you can usually hear their "Aww" or "What the fu-!"

I would have to say that's one of my favorite features, especially in big team games. Ambushing a sniper, bleeding out his sheilds and then putting a shotgun to his helmet right when he begins to squeal is priceless.

Sticktastic is awesome fun though, haven't played any of that gametype before and look forward to some more rounds.

[UncleSmoothie]

Sticktastic is awesome fun though, haven't played any of that gametype before and look forward to some more rounds.

Ah, so you're Cheerful Dub from last night! You're a right bastard and I enjoyed killing you (on the few occasions where that was possible). ;)

I most likely won't be on tonight, but if any Qt3ers want to hop on Saturday morning around 11am EST, I'm there.

[tromik]

Sorry I couldn't play tonight guys, Halo 3 gets me too worked up, and I have an early morning tomorrow. I'll be on around 5-10 et or so, maybe a bit later since the clocks go back.

[XPav]

Does anyone have sticktastic on their share so I can download it?

[Andrew Mayer]

Does anyone have sticktastic on their share so I can download it?

I'd like it too!

[Ryan Markel]

I have it in mine:

http://www.bungie.net/stats/Halo3/FileShare.aspx?gamertag=Achernar%20Dni

[DavidKaye]

Latest version is in my share, plus Sticktastic map variants for Epitaph and Snowbound.

http://www.bungie.net/stats/Halo3/FileShare.aspx?gamertag=DaedalusForever

Glad you're enjoying it!

What map should I redo for Sticktastic next? Guardian, perhaps? I'm thinking that or The Pit.

[tromik]

Latest version is in my share, plus Sticktastic map variants for Epitaph and Snowbound.

http://www.bungie.net/stats/Halo3/FileShare.aspx?gamertag=DaedalusForever

Glad you're enjoying it!

What map should I redo for Sticktastic next? Guardian, perhaps? I'm thinking that or The Pit.
Guardian, maybe. Pit might be too big. The great thing about Epitah for this gametype is that it has a lot of escape routes through the shield doors, it has an upper level that you can use to get the jump on two or three already in combat to steal some kills, and the gameplay always ends up with people backing into corners where the grenades do more damage.

A bigger map like Pit would need some sort of weapon to counter the large space. Although King of the Hill + Sticktastic on Pit would force players to move to a single spot. Unfortunately, it wouldn't have the same instinctive all out killfest feel of regular Sticktastic.

[XPav]

Thanks man.

If anyone cares, in my file share, I have a map and game type where I put every vehicle possible.

http://www.bungie.net/stats/Halo3/FileShare.aspx?gamertag=XPav%20XXIV

[Ryan Markel]

Guardian, maybe. Pit might be too big. The great thing about Epitah for this gametype is that it has a lot of escape routes through the shield doors, it has an upper level that you can use to get the jump on two or three already in combat to steal some kills, and the gameplay always ends up with people backing into corners where the grenades do more damage.

A bigger map like Pit would need some sort of weapon to counter the large space. Although King of the Hill + Sticktastic on Pit would force players to move to a single spot. Unfortunately, it wouldn't have the same instinctive all out killfest feel of regular Sticktastic.

Guardian would be the best choice. This kind of criticism is kind of endemic to Halo 3 - the maps that shipped with are largely too big to serve as free-for-all maps. The Lone Wolves playlist suffers on account of the map selection.

Since I went and paid the "mule tax" to have the larger file share, if there's a gametype that people are regularly playing, please let me know and I'll add it to my share. Sending a Halo 3 recommendation is the best way.

[tromik]

Guardian would be the best choice. This kind of criticism is kind of endemic to Halo 3 - the maps that shipped with are largely too big to serve as free-for-all maps. The Lone Wolves playlist suffers on account of the map selection.
Exactly. When I'm playing with strangers I usually just play ranked TS, which is fine. But when you're playing with friends you always seem to end up with an odd number and too few people and the game suffers. If I can't spawn and get into combat within seven seconds, the game is useless.


Since I went and paid the "mule tax" to have the larger file share, if there's a gametype that people are regularly playing, please let me know and I'll add it to my share. Sending a Halo 3 recommendation is the best way.
First grab Daedalus' Sticktastic and his two maps. Other than that I usually avoid custom gametypes, especially when they are based on rules that players love to break (looking at you, Rocket Race!).

Oh, grab Hark's new Zombie custom gametype. I thought it was much better than the HZ Redux in Halo 3, and creates some awesome tense moments, whereas in HZ theres no time to get tense because as soon as you see the zombie, there's a 90% you're going to end up infected. Some people didn't like it, but it's still great for six or seven players.

[DavidKaye]

OK, Guardian it is! I'll post here when it's up on my share.

[DavidKaye]

Guardian redone for Sticktastic is now in my share. Grab it:

http://www.bungie.net/stats/Halo3/FileShare.aspx?gamertag=DaedalusForever

[UncleSmoothie]

My GF is out with her girlfriends tonight, and I'm going to do my damnedest to get out of the office at a decent time this PM.

That means Halo Night. Who's with me?

[tromik]

My GF is out with her girlfriends tonight, and I'm going to do my damnedest to get out of the office at a decent time this PM.

That means Halo Night. Who's with me?
Tonight is QT3 RB6: Vegas Night. Sorry.

[Andrew Mayer]

My GF is out with her girlfriends tonight, and I'm going to do my damnedest to get out of the office at a decent time this PM.

That means Halo Night. Who's with me?

Tuesday is the big night for me and my buddies. We start around 8pm PST.

[UncleSmoothie]

Tuesday is the big night for me and my buddies. We start around 8pm PST.

I'm there. Just added you to the friends list via the XBL web interface.

[Rock8man]

Bungie just announced their Halloween event:

http://www.bungie.net/news/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12912

Sounds pretty cool. It's a 27 hour event, and there's going to be an extra ranked playlist. You can join in the playlist with a party of 4 and play Infection, playing on maps that are specially modified for Infection.

It starts midnight Pacific Time tonight, and goes to 3am (pacific) after Halloween is over.

[Zuwadza]

Has anyone been able to play infection? I've tried to play a couple times today with no luck at all. It has timed out with 3-4 other players a couple times now. Bungie says the matchmaking is slow for parties but I can't seem to find a match solo either.

[Rock8man]

I haven't tried yet. I'll probably get to try it out in about 4-6 hours. Hopefully Bungie will iron out any problems by then.

[Zuwadza]

So apparently the Infection matchmaking is only letting you play with people in the same country which could be why it isn't working so great. Sucks for people in small countries!

[UncleSmoothie]

Even I have fairly abandoned Halo in favor of CoD4, but check out these extremely rad upgrades to Bungie.net (http://kotaku.com/gaming/upgrades/bungienet-upgraded-with-more-halo-3-stuff-321059.php) and some tidbits about the next 2 DLC Halo maps (http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12930). It makes me all nostalgic for.. last week.


EDIT: Just tried this out; the heatmaps feature apparently is just parsing new data, so if (like me) you haven't played in a few days but want to see it in action, go to the Bungie Online dropdown menu and select "Global heatmaps". Very neat.