Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Halo Reach.

There's been lots of information posted to the blog in the last couple of weeks.  Take some time to skim it if you're still coming up to speed on Reach.  We're still working out the intricacies of Active Roster, but we're still sticking to the plan that people joining late should queue up and we'll pick you up at the next lobby.  I promise to drop back into lobby when folks are on-line.  Help keep me honest by sending me a message if you see us finish a game and go back into Matchmaking.  The party details update every 15 seconds when you're queued up, so you'll see this happen.

Maps:

• HUD Location Names
• Countdown
• Paradiso
• Boardwalk
• Powerhouse 
• Boneyard - Note that Covenant weapon caches between Invasion stage 1 and 2 have been removed since the Beta
• Overlook
• Sword Base
• Hemorrhage is a remake of Blood Gulch (Halo CE) and Coagulation (Halo 2), has Rocket Launcher in the middle and Sniper Rifles at each base
• Pinnacle is a remake of Ascension (Halo 2), has Rocket Launcher on a lower platform, Shotgun near the teleport exit, and Sniper Rifles on the outside path near each base
• Asylum is a remake of Sanctuary (Halo 2), has Sword in the middle structure, and Sniper Rifles and Shotguns at each base
• Reflection is a remake of Ivory Tower (Halo 2), has Rocket Launcher in the waterfall, Sword in the back area downstairs, and Sniper Rifle at the top

Weapons:

• Weapon Groupings (includes links to all weapons in Reach)
• Weapon Summary (also includes links to all weapons)

Armor Abilities:

• Armor Summary (includes links to all armor abilities in Reach)

Game Types:

• Generator Defense on Overlook
• Invasion
• Invasion Slayer
• Headhunter and Stockpile

HR Maps: Countdown

Countdown is one of the new maps that wasn't in the Beta, click below images for huge.  It's a small, symmetrical, 3-level map that we've seen mainly in Team Slayer.  The interior houses the power weapons and all the air lifts. Location names below are the "official" location names that will appear in your HUD.  All floors are labeled along the walls as well as on your HUD.

Key locations:

• (A) Catwalk - On the third floor, the Energy Sword spawns in the middle.  The two airlifts from the Launch Pad lead to either side of this area.
• (B) Ventilation - On the north side of the first floor, the Shotgun spawns here.  This is a small room with three airlifts that exit on the third floor.  The middle airlift exits on the Balcony.
• (C) Launch Pad - This is the entire middle "atrium" of the map.  The middle of the first floor is labeled "Launch Pad", but the interior ledges on the second and third levels are also labeled "Launch Pad".  There are two air lifts on the South Side of the large atrium area that lead to the Catwalk/Sword on the third floor.
• (D) Big Door - Named for the large cargo door (closed) that is along one wall, this is the southern most point of the first floor.  This is an easy place to get pinned down and isn't the best spawn location if you have a choice.
• (E) Balcony - There is a Concussion Rifle that spawns here at the northern most point of the third floor.  Because both sets of stairs and three airlifts lead here, this is where much of the action occurs.
• (F) Just for reference, this is where the middle lift from Ventilation exits.
• (G) Tech Stairs - These are on the east side of the map and connect all three floors.  This is the Red side of the map, and this location is named after the room on the second floor with all the tech equipment along the walls.
• (H) Pipe Stairs - These are on the west side of the map and also connect all three floors.  This is the Blue side of the map, and this location is named after the analogous room on the second floor with all the pipes running all the ceilings and walls.

Successful teams will generally try to control the third floor because of good sight lines and the ability to camp the lift exits.  Hologram and Armor Lock come in very handy on this map.

Close up screenshots of weapon locations:

HUD Location Names

In Halo Reach, various locations on each map actually have "official" names.  I haven't been very good about using these, but will start using them with maps that I post from now on.  They won't do you much good if haven't learned them, but you can use the official name during your own communications.  For example, use "1 guy at Ventilation" or "1 guy at Shotgun" instead of "wtf i just died under the engine thing area".

You can see in the above screenshot where I've circled the location name.  This area is called "Launch Pad."  It will update as you move around the map.

Player Spotlight: OmniscientDeath

OmniscientDeath is one of our top players, and an original clan member from the days of Halo 1 LAN parties.  Per popular request, we sat down for a quick interview to find out more about him.

Q1: What's your name in real life?
A1: Ryan Averill

Q2: What is your day job?
A2: I manage an engineering team at Intel that studies how software interacts with various computer designs and provides insight to enable architectural design decision-making and roadmap planning.

Q3: What's an interesting thing about you?
A3: The first Bungie game I played was Pathways Into Darkness back in 1993 on a Macintosh.  Followed by Marathon, Marathon 2 Durandal, Myth: the Fallen Lords, Halo CE, Halo 2, Halo 3, ODST, and now Reach.  They should have something better than a Spartan helmet next to my gamertag for that.

Q4: How did you get into Halo and/or video games?
A4: Blame CoolerSopranos2 for that getting me into Halo.  He was my roommate at the time and bought an xbox with Halo: Combat Evolved.  Downhill ever since.

Q5: What's your favorite thing about playing Halo?
A5: Assassinating someone who just tried to kill my hologram.

Q6: What's your biggest dislike about playing Halo?
A6: Getting assassinated while trying to kill someone’s hologram.

Q7: How do you manage video game time with wife time?
A7: It’s a constant struggle.

Q8: What do you find so satisfying about getting achievements?
A8: The sense of accomplishment.  And having a lot more than CoolerSopranos2.

Many thanks to OmniscientDeath for continuing to be one of the biggest supporters of the clan!

Player Spotlight: FishBone10

FishBone10 is one of our top players, consistently logging among the highest numbers in the clan.  Per popular request, we sat down for a quick interview to find out more about him.

Q1: What's your name in real life?
A1: Laurence Day

Q2: What is your day job?
A2: I'm an analyst for an anti-piracy company based out Denmark with offices in  Lithuania, France, UK, and Southern Cali.  My job basically entails staring at spreadsheets for 10 hours and then discussing said spreadsheets at ungodly hours.  Somehow there are always issues on Tuesdays.

Q3: What's an interesting thing about you?
A3: I'm really into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  There really is no better feeling than slapping on a triangle choke while transitioning from a straight arm bar!  Kimuras are pretty spectacular as well.

Q4: How did you get into Halo and/or video games?
A4: I'm a guy and I'm asian. I think that says it all.

Q5: What's your favorite thing about playing Halo?
A5: Killing that 12 year old s*&t talker over and over again  and finally getting him to shut the efff up.

Q6: What's your biggest dislike about playing Halo?
A6: Getting killed over and over by previously said 12 year old.

Q7: How do you manage video game time with wife time?
A7: I buy a lot of dinner, got netflix, and I do a lot of activities that I would prefer not to do.  Even after all that I get the occasional "talk" about my gaming habits.

Q8: Is there anything (good or bad) that stands out for clan night?

A8: GT's trash talking is always entertaining!

Many thanks to FishBone10 for his time and continuing to participate in the clan!

HR Weapons - Groupings

Weapons in Halo fall into classes.  Weapons within those classes have similar behaviors and will be comfortable to players who are familiar with any weapons in that class.  If you don't know, you can check your Halo Reach commendations on bungie.net and see what's at the top.  This will give you a good idea of the type of weapons you currently gravitate towards.

Note 1: The weapons listed below in each class do not necessarily count towards the associated commendation.  I've only listed them to indicate that weapon may be comfortable for you if you have a higher ranking in that commendation.

Note 2: Though the bungie.net commendations represent your current proclivities, that can be changed if you are motivated.

"Trigger Man", "Assistant" commendations. Fully automatic projectile weapons:

• Chain Gun
• Assault Rifle
• Spiker
• Needler - This is slightly different because of its "combine" ability, but is favored by similar players.

"Trigger Man", "Assistant" commendations. Energy weapons:

• Plasma Repeater
• Plasma Turret
• Plasma Pistol "Green Gun" - This isn't automatic like the other weapons in this class, but is useful in many similar instances.

"One Shot", "Crack Shot" commendations.  Headshot-capable weapons:

• Needle Rifle - This actually has an automatic fire mode, but is rarely used that way.
• Magnum
• DMR

"Close Quarters", "Any Spree" commendations: Close encounter weapons:

• Energy Sword
• Shotgun
• Gravity Hammer

"Grenadier", "Assistant", "Mobile Asset", "Heavy Weapon" commendations.  Supporting heavy weapons:

• Concussion Rifle
• Grenade Launcher "Pro Pipe"

"Mobile Asset", "Heavy Weapon" commendations.  Killing heavy weapons:

• Fuel Rod Cannon 
• Rocket Launcher
• Plasma Launcher "n00b tube"

"Mobile Asset", "Crack Shot" commendations.  Long-range precision weapons:

• Sniper Rifle
• Focus Rifle "Laser Beam"
• Spartan Laser - This is technically a heavy weapon, but requires a steadier hand than the typical heavy weapon.

"Grenadier", "Assistant", "Mobile Asset" commendations.  Grenades:

• Plasma Grenade
• Frag Grenade

HR: UNSC Weapons - Medusa Missile

Basic description: Vehicle mounted, auto-tracking missile. Fully automatic, 4 round magazine, infinite ammo.  Target locks after being painted by the reticle.  Fire and forget capability after locked.

NEW FOR HALO REACH: Brand new in Reach.

Restrictions: Missiles harmlessly bounce off shielded Covenant Seraphs.

Uses: Short to long range.  Good for killing other starfighters, instantly kills unshielded Seraphs and Banshees, takes two bursts of 4 missiles to kill Phantom gunships.

Best for: Sabre pilots.

HR: UNSC Weapons - ALA Cannon (M1024)

Basic description: Vehicle mounted auto cannon. Fully automatic, infinite ammo, never overheats.  Fires a projectile, mounted in pairs on the Sabre starfighter.  Has a smart targeting reticle that allows pilot to automatically lead the target.

NEW FOR HALO REACH: Brand new in Reach.

Restrictions: Slightly less accurate and slower kill time on unshielded ships compared to Medusa Missiles.

Uses: Short to long range.  Good for killing other starfighters, is the only weapon capable of taking down the shields on Covenant Seraphs.

Best for: Sabre pilots.

HR: UNSC Weapons - Automatic Grenade Launcher (MG460)

Basic description: Vehicle mounted grenade launcher. Single shot, single reload, infinite ammo, can not be detached. Launches a grenade that does impact damage and splash damage. Grenade explosion can be delayed by holding trigger down, will not explode until trigger is released.

NEW FOR HALO REACH: Brand new in Reach.

Restrictions: Slow reload leaves player vulnerable on misses. Grenades bounce much more erratically than thrown grenades.

Uses: Medium to long range. One-shot kills, EMP damage from splash damage. Can launch grenades near targets and time explosion to do remote damage. Excellent for knocking Banshees out of the sky, killing vehicles and turret emplacements.

Best for: Players who can time a grenade arc and delayed explosion well.

HR: UNSC Weapons - Target Locator (H165)

Basic description: "God power."  Calls in a 7-missile orbital artillery bombardment.  1 round magazine, 3 max capacity. Recoil does not apply, extremely accurate. Designates a target area that completely gets obliterated.

NEW FOR HALO REACH: Brand new for Reach.

Restrictions: Has a finite recharge time.  Can not be reloaded.

Uses: Long to very long range. Instantly kills everything.  Only see in Campaign so far.

Best for: Players that can stay alive and laze a target from a safe location.  Player is completely exposed during target designation.

HR: Covenant Weapons - Fuel Rod Gun (Type-33)

Basic description: Heavy rocket launcher-class weapon. Fires energy mortars, 4 round magazine. High recoil, inaccurate. Nearly identical to previous Fuel Rod Gun.

NEW FOR HALO REACH: Looks slightly different, but functions very similar to previous incarnations.

Restrictions: Splash damage can result in suicides, limited ammo.  Takes more direct hits to kill vehicles than UNSC Rocket Launcher

Uses: Short to long range. Is instant kill against infantry on direct hits, has significant splash damage.  Ideal for countering against vehicles.  Fires at a fast rate.

Best for: Conservative players that can reserve the power weapon to take out vehicles.

HR: Covenant Weapons - Concussion Rifle (Type-50)

Basic description: Semi-automatic magazine-fed grenade launcher class weapon.  Fires directed energy bolts that have a pressure wave effect in addition to direct damage. 6 round magazine. High recoil, inaccurate. Similar in damage to the previous Brute Shot,  fires the same munition the Revenant does.

NEW FOR HALO REACH: Brand new weapon in Reach.

Restrictions: Inaccurate, limited ammo, suffers from gravity effect and will drop as the energy bolt travels over distance.

Uses: Short to long range. Very difficult to be accurate at long range, but will travel a long distance.  Excellent anti-vehicle weapon as concussion effect can easily flip light vehicles.  Takes shields down very quickly for infantry.

Best for: Heavy weapon players. Players that like the previous Brute Shot, or Fuel Rod cannon will be comfortable with this immediately.

HR: Covenant Weapons - Spiker (Type-25)

Basic description: Fully automatic suppression weapon. Fires projectiles instead of energy bursts (like other Covenant weapons), 40 round magazine, 160 max capacity. Medium recoil, fairly inaccurate. Nearly identical to previous Brute Spiker.  Similar in function to the UNSC Assault Rifle.

NEW FOR HALO REACH: Reticle bloom affects accuracy.  Bullets are "instant-hit" instead of "real-time travel over distance."  This means you hit when you shoot, regardless of range, no need to lead targets anymore.

Restrictions: Suffers from significant reticle bloom, shoot in bursts to increase accuracy.

Uses: Short to medium range. Can be paired with a magnum for finishing headshots, which is faster than reloading. Good as a team weapon to focus fire on common targets. Works well when backed up with Needle Rifle fire.  Use in same situations as the AR, but ammo is generally not as readily available.

Best for: AR players. Players that like to run and gun will be comfortable with this weapon.  Is *significantly* more accurate and effective when fired in bursts instead of continuous automatic fire.

HR Maps - Paradiso

Paradiso is one of the new maps that wasn't in the Beta, click below images for huge.  It's a large, symmetrical map that we've seen in Invasion Slayer.

Key locations:

• (A) Spartan Laser - This is at the end of the high catwalk on the center tower.  The tower is accessible from either team's teleporter, and the catwalk is accessed via mancannon.  Laser is always there, regardless of territories captured.
• (B) Grenade Launcher (Pro Pipe) - This is on the ground in the middle of the man made tunnel through the mountain.
• (C) Blue Base
• (D) Blue Teleporter - Has a Concussion Rifle on the platform, teleporter leads to center tower
• (E) Red Base
• (F) Red Teleporter - Has a Concussion Rifle on the platform, teleporter leads to center tower
• (G) Bridge - Two manconnons on either side just speed crossing the bridge

I've also placed six green circles on the map to represent the Invasion Slayer territories.  Though there are Scorpions, Banshees, and Ghosts pictured on the map here, they do not actually start on the map until territories are captured.  At the beginning of Invasion Slayer matches, there is generally a rush through the teleporters to take the center tower and laser.  The opposing territories can be suppressed from the tower with the laser in that fashion.

Close up screenshots of weapon locations:

 

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Halo Reach.

Like last week, I will participate as I am able.  However, the new baby isn't entirely settled into a routine, so my gaming may still be somewhat sporadic.  I apologize in advance for having to drop out of games.

Halo Reach Commendations

Commendations are cool little recognitions that the game pops up to recognize stylistic things that you do.  They are designed to showcase what "type" a player is, since folks will tend to gravitate towards one type of commendation over another.  It's not explicitly clear what does what on same of the commendations, but here is some info I've found on the ones that pop for using specific weapons:

[Updated 10/19/10]

• Crack Shot: DMR, Needle Rifle, Sniper Rifle, Focus Rifle
• Sidearm: Magnum, Plasma Pistol
• Trigger Man: Assault Rifle, Spiker, Plasma Repeater, Plasma Rifle, Needler
• Heavy Weapon: Rocket Launcher, Spartan Laser, Fuel Rod Cannon, Plasma Launcher, Grenade Launcher, Concussion Rifle, Target Locator
• Close Quarters: Melee, Shotgun, Energy Sword, Gravity Hammer.
• EMP (not a commendation): Plasma Pistol, Grenade Launcher, Armor Lock
• Supercombine: Needler, Needle Rifle

I think that the Needler is an automatic weapon and counts towards Trigger Man but haven't confirmed it yet.  Jack of All Trades is mysterious because it counts "incredible feats", but this is the one I've progressed the furthest, so it must count lots of stuff.

There is an achievement to advance a commendation to silver, but I'm fairly confident that everyone will eventually get this just with playtime.

Campaign by the Numbers

So I've now finished the campaign on Normal Co-op (4 players), Legendary Co-op (2-4 players) and Legendary Solo.  Here's some tidbits that the data suggests:

• Level 2 "Winter Contingency" (this is first "real" level, level 1 is just cutscenes), as would be expected, is the easiest campaign level.  It has the fewest enemies, takes the shortest time to finish, and is the easiest to survive without dying.  Would be a good level to work on the Campaign commendations, especially "Flawless Cowboy."
• Level 10 [Title redacted for spoilers] is overall the hardest campaign level.  I won't say much more here to avoid spoilers in case anybody hasn't played it yet.
• The game does not appear to adjust anything for co-op play.  Enemies, weapons, ammo, available points are all essentially the same whether you are playing solo or co-op.
• Pro: This means there are fewer enemies each player needs to kill in co-op.
• Pro: Co-op brings with it significant advantages in that you can respawn in place when you die instead of returning to a check-point.
• Con: Because the game also does not generate more ammo and vehicles for co-op, so that can be a restriction on occasion.
• Con: The total number of points stays the same, so you will generate score more points per person playing on solo.
• Level 5 "Tip of the Spear" has the best opportunity to generate kills on co-op.  On my two co-op playthroughs (Normal and Legendary), this level ranked #1 in kills per minute.
• Level 10 had the highest rank in points per minute per person on co-op.  On Legendary Solo, Level 8 had the highest rank in points per minute.
• Level 4 "Night Fall" and Level 10 both start out with good opportunities to work on the "If They Came to Hear Me Beg" achievement.  I got it on level 4, OD got it on level 10.

There's still a handful of Campaign commendations that I'm working on, so I'm happy to join folks in playing some Campaign if people are interested.  I'm consistently on-line every night from 10pm-1am.

Pro Tip: Get a New Bird

On the eighth campaign mission, New Alexandria, you can effectively request a new Falcon at any time.  If your plane has gotten shot up and is smoking, just set it down on any roof top or balcony and get out.  You will see a prompt that says "Call for emergency evac."  Hit down on your D-pad, and Kat will send up a brand new Falcon with two new gunners and you can continue right where you left off.

L4D2 The Passing DLC

Valve has discounted the price on the L4D2 "The Passing" DLC to 320 points, down from 560 points. This represents a discount from about $7 to $4. Good for this week.

If They Came to Hear Me - SPLAT

Posted at xkcd:

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Halo Reach.

We just brought the new baby home, so I will participate as best as I am able.  But expect that everyone else will be on.  Remember if that you are joining late, you can see the clan folks in your Active Roster.  Go ahead and join their party, even if they're in game.  This will queue you up to join and you'll automatically get added the next time they're in lobby.

You've Been BoomDizzled

Thanks to FishBone10 for sharing.

Snoop Dogg vs LL Cool J: The Ultimate Halo Smack Down from LL Cool J

Player Spotlight: Mean Mrs Monkey

Mean Mrs Monkey is one of our most active players, starting in the days of Left 4 Dead and continuing to this day in Halo Reach.  Per popular request, we sat down for a quick interview to find out more about her.

Q1: What's your name in real life?
A1: Kendall

Q2: What is your day job?
A2: Stay at Home Mom and Full Time Student at SJSU.

Q3: What's an interesting thing about you?
A3: I only learned how to play xBox about 1.5 years ago, before I had no coordination for the game.

Q4: How did you get into Halo and/or video games?
A4: I started playing it because MEAN MR MONKEY was playing it and encouraged me to after I got the hang of Viva Pinta and L4D.

Q5: What's your favorite thing about playing Halo?
A5: Honestly...now that REACH is out, I prefer it to all other Halos.  It seems to be a little easier for me to control my player because the jumping is "normal" and the movements are not as exaggerated which is really difficult for me. So just having a more normal play is what I like.

Q6: What's your biggest dislike about playing Halo?
A6: I think my biggest dislike is that I am so bad at Slayer, I try to play and try to get the hang of it but I think most people who are on have been playing since Halo [1] and so they have the game down and I am just running around trying to figure things out....makes for a lot of deaths for me.

Q7: Do you think it's different being a girl playing Halo?
A7: Uhm...yeah...when I play without the clan people are a bit more forgiving of my bad playing or if I betray them....because I am a chick.  But when I play with the clan I think I am just another one of the people playing and I am treated pretty equal...

Q8: Do you wish you didn't have to play split screen all the time?
A8: Yes.  We are going to be getting one of the new xBox's....we want to play on different TV's.  But I think that will be our Christmas gift to ourselves.

Many thanks to Mean Mrs Monkey for being a great sport and continuing to participate in the clan!

HR Weapons - Summary

Most of the weapons from the Beta appear to be largely unchanged, so I'll just link them here.  There are a handful of weapons that were not in the Beta, I will post details about them in the next few days.

New infantry weapons:

• HR: Covenant Weapons - Concussion Rifle (Type 50): This fires sparkly red stuff, the same thing that the Revenants fire.  Has a very similar damage effect to the Brute Shot.  It has a mild amount of splash damage, and also some "push" effect which can push people and vehicles around.
• HR: Covenant Weapons - Spiker (Type 25): The Brute Spiker returns in this game and functions just like it did before (albeit without dual wielding).  Is fully automatic and shoots projectiles, is a similar weapon to the UNSC Assault Rifle.
• HR: Covenant Weapons - Fuel Rod Cannon (Type 33): Carried by leaders or Spec Ops Grunts, the Fuel Rod Cannon looks slightly different than it did in previous games, but functions very similar.  Shoots green energy "grenades" and can do significant damage.
• HR: UNSC Weapons - Target Locator (H165): I've only seen this in campaign and Firefight so far (not in multi-player) but allows you to summon orbital rounds that obliterate the target area.  Is basically the "God button."

 New vehicle weapons:

• HR: UNSC Weapons - Automatic Grenade Launcher (MG460): The side turrets on the Falcon can be either chain guns or grenade launchers.  The chain guns are like all the other ones and can overheat.  The grenade launcher works just like the UNSC grenade launcher where you can fire and forget, or hold the trigger and release where you want it to explode.  Great for knocking Banshees out of the sky.
• HR: UNSC Weapons - ALA Cannon (M1024): The Sabre (space ship) comes with two types of weapons, an auto cannon and a set of missiles.  The auto cannons fire repeatedly and never overheat or run out of ammo.  They are excellent for taking down the shields on Seraphs and have a leading circle in the targeting reticle.  Press 'Y' to switch between weapons.
• HR: UNSC Weapons - Medusa Missile: The other weapon on the Sabre is a set of target-tracking missiles.  If you keep the reticle on a target long enough, it will lock and allow the missiles to automatically key in on the target.  Fires in a burst of 4.  Excellent for Banshees and for Seraphs after their shields are down.

Previously profiled Covenant weapons:

• Plasma Grenade
• Needler
• Gravity Hammer
• Plasma Pistol "Green Gun"
• Focus Rifle "Laser Beam"
• Plasma Repeater
• Energy Sword
• Plasma Turret
• Needle Rifle
• Plasma Launcher "n00b tube"

Previously profiled UNSC weapons:

• Bullets
• Spartan Laser
• Sniper Rifle
• Chain Gun
• Shotgun
• Rocket Launcher
• Assault Rifle
• Combat Knife
• Frag Grenade
• Magnum
• DMR
• Grenade Launcher "Pro Pipe"

HR Maps - Boardwalk

Boardwalk is one of the new maps that wasn't in the Beta, click below images for huge.  It's an asymmetrical map that we've seen in Territories.

 Key weapon locations:

• (A) Human Sniper Rifle #1 - This is on the small half wall where the bottom team spawns
• (B) Human Sniper Rifle #2 - This is on the ground up in the balcony where the top team spawns, or where territory 4 is
• (C) Shotgun - This is either on the ground or leaning against the wall
• (D) Plasma Launcher (n00b tube) -This is on the ground at the bottom of the stairs, or where territory 1 is
• (E) Rocket Launcher - This is on the underground catwalk, near one of the re-spawn points

 Close up screenshots of weapon locations

HR: Armor Abilities - Summary

For those of you who weren't paying attention, or just don't bother reading the blog, I have previously described the Halo Reach Armor Abilities in painstaking detail.  As I have time, I'll start posting more info about the new abilities, new weapons, new maps, etc.  People who leave comments may be able to influence what gets posted first.  The Armor Abilities from the Beta are unchanged, as far as I can tell, so for those, I'll just link them here:

• Armor Lock - Makes player invincible but immobile
• Sprint - Allows player to run fast but unable to shoot
• Jet Pack - Allows player to fly but is slow and loud
• Active Camo - Makes player invisible but jams their own radar
• Evade - Allows Elites to dive roll but unable to shoot

There are two new Armor Abilities in the Beta which are, frankly, pretty awesome:

• Drop Shield - Allows player to deploy a bubble shield
• Hologram - Sends out a virtual version of the player as a decoy

The blog is not only searchable, it also has a label cloud.   Look at the bottom of the right column and you'll see a ton of words.  Clicking on any of them ("armor" as an example) will show you all the posts that have been tagged with that label.

Xbox Live 12-Month Gold Promotion: $29.99

In alignment with Halo Reach launching, Microsoft is running a 12-month Xbox Live Gold promotion for only $29.99.  This is HALF OFF what it will cost starting on November 1.  You can purchase this even if your current subscription is still active, it will just add on to the end.  I just did it, and got an e-mail that the new 12-month membership will be active starting April 5, 2011, when my current one runs out.  Just fire up your Xbox 360 and the offer should show up as one of the featured promotions.  This offer is active now and runs until Monday, 9/20.

Single Player

Another from Penny Arcade.

Playlist: Grownups

Posted on Penny Arcade today.

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. REACH.

zomgstfuwtfitstimeforhaloreach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Get on-line fools.  We'll be dropping Xbox Live party chat and using the in-game chat so that we can pick up friends and listen to team mates.  We'll keep this model until the on-line banter gets too annoying.  Remember that you can always mute people not in your party or your team if you'd like, just check your audio preferences.

Reach Midnight Campaign Run

Starting now starring gtdroptop, OmniscientDeath, Fishbone10 and TimMAY 1023.  We'll have an Xbox Live party running if you'd like to pop in to say hello.

SPOILERZ ALERT!!! Campaign Preview

Some more clips from the campaign with Bungie staff voiceovers. Note that there are major campaign spoilers in here, watch at your own risk.

How Very Headshot-y

SWAT on Countdown.

Reach Falls in 6 Days

There's some new info posted up at Bungie's Reach page.

• Fiction: In the CAA Factbook there's more details around the fiction of Halo.  One interesting tidbit is a page about piracy and space pirates.  I have to assume this comes into play in the story of Reach.  The ODSTs are also mentioned.
• Noble profiles:
• Noble 1: Carter (S-259), Commander, DMR, natural leader
• Noble 2: Kat (S-320), Lt. Commander, AR/Magnum, girl
• Noble 3: Jun (S-266), Warrant Ofc, Sniper Rifle, chatty
• Noble 4: Emile (S-239), Warrant Ofc, Shotgun, sweet helmet
• Noble 5: Jorge (S-052), Chief Warrant Ofc, Chain Gun, old guy
• Noble 6: XXX (S-312), Lieutenant, AR, hyper-lethal lone wolf
• Ordnance:
• Details around the Fuel Rod Gun, Concussion Rifle, which hadn't been mentioned much before.
• Notes on the Revenant, a Warthog/Ghost cross-over and the Falcon, essentially a flying Warthog.
• All Armor Abilities are listed, including the hinted-at Hologram and Drop Shield abilities.

Mrs. Monkey is our only girl, so I guess a natural fit for Kat.  I can see Porter or BeerMonkeee as Jun, OD as Jorge, and norpo as Noble 6.  What do you think?  Who's your favorite?

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 3.

Exactly one week to Reach.  We have a full team signed up for a midnight campaign run: gtdroptop, OmniscientDeath, TimMAY 1023, Fishbone10.  If there are others who want to commit to a 7 hour campaign run at midnight, have pre-ordered their game at a retailer open at midnight, and are looking for friends, I'm happy to help coordinate.

About blog usage

I want to be clear about one thing: This blog exists to bring together friends with similar interests, coordinate those friends in regular clan nights, and to distribute information that may be useful to those friends.  It is intended to be consumed either directly on the webpage of the blog itself or via an RSS reader.  It can be consumed via e-mail subscription, as a widget, or any million of other ways, but I have neither the time nor the desire to make it perfect for each individual's niche usage model.  I am happy to make a best effort to help.  But if you can't make adjustments to read it the way I intend, I'm not really willing to go out of my way to help you in your special situation.

I don't get paid to do this.  Nobody else does this for you.  I don't get anything from listening to your complaints.  And it doesn't make me feel very accommodating when you tell me that nobody reads it and then in the same breath bitch about how the formatting isn't perfect for you.

How Very ODST-y

Headhunter on a newly released map, Boardwalk.

Xbox Live: Price increasing to $59.99/year

It was just announced that Microsoft will be increasing the regular Xbox Live subscription cost by 20% to $59.99/year starting on November 1, 2010.  If you renew before then, you can avoid the increase for another year. I previously posted a special at Amazon.com for just $34.99 which I still think is the most efficient way of renewing your subscription.  That special is over, but it's worthwhile to keep your eyes open for sales like that.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 3.

JUST TWO MORE FRIGGIN' WEEKS LEFT!!!!!!!

Clan night tonight. 10pm PT. Halo 3.

I am out of town traveling, but can host clan night for those that want to log on later at 10pm. We had some good sack action last week, may be our choice of playlists until Reach Falls.

Assault: The Cage

Showing another Forged map, this a multi-bomb versus game.  The Cage is the historical predecessor to Lockout/Blackout.

Firefight: Outpost

Showing off a Firefight variant called Skeet Shoot.  This is a custom gametype that was made for the purposes of the video where everyone gets unlimited ammo sniper guns, and waves drop Heretic Elite Snipers.  Bungie has previously said that Elites only appear in Firefight when they are human controlled, so unclear if this is a contradiction or there are actually that many human opponents.  Video also showcases impressive no-scope sniping.

Firefight: Corvette

Indoor Wraiths, Bubble Shield ability, Human controlled Elites, female Spartan voice, Hunters.  All very interesting.  This map feels very Halo 1.

Who to Choose?

Noble 3 has the long gun, Noble 4 has the sweet helmet, Noble 5 has the chaingun, and Noble 6 is Hyper-Lethal.  I can't decide.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 3.

Have the clips of Reach gotten you excited?  Less than one month away!

How Very Ascension-Y

I get that this is supposed to be an example of what you can do in Forge 2.0, but did these guys make ANY new maps?

How Very Purple-Y

It's like Midship.  But not.

How Very Asian-y

Ivory Tower has never looked so gorgeous.

Halo Reach Special Offers

Amazon.com is offering a $20 credit on a future video game purchase if you pre-order Halo Reach.  It comes with free shipping, but generally takes 1-2 weeks if you go that route.

Compare this to GameStop's pre-order bonus of a special armor variant and a chance to win a life size Spartan.  Many GameStops are also offering midnight pickups on September 14.

Pre-ordering anywhere will unlock the Recon helmet pre-order bonus.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Halo 3.

Clan nights will more regularly start at 9pm now.  Hopefully this helps to consolidate attendance.

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Halo 3.

6 weeks to Reach.

Customer Fable III Villager

Was just announced today that you can make your own Fable III villager that you can activate in-game.  Honestly, I tried out the character builder, and it's not all that compelling.  But it's an interesting little tidbit nevertheless.

Trailerz

Must be getting close.  I've got a hard-on.

Clan night tonight. 8:30pm PT. Halo 3.

Good attendance last week and fun times, thanks to all who showed up.  I'm traveling today and might not be able to get on until  8:30pm or so but plan to be on.

Forge on 'Roids

If you've ever tried to make anything in Halo 3 Forge, the new capabilites in Reach will boggle your mind.  Custom maps are going to be REDONK.  If you've never tried Forge and never plan to, this is the most tantalizing tease for custom games from this video: King of the Hill where the WARTHOG IS THE HILL!!!!!

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Halo 3.

I'm going to need to see critical mass attendance for H3 if we are to stay on this game.  Even though it got the most votes, people aren't showing up in enough numbers or at the same time to make it worthwhile.  Many thanks to the Mean Monkeys for being the most consistent participants of clan night.

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Halo 3.

I call BR.

It's Good and It's Bad

Good: Gamestop has announced that Halo:Reach pre-orders will get exclusive armor permutations.
Bad: There's a new achievement in Halo:Reach for finishing on Legendary.  Alone.

Frak.

ZOMG ROCKETPUMA!!?!?!?!??!

Happy Bungie day, children.



Highlights to note:

• 1:37 - Everyone's favorite map is back
• 2:40 - ZOMGROCKETPUMA?!?!?!?!?!?
• 3:08 - The original swimming pool
• 3:28 - wtf?  Is this a joke?
• 4:25 - wtf x2?  I thought this wasn't allowed.
• 4:48 - Go outside the canyon

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Halo 3.

Pretty much everybody should be back in town at this point.  Back to our regularly scheduled Halo 3 programming.  Use your H3: ODST multiplayer disc for best effect.

This is not your father's Halo

Space combat.  zomgspaceballs.  And these are Sabres, not Longswords like I had previously guessed.

Video Games | Halo: Reach | Exclusive Space Combat Gameplay

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Tank!

Firefight footage from E3 is out and it looks hellaz cool.  New revelations: You can now board and drive Wraiths, there is some kind of "bubble shield" armor ability, Covies can come armed with plasma launchers, orbital bombing shown in more detail.



Oh. And Race is back.

Living Dead Double EXP Weekend

Zombie playlist this weekend.  Is a good chance to pick up the "Delicious Brains" and "Zombie Repeller" achievements, each worth 25G.

Clan night next week

I'm out of town next Tuesday, but clan night's have had pretty good attendance as of late.  If folks are interested in gaming next week, leave a comment here and I'll start an e-mail thread amongst those interested.

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Left 4 Dead 2.

Since they have apparently made the human AIs retarded in L4D1, we'll try L4D2 tonight.  Maybe 3v2 Versus will work better there.

Reach Firefight Details

Crazy customization options, but the best announcements: No buggers, and no Black Eye skull.  YAAYYYY!!!!

More here in the weekly update.

Firefight 2.0

Firefight returns in Halo Reach.  Details are scarce, but a trailer has been released, including some kind of ridiculous air raid ability.

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Left 4 Dead 1.

While attendance is still low due to summertime silliness, I'm planning to host an L4D1 tonight.  Campaign is still good times, and Versus mode works better with 5 people on L4D1 than on L4D2.  For all you goons that voted for H3, I need you to actually show up on clan night to make it work.

ZOMG LONGSWORDS!!!!!!!!

If you don't know what a Longsword is, I recommend you check out the E3 Reach Trailer.

L4D1 @ 9pm tonight

Note that due to request of attendees, we'll be playing Left 4 Dead 1 tonight.  Starting at 9pm.  See you kids on-line.

Clan night tonight. 9pm PT. Left 4 Dead 1.

Please let me know if you'll be playing tonight.  We have a few regulars out and want to make sure we have critical mass.

HR: Player Profiles - darknorpo

Player: darknorpo

• Rank: Corporal
• Games: 12; Kills: 135; Deaths: 158; Assists: 65; Time: 0:01:44; Wins: 5; Medals: 218
• Win %: 42%; K/D: 0.85; K/G: 11.25; D/G: 13.17; A/G: 5.42; M/G: 18.17; Encounters/G: 30.69

Bombadier Frontline Leader, Hammer Specialist. Having logged the fewest games in the Beta helped darknorpo to lead the clan in K/G (11.25), A/G (5.42), Encounters/G (30.69) and Medals/G (18.17).  Tending to use the default AR and frag grenades the most often like the Bombadier archetype, also shows an ability to use the Gravity Hammer effectively.

Best suited: Short to medium range slayer, leading fireteams into the frontlines.

Recommend: Logging more gametime and learning the maps.  A proven ability to lead in past games would be really beneficial to the clan in Halo Reach.  Also suggest getting comfortable with the Magnum.  Should be a fairly easy learning curve and more versatile for killing.

HR: Player Profiles - CoolerSopranos2

Player: CoolerSopranos2

• Rank: Corporal
• Games: 21; Kills: 148; Deaths: 233; Assists: 72; Time: 0:03:01; Wins: 5; Medals: 191
• Win %: 24%; K/D: 0.64; K/G: 7.05; D/G: 11.10; A/G: 3.43; M/G: 9.10; Encounters/G: 22.21

Run and Gun Frontline Support. A really high melee kill percentage (24%) with almost nearly as high of an AR kill percentage (23%) imply a Halo 1 style of play, charging into action and punching through the finish.  A low K/D ratio (0.64) is compounded by low Assists (3.43/game) and high Encounters (22.21/game).  DMR stats do show up in top five weapons (19 kills, 13%) along with Headshot! medals (13, 7%).

Best suited: Medium to long range slayer, providing kill and assist support to team mates.

Recommend: Suggest changing play style to Ranged.  Learn how the Magnum works in Halo Reach.  It is very similar to the Magnum from Halo 1 and is an extremely effective weapon in the new game.  Also consider getting better with the DMR and hanging further back from the action.  Improving accuracy and headshot skills, while staying out of direct fire will really boost the K/D ratio.

HR: Player Profiles - TimMAY 1023

Player: TimMAY 1023

• Rank: Corporal
• Games: 21; Kills: 108; Deaths: 187; Assists: 82; Time: 0:02:50; Wins: 8; Medals: 168
• Win %: 38%; K/D: 0.58; K/G: 5.14; D/G: 8.90; A/G: 3.90; M/G: 8.00; Encounters/G: 18.53

Ranged Precision Slayer, Sniper Specialist. Though not obvious from the Reach stats due to low game count, TimMAY 1023 is the only player in the clan with an affinity for sniping.  Interesting stats include highest kill percentage with the Needle Rifle (11%), lowest Death/Game ratio (8.90) and second lowest Encounters/Game ratio (18.53) all point to a play style hanging really far back from the action.

Best suited: Long range slayer, controlling sniper weapons and calling out enemy locations.

Recommend: Continuing to refine sniping skills, learning spots on maps to move around to, learning common terms for map geography to direct team mates.

HR: Player Profiles - Beer4Porter

Player: Beer4Porter

• Rank: Corporal
• Games: 28; Kills: 109; Deaths: 324; Assists: 82; Time: 0:03:57; Wins: 4; Medals: 159
• Win %: 14%; K/D: 0.34; K/G: 3.89; D/G: 11.57; A/G: 2.93; M/G: 5.68; Encounters/G: 18.73

Bombadier Frontline Support: Beer4Porter is the only player in the clan where only two weapons contribute to over 50% of his overall kills (frag grenade 36%, AR 27%).  This points to a strong propensity to hang back from the action, lobbing frags and spraying from afar.  Although he earned the most Assist medals compared to other medals (51%), his actual assist numbers are relatively low (2.93 per game).  Relatively low Encounters/Game stat is consistent with a Bombadier type and helps to balance a low K/D ratio.

Best suited: Short to medium range slayer, providing tactical and objective support for the team.

Recommend: Although slaying may not be Beer4Porter's strength, he is by far the best team mate for fireteam spawning.  Really excels at following a fireteam leader and backing out to allow respawns.  Consider learning how to gain objectives better as well, would be another way to really help the team.  i.e., grabbing flags, learning efficient carry paths home, where to bring the skull so that it can be defended, etc.

Clan night tonight. 8pm PT. Halo 3.

Per popular vote, we'll be playing Halo 3 multiplayer moving forward.  Please use your Halo 3: ODST multiplayer disc or make sure you have purchased all the DLC maps if you don't have ODST.

HR: Player Profiles - Octurian Poon

Player: Octurian Poon

• Rank: Corporal Grade 1
• Games: 48; Kills: 444; Deaths: 534; Assists: 219; Time: 0:07:09; Wins: 25; Medals: 559
• Win %: 52%; K/D: 0.83; K/G: 9.25; D/G: 11.13; A/G: 4.56; M/G: 11.65; Encounters/G: 25.77

Bombadier Frontline Support, Needler Specialist. As opposed to Run and Gun types, Octurian Poon is a Bombadier using AR and frag grenades the most, which points to a propensity to hang further back in battle without relying so much on melee.  Seeks out the Needler, when available.  Has high overall Assist stats, as well as leading the clan in several stat categories for Invasion.

Best suited: Short to medium slayer, providing assists and kill support to team mates on the front lines.

Recommend: Consider learning to use the Needle Rifle.  Although it doesn't track targets like the Needler, it has both automatic fire and combine kill features which will allow for a transition period from the Needler.  Additionally, it has DMR characteristics like being headshot-capable, having extended range, and being able to zoom in.  For Bombadier types that like to hang back a little bit, the Needle Rifle may be a better tool.

HR: Player Profiles - BeerMonkeee

Player: BeerMonkeee

• Rank: Sergeant Grade 1
• Games: 63; Kills: 589; Deaths: 630; Assists: 278; Time: 0:09:10; Wins: 35; Medals: 840
• Win %: 56%; K/D: 0.93; K/G: 9.35; D/G: 10.00; A/G: 4.41; M/G: 13.33; Encounters/G: 24.70

Run and Gun Frontline Leader, Needler Specialist. With vehicles being nerfed in the Beta, BeerMonkeee was much more hands-on than in past Halo games, most notably leading the entire clan in overall win percentage (56%).  Seeks out the Needler and Rocket Launcher, when available, but most comfortable with the Run and Gun standard AR and melee combo.  A high K/D ratio and high Assist stat makes BeerMonkeee an ideal Frontline Leader.

Best suited: Short range slayer, leading teams into firefights on the front line.  Good for supporting rushes to grab Rocket Launcher and can hold the power weapon if the primary user doesn't make it.

Recommend: Consider using frag grenades more often.  BeerMonkeee has an overall frag grenade kill stat of 67 (11% of total kills).  The average range for the clan is 6-23%, so 11% is on the low side.  Even if melee is changed to be more effective in the production release, lobbing more grenades ahead of firefights will increase the effectiveness of the AR/melee combo, and will increase the K/D ratio.

HR: Player Profiles - Mean Mrs Monkey

Player: Mean Mrs Monkey

• Rank: Corporal Grade 1
• Games: 63; Kills: 207; Deaths: 627; Assists: 142; Time: 0:08:50; Wins: 25; Medals: 347
• Win %: 40%; K/D: 0.33; K/G: 3.29; D/G: 9.95; A/G: 2.25; M/G: 5.51; Encounters/G: 15.82

Run and Gun Frontline Support, Objective Specialist. Though relatively new to the Halo universe, Mean Mrs Monkey had an impressive showing in the highly competitive ranked playlist with a clan high win percentage and clan low deaths/game in Arena.  She also notably has the highest overall melee percentage, and the most flag kills in the clan.  Usually sticks to the Run and Gun prototype of AR and melee.

Best suited: Short to medium slayer, providing kill support while avoiding fire and prioritizing the objective.  Mean Mrs Monkey excels at all objective games and does well with fireteam slayer support around.

Recommend: Continue to stay out of the middle of firefights.  A low K/D ratio is balanced by the lowest Encounters*/Game (15.82) in the clan.  This is perfect as Mean Mrs Monkey specializes in grabbing objectives, so staying alive and out of the line of fire is ideal.


* Encounters: Total sum of Kills, Assists and Deaths.  Is a strong indicator of how often a player is engaged in firefights in each game.  As a general rule, players with high K/D ratios (near or over 1.0) help the team the most with correspondingly high E/G stats.  Conversely, players with low K/D ratios (0.70 or below) can hurt the team more with high E/G stats, but can minimize the effect by lowering the E/G number and helping the team in other ways (like working on objectives).

Bye Bye Beta

Bungie's short montage of the Beta.  Good, Bad-ass and Ugly.  Some really neat clips in the Bad-ass and Ugly sections.  :)

HR: Player Profiles - MEAN MR MONKEY

Player: MEAN MR MONKEY

• Rank: Sergeant Grade 1
• Games: 77; Kills: 723; Deaths: 818; Assists: 289; Time: 0:10:56; Wins: 31; Medals: 955
• Win %: 40%; K/D: 0.88; K/G: 9.39; D/G: 10.62; A/G: 3.75; M/G: 12.40; Encounters/G: 24.65

Run and Gun Frontline Support, Launcher Specialist.  One of only two clan players not to lead a single stat category, MEAN MR MONKEY falls within the average standard deviation range across the board.  Seeks out the Rocket Launcher and Plasma Launcher, when available, but uses the default AR and melee the most often.  Has a high enough K/D ratio that he could probably be a Frontline Leader, but has relatively low Assist numbers, so may not pair as well with Ranged support.

Best suited: Short to medium range slayer, ideally suited for rushing power weapons with a Frontline Leader - MEAN MR MONKEY has demonstrated an ability to use power weapons effectively and can control them for the team with close fireteam support.

Recommend: Consider using frag grenades more often.  MEAN MR MONKEY has an overall frag grenade kill stat of 82 (11% of total kills).  The average range for the clan is 6-23%, so 11% is on the low side.  Even if melee is changed to be more effective in the production release, lobbing more grenades ahead of firefights will increase the effectiveness of the AR/melee combo, and will increase the K/D ratio.

HR: Player Profiles - OmniscientDeath

Player: OmniscientDeath

• Rank: Warrant Officer
• Games: 113; Kills: 1042; Deaths: 1088; Assists: 481; Time: 0:16:17; Wins: 61; Medals: 1373
• Win %: 54%; K/D: 0.96; K/G: 9.22; D/G: 9.63; A/G: 4.26; M/G: 12.15; Encounters/G: 24.06

Run and Gun Frontline Leader.  Logged the most Invasion games in the Beta and leads as many stat categories as FishBone10.  Is most comfortable with the AR and Melee, with a healthy amount of frag grenades thrown in for good measure.  Is the best Warthog Gunner in the clan, but is not reflected as much in the Beta stats because of how vehicles have been nerfed.  A respectable K/D ratio and high Assists stats shows that OmniscientDeath is able to hold his own on the frontlines.

Best suited: Short range slayer, leading fireteams into the front.  Well paired with a Bombadier type that allows fireteam respawn close to  battle, or with Ranged support to clean up kills.

Recommend: Consider using frag grenades more often.  OmniscientDeath has an overall frag grenade kill stat of 113 (11% of total kills).  The average range for the clan is 6-23%, so 11% is on the low side.  The melee system is expected to change for production, so AR to melee may become more effective than it was in the Beta.  Even if it does change though, lobbing more grenades ahead of firefights will increase the effectiveness of the AR/melee combo, and will increase the K/D ratio.

HR: Player Profiles - FishBone10

Player: FishBone10

• Rank: Warrant Officer; Arena Season 1: Silver
• Games: 115; Kills: 1162; Deaths: 1066; Assists: 445; Time: 0:16:53; Wins: 62; Medals: 1513
• Win %: 54%; K/D: 1.09; K/G: 10.10; D/G: 9.27; A/G: 3.87; M/G: 13.16; Encounters/G: 24.33

Ranged Precision Slayer. Having logged the most Arena games in the Beta, FishBone10 leads the clan in an appropriate amount of stat categories.  Seeks out the DMR when available, is also comfortable at shorter range with the AR or melee.  Has notably high Win %, K/D ratio, Kills/Game and low Deaths/Game ratios.  Comparatively low Assists/Game numbers indicate a propensity to get headshots at range.

Best suited: Medium range slayer, providing kill support with an ability to join in on the front line.

Recommend: More practice with the Magnum, the most versatile weapon in the game.  Capable of the exact same shots/kill as the DMR with faster firing speed and easier close quarter kills.

HR: Player Profiles

I've gone through and spent some time analyzing the clan's stats from the Beta and have some interesting data to share.  Our clan falls out into a few basic groups of players.  I'll post one profile a day until I've got everybody's up.  If you want yours early, comment here and I'll prioritize.  You'll see "types" of players from these defintions:

• Style
• Ranged: Prefers medium to long range weapons, excels at headshots.  These players use weapons like the DMR, Needle Rifle and Magnum most often.  Can operate effectively alone, but is most effective supporting teammates that are up close in battle.
• Run and Gun: Prefers short range encounters, tends to jump straight into battle.  These players  use the AR and melee most often.  They put most of their rounds into the body area and have higher assist numbers, generally most effective when operating in groups of 2 or more.
• Bombadier: Prefers short to medium range encounters, tends be more cautious during battle and may pull out to avoid fire or allow shields to recharge.  These players use the AR and frag grenade most often.  Typically do well when supported by Run and Gun types.
• Role
• Precision Slayer: All "Ranged" style players are classified as Precision Slayer.  This means they are skilled at getting precision headshots and cleaning up kills at range.
• Frontline Leader: This is seasoned player that thrives on the frontlines.  They can hold their own and get kills without support, but are best utilized when leading fireteams into the fray.
• Frontline Support: This is a player that enjoys being in the firefight, but would benefit from being able to drop out of the fight on occasion to recharge.  Best suited for following a "Frontline Leader" player and providing support fire.
• Specialist
• Some players gravitate towards power weapons or other specialty roles.  I will point this out when appropriate.

As an example, here is my profile to start things off:

Player: gtdroptop

• Rank: Warrant Officer Grade 2; Arena Season 1: Silver
• Games: 168; Kills: 1796; Deaths: 1647; Assists: 666; Time: 1:00:18; Wins: 83; Medals: 2398
• Win %: 49%; K/D: 1.09; K/G: 10.69; D/G: 9.80; A/G: 3.96; M/G: 14.27; Encounters/G: 25.55

Ranged Precision Slayer, Hammer Specialist. Having logged the most games in the Beta, gtdroptop leads the clan in more stat categories than anyone else.  Seeks out the DMR and Gravity Hammer, when available, is also comfortable with similar precision weapons like the Magnum or Needle Rifle.  Has the highest Kill/Death ratio in the Beta, also notably has high Kills/Game and Medals/Game ratios.  Comparatively low Assists/Game numbers indicate a propensity to get headshots at range.

Best suited: Medium to long range slayer, providing precision kill support to team mates on the front lines.

No clan night this week.

Local conflict for several of us.

Halo: Reach Launches September 14

Bungie has formally announced that Reach will launch on September 14.  People picking up their copy on launch day will receive a free code to unlock Recon.  Expect me to pick it up at launch and play through the campaign immediately.