Teutonic

Hierarch rebellion Hierarch domination War losing War betrayal My first post shall be in response to the first war. There are a number of ideas I came up with. First off, I recall the books only scantily, but I believe my suggestion will work with them quite a bit, and may include something a blend with another event. Most wars aren't like the war we saw in the original Halo. They aren't simple, the two sides aren't homogenous. What I'm saying is, this game could be a lot more interesting if you play around with the sides a bit. The Hierarchs (the term I'll use to differentiate them from the ones present in the timeframe of the original Halo) did not all agree. For instance, there was a large disagreement early in their history as to whether or not to worship Forerunner technology with study or rapture. Should they pretend to understand them better, or avoid tampering with them out of reverence? Obviously the first was what they went with, but there were several wars fought to determine that, including a flood outbreak. Anyways, what I am saying here is that a minority of Hierarchs could join the elites in the interest of preventing manipulation of Forerunner technology. Also, a portion of the elites could help the Hierarchs due to simple political disagreements within their society. This solves the problem of a playable character. Secondly, it would make sense for the compact with the Elites to have a precedent. Perhaps the Hierarchs similarly dominated a species native to a more closeby planet, or their own planet, in order to use as ground forces. This species would be very much inferior to the elites, especially in their position to Hierarchs, however, they would have the technology of the Hierarchs, which would put them in a very similar spot to the Spartans. Not nearly as intimidating naturally, however, suited and manipulated in such a way as to make them superior to an Elite. Alternatively, the same job could be done by a robot. The Hierarchs have superior technology, do they not? Why not create a robotic ground soldier? This soldier would be very expensive, which would make the compact as the conclusion just as reasonable. Both the unnamed species or robot would be perfect and interesting playable characters, though the robot would have less personality than the species. The species' story would be interesting, as they would essentially be losing out in the end, though I will touch more on that later. The Elites do sort of lose, though you make it sound as if it was a compromising peace. Personally, one of the beautiful things about the original Halo game was the shear audacity of suggesting that we were losing a war. Playing on the losing side yet again may return that feeling back to us. This last idea blends elements of all of my previous suggestions. First off, the sides could muddle for the various reasons stated in the first suggestion. Let's say that the war drags on so long that the Hierarchs no longer wish to gain the Forerunner technology, they simply want peace. However, at this point, the Elites' honor demands a war of totality, at least for the leaders. But as the Hierarchs become more and more willing to talk peace, the common Elites become more and more willing to listen. This prompts a split, with a large portion of the Elites now fighting for the Hierarchsto simply end the war, and for promises of their homeworld going untouched. How would we play in this game? Well, we would be that underling species that the Hierarchs control, fighting for under the leadership of a Hierarch that is low enough on the command chain that we almost consider him a friend. This character would be in a role that is precedent to the future Arbiter-role in the Halo history. We would also play as a common Elite ground soldier that receives constant promotion for his successful heroics, switching back and forth for a very Halo 2-esque style, seeing both sides of the war. The Elite eventually becomes one of the leaders that calls for fighting for the Hierarchs, and does so personally, in the frontlines, in order to inspire his men to fight against their own species. The final element is that both characters lose the fight. First, at the culmination of the war, we are playing as the first character, who only discovers the compact that has essentially deemed his species replaced and outdated, well after it has been signed. Upon hearing of it, he confronts his Hierarch immediate commander, whom he considers his friend. This does not end well, as he is seized by two elites, and personally shot in the head by that Hierarch. Secondly, we play as the Elite, who, after celebrating the victory he has won and his species new military position, sees, at the culmination of the game, his homeworld being desecrated and mined out for Forerunner artifiacts, despite the Hierarchs' promises. If any little facet of any of my ideas can be used to support a new Halo game, then please, butcher it.

This idea is not as attractive to me, however, the idea with the marine on First Contact as being a prologue is interesting. Personally, I would support this, as it adds character to a story and it really makes it unpredictable once you know that your character can die. Perhaps, you could play through many different viewpoints, allowing the timeframe to expand to cover a long period of history.

A classic halo styl game or perhaps a game along the lines of Halo Wars, with a much more open world capability. Even a tactics-style game, involving recruiting and training a party. Point being, I think that this would lend itself to some more creative expansion in style, or it would rely almost entirely on having a good story.