this game is supposed to be a strategy game yet instead of actual tactics and plans most people want to just twiddle their thumbs. Is it really such a horrible idea that the leaders get nerfed and the people who use the covenant actually have to begin building armys and using strategies to win games. You say that this game is well balanced and you are right, however the balance against the covenant leaders doesn't come until later in the game for the UNSC which is why the leader rush works so well, it would be such a shame if the programmers changed this and made the game a fair fight from start to end.

I think they are. Most online games I have played against the covenant are the same. The leader attacks your base at 2 min or less and regardless of what you have it is not strong enough to kill them unless the person controlling them is a complete newb. They can immediately build hunters and jackals which will walk over anything the UNSC can create until tech level 2 and lets not forget there is still the leader, who if used right is the strongest unit in the game at 2 min or 2 hours. I think if you are going to try and even the playing field you really need to make the leaders a unit which must be purchased at tech level 2. That is really the only thing that needs to happen because basic units are supposed to be the units we are fighting with in the beginning of the game. take away the immediate and free access to the one unit that can't really be stopped without heavy firepower, or slow their land speed down so that infantry can actually fight them instead of just chasing them around while they continue to destroy your base. If you are going to slow down the warthogs, which are the only thing the UNSC can use to fight cov leaders than it stands to reason you should slow down the leaders as well. Otherwise you are just telling everyone that plays this game that you intend for the covenant to be the stronger choice and the game really does deserve to have the name changed to HERO WARS

Lost in Lull what are you talking about? Flamethrowers can't even shoot him when he is flying

MSV ICEMAN:I think they are. Most online games I have played against the covenant are the same. The leader attacks your base at 2 min or less and regardless of what you have it is not strong enough to kill them unless the person controlling them is a complete newb. They can immediately build hunters and jackals which will walk over anything the UNSC can create until tech level 2 and lets not forget there is still the leader, who if used right is the strongest unit in the game at 2 min or 2 hours. I think if you are going to try and even the playing field you really need to make the leaders a unit which must be purchased at tech level 2. That is really the only thing that needs to happen because basic units are supposed to be the units we are fighting with in the beginning of the game. take away the immediate and free access to the one unit that can't really be stopped without heavy firepower, or slow their land speed down so that infantry can actually fight them instead of just chasing them around while they continue to destroy your base. If you are going to slow down the warthogs, which are the only thing the UNSC can use to fight cov leaders than it stands to reason you should slow down the leaders as well. Otherwise you are just telling everyone that plays this game that you intend for the covenant to be the stronger choice and the game really does deserve to have the name changed to HERO WARS

 Flame turrets have been given an upgrade. You should scout early on and, if you see a leader advancing, build one or two. Flame turrets do a LOT of damage to covenant people and you can't forget that they don't have many resources at two minutes in. They can't use their powers forever. Let them drain themselves on your base while you keep it locked and build up some flamers. Just remember to make a Barracks first, or second at the latest if you expect a rush. You can usually get about five flamers and, if your opponent is REALLY slow, a couple gunner Hogs.

Covenant leader rushes are very beatable. Before the leader gets their first body upgrade, almost anything rips them apart. Afterwards they are a bit harder to kill, but usually lacking resources. You just need to practice getting some fast flamers/turrets up. Also, always scout so you know what to build counters for.

Jackals/Hunters/Grunts = flamers

Wraiths = Spartans

Banshees = Spartans/Marines.

Once they back off, build up a few Gunner hogs and send all your forces to their base and get ready for a resignation.

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Game on.

MSV ICEMAN:I think they are. Most online games I have played against the covenant are the same. The leader attacks your base at 2 min or less and regardless of what you have it is not strong enough to kill them unless the person controlling them is a complete newb. They can immediately build hunters and jackals which will walk over anything the UNSC can create until tech level 2 and lets not forget there is still the leader, who if used right is the strongest unit in the game at 2 min or 2 hours. I think if you are going to try and even the playing field you really need to make the leaders a unit which must be purchased at tech level 2. That is really the only thing that needs to happen because basic units are supposed to be the units we are fighting with in the beginning of the game. take away the immediate and free access to the one unit that can't really be stopped without heavy firepower, or slow their land speed down so that infantry can actually fight them instead of just chasing them around while they continue to destroy your base. If you are going to slow down the warthogs, which are the only thing the UNSC can use to fight cov leaders than it stands to reason you should slow down the leaders as well. Otherwise you are just telling everyone that plays this game that you intend for the covenant to be the stronger choice and the game really does deserve to have the name changed to HERO WARS

 

Then please tell me, how would we defend against one of YOUR rushes if we had no leader and sub-standard units? 

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Im Allhere:

Nocbl2:

"Oh, hey, that saggy old cripple is too fast. Lets screw him over in a month."

his chair ran low on batteries from zooming around all day long.

Dude since you know so much about counters can you tell me how to counter a Vampire, Hunter Army.

It was Prettty full proof. His eader didnt stand a chance against my army but his army then killed my army.

I tried a Grizzly Flamethrower Wolverine army.

I figured it would turn out like this

Flamethrowers and Grizzly would go fo hunters.

Once hunters were dead wolverines would destroy the vampires.

Insead it went like this.

Hunters killed flamethrowers before the even got close enught to hit. Vampires helped a bit.

Hunters and vampires then went for my Wolverines and once they were taken out  10 seconds later the screen gets dark cause theres no of you troops left.

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Spartan T32
Gamertag:SkeletalKnigt

Spartan T32:

Dude since you know so much about counters can you tell me how to counter a Vampire, Hunter Army.

It was Prettty full proof. His eader didnt stand a chance against my army but his army then killed my army.

I tried a Grizzly Flamethrower Wolverine army.

I figured it would turn out like this

Flamethrowers and Grizzly would go fo hunters.

Once hunters were dead wolverines would destroy the vampires.

Insead it went like this.

Hunters killed flamethrowers before the even got close enught to hit. Vampires helped a bit.

Hunters and vampires then went for my Wolverines and once they were taken out  10 seconds later the screen gets dark cause theres no of you troops left.

Which leader were you using?

I've used a Hunter/Vampire army before and it didn't exactly work as I had planned.

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Code of Conduct. Obey it!

Spartan T32:

Dude since you know so much about counters can you tell me how to counter a Vampire, Hunter Army.

It was Prettty full proof. His eader didnt stand a chance against my army but his army then killed my army.

I tried a Grizzly Flamethrower Wolverine army.

I figured it would turn out like this

Flamethrowers and Grizzly would go fo hunters.

Once hunters were dead wolverines would destroy the vampires.

Insead it went like this.

Hunters killed flamethrowers before the even got close enught to hit. Vampires helped a bit.

Hunters and vampires then went for my Wolverines and once they were taken out  10 seconds later the screen gets dark cause theres no of you troops left.

you moron just make grizzlys and wolves but make more tanks thna wolves because vamps get raped and can kill anything but air so it's like having a half hunter army vs almost full pop grizzlies, just canister sepeatly and they will own them.

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GT: EverCuteKitty
1v1-front page (random all)
2v2-front page (anders)
3v3-top 50 (random UNSC)

Spartan T32:

Dude since you know so much about counters can you tell me how to counter a Vampire, Hunter Army.

It was Prettty full proof. His eader didnt stand a chance against my army but his army then killed my army.

I tried a Grizzly Flamethrower Wolverine army.

I figured it would turn out like this

Flamethrowers and Grizzly would go fo hunters.

Once hunters were dead wolverines would destroy the vampires.

Insead it went like this.

Hunters killed flamethrowers before the even got close enught to hit. Vampires helped a bit.

Hunters and vampires then went for my Wolverines and once they were taken out  10 seconds later the screen gets dark cause theres no of you troops left.

I'd say Marines and Flamers would have been good, depending on who you are. Just make sure to have Adrenaline and really micromanage the guys. You'd need to flashbang the Hunters and RPG the Vampires. Having a couple Wolverines wouldn't hurt too, but you'd have to keep them back. UNSC anti-air has an impressive range, so you could keep the Hunters away and do air damage to the Vamps. Since you had Grizzlies you must have been Forge, so a Carpet bomb should take out the Hunters. When they go Jackals to pick off your flamers, just go back to spamming Grizzlies and take out their base without even attacking their units.

Opening up spots in their lineup to make counters with when you have them countered that well is a bad idea.

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Game on.

Spartan T32:

Dude since you know so much about counters can you tell me how to counter a Vampire, Hunter Army.

It was Prettty full proof. His eader didnt stand a chance against my army but his army then killed my army.

I tried a Grizzly Flamethrower Wolverine army.

I figured it would turn out like this

Flamethrowers and Grizzly would go fo hunters.

Once hunters were dead wolverines would destroy the vampires.

Insead it went like this.

Hunters killed flamethrowers before the even got close enught to hit. Vampires helped a bit.

Hunters and vampires then went for my Wolverines and once they were taken out  10 seconds later the screen gets dark cause theres no of you troops left.

Considering the Pop you could have what did you have like, 3-4 Grizzlies against 20 hunters? How many bloody flamethrowers did you have, like, 10? 

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Aloysius:
-Less than half a of percent of players have the General rank on Xbox Live.

How is the General rank fair again?

Halo Fanboys. The next most annoying thing next to Jonas Brothers fanboys.

Korther:

I'm going to play devils advocate here.  I'm going to assume, for one moment, that the Arbiter is in fact OP.  Let's just go with it guys, Champ5, all you, let's just roll with it for TWO SECONDS.  I got a question; to all the people who say that the Arbiter is OP.  Calm your nerves, we're saying he's OP now.  But I got a question.

What the blast do you propose they do to make him less OP or are you just mindlessly whining like little immature brats who are too lazy to think of a counter or listen to skilled players advice of how to stop him? 

*cough* 

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Aloysius:
-Less than half a of percent of players have the General rank on Xbox Live.

How is the General rank fair again?

Halo Fanboys. The next most annoying thing next to Jonas Brothers fanboys.

ODST own, and flame throwers destroy the arbiter, brute chieftan and any other infantry the covenant make. I do agree with you on the disrupter bomb though. In singles it not fun with that long of cool down.

Hey yeah, if you see a leader rush coming just pump flamethrowers.

Flamethrowers > PoR > BC > Arbiter

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Im Allhere:

Nocbl2:

"Oh, hey, that saggy old cripple is too fast. Lets screw him over in a month."

his chair ran low on batteries from zooming around all day long.

I have a nerf idea for the Arbiter why don't they delay the time between each jump attack when he is in rage mode, this will also make the combo rage attack seem like more of a good idea instead of just jumping all over the place never getting hit.

i agree it gets annoying how some units will NEVER hit the arbiter as long as he jumps around... at least on the Covenant side that is. tanks counter arby pretty good cuz their special like auto hits him mostly.. but for covy, wraiths miss, jackals miss bout 25% of time, hunters and locusts... haha forget bout it. i alwaysss lose to arby when i play, and i play brute chieftain. jus cant seem to counter him well enough