Other thoughts:

Why can't the elites start with a needle rifle? The spartans can start with a DMR and have free target practice at them coming up for the first objective.

What on earth is up with the banshee? It won't get high enough to fly over the building and I end up destroying half of it before I get to where I can use it.

Why is the range of the scorpion tank so much larger than that of the wraith? The elites have absolutely nothing to combat it with.

Why do the spartan's vehicles start off blocked off by shields, but elite's vehicles are open for the taking by anybody?

Spartans spawning with a grenade launcher is a little cheap imo, especially considering they can also spawn right beside a rocket launcher if they want to.

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Don't get me wrong, it is a fun mode, but it's so far skewed in favor of the spartans it's ridiculous. I feel like I have absolutely no shot at all as an elite unless the other team is really terrible. Any competent team of spartans should win easily.

On the other hand, I played invasion slayer once, and it seemed to be just fine to me, a lot of fun too.

Elites in Invasion Slayer have such a big advantage. Played two matches with Elites and three with Spartans and I never won once while playing as the Spartans and I won the two matches while playing as the Elites. With Elites, it's so damn easy it's not even funny. The loadouts aren't really great for Spartans at the beginning so I think that's the reason why. What I've seen most of the time is that Elites get around 20 kills before the second armor loadouts appear, then the Spartans usually never keep up in scores because we either have one or two Ghosts. Also: energy sword + stalker = cheap cheap cheap!!!

It's the other way around in Invasion though. Spartans are just too good. Only once did the Elites pass through the first round when I was playing as Spartans.

I guess it's the first time we see the two species battle it out against each other with the armor abilities involved. It was fun playing Elites Vs Elites, but Spartans Vs Elites is slightly unbalanced right now from what I've seen. I know Bungie won't disappoint and the fans will give them good feedback. Just fix the balance and how the spawn points are handled in Invasion and I'll be happy (also maybe fixing the loadouts in the first round for Spartans in Invasion Slayer would make the games a bit more interesting).

And to anyone that is interested, that's what I wrote a few games before: http://www.vgchartz.com/forum/post.php?post=3391256&page=3&postnum=27

1. There is a couple of Needle Rifle's stacked against the debree between you and the Spartans.
2. Banshee sucks I agree. Looks mighty sexy but it sucks and the controls feel worse then Halo 3.
3. I personally destroyed about 5 scorpion tanks just by rolling behind it and ramming a plasma grenade down it's engine bay. Easy as pie. I've seen plenty of other Elites shoot it with the Spartan Lasers and Rocket Launchers turning it into scrap metal.
4. If Spartans vehicles weren't blocked of by shields it would give the Spartans an even bigger advantage and a early spawn kill fest.
5. Not really, Elites having Active Camo/Jetpack and the Needler/Energy Sword is just as cheap and it's a damn well lot harder to actually hit an enemy with the Grenade Launcher. The Elite's can also easily loot the Human armory during the second wave (Just above the data core). My friend used to nab the sniper and camp in the corner of the map sniping Spartans.

From the 20 or so games I've played it's been about a 1:1 win ratio for each team.

I love sprinting of the side of the docked ship at the start of the game and taking out a good 5+ Elites with the DMR solo style. The only thing that kills me is the damn Needler homing . I should probably stop firing and sprint sideways untill he has to reload. Side stepping is not quick enough.

Can't wait to get home and try this out.

@Schmup

Just wait until the elites do clear the first two objectives in invasion. It's ridiculously hard the distance they're supposed to carry the core in the amount of time they have. Then some teams will roll a scorpion out and sit right on top of the core, meanwhile you'll be spawning halfway across the map.

1. Ok, but why can't they start off with them then and spartans can start off with BMRs, which there are spare BMRs where the spartans start off anyway.

3. Ok, but the wraith is an absolute joke compared to the scorpion. The fact that a scorpion can take out a wraith in one shot is quite frankly BS.

5. Trust me. The jetpack doesn't help as much as you'd think it might. I've used it many times and while running across the map get killed by someone camping by the core. Also, shotgun >>>>>>>>>>>>> sword. The loadouts and vehicles are all better on the spartan side imo.

Gaaah! @_@

Luckily I can tell myself that it's only just a Beta... lol!

1. If the Elites spawn with long range weapons they won't feel inclined to push forwards will they? Leaving the timer to run down equaling Spartan Victory. Invasion will be a 500 meter DMR/Needle Rifle potshot fest.
3. Human Vehicles have always been vastly superior since Halo CE and like I previously mentioned you can easily destroy a Scorpion. The Wraith has always been more Anti-Infantry and it still does that beautifully. The Scorpion has always been Anti-Everything.
5. Why are you running across the map if you have a jetpack? Use it to access power weapons with little resistance or attack enemies focusing elsewhere.
Needler/Needle Rifle/DMR/Rocket Launcher/Grenade Launcher/Pistol/Plasma Rifle/Plasma Launcher/Grenades/Plasma Grenades etc can all >>>>> the Shotgun. It's even easier if you have roll.

It has been nerfed plenty from it's Halo 3 counterpart. You now need to line up your shot completely and be within about 1-2 meters for it to 1 hit kill (At full health and Shield).

The mode is fairly balanced and the respawns are fine, during wave 2 the Elites can spawn in the middle of the map (ship) and the Spartans at the Refinery or surrounding buildings. Once the Data Core is moved atleast halfway the Elite's spawn point is very much in their favor and they can already run much faster then a Spartan. You can even spawn next to your co-op buddy, even in his vehicle! Use the D pad (up) to choose your spawn locations people!

1. Huh? You really think elites are going to camp at the bottom and let the timer run out every time?

3. That doesn't really justify why the covenant vehicles are a complete waste of time.

5. Uhh because when nobody can get to the core, because there's a scorpion controlling the outside, and spartans spawning with shotguns inside where the core is. Yeah, what else are you going to do?

The spawning with your squadmates doesn't work as well as it should anyway, because it'll say your teammate is in combat even when there's nobody even near him. I'm sorry, but I really don't think there's anyway you can honestly tell me this game mode is balanced with a straight face.

I wish my enemies were as dumb as yours!

I'm going to bed. *sigh*

1.3.5. Learn to play Halo Reach or desperately try to find a team that is actually capable of shooting straight.

Edit: I think you also failed to notice that the games that you were whooped as an Elite you were down 2 players. It was 6 Spartans vs 4 Elites.

/www.bungie.net/stats/reach/playergamehistory.aspx?player=tkul815&vc=invasion