[b][i]NOTE:[/i] This post is purely speculation. Any comments I make on armour, weapons, classes, items, loot, locations, or mechanics are not actual fact, and will more than likely not be what Bungie decides to include in the final game. So don't be going and getting your panties in a bundle about something I said.[/b] [b][i]WARNING:[/i] This post is VERY long. Read at your own peril. Destiny. So far, we have been fed a morsel of the cake to come (just be lucky GLaDOS doesn't work at Bungie, or else instead of cake we'd all be on 'Test' duty). Some may say it's a bit too soon to worry about what's going to be in the game, but I say "hogwash"! I've been speculating about this game as soon as Bungie left Halo. So, lets jump right in. Armour/Clothing (Aesthetic):[/b] We're all familiar with Halo's Permutations that were implemented in H3. I personally love the fact that you can customize the appearance of the avatar you control on the battlefield, to make yourself stand out (although in certain situations that might not be a good thing). Permutations were popular, people clamored for more armour options in Reach, and clamored for even more in Halo 4. So, Bungie being Bungie, I highly doubt this demand for customization will go unheeded. We have a total of 3 confirmed classes (Hunter, Warlock and Titan) and 1 possible class (Vanguard). I can imagine Bungie squeezing maybe 1 or 2 more in there, but I feel we have ourselves a sold base to work from. So, let's just work with the confirmed classes, keep things simple. First the Hunter. Every image in which we see this class, the model always has a hooded cape fitted over their armour. Here's our first point of possible customization. Colour, length, material, insignia, hood size, hood shape, all of these, while maybe not all are significant (hood size and shape), these are all possible customization factors. Colour and insignia could be the most useful, as they could be used to identify clans. Hunters also don't seem to have solid body armour, rather it looks to be flexible, like leather. This could have colour, emblems, light patterns and colour, and maybe even some animations depending on what the armour's purpose, backgound and function was. Next, the Warlock. This class wears a sort of frock, or long tailed coat. Warlocks also seem to wear more cloth, or maybe just less body armour, than either the Hunters or Titans (which would make sense if Warlocks are meant to be a "Mage" type class). The frock could conceivably have all the same customizations as the Hunter. The Warlock seems to have limited armour, mainly gauntlets and boots with a single pauldron to keep the frock together, and so these pieces would follow the same customization as the Titan's equivalent parts. However, the one thing that has been pointed out with the Class art strip that Bungie released is that the Warlock seems to have a sort of miniature drone hovering close-by. If these "Drone Buddies" are in the game, unique to the Warlock or not, there are many things about this little drone we can speculate about, but right now, lets think aesthetic, and we'll talk about function later. We could customize it by colour, size, shape, maybe the noise it makes as it maintains it's hover, light colour, patterns, add-ons (which could also provide functionality as well) and possibly the particle type, shape, duration and colour of the drones "exhaust" as it flies. Finally, the Titan. Basically, as far as aesthetics go, this is Destiny's version of a Spartan, and as such, we basically have all the options open to us as was in the Halo franchise: Helmet, Bracers, Gauntlets, Boots, Chest (and if we REALLY wanted to get freaky, we could split all these into left, right, front and/or back. But that's possibly going a bit overboard). Basically, it's just a Destiny Spartan. [b]Armour/Clothing (Funtion):[/b] Now, I don't know if the armour is just for looks or if Bungie is going to imbue the characters outfit with stat boosters/reducers. Lets take a look at how the armour would act if it indeed affected stats: Hunter: Armour provides decent protection against attacks, especially any "Magic" based attacks (replace "Magic" with whatever Bungie is going to call it, like "Traveller Powers" ;b). Hunter armour would probably boot speed, agility or dexterity, as Hunter's are shaping up to be the Scout's of Destiny. The cloak could also have a passive buff/nerf based on it's colour and the palette of the immediate area. Warlock: Not much about the Warlocks outfit lends itself to their well-being when it comes to bullets and physical attacks. However, the Warlocks frock and clothing could be imbued with some of the "Magic" they themselves posses, therefore gaining the ability to absorb, reflect, or dissipate any energy based damage. The Warlocks drone could also be fitted with modules, providing a health trickle, temporarily boosted shields, or even secondary shields that activate after a certain amount of health has been lost. Titan: The Titan's armour is all about strength and endurance. Titans can dish out the pain, and they can take it and then some. Their armour would enhance their melee attacks, allow them to lift heavier loads (maybe even flip a Scorpion or two). When you need something smashed, call in a Titan. [b]Weapons:[/b] So far, based on the classes, there can be assumed at the very least three different types of weapons: Rifles (Hunter), Carbines (Warlock), and LMGs (Titans). These weapons could be customizable with skins, different pulse colours for energy weapons, attachments (i.e. laser sight, different scope/sights and reticules) and maybe even a mix n' match feature that allows you to swap over components of different guns (possibly even from different categories) that allow you to have a one of a kind instrument of death. Also, if there are melee weapons, possibly blade type, length and colour, dual-blade, single-blade, handle aesthetics, you get the picture. [b]Armour Modulations:[/b] Now I know what you're thinking: "Don't you mean Armour Abilities? Those were so stupid in Reach, why taint Destiny with that crap?" Alright, so just hear me out. Yes, Armour Abilities in Reach were at times idiotic (anyone who used Armour Lock regularly has my undying hatred and spite directed towards them), however, Armour "Abilities" (or Modulations, or just "Mods") could be a very beneficial, even a pivotal mechanic in Destiny, if Bungie did it just right. Mods would have to be balanced, and certain Mods could even be restricted to a certain class to prevent abuse by the other classes (such as a strength Mod allowed for the Titan but not for any other class, to give the Titan a more defined and vital role as "The Pain Train"). These restricted Mods would give each class it's own internal classing system, giving players to not only tailor their macro-playing style, but also tweak their individual playing style, or even adapt to a situation that requires a Hunter who needs to be a bit more quick on their feet instead of a steady marksman. So far, no confirmed stats have been revealed, but speculation and deductive reasoning taken from screens of the most recent ViDoc suggest that there might be at least 4 different stats a class can modify to achieve differing performance within that class. Now, these Armour Modules would, in my opinion, be best bought at market (NPC or a "Grand Exchange") or found as loot (except maybe your first one. That would be given to you after the tutorial). But this raises another, more interesting possibility. What if, instead of like, rare Mods, you instead find rare blueprints for "special" Mods. You must find two or more more generic, but still hard to find Mods, and a few materials, and then either allow the player to craft them, or require them to take them to a Forger or Blacksmith, or whatever they would be called in the future. This offers up a unique community pivot, in that blueprints give players, and even clans, a source of tension and competition. Maybe you can find the blueprint on your own, or maybe you need to bring some "friends". Once you find the blueprint, maybe bribe, threaten or even kill your adventure buddies to secure the blueprint for yourself. However, those players will know you have a rare and valuable blueprint, and you don't have the Mod just yet. You need to find the components you need, and that means that you can have a bounty on your head, or you might run into one of those guys you possibly killed, but he happens to have a couple of his Titan buddies with him. Like I said, this type of implementation, or something similar to it, could really drive player and clan competition as well as community story and lore. I think that wraps things up for now. These are just a few of the ideas that [b]might[/b] be in the game, if not the whole idea, maybe I got close (or maybe Bungie read this and thought it one of these ideas was worth implementing, even at this point. *wink wink* :b) At any rate, sound off below and tell me what you think, maybe even give me a three page essay on what you think is going to be in the game, or you'd like to be in the game. And please, keep it civil. Wouldn't want to attract the Forum Ninjas, now would we.