So, this concept is a bit of a collective brainstorming idea from a conversation in another thread between [url=http://www.bungie.net/en/Profile/254/4611177]CaptainThumbs[/url] and myself. It’s obvious the lack of voice chat functionality is a problem, especially in what the developers have termed a "social" game. I propose the game runs 2 independent voice chat channels simultaneously. This allows players to customise as desired, while remaining highly functional. It would obviously have to work slightly differently across the modes but this is the most consistent solution we come up with; [b][u]Tower/Explore/PvP Deathmatch[/u][/b]: [spoiler]In the form of either a proximity or zone based chat for tower/explore. However, you should still remain in contact with your fire team members regardless of their location, as if you have radio contact. [b]Another interesting idea was the concept of bringing up your ghost when you wish to communicate with others, opening the channel and allowing you to transmit to anyone with the channel enabled within that zone of the map[/b], this would avoid you running past someone blasting music with their mic turned on, or just stumbling across someone talking to their friends while they try and wind down and relax. This gives the ghost more functionality at the same time, is simple yet still allows the opportunity to ask for help in a public event, or just try and show someone something cool you find without everyone talking over one another.[/spoiler] [u][b]Team-Based PVP/Mission/Strike/Raid[/b][/u]: [spoiler]Have a team channel for these modes where the team can always hear each other. This would be a fairly realistic concept, since IRL you wouldn't enter into a situation like it without something comparable to radio contact. This would increase team cohesion and since you all share a common goal, should be given the best possible chance at succeeding. Possibly allow fireteam leaders to set fireteam wide channel preferences, so you can't have one guy in a fireteam with it on with it on answering the other FT members while they have it switched off, leading to confusion for the rest of the team.[/spoiler] This would also require some sort of functionality to stop the experience from being ruined: [spoiler]- Perhaps a mute feature, maybe with a console stored database of some sort which tracks muted players bungie IDs and can automatically mutes in future, so you don’t find yourself constantly muting the same player over and over. - Perhaps an expansion of the report system, which strips nuisance players of voice chat privileges globally for a time period once a certain number of reports are received within a set time frame. [b]Though this solution is potentially open to abuse I guess.[/b] - A combination of the two so you can report and mute if necessary, this could prevent affording that person the opportunity to ruin someone elses experience too.[/spoiler] [b]Any[/b] type of voice functionality regardless of the number of people which require muting is a step up in contrast to what we were given in beta. This idea gives people a gentle nudge to encourage them to be social and work together rather than being forced to do so, or alternatively putting up a clunky brick wall and requiring fire team invites and such which was the poorly implemented beta solution. On a side note: [spoiler]Another type of system which could be beneficial in game, would be some form of dynamic public fire team system, allowing you to just join a public fire team if you're not in one already, or yours is not full, this could work slightly similar to the squad system in battlefield games i guess, but could also make explore mode a lot more fun for people that are currently just flying solo. Maybe just a simple button in a menu which joins the public fire team, this would give players opportunity to involve themselves more closely with one another (which is more social, this was the base concept of the game to begin with wasn't it?)[/spoiler] If you have any actual intelligent feedback, or have any other interesting ideas, feel free to post them. [b]If you are opposed to the idea please mention why. If you just don’t understand what I meant, feel free to post on the thread or message me personally and I will do my best to explain. [u]Also, If you vote yes please like my post.[/u][/b] EDITS: Bold Text & Typo Corrections, Condensed the wall of text a bit.