New Halo 3 details have surfaced at IGN for all you virtual arsonists out there. Although you won't be able to burn down buildings, you will be able to incinerate your enemies with two new fire-based weapons. First is a flamethrower, which does exactly what you'd think. Then there's the firebomb, which sounds like a sort of Molotov cocktail. Both weapons coat their targets with fire and devour health over time, but the duration and degree of damage have yet to be revealed. Both also have strategic applications, as you can create a wall of fire to block routes to flag capture points, for example.

Like just about everyone else, I can't wait to unleash these things. I will, however, remain cautiously optimistic until more details surface regarding balance and effectiveness. The flamethrower is a tricky thing to implement in multiplayer; it has never been terribly popular (or common) in online play due to its short range, slow kill time, and primarily defensive uses. They're best for those willing to sacrifice kill-count to do what's best for the team and guard that flag, which also means it can provide a role for people who can't shoot. I just hope no one on my team runs around in the open with one of these things just because it spits out pretty colors.