The Landscape changes.

I had one map idea for Halo 3. I pursued the creation of a Stonehenge replica until I managed to get it into a Bungie playlist. I am very proud of that result. Will I succeed to do it again for REACH? Not likely. I am not sure I even want to try. It was a lot of work just to be in the process but that’s not really why I have no current plans to pursue that goal again.

 

Fact is, two weeks after REACH was released, the frequency of new map creations being submitted for view is astounding. These are not just any maps. Some of them are truly wondrous creations. Beautiful, intricate and imaginative in ways I don’t think I could ever have come up with. Had Halo 3 Forge not been so cantankerous, there would have been similar competition to my Stonehenge map. It would have been a tough go. I had an advantage with Halo 3 in that I had free time and the disposition to deal with the pain of Forge.

 

I have exactly two map ideas for REACH. One is based on a local terrestrial construction and is probably not possible. I’ll be experimenting in the future. My other idea is another Stonehenge creation. This time it will have to be distinctly different than a historical recreation. Forge World objects are setting the rules and I don’t have what I need to build a recreation. The objects are also shiny and new looking. It’s just not practical to make an ancient looking broken natural stone structure. Instead I am going to make Stonehenge-like structure using the same design and as it would have looked had it been a completed structure 4500 years ago. Evidence suggests it was never fully completed. For the record, I do not plan to call it Stonehenge. Hopefully, the next Forge World style map will be more condusive to a historical recreation.

 

I have issues to overcome in Forge World. There are no areas I like, that are flat enough and big enough to build it. I’ve been scouting sites and experimenting but displeased with every natural setting, thus far. So I am building over water in a Cove. Again, I am visited with disappointment. The Coliseum Walls, which I am using for a floor, do not lay flat after saving the map. The same problem existed in Halo 3. I haven’t found a workaround similar to that which existed for Halo 3. Construction is continuing anyway. I am not happy with how it looks. Not enough colour, vehicle tires screech on the floor/walls, it’s too big and the lighting makes it look unimpressive. I am not giving up yet. I will complete the outer lintels and inner Trilithons (tall stones in the middle) and look at it again.

 

The team bases are just place holders for now. Eventually I’ll setup minimal Slayer gametype objects and play on it with friends. If it works well enough I’ll keep building. Maybe I’ll get a spark of an idea for the bases later. Actually I did have an idea but the object set has temporarily blown it out of the water. I figure I’ll have to rebuild this complete map two or three times before it’s finalized.

 

Hopefully, if nothing else, I’ll learn enough about the gametype objects that I’ll be able to start checking other people’s maps.

 

Here’s a picture of it. Though not impressive looking and easier to build with REACH Forge, it is still quite time consuming and nit-picky to build. The Trilithons may change the look of it dramatically.