I want to know if there is any difference between the two ranks. Are Zealots maroon when they are on artifact recovery and gold when acting as Field Masters and the previous role? I have heard that it is not okay for them to operate vehicles as it is not honorable, yet they do it in Halo: Reach and in Halo 4. Are Generals/Warriors just a high ranking Elite with no Religious merit hence the gold color and them operating vehicles? Thanks.
Generals control and command forces while Zealots usually investigate things regarding the Covenant religion.
Interesting thing there about the vehicles not being honorable,don’t recall hearing it though.
Well, Zealot isn’t technically a rank, but a class of Warrior. Zealots can command ground and naval forces, and shipmasters have been seen wearing Zealot armor. So what exactly qualifies a Sangheili to be a Zealot isn’t exactly clear.
Now Generals are much more specific. From the Halo Essential Visual Guide:
> Elite Generals command troops of hundreds or even thousands, managing ground operations when the direct occupation of an enemy’s territory is necessary. During some campaigns, multiple generals are required, each working in concert with each other to handle individual insurgencies and conflicts wherever they crop up. While they specialize in command, Elite Generals are particularly lethal in combat. Their armor is heavily augmented and their weapons are formidable.
It also says that Generals can sometime report directly to Field Marshals or Fleet Masters.
What’s strange is that we see an Elite General in command of Ardent Prayer in Halo Reach. Dunno if 343 is saying this was a mistake, or if the Visual guide is incorrect.
In the end, it seems that the Zealot class has shrunk over time, with more specific ranks being introduced. I would wager that some of the Elite Zealots seen in Halo CE and 2 would be classified now as Generals or other ranks.
in halo 4 it seems the zealot class has absorbed the roles of old school zealots and spec ops elites for gameplay reasons. however lore wise toa freak is correct. zealot isnt a rank so much as it is a classification. for instance, the field marshall in halo reach was zealot class with the rank of field marshall–hence the mix of zealot and general armor. as for the ardent prayer, the general featured there is either there solely for gameplay reasons, or because generals and admirals are equivalent and would therefore wear the same armor.