Forge multiplayer maps.

Games Halo 5: Guardians
1

I have an idea that I would like feedback on.

My proposal is simple. 343 should create 4 forge maps that don’t appear in multiplayer whatsoever. Let me explain what I mean by that. Halo 3’s forge map was Sandbox, which featured a Bungie-created version in multiplayer. Reach’s forge map was Forge World, which featured a bunch of multiplayer maps (too many to list) created by both Bungie and the community. What I’m saying would be likened to releasing Forge World and Sandbox without their multiplayer counterparts; simply the blank canvases found in Forge.

Two of these maps would be large for BTB/Invasion purposes, and two of them would be small-mid sized for CTF/Assault/Slayer/Rumble Pit purposes. Each of these maps would have their own unique skybox and environment (night-time in a Human city, frozen Forerunner environment, indoor Covenant stadium with large windows that allow us views of space or Covenant worlds, etc.).

A few months after the game’s release, 343 could announce a forge contest involving these maps. The winner of each map gets their forge creation installed permanently into matchmaking via a 4-map DLC package.

Why do this?

  1. The tradition of investing time and creativity into Forge continues. This enforces community feels and allows players to get involved.

  2. Forge creations won’t have bland, similar environments. The metallic-earthy vibe of Forge World creations got real old real fast.

  3. Creates revenue for 343 via a 4-map pack DLC at little cost (only the cost of developing the canvases themselves).

  4. Guarantees solid maps that will be enjoyed since they were voted on by community. No more of the Halo 4 situation where everybody votes for Ragnarok in every game (BTB specifically).

  5. Creates hype and discussion, which creates replayability.

I just find this to be an overall great potential feature. Me and a friend were discussing the possibilities earlier today and it excited me enough to come here and post this thread. The reality is that 343 is probably so far into development at this point that this is not an option, but I would still like to know what you guys think of the idea.

2

If the forge maps are already on the disc for players to use (but not in matchmaking), then why would the maps they created need to be DLC? If the forge maps are already on the game disc, then all 343 would need to do is update the playlists on the matchmaking server at their end much like they do now with Forge variants. Theres no need to download any DLC. Also, in your first paragraph you forgot to include Foundry as one of Halo 3’s forge maps, many good maps were created on there.

3

Technically they wouldn’t need to be downloaded, but I included the term ‘DLC’ to emphasize that we would end up paying for the update. If you think about it, 343 would have spent time and money on these extremely unique sandboxes. Thus, their respective contest winners would create 4 completely brand-new maps for multiplayer, again, each with a unique environment and skybox (unlike Reach where everything was Forge World-esque).

I personally would pay for such an update, as the inclusion of these maps in the vanilla disc would not take away from the default number of available multiplayer maps. In other words, 343 would still release 10-14 multiplayer maps on release with the addition of these 4 forge-exclusive maps.

4

> 3. Creates revenue for 343 via a 4-map pack DLC at little cost (only the cost of developing the canvases themselves).

Seriously, we are paying for forge variants now?

We need to stop buying every little thing they sell us. We should be paying publishers less, not more.

Everything else about the idea I like.

5

> > 3. Creates revenue for 343 via a 4-map pack DLC at little cost (only the cost of developing the canvases themselves).
>
> Seriously, we are paying for forge variants now?
>
> We need to stop buying every little thing they sell us. We should be paying publishers less, not more.
>
> Everything else about the idea I like.

Well did you vote for option 2? It would be logical to assume that the only people who voted are those who read the OP and posted a response. Seems like the two of you only had an issue with the money side of things, which is what option 2 is for. Yet, the only two votes besides mine are for not liking the idea at all.

6

I still want Forge maps in matchmaking, however I think they should be more selective on the ones that end up with us. Some of the ones on Halo 4 look so mashed up and random, it just doesn’t seem right.

7

The overall idea of Forge contests and winning maps being put into matchmaking is fine, but noone in their right mind would charge or pay for a Forge map. No one. If it’s in Forge it means anyone can make it themselves. The moment you try and charge someone for it is the moment you spawn dozens of tutorials explaining how to recreate it yourself, and then these ones would just be uploaded to people’s file shares. A forge map is a variant of an existing file, trying to charge people for alternate variants is just asking for trouble, and even if it was an accepted practice, it would be a mess to use and maintain.

Now, as for your suggestions of what those maps are, well, they seem a little outdated. There’s no reason for 343 to make Forge canvases dedicated to maps of a certain size, not now that the Master Chief Collection has achieved so much more with the Skybox maps. The major problem with the Forge dedicated maps in Reach and Halo 4 is that they were still restricted by existing geometry to some extent. Why bring that back?

8

the maps must be big like forgeworld

9

I would love another Forge-world like map specifically for forge possibly with different environments in each section or something to change up the look and feel.

10

If someone can help me making different forge maps. Please contact me.
My gt is SpartanHero01

11

> 2533274848539555;7:
> Now, as for your suggestions of what those maps are, well, they seem a little outdated. There’s no reason for 343 to make Forge canvases dedicated to maps of a certain size, not now that the Master Chief Collection has achieved so much more with the Skybox maps. The major problem with the Forge dedicated maps in Reach and Halo 4 is that they were still restricted by existing geometry to some extent. Why bring that back?

I don’t understand this part of your post at all. Even with the updated skyboxes for the collection, there are still particularly sized maps for particular purposes. If you’re playing 4v4 Slayer, Assault, CTF, etc., you want a small to mid-sized map. If you’re playin 8v8 (or larger potentially), you want a larger sized map. Yes, you can just pull a Forge World and put small, medium, and large areas on a single canvas, but again, this makes it so that every single forge creation has the exact same look and feel to it, which is what my OP was desperately trying to stray away from.

12

I like it

Forge is great now but playing the same bland enviroments gets boing fast

A shame because so many of them are genius in their design

13

What I would think of Forge would be this- several Forge-able matchmaking maps (like H2A), a few skybox-only maps (like H2A), and one giant map like Forge Island. Then we have everything we want.

14

> 2533274808666777;11:
> > 2533274848539555;7:
> > Now, as for your suggestions of what those maps are, well, they seem a little outdated. There’s no reason for 343 to make Forge canvases dedicated to maps of a certain size, not now that the Master Chief Collection has achieved so much more with the Skybox maps. The major problem with the Forge dedicated maps in Reach and Halo 4 is that they were still restricted by existing geometry to some extent. Why bring that back?
>
>
> I don’t understand this part of your post at all. Even with the updated skyboxes for the collection, there are still particularly sized maps for particular purposes. If you’re playing 4v4 Slayer, Assault, CTF, etc., you want a small to mid-sized map. If you’re playin 8v8 (or larger potentially), you want a larger sized map. Yes, you can just pull a Forge World and put small, medium, and large areas on a single canvas, but again, this makes it so that every single forge creation has the exact same look and feel to it, which is what my OP was desperately trying to stray away from.

I think we may both be misunderstanding wach other. Are you asking for multiple forge dedicated maps, of different sizes?

15

They need to create a playlist on weekends to test forge made maps. The voting data will basically determine which maps are most popular. There are many ways to go about this and I honestly hope 343i uses the Halo Channel to utilize this best.

16

> 2533274848539555;14:
> > 2533274808666777;11:
> > > 2533274848539555;7:
> > > Now, as for your suggestions of what those maps are, well, they seem a little outdated. There’s no reason for 343 to make Forge canvases dedicated to maps of a certain size, not now that the Master Chief Collection has achieved so much more with the Skybox maps. The major problem with the Forge dedicated maps in Reach and Halo 4 is that they were still restricted by existing geometry to some extent. Why bring that back?
> >
> >
> >
> > I don’t understand this part of your post at all. Even with the updated skyboxes for the collection, there are still particularly sized maps for particular purposes. If you’re playing 4v4 Slayer, Assault, CTF, etc., you want a small to mid-sized map. If you’re playin 8v8 (or larger potentially), you want a larger sized map. Yes, you can just pull a Forge World and put small, medium, and large areas on a single canvas, but again, this makes it so that every single forge creation has the exact same look and feel to it, which is what my OP was desperately trying to stray away from.
>
>
> I think we may both be misunderstanding wach other. Are you asking for multiple forge dedicated maps, of different sizes?

Yes. The most important feature isn’t the size, however, it’s the variation in environment/theme. You could, theoretically, just have 4 Forge World-esque maps that have small, medium, and large sections within each of the maps so that size isn’t an issue. This would only work if the 4 maps were different in color, environment, texture, and skybox. For example -

Dust Off - A human-city themed map with multiple buildings, smaller structures (fountains, ledges), and a combination of larger roads and smaller sidewalks/walkways. Perhaps even an exposed park in the center to ensure the map doesn’t become a camp-fest. Could be large (Headlong-esque), small/medium (Turf-esque), or have multiple sections of different sizes (Forge World-esque).

Bearing - Forerunner production facility. Closed-in structure with windows peering out into a forerunner world. Metalic structures/systems sans glare. Symmetric in nature with gently opposing color schemes signifying each team’s spawn. Medium sized map.

Frostbite - A frozen covenant world (perhaps Elite homeworld?) with natural features such as high-rising cliffs, smaller hills, perhaps a valley of some sort. Would have a multiple moons in orbit above, otherwise a bitterly cold feel with ice/snow environment. Designed for BTB.

Halcyon - Complex map akin to Forge World but with stark differences. Halo installation-themed. Wide beach in far south turns into a large meadow with lush green grass and trees scarcely scattered for cover. Rock formations/cliffs in the area would be a deep earthy color, and the sky above would have a slight orange tint to it, signifying that it is dawn. Variety of item options such as rock/concrete structures (like Sandbox), metallic structures (like Forge World), or covenant structures. This makes for interesting map creations, such as an “invade the covenant base” map focused around CTF, a D-day map with rock/metallic structures, or a BTB brawl map with any features you’d like.

The point isn’t in the size, it’s in the environmental themes. So long as we have multiple forge-dedicated maps with unique skyboxes and environments, I’ll be a happy camper. Again, the main point of the OP was to avoid the dull repitition of always being greeted with that played-out metallic/earthy blue-sky vibe of Forge World after downloading someone’s creation in Reach.