A spartan company/ Clan by the name of Exodus Has gone to the extent of stealing maps. Now I’ll be straight This, I have read this over several times, and I have had a lot of experiences with them myself. All I have found them do with things like this is simple, By doing this they must change the name of the map, which will mean they will need to save it as their own, and then maybe put the creators Gamer tag in the file name, or description. I for one, and against this as a forger, as it takes away any, and all reasons of making maps, and any idea of giving people credit for making them to begin with.
> As promised, the I will be addressing Exodus’ map policy, given the amount of controversy it has caused over the last few days.
> (Yes, get your chair.)
> Prior to the creation departure of BAI (Commandos+CIA) from Exodus, a policy was considered and approved by Exodus High Command. The policy was as follows:
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> >Exodus will allow its cartographers to use any and all maps or prefabs regardless of source, so long as credit is given to the creator of that map or prefab.
> >Exodus will allow any and all clans or individuals to use any and all maps or prefabs created by Exodus so long as credit is given to the creator of that map or prefab.
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> This policy was approved by:
> Rising Riddick (Then Commando Commissioner)
> Corey VII (Maxima Commander)
> Primordium VII (Maxima XO and leader of Exodus’ Cartographers)
> II Power III (Chief Foreign Affairs Officer)
> All parties found the policy reasonable. Primordium VII informed High Command that the Cartographers were in support of the policy. I personally ensured they were in favor, given that it was their maps who would be most effected by this policy.
> The term “give credit” is left intentionally vague, given the technicalities in that process. It was tentatively agreed upon that, within Exodus, if we were to modify a map from it’s original form, or use another person’s prefabs, we would list those in the map description. If no changes were made and the map’s name stated the map’s owner, then no further steps would be needed.
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> Now the big question: Why have such a policy?
> This policy was based upon a few ideas which were discussed for some time prior.
> 1. Small clans need access to quality maps
> One of the single largest barriers to making a clan is the creation of maps. On Halo 5 forge is significantly harder than previous Halos. While it’s an infinity more powerful tool, small clans may not have the skill or expertise needed to make quality maps for themselves. Exodus has amassed a significant catalog of raid, meeting, and training, and various other maps. These maps would be a useful resource to small clans, and allow them to effectively train their members, conduct defensive raids, and do other activities which may not be possible without access to forged clan maps.
> Since Halo 5’s inception clan leaders have talked about “helping the community grow,” and “helping small clans,” etc. We believed that this policy was a real, practical, simple step toward that goal. We are proud to hear that other clans chose to use maps our cartographers have made.
> To highlight this fact, prior to the the CIA’s departure Exodus spearheaded the community cartographer’s project. This project, which cooperated with NRI and a number of other clans, was aimed at making “community” maps which were open to all clans. Exodus has placed a priority on producing and sharing maps. This policy was our personal initiative in that direction.
> Small clans have struggled to find maps to play on. They shouldn’t fear war in retaliation for simply playing on, or even simply bookmarking a map.
> 2. Fair War Doctrine
> This idea has been discussed internally within Exodus as well as a long-term objective for wars. While the nature of this policy is outside the scope of this post, an important part of the policy is map selection. That during a war clans would attack and defend the same maps, to ensure the war was truly “fair,” and to discourage the use of unfair maps. One of the critical aspects of this policy is the openness of clan maps.
> Specifically referring to this war, we selected DA Fort Helios so that DA would have the same chance at winning the raid that Exodus had during its attacking raid. We informed DA that, if they wished, they were free to use Exodus Fort Green as a defensive map during the war.
> 3. Improvement of Exodus maps.
> Obviously opening up maps, and specifically prefabs from other clans allows Exodus to improve the quality of it’s maps. If clan XYZ has an exceptionally interesting armory prefab, its reasonable for Exodus to use that armory prefab and place it on an Exodus map, so long as credit is provided in the map description.
> It’s /immensely/ time consuming and useless for Exodus to recreate the armory block-by-block. Such a policy avoids that waste of time, while giving credit to the proper owner.
> 4. Internal Training.
> Exodus, and any other clan, should be free to use other clan’s maps as practice. Suppose clan ABC is at war with clan XYZ. Clan ABC should be allowed to download XYZ’s maps and practice on them in advance to prepare for a raid, and vice-versa. They should be able to download them to scout, etc. This policy establishes and protects that ability.
> 5. “Map stealing” happens anyways.
> Let me be blunt. If Exodus /wanted/ to simply steal maps and prefabs without credit we could. /Any/ clan could.
> This policy was aimed at holding our own members accountable, while freeing them to use all tools at their disposal. If they viewed a particular part of another map as being interesting, they were free to use it so long as they provided credit to the original creator.
> Regardless of how people believe map ownership on Halo 5 /should/ work, the fact is that anyone can download anything. We believe that we should /embrace/ this fact, and allow people to use any map they find. We do however, want to ensure that we make a genuine effort to acknowledge those who made these maps/prefabs, which is why we require our cartographers to give credit when it is do.
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> Clans such as DA can try to paint this policy as selfish. As Exodus “stealing” maps.
> I’d like to remind everyone that the /only/ time I’m personally aware of Exodus /ever/ playing on a foreign made map, either internally or externally, was the most recent raid with DA.
> That’s a single game.
> In contrast, any number of clans have taken Exodus maps “without permission” in the past. I’ve personally granted at least three clans to use any and all Exodus maps.
> If this rule was intended for Exodus to steal maps, it’s doing a pretty bad job at achieving it’s objective.
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> This policy, first and foremost, was designed to be a practical, realistic policy. To believe that, on Halo 5, maps can be exclusive or private is a to border on the delusional. This policy aims at acknowledging and embracing how Halo 5’s file system works, while providing due credit to the creators.
> Exodus, in adopting this policy and making it’s maps public has provided many small clans with access to many quality maps for their use. When we say we’re interested in helping the community grow, and helping small clans develop, we take /meaningful/ steps toward that goal. This policy, while advancing that objective, also enhances our own clans’ map resources.
> We have no immediate interest in changing this policy.
> II Power III,
> Chief Foreign Affairs Officer,
> Exodus