Suggestions for Halo 3 multiplayer maps

[FrazzledSunTzu]

I found this on Bungie forums and thought it'd be a good thread to have here. Please limit your answers to ideas for multiplayer levels. Make them as detailed as you want but only discuss level design. No flaming or other noobery. No "hey that's a cool idea dude" posts. Just your own original ideas for multiplayer maps. Perhaps Jason, etc., can even decide on a winner and give out free swag! (here's hoping)

here are some ideas for multiplayer maps.

First, add my vote to please include in H3 all the H1 and H2 maps as well as a larger number of new H3 maps. You can still come out with more maps after launch. That worked well for H2 and I was sooo happy to get more maps after I'd already gotten tired of the ones included.

Some general thoughts. Then my map ideas.
1) Everything is destructible to a point. If I shoot a rocket at a rock formation, it should change the shape, if only a bit. If I shoot a rocket at a rock outcropping that is above an enemy, it should fall and kill him.

2) Lots of built-in motion in the levels (like the trains in Terminal). Some of it benign like the windmill in Zanzibar, but some of it you can use (like a tram that circles the level, you can ride it around and behind the enemy base for sneak attack), and others that will just kill you if you're in the wrong place (train or plasma or lightening or flood (water flood not the vile creatures)). Think about including the following: Rivers that have variable depth so you can cross in some places but not in others and periodic floods kill anyone close to the river banks or in the water, platforms/catwalks that can be shot at to make them fall, ventilation shafts with a periodic pest control zapper so you can use them but not camp there, hallway areas where the grav-plating is malfunctioning so you walk on the ceiling--and fall if you go to far past a certain point.

3) Big maps for large numbers of players. And I agree about huge X-shaped maps for 4 teams like was said before, might be fun. Or Y-shaped for 3 [teams], whatever.

4) I know a lot of people would gladly pay a monthly fee for access to a mod-free, stand bye-free, bredge-free Bungie run server. Like another option when you first sign in to matchmaking, either choose standard XBL or Bungie-Live Server! (just a thought).

5) I'd like to be able to check on or off any weapon, vehicle or map that I want (or want to avoid) in matchmaking. I know this would be a pain to program but... For instance, a lot of people love noob combo and a lot of people hate it and want to NEVER see it on XBL. Make everyone happy. For those who like Plasma Pistol, let them select that and then any match that comes up with that included they will be a candidate for inclusion in the game. For the ones who hate PP and noob combo, they would never be matched in a game where PP existed. Imagine how many fewer gripe emails you'll get, Bungie!

Now the maps.

~A floating city above a forest planet where the trees are a mile high and cover the entire planet surface. It could be ruined from war or from a long forgotten age. Lots of aerial possibilities and cinematics. Towering dark stone structures with bridges to one another and huge statues of alien heros or gods.

~An ice world. I loved the Halo1 levels with ice and snow all over. Most fun levels in Halo1 IMO. Sliding on the frozen pond if you weren't careful.

~An underwater domed city, made of unbreakable glass (or transparent metal) with a central dome connected to numerous other small domes or other structures by glass tubes where you can see all the weird sea creatures swimming around and on top of you. It could be partially submerged and have water craft like jet-skis and a new covy water craft.

~An underground base on the moon of a gas giant where the surface is so radioactive that you can only survive on the surface for minutes at a time. The size could be nearly limitless and weaker gravity could play a role in what you can do here.

~Space station level, but huge. Think Gerrard K. O'Neil type; a 20-mile long city in space but made by one of the covenant races so its landscapes, plants and animal life are totally alien.

~A level that takes place inside an alien spaceship. The layout and design should be totally different than the covy ships we've already seen. Huge and bulky and dangerous, just like the Brutes. Numerous levels with a central open shaft for some kind of enormous glowing sphere of plasma, either a reactor or the weapon on the Brute ship. You can cross from side to side but if the plasma is travelling up or down the shaft you get fried.

~An aerial combat level for multiplayer. It could take place on the same world as the Elite Heretic station or some other, maybe even in space. But make sure the Banshee plasma blast (or whatever its called) is active. So the A button does the loop and the roll-left/right and the B button does the plasma blast. LT is turbo and RT is fire. And the X button is suppressed so you can't jump out accidentally unless you're landing for a fresh Banshee. Perhaps here you could incorporate the previous posters ideas for a human jet fighter or VTOL craft for aerial combat. One team is human the other is covy. Personally, I'd prefer it be all Banshees.

~Crystaline gorge, like the inside of a geode only a mile long and elongated. Huge crystals grow from the ground and offer plenty of places to hide behind (for you and your enemy). They are partially transparent (would that be transluscent?) so if you're close enough you can see an enemy crouched behind one up ahead. Rockets/nades explode these crystals but plasma weapons do little damage. Perhaps the plasma weapons can actually shoot through them (to balance the strengths of each team). Lots of paths from one base to the other including a central underground tunnel that periodically floods or something and a network of crystaline caves on the left and right for symmetry. This level would show off the xbox 360's graphics capabilities I think. A mixture of volcanic craggy rock outcroppings, smooth ancient lava flows and huge crystal growths all forming a maze-like series of paths that do not all lead to the other base.

~Inside of a huge living creature. Like a huge plant or animal that took over the entire surface of a planet. This base would be organic looking with alien blood pumping through veins and odd-looking alien organs hanging from above or drooping down the walls. Rockets or nades would cause involuntary muscle spasms in the creature knocking down anyone nearby (or closing off passageways that were open). In a certain area, the creatures lungs could periodically create a breeze or hurricane depending on how you wanted it.

[FrazzledSunTzu]

*pathetically bumping my own thread* *sighs*

[The Archangel08]

just saw the thread and sorry im not very creative on the spot and a little hard till we have specs for the game that we can work off of, so thought id help bump the thread.

once i think of an idea ill post it

[Insane Monkey]

One thing i threw into the "Halo 3 to be shown ar e3" thread is that i would like to see more in depth customization of game varients, for instance, a way to make a Zombie game type that automatically will switch the Red team to Green and only allow Green to use swords, and Red to use Shotguns/Pistols.

Being a huge fan of multiplayer and custom gametypes, this would be the greatest thing to see in Halo 3 for me, along with new maps and weapons of course. And maybe some old levels from Halo 1 and 2. And maybe a way to scroll through other peoples custom games, so you can always find a custom game without having to find a friend or clan member who is in one.

5) I'd like to be able to check on or off any weapon, vehicle or map that I want (or want to avoid) in matchmaking.

I think the idea of matchmaking is to give no one an advantage of waht they want or dont want. ITs meant to pick a random game so no one really has an edge. This would also make it easier for Modders to always get a certain modded map. I think this would be a great idea for Unranked matchmaking, or my idea of custom game search, these could be the advanced search options.

[PureEgo 03]

gimme halo 2 , only with better graphics and a new story, no "super jumps", some new vehicles and a few new weapons that will make it easier to deal with those vehicles besides a rocket launcher, and I'll be pretty much set, I can't imagine any other ways to make that game more enjoyable.

[FrazzledSunTzu]

It's ALIVE! (this thread that is)

Some good ideas you guys, thanks.

How about this: a multiplayer map that takes place in a huge room with air lifts distributed all around the perimeter of the room and 3 in the middle. Think Gemini but 4 or 5 times the size and with no side tunnels, teleports, outside ledges or side hallways/ramps. Just the room, roughly oval shaped (like a football or an egg) but not too wide, with the two ends being slightly lower than the center section so you can't see from one "base" to the other. One tree and one airlift at each "base" and one airlift dead center of the map and 10 airlifts evenly spaced all around the outside edge of the map. So an airlift is no more than 10-15 meters away at any time.

The ceiling of this map is transparent so you can see a vista of stars and a huge gas giant planet outside. The room must be either on a moon of the gas giant or a space station orbiting it because, over time, the gas giant revolves around the sky. Running overhead down the center of the map is a maglev tram that hangs from two rails that run the length of the map. The tram zips through the map periodically and if you've just jumped in the air via airlift you'll be plastered. There is also a wall that can be activated running across the center of the map (which when activated will deactivate the airlift dead center of the map since it slices directly through it). Once activated, this wall will rise out of the floor to a height of 5 feet. The only way to get to the other side then is to go around at either side of the map (there is about 5 foot wide passage on each side) or to have someone crouch up somewhere against the wall and you can jump on them then over the wall. This will limit the number of people who can cross at a time so it's an advantage to control the wall (which is controlled by a panel in the center you have to jump to via the airlifts at left and right center - watch out for the tram).

For the record, there are no rooms or bases or structures of any kind except the covenant weapons storage pods scattered about and the airlifts all over the place. These are there simply to make it so you can't see too far in front of you and an enemy could hide behind one. No snipers on this map. No super jumping or any other "tricks" just everybody gets a sword or a br (all tricks will be disabled such as BXR and RRX) and kill away! Everybody on the map gets the same weapon is the point. No advantages for sword hogs or sniper hogs (this open map is in no way good for sniper).

This map could be good for slayer, territories, assault, CTF, KOTH, etc. Because of its simplicity. Game play could be totally changed by adjusting the number and placement of covenant storage pods or activating/deactivating certain air lifts. The strategy would be in either controlling the airlifts or using them to escape (grab the flag and head for the nearest airlift to get outta dodge).

[The Archangel08]

confusing but i think i understand, not sure how well it would play though.

could you draw it out for us?

[PureEgo 03]

you started this entire thread just to say that didn't you frazzled? but hey, at least you waited till you had interest before you dumped the mega bomb idea on us lol. i hadn't really considered maps at all , whatever else they do though, I want hang'em high back, BEST, MAP, EVER.

[Insane Monkey]

Im not picky on maps and dont really concider them. The only thing i want are a few maps like Coag (or blood gulch) with 2 bases on opposite sides, but with variable sizes, the larger being like waterworks or soemthing. Also, some symetrical maps like Foundation and midship would be nice for small CTF matches. Basically Halo 2 hit it good on the maps, small maps meant for single flags, huge maps for multiflag/bomb and just maps that have no purpose other than slayer.

[The Archangel08]

Im not picky on maps and dont really concider them. The only thing i want are a few maps like Coag (or blood gulch) with 2 bases on opposite sides, but with variable sizes, the larger being like waterworks or soemthing. Also, some symetrical maps like Foundation and midship would be nice for small CTF matches. Basically Halo 2 hit it good on the maps, small maps meant for single flags, huge maps for multiflag/bomb and just maps that have no purpose other than slayer.

yes good point



i think the thread should be what would you like to be able to do in multiplayer and custom games.