Future Forge

Forge today is limited. It is very, very limited. Despite this limitation, people have still created incredible, unique things, that seperate their maps from the norm.

But with the coming of Halo: Reach, forgers look to the future of forge! New ways to shape maps, new tools to merge, and new ways to design.

Now, I post this thread for people to imagine how forge could be. How it would work, what tools will be used, and how to use them. Post your ideas here, and we shall compile them into a list of epic forgeness!

The List​

Each object on the list must be well-detailed and thought through before it will be added. I myself will expand on some of the ideas, and it'd be nice if others could help with that . Listed below is the first object I've expanded upon. Feel free to help make these topics, and I will personally spell check them and give you an honorable mention in the list (how sweet of me). ​

New Forge Objects​

Automatic Doors ​

Spoiler

Doors have always been a personal issue throughout the game. Take High-Ground for an example. It has a massive set of rooms and areas, but every door is swung wide open. In fact, the only doors found in any multiplayer maps require you to pull a switch.

Now, think about the halo campaign. How often have automatic doors not only been useful for cover, but aesthetically pleasing as well? Wouldn't it be great if you could implement this into a map of your own?​

How It Would Work​

The idea for an automatic door is relatively simple. We'll use a door from the campaign as an example. Upon stepping near the door or driving near it with a vehicle, it will open. Simple.​

Types of Doors​

Of course, there can't be only one type of automatic door. There need to be many, to fit the needs of different maps. ​

1) Basic door. A small, fast-opening door that allows players to traverse a map with ease.​

2) Swinging door. When resting, the door is in a closed position. Players have to hit these doors open, and the door never closes unless it if affected by a grenade or other force.​

3) Any more ideas?​

Water

Spoiler

Water has always been an interesting subject in the world of halo. People try time and again to create that water aesthetic touch by making a river of shield doors, mancannons, and blue lights, but it never really does the trick.

Imagine if you could create your own water... perhaps a scene such as on Last Resort, where a great and beautiful beach marks the land. Perhaps a Valhalla situation, a great river running through your map, shaping the landscape. And a waterfall! Isn't it every forger's dream to make a waterfall?

How It Would Work

Water is a liquid, which means it is free-flowing and will always take the easiest path of travel. There are also 2 forms of water found in halo. These forms are simple:

1) Direct Source. The waterfall on Valhalla is a perfect example of this. The water itself never stops flowing, and it flows at a constant rate. This water then travels down the natural canyon and into the ocean on the other side.

Imagine it like this: In forge, you spawn a water source item. It wouldn't have an appearance, it would simply start spewing water. You would also be able to edit the flow of the water. Now, by placing the object high up on a cliff, and increasing the flow, it would make a waterfall!

2) Sitting Water. Sitting water is pretty self explanatory. It just sits. Like the water off of Longshore, or perhaps just a small puddle. Placing the object is not quite as simple though.

In order to place sitting water, first you would spawn a Water Generator. To work the water generator, you must first place it in the area of the map you want it to be placed. Then, you can start editing the amount of water, in a method similar to changing the size of a Hill Marker or a Respawn Area. This amount can be very small, or massive, to practically create an ocean beneath your map.

Types Of Water

1) Sitting Water. Water that sits in an area like a puddle.

2) Direct Source. Water that flows from a specific source and flows until it escapes the map.

3) Any other ideas?

Filters

Spoiler

In todays forge, we have vision filters. These filters, however, are largely useless, because the effects are either minor or undiserable. Not only that, but Sandbox is a plain, dull map. All it is, is Sand! But what if we could change that?

How it would work

There are two main things that forgers want: Changes in scenery, and weather. Current-day filters don't change either, they only change the mood of the map. I'll go over the first type of filter, scenery:

1) These new filters would be very similar to the current day ones, but with different, more dramatic effects. For example, let's say you're in a game of forge on Sandbox, and spawn a Valley Scenic Filter. This would immediatly change the look of the map. Instead of it being torn-up dunes, it would become a grassy valley.

2) Along with this nice new scenery change, your objects will have new looks too. Your large blocks will have moss and vines all over them, and your obelisks have become strange trees!

3) The filter would not affect your structures in any way except for their appearance. They would still play the same.

Now, the other type of filter, Weather, would be combined with the scenery filter to create incredible effects.

1) First of all, lets say you spawn a Rainy filter. It suddenly turns into a light drizzle, and the sky is filled with dark clouds. The map is also darker than it was before.

2) Lets say you combine this with a scenery filter like Forerunner Scenic. Without the Rainy filter, your forerunner structure is bright and exhuberant. But with the Rainy filter, your ancient metal buliding suddenly becomes darker, and small bits of it are starting to rust.

Types of Filters

1) Weather. These filters affect time of day and the weather on your map.

a) Rainy. Creates a light drizzle effect.
b) Heat wave. Creates a bright sun and multiple reflections off of metal and such
c) Bog. Creates a thin fog and dark sky.
d) Suggestions for this one?
e) Or this one?

2) Scenery. This affect changes the appearance of the landscape and forged items.

a) Valley. Similar to Valhalla or the top of Isolation.
b) Forerunner. Creates a Metal, forerunner environment for the map.
c) Warehouse. Almost identical to foundry.
d) Desert. Almost identical to Sandbox
e) Any ideas here?

New Forge Techniques/Tools​

Liquify Merging

Spoiler

Ghost Merging has revolutionized the forging world. And yet despite the incredibleness of this glitch, it has its flaws.

1) It can be very time consuming.

2) The object being merged can only merge through 50% of the objects around it.

Now what if we eliminated these flaws? That, my friends, is liquify merging.

How It Would Work

Imagine yourself back as a forge moniter. Normally, when you press x on an object, it brings up a few different options. Now there is another option, called liquify. By liquifying an object, it immediatly becomes locked in it's position, and is completely permeable when moved around. And when you let go of the object, it stays in it's position. Just like ghost merging, mirite? Now, if you press x on the object again, that liquify option will now say solidify. If you solidify an object, and pick it up again, it's like dealing with classic forge. The object will be completely solid, and will be affected by gravity again.

Honorable Mentions.
meltyourtv: Idea for automatic doors.
boomerdude: Idea for swinging doors.
Many other Members: For helping to bring the Filters item to life.​