Resolute

This looks absolutely wonderful and I cannot wait to get some friends together to playtest it. It might be over the weekend but I'll let you know how it goes! Aesthetics look great thus far!

 

Looks realy cool, i'll check this out

 

As usual, your Covenant aesthetic is absolutly awesome. Nice job !

 

Looks nice! You got a walkthrough of the map? I don't own an xbone so I can't download it :[

 

What I had in mind to fix the middle was more along the lines of segmentation. Not necessarily making a bigger structure in the middle. You want to encourage players to go towards the middle of the map instead of just hanging around the sides and using the big-ass middle structure as just cover. The structure in the middle should be connected with hard routes to the side paths and maybe a different building in the other side of the map.

If it's too hard to visualize what I mean by text, I could show you in forge some time.

Also, you say that you're trying to break the "formula" of arena maps. I understand that but I think you're doing it wrong. I advise that you get a proper grip first on the basics of core map forging before you try to reinvent it. Walk before you run. This might help.

There are maps that have "broken the norm" so to speak like Checkmate and The Ark (competitive maps back in Halo 4. There are others but these are just the ones off the top of my head). But they still include the parts of a competitive map that are needed for the map to play well such as proper routes, verticality, circular flow, etc. And I'm being honest here when I say that I think yours does not.

 

lol don't sweat it dude. I'm not offended or anything. I just offered you my two cents. In the end, it comes down to this being your map. Your choice what you want to do with it.

P.S. For the routes, it's not really about the players not knowing where to go. It's the lack of hard routes to the main bases, lack of hard routes to the highest level, super-steep ramps, and the weird winding stair.

Good job on knowing how to take feedback well though. Most of the new Halo 5 forgers I've met would have typed a wall of text on how I'm a piece of **** since I criticized their map.

 

Hmm, well I'm a "noob" (in terms of competitive skill while playing), and I think the map was pretty good. It's NICE to have some maps that aren't the same copy-and-paste competitive layout that 343i currently has in their arena map lineup. I much prefer, and find it refreshing, to have one that feels more open, natural and casual (also, what's up with practically all of 343i's arena maps being urban-based? Why not more natural terrain maps like Halo 2/3....argh. lol) . I do like what you did with the center atrium update. It looks good built into the rock formation. Also, I don't think all maps have to have "bases" for each team, they can just have initial spawn areas/zones. For example, asymmetrical maps in Halo 2 often had attacking/defending sides that were distinctly different, and not necessarily heavily fortified either. I think I get what Zandril meant, but the map doesn't have to be like Valhalla, with two identical bases opposite each other. Asymmetrical is great. And, since he brought up hard routes, I do think some sort of route to connect the center to one of the upper levels would be fun. I'm not sure how this would best be accomplished but perhaps a man cannon, actual physical pathway/catwalk, etc. could give players an additional option to traverse the map. The spiral stairway looks great, and I thought it fit with the covenant theme, but I can't say whether or not it was critical to gameplay - or was gamebreakinig. Also, no one map is going to be perfect, and no one map can suit all styles of gameplay perfectly. That's what multiple maps are for =D

 

Just watched the video and I'm liking the way it looks!

However some thoughts I had while watching the video:

- The map is currently shaped in a U shape where the outside ring has the highest point, this makes it so that the center of the map is a dead man's land. Of course there is some cover there, but a good team would never let you get out alive.

- To solve this I would suggest to add a structure on the outside area that connects to the center structure. And then make it connect to the area where the grav lift is. This will make the shape of the go from a U shape to a G shape. This will also allow for more safe spawning areas.

- I would also lower the top center structure a bit, the bottom center structure definitely needs to be redesigned though.

With this map I kinda get that CE feel that Hang em High had, although the game mechanics were a bit different back then as well as the weapon. If you want to keep the map as open as it is, I would avoid placing weapons such as the DMR on this map or atleast place them in areas where they arent in areas where they are supposed to be used i.e. on higher levels.

Let me know if you have any questions, the map is pretty cool right now but I feel it needs some tweaking to make the map more balanced.

 

I haven't played it, so I won't comment on that. Thematically I really like how it looks. The pieces used really sell the Covenant theme, whoever I feel it was a bit dark for that. Covenant use a lot of lighting in their creations, ship or base, with patterns.