Sonic Arena

Discussion in 'Reach Casual Maps' started by Cosmic Rick, Sep 28, 2010.

  1. Cosmic Rick

    Cosmic Rick Ancient
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    Ladies and gentlemen, blue hedgehogs and androgynous foxes, gather round. Welcome to the Sonic Arena, home of Hedgehog Slayer!

    [​IMG]
    (This is a Cosmic Rick / R0CKET M00SE collaboration)

    The Gametypes:

    Hedgehog Slayer or Team Slayer
    Players: 2-8 (6 recommended)
    Download Hedgehog Slayer

    This is the flagship gametype for the Sonic Arena map variant. You get to play as any of 4 (or 5 if you're crafty) characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe in a wacky, fast-paced brawl. The characters are represented by the following classes:

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    Class 1: Sonic (Hog)
    Ability: Evade
    Loadout: Concussion Rifle, Grenade Launcher
    Best against: Knuckles (offensively), Dr. Robotnik (defensively)
    Notes: Sonic is the most mobile class by far. Unfortunately, this also means he is prone to suicides.

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    Class 2: Tails (Air Assault)
    Ability: Jetpack
    Loadout: Fuel Rod Gun, Needler
    Best against: Knuckles, Best chance of landing kills on Sonic
    Notes: Tails can pump out the most DPS, but has slow-moving projectiles, and can be a big target for Robotnik's focus rifle and Sonic's grenade launcher. Having more than a few Tails up at a time can cause lag. Don't say we didn't warn you.

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    Class 3: Knuckles (Berserker)
    Ability: Sprint
    Loadout: Gravity Hammer, Rocket Launcher
    Best against: Shadow, Unaware Dr. Robotniks
    Notes: Knuckles requires finesse and is probably the most difficult character to use. However, he is also the most likely to score an assassination and the accompanying 2 point bonus.

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    Class 4: Dr. Robotnik (Deceiver)
    Ability: Hologram
    Loadout: Focus Rifle, Spartan Laser
    Best against: Tails
    Notes: Dr. Robotnik is the least mobile character. His hologram is mostly useless, but it is VERY satisfying seeing a knuckles go for the assassination and whiff. The plasma launcher can be useful against airborne Sonics. The focus rifle will annihilate anybody else.

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
    Secret Class 5: Shadow (Dark Assassin)
    Ability: Active Camo
    Loadout: Magnum, Shotgun
    Best against: Sonic, Tails
    Notes: Shadow is a little (a lot) overpowered in the hands of accurate, classically-skilled players. And he isn't all that much fun to play as: "Be invisible. Shoot." However, if you want the full gamut of characters, all you have to do is go to General Settings> Spartan Loadouts> Tier 1> Loadout 5, and change the final entry to "Not Hidden".

    Overall, then, the classes go something like this:

    Sonic < Tails < Dr. Robotnik < Knuckles < Sonic

    The match-ups are not that one sided, of course, but that's the general rock/paper/scissors/sexually-ambiguous-fox mechanic of the game. It is fun to play 1-on-1 and try to counter each-others' classes, though.


    Hedgehog Slayer Pro or Team Slayer Pro
    Players: 2-8 (6 recommended)
    Download Hedgehog Slayer Pro

    Some of you may want something a little more balanced and competative. R0CKET M00SE came through for you guys with Hedgehog Slayer Pro. It's an all-Sonic blast in which players are elites rather than spartans. The map was made for Sonic's evade, after all. Now you won't feel guilty about choosing 'hog' class every spawn.


    Hedgehog Stockpile
    Players: 4-10 (8 recommended)
    Download Hedgehog Stockpile

    This one is just like Hedgehog slayer, except that you're tasked with capturing stockpile flags. It's all about understanding how your character moves around the map. Since everybody's shooting a little less often, it's not a bad idea to add a few players. Oh, and since this gametype requires fast, precise movement, Knuckles is a bit more useful.


    While we've only released the above gametypes, feel free to experiment. The map is set up for basic CTF, Assault, King of the Hill, Slayer, Stockpile, Infection, Oddball, and Juggernaut gametypes. And feel free to play with objective placement and whatnot. The main settings you should consider for your own custom gametypes are the following:

    -Player Speed = 200% (at 300%, evade tends to throw you out of the map)
    -Player gravity: 150%
    -Jump height: 125% (these two seem to be the best settings for balancing out Tails and Sonic)
    -Damage resistance: 150%
    -Damage: 300%
    -Melee Damage: 150%
    -Bottomless clips
    -Unlimited Armor abilities

    For instance, it would be pretty easy to make:

    Rabid Hedgehogs
    Players: 4-12 (8 recommended)
    Infection, Unlimited Evade, Zombie = Concussion Rifle, Human = Grenade Launcher, the above damage and movement settings.
    We've actually got this variant available, but we're not hosting it in our fileshares at this time.


    The Map:
    Sonic Arena
    Download Sonic Arena

    There isn't much that I can say about this map that a few pictures can't. It's a giant bowl, filled with ramps tailored to Sonic's rapid movement through evade. It is possible to escape the map, and even camp the top edge... but a wily Dr. Robotnik is likely to snipe you right down.

    The Bowl
    Yup. It's a big ol' bowl.
    [​IMG]

    The Loops
    Good cover and quick escape routes. Plus, they're just fun to evade through. Unfortunately, it's impossible to set up a decent foot-race "golden-ring-quest" game variant to make full use of these.
    [​IMG]

    Red/Blue Team Platforms
    Ramp from the top, ramp from the bottom, ramp from everywhere!
    [​IMG]

    Explosions Galore!
    Try not to end up like this guy.
    [​IMG]

    Thanks to everybody who helped test this map, suggested ideas, and offered feedback. A special thank you goes to ramenloverninja for sticking through a particularly large number of tests. Another thank you goes to Tender Bisquit, whose crazy map inspired this gametype. And finally, a thank you goes to G043R. I think he was the first one to say "Sonic" in forge mode... even if we were all thinking it.

    Oh, and in case it's not obvious, R0CKET M00SE is a co-forger and co-creator. 50% credit and all that.

    Download Sonic Arena
    Download Hedgehog Slayer
    Download Hedgehog Slayer Pro
    Download Hedgehog Stockpile
     
    #1 Cosmic Rick, Sep 28, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 4, 2010
  2. DunkinMyCookies

    DunkinMyCookies Ancient
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    <3 One of the most innovative ideas for a Halo game type. Very clever using a jet pack for Tails ;D No but seriusly, very clever. I'd lie if I said I played this already, BUT I love it already. Nice write up. Definitely getting some bros to play this tomorrow.
     
  3. Dulden

    Dulden Forerunner
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    Dang this looks cool. Although it seems super OP with the heavy weapons, also knuckles must get creamed. But overall it looks like all out chaos. You got my DL, ill edit this more as I test it. Nice job. Oh and I really like the aesthetics.
     
  4. Erockh59

    Erockh59 Forerunner

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    I smell a copyright Dispute ;D
     
  5. R0CKET M00SE

    R0CKET M00SE Ancient
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    Thanks for this dude. It was super fun to forge with you and all. And SWEET Post. I feel like such a jerk knowing that I'm gonna be Copy/Pasting it

    EDIT: And you are terrible btw It's "ramenloverninja" and not "stickmanmeyhem" dude! Second time I've caught ya.
     
    #5 R0CKET M00SE, Sep 29, 2010
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2010
  6. Cosmic Rick

    Cosmic Rick Ancient
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    It's not my fault everybody has three-words-in-one-word names these days. I can't keep up. Anyway, edited.
     
  7. serumembryo

    serumembryo Forerunner

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    Holy crap, that was amazing. I mean finally! A GOOD Halo Reach map posted! This is very creative, you even showed a picture with Shadow and his gun hahahahaha. I have a few questions, how do you choose your characters? Which gameplay plays best? And on Hedgehog Slayer Pro, you can only choose sonic right? That giant bowl, it looks like evade will be the most fun ability to use :D

    Map download link needs fixy
     
    #7 serumembryo, Sep 29, 2010
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2010
  8. Cosmic Rick

    Cosmic Rick Ancient
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    oh, man, did I fail in ALL the new map posting criteria? I'll fix stuff when i get home tonight.
     
  9. Zenin

    Zenin Forerunner

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    doesn't it make more sense to give sonic sprint and knuckles evade?
     
  10. Cosmic Rick

    Cosmic Rick Ancient
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    @Zenin: Short answer: no.

    @Mochasun: The characters are just the loadouts. Gametypes... I dunno, depends on what you like best. I prefer the original slayer game. I think Moose prefers the 'pro' variant. If you want less shooting and more stealing, stockpile is for you. And yes, only Sonic in the "pro" variant.
     
  11. Katanga

    Katanga Ancient
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    Me and some friends fired up Sonic Arena, and we really enjoyed it. The game is very fast paced and hilarious to play. Those half loops were awesome, I couldn't believe how well they worked.

    I think we are sticking with Hedgehog Slayer Pro from now on, though. We didn't enjoy the other character classes nearly as much as Hog, so it makes more sense.

    In short, download this. It's a great game type and map.
     
  12. D R A N C Y

    D R A N C Y Ancient
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    Wow, just amazing I tested this with a few friends and we absolutely loved it. My favourite was sonic, rolling all over the place. =] I would recommend this to anyone, very fun map 10/10
     
  13. Cosmic Rick

    Cosmic Rick Ancient
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    Thanks, guys. Glad you enjoyed her.

    And Askar, yeah, I agree that Sonic is the most fun to play. I just can't handle not making use of the loadouts.
     
  14. Nobody Worthy

    Nobody Worthy Ancient
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    Long Answer (sort of): No because knuckles is faster than sonic.
     
  15. cardinal847

    cardinal847 Forerunner

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    I loved the map, I've already played it a ton with friends but I was wondering if you could elaborate on the infection gametype
     
  16. Lamasutra

    Lamasutra Forerunner

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    Well I tested it with 16 players and it was impossible to play with. There were explosion everywhere.
    The running men with the hammer had an estimated life of five seconds while unfinite jetpack + heavy weapons allowed you to kill many people withouth being seen.
     
  17. Cosmic Rick

    Cosmic Rick Ancient
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    Well, duh, that's why the max players recommendation set to 12 ;)
     
  18. SpreadTanTheMan

    SpreadTanTheMan Legendary

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