My Forge History

[Zandril]

The first time I ever went into Forge mode was in Halo Reach. But this wasn't to make a competitive map or flood map. No, I was inspired by Roosterteeth's HORSE series to make a HORSE map. Basically obstacle courses.
 
I don't really have pictures of these but I can tell you that I made two obstacle courses in Halo Reach before leaving forge (temporarily) and going back to Reach Matchmaking (I was in a competitive clan and everything. Pretty lame, actually ).
 
When Halo 4 came along, I started forging again. But did I make competitive maps or flood maps right out the bat? Still no. I still stuck to forging HORSE maps because that's all I really knew.
 
I think I made a total of 5 HORSE maps (that actually got into some episodes) before beginning my time as a competitive map forger.
 
What made me start forging competitive maps? I was playing some 1v1s with a friend of mine on Halo 4. We both complained that the maps were getting old and boring and that we should find new ones to keep things fresh.
 
So, I downloaded some competitive Halo 4 1v1 maps from ForgeHub (Now Halo Evolved) to play with my friend. I enjoyed playing these maps so much that I was inspired to forge my own 1v1 map.
 
Let's bring on the pictures. 
 
____________________________________________________
 
ETHEREAL
 
Seeing as what made me start forging competitive maps was playing 1v1 forge maps, my first map is meant to play for 1v1.
 

 

 
Ethereal is asymmetric and is built on the lovely Forge Island. I wanted to create a map that overlooked the ocean. That's it. I didn't even plan the structures. Of course, this map was quite a disaster due to its linearity and overall layout. I thought the aesthetics were great but that was when I thought aesthetics meant Banshees and Tanks outside windows.
 
The map went on to have 3 updates but in the end, it was quite horrible. 
 
NEMESIS
 
I love Sanctuary. It is truly a terrific map. Due to my love of the classic masterpiece, my second competitive map was inspired by it.
 

 
I basically copy-pasted Red and Blue base and linked them together with bridges and huts. As you may have guessed, this map became quite a disaster. It had a bad layout, tons of lazy cover, and about 8 power weapons. Yeesh.
 

 
FACILITY
 
Such a creative and original name. Facility is symmetric, dark, and bad. This map wasn't really inspired by anything as I just hopped on Forge and decided to start forging.
 

 
Had some bad sightlines, bad flow, and about 6 power weapons. What the heck was I thinking. 
 

 
CITADEL
 
Oh, this map. Oh my god, this map. This map was something. I...I don't even know what to say.
 

 
What started this map was my desire to make a competitive map after re-re-re-re-re-re-re-watching The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Which is the reasoning behind the tower and the debris.
 

 
This is probably the worst map I've ever made.
 
WATERWAY
 

 
This map started because I wanted to build a map on the water of Forge Island. This was a bad idea because the water of Forge Island is practically a blue screen. A ******* blue screen. How can you even call that water? Anyway I pretty much built all of this without the slightest idea of what I was doing.
 

 
MALEVOLENCE
 
After forging all those 4v4 maps, I decided to stop handling big things for a while and go back to holding smaller things. I mean 1v1 maps.
 
Malevolence is a tiny map. Built for 1v1. Horrible spawns. Horrible layout. Horrible idea. But good for the learning process. 
 

 

 
SHIPYARD
 
This map wasn't really designed by me. I remade this from a map in Reach called "Hardshore" by JGarb.
 

 

 
GARRISON
 
Garrison is an asymmetric 4v4 map built on Forge Island...again. 4 bases. Ghost Town-inspired. Extremely cluttered.
 

 

REFUGE
 
Refuge is a 4v4 map on Forge Island. It's kind of like a mix of Shipyard and Garrison. The main layout was taken from Garrison and the only thing Shipyard influenced was the battleship.
 
This map had several problems in terms of everything. Spawning, balance, flow, etc. Pretty bad.

 

 
NOVUS
 
This map. I can't even express how much this map means to me. Not because it's an outstanding map but because this map is what lead to my brighter days as a forger. I've learned so much through making and updating this map that I can't even count all the different versions and people who helped me along the way.
 
When I began constructing Novus, I had the same mindset that I had when I was making my previous maps. Which was keep forging without any real clue on what you're doing. I didn't know the fundamentals of competitive forging before I made this map. All I really knew was cover. But I had no idea on what the difference was between lazy and structural cover.
 
Sadly, I no longer have pictures of Novus's first/earlier versions. However, TheElderAcorn showed it in a video.
 
Here. [media=youtube]p5uU0TbOXxg[/media]
 
I posted that map in a lot of forums. And the feedback I've gotten was OVERWHELMING. So much feedback. So many wrong things about the map. So many hurtful words. So much time on my hands.
 
So I updated the map. I kept updating and updating and updating until my head was about to explode from all the new-found knowledge.
 
In the end, the map didn't become what I wanted it to be. I wanted it to be a THFE feature. But it didn't make the cut. Without a one millionth reforge, the map was mediocre.
 
But, like I said, this map will forever hold a special place in my heart because of everything that I've learned from it.
 
Here are pictures of the map's latest and final version.
 

 

 
The map did land me an Online Knights feature though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KDRTwQSf9A
 
CAEDIS
 
After a while, I felt like I needed to do something different. I've been making so many competitive maps that I forgot about other gametypes to forge for. Who knows, maybe I can be a great Flood forger.
 
That's how Caedis came to life. I wanted to create something that's not a competitive map so I decided to forge a flood map.
 
I'm very proud of this map. It's definitely not the best Flood map out there but I love the gorgeous aesthetics I managed to pull off along.
 
Thanks to [uSER=753]Elliot[/uSER] and [uSER=47]REMkings[/uSER] for helping out with the map.
 

 

XENOS
 
This map started a week after I finalized Novus. I wanted to see what I could pull off after all that I learned from Novus. I ended up making an symmetric 1v1/2v2 map. This is a map that I'm very happy with. It's simple but in a good way. The forerunner aesthetics were sexy and the gameplay was very solid.
 

 

 
PRAELIUM
 
This is pretty weird but my favorite forge canvas on Halo 4 is Ravine. That's not the weird part. The weird thing is I have about 9 maps on Forge Island and 2 on Ravine.
 
I don't know what's up with that.
 

 

 
Praelium is an asymmetric 2v2 map. My first map on Ravine. Very solid map. Nothing super-special.
 
SILEX
 
I started Silex after Novus. I created it around the same time as Xenos and Praelium. It's a symmetric map on Forge Island with a very basic layout. Too basic. The map fell short because of it lacked depth and anything to make it interesting. Had some flow and spawning problems too.
 

 
PRIMUS
 
I felt like I acquired some knowledge in the process of building Novus so I tried my hand at making another 4v4. I also wanted to make a map on Impact as a challenge since I've never forged a competitive map on Impact before. This map isn't one of my best maps. The map had problems with it's verticality, flow, and spawning.

 
EXIN
 
Exin is my second competitive map on Ravine. Exin was originally a 4v4 map. Bad idea. 4v4 gave it horrible spawning and overly chaotic gameplay.
 
But it's now built for 1v1 and 2v2 and is by far my best map on Halo 4. I built it by my favorite spot on Ravine. The waterfalls. That's the idea that started the map. I put some ramps and doorways by the waterfall and built off from there.
 
I consider Exin my best 2v2 map. Maybe even my best competitive map.
 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qESFsDH_kQ

 

MAGNUS
 
Magnus is my first BTB map. I challenged myself to forge for bigger player counts. Unfortunately, the map's layout was problematic for BTB gameplay. It was basically a ring for vehicles to drive around and then a couple of buildings at the side. Yikes.
 

 
ATTACK ON FORGE CASTLE
 
More challenges! This map happened because I challenged myself to make a mini game. I also felt like I needed a break from competitive forging. In the process of making and testing the map, I realized that making mini games isn't my calling.
 
The premise behind the map was assaulting a tower and grabbing the ball. The map did do something clever though. The players attacking the castle can blow up its walls with fusion coils. I made the blocks destructible with some tinkering of the Ricochet gametype. It had a competitive edge to it but it just had so many problems.
 

 
BLOODSTONE
 
Bloodstone is a competitive 2v2 map I forged for a 2v2 forge tournament. It's an asymmetric map built on Ravine. It's a fairly solid map that was inspired by Edifice and Angst but sadly didn't live up to those maps.
 

 

 
AETHER
 
Aether is another attempt at making a 4v4 map. Seeing as my last 4 competitive maps which were originally for 4v4 but had to be configured for 2v2 because of spawning issues, I got worried that I couldn't make a proper map for 4v4 anymore. Aether took that worry away. Aether is really great 4v4 map and is compatible with Slayer and CTF.
 
I've had people tell me Aether is my best map so far but I think Exin is still my greatest gem.
 
This map was very important because of the 4v4 forging knowledge I gained from it. I learned a lot about CTF spawns and avoiding linear sightlines.
 

 

 
BABY GUARDIAN
 
There's not a whole lot to say about this one. It's my first aesthetic map and is basically a miniaturized version of Guardian. It's fairly accurate in everything other than scaling (duh) and is pretty cute.
 

 

 
SETTLED
 
Settled is my second BTB map in Halo. I started the map as a Hostage Rescue map but it eventually became a full fledged BTB map.
 
The reason why it's called Settled is because it reminded me of Settler. The map was built on Ravine and used a lot of the natural terrain. The map had some interesting and well designed bases but failed due to a lack of defined routes and bad sightlines. I tried to go on the path of CE by segmenting the bases with distance but I didn't account for DMRs, LRs, etc.
 
Overall, it wasn't a very good map.
 

ZED
 
Zed is a coforge between myself and Zeroflame. It's my first successful coforge and I'm very proud of the map. This is probably the best 4v4 map I had a hand in making.
 

 

 
City of Grey
 
CoG is the second Flood map I've made and it has become one of my favorites among my maps. It's a linear Flood map with a destroyed city for a theme. The map also has a very unique third phase which involves a Warthog run. I learned a lot about linear Flood maps in the process of making this map and I have plenty of people to thank for that. You know who you are.
 
In the end, the map was good enough to land me a THFE feature.
 

 

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgZghZS_rVY
 
Mirage
 
Mirage is my best looking map. Ever. It's a 1v1 map and that allowed me to go ape**** with the aesthetics. And I do mean ape****. For such a small map, it confuses me on how I spent 9700+ of my budget.
 
As for gameplay, I can't really complain much. It has some flaws but it can still play a great 1v1 game.
 

 

 
Cornerstone Manor
 
At this point, the Last Stand Flood gametype was announced and everyone was playing it. I enjoyed playing a lot of the Last Stand maps that I was inspired to make one of my own.
 
That's how Cornerstone Manor came to life. Overall, it was a very decent playing Last Stand map.
 

 
Roid Run
 
I made a minigame and it wasn't a complete disaster. That's an achievement in and of itself. Roid Run is pretty much Minotaur. Just a little prettier and scarier than the popular one on Ravine.
 

 

 
SAW: The Return
 
This map happened because I wanted to make a minigame but I had no original idea. It's basically a map made for the Shields Up minigame from the early days of Halo 4. Of course, my version is prettier. 
 

 

 
Beacon Rush
 
Remake of the one from Halo Reach. With Stockpile now in Halo 4 thanks to modding, I figured I'd remake this.
 

 

 
Hall Wars
 
Also a remake from Reach. Because YOLO.
 

 
Boarding Pass
 
My fourth Flood map. Boarding Pass is a Hivemind map that has a more or less original theme. The setting is a modern train station and I'm very happy with how this map turned out.
 

 
Cypher
 
This is my last competitive map in Halo 4. It's meant for 1v1 & 2v2 and is asymmetric in design. I would like to think of this map as a successor to my other map, Exin. So far, I'm happy with how the map plays but I'm sure there are still a couple of kinks to work out.
 

 

 
Last Stand: Nuketown
 
CoD sucks. But Last Stand doesn't. Apparently, Last Stand + Nuketown = Awesome.
 

 

Edited August 26, 2014 by Diarrhea

[BeckoningZebra1]

TL;DR

 

I'm Zanny. Diarrhea. I forged in Halo: Reach. Diarrhea. Diarrhea. I forged in Halo 4. Diarrhea. Diarrhea. Diarrhea. I forge better than you. Diarrhea. Diarrhea. Diarrhea. Diarrhea.

 

(On a serious note though, I love your maps Zanny. I'm still waiting on Last Stand for Nuketown to be 100%, but I love your work and look forward to seeing even more maps from you.)

 

Ps. A Star Wars map would be nice...

[Mr Biggles]

I like your first 1v1 map.

All very good maps, believe in yourself!

[Zandril]

I'm still waiting on Last Stand for Nuketown to be 100%

 

Ahem, http://www.343industries.org/forum/topic/35467-last-stand-nuketown/

[Sikslik7]

Can honestly say that yes, I went through a similar growth in my forging abilities over the years. Practice, pointers, and perseverance are needed for the true forging powers to unravel. 

[Delpen9]

FYI, there are people who post Cypher claiming it to be their own map. The last one I saw was named 'Radioactive' after the green sludge in the railed passageway. 

[Zandril]

FYI, there are people who post Cypher claiming it to be their own map. The last one I saw was named 'Radioactive' after the green sludge in the railed passageway.

 

I'mma kill these fools. Where are the posts though?

[Delpen9]

I'mma kill these fools. Where are the posts though?

I found one in the HaloCustoms maps, but I'm not looking for it again. 

[Zandril]

I found one in the HaloCustoms maps, but I'm not looking for it again. 

You may be mistaken. I'm usually at Halo Customs and I think I'd know if someone posted my map as their own in that particular site.