Unfortunately I was personally unable to attend the Humpday Match last night. After rounding up our team I raced home to discover that my internet and cable television were completely hosed. Luckily, with Frankie's tactical leadership and elite skillz, team Bungie stepped up to the challenge. I spent the night huddled in a corner staring at the wall.... no tv and no internet, what else is a person to do? [b]The Challengers[/b] 2070 Films has been around in the community for quite some time and they've earned a reputation for making high quality Halo films. I happily accepted their challenge when it appeared in my inbox because they're nice guys and surely our odds had to be better than they were against the Xbox Live team or the U.S. Army. [b]Humpday Challenge[/b] [i]Recap by Frankie[/i] Last night's Humpday Challenge was fun, and I mean that in a very broad, happy sense of the word. Our Humpday Challenges tend to be split along two basic principles – that we either play Teutonic, cold-blooded, scientific rule sets, possibly devised by an angry Spock – Battle Rifles only, no shields, everyone has to wear a drab grey armor and no talking allowed – or decidedly outrageous, fabulous, campy, possibly Tony award-winning rules, of the sort that might be devised by a tipsy Liberace – all Plasma weapons, invisible, with overshields, on Midship with a disco ball. Last night, we got to play mildly customized, but variety-filled games on a wide range of levels. Yeah, we were shocked too. [b]Game 1[/b]: Custom CTF on Containment [b]Duration[/b]: 12:01 [url=http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStats.aspx?gameID=183998235&player=Frankie]Game Stats[/url] [b]Result[/b]: Bungie Wins 1-0 The first game was a grueling, customized version of CTF – two flags, a wide selection of weapons on the map, and Battle Rifles and Shotguns as the starting set. I have still to figure out what a shotgun is for on Containment, other than a handy thing to lean against when you get tired from walking. Battle Rifles, on the other hand, bring people together in very nasty ways, forcing close, but not too-close combat situations, and drawing chumps out of their hiding places to be mown down like, erm, grass. It took 12 minutes to complete the game – Bungie winning with just one flag, but to be fair to the other side, we think they were being too cautious, not quite sure of our abilities yet. [b]Game 2[/b]: Multi Flag CTF on Sanctuary [b]Duration[/b]: 04:07 [url=http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStats.aspx?gameID=184009750&player=Frankie]Game Stats[/url] [b]Result[/b]: Bungie Wins 3-0 The next game was one we got to pick, and it's an office favorite – multi flag CTF on Sanctuary, a straightforward splatterfest, that often ends in ridiculous carnage in the center structure, as two equally single-minded flag carriers accidentally create a kind of splashy abattoir by heading back to their bases in a straight line. The party atmosphere is enhanced by the sudden deluge of plasma grenades and streamers of sniper fire passing through the narrow courtyard. You almost want to say, "Hey," to the passing flag carrier, but instead, you crush his skull with your flagpole. After all, this is Halo, not Parcheesi. Bungie won this three to one, basically sealing the deal on our best of three match. On a personal note, this is the only map where I achieved anything at all, making the longest flag run I've ever made without actually capping it – I was shot about one millimeter from the capture point, by a sniper located all the way back in their base. OW. (continued on page 2...) [b]Game 3[/b]: Custom CTF on Coagulation [b]Duration[/b]: 04:59 [url=http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStats.aspx?gameID=184017725&player=Frankie]Game Stats[/url] [b]Result[/b]: Bungie Loses 2-3 As is tradition, we played the third game anyway, just for giggles. It was set in coagulation and was basically Neutral flag CTF, but with a weird twist, two hogs and a Banshee per side. The basic principle is that whoever gets most surviving vehicles to the center, no matter what else occurs, wins. Sadly, it took two flag captures before we figured it out, and by that time, the opposing squad had it in hand and they beat us three to two. After that, we shook hands (virtually) and played another game on Containment, the closest game of Team Slayer you ever saw in your life. It doesn't matter who won, but you can check it out [url=http://www.bungie.net/Stats/GameStats.aspx?gameID=184045562&player=Frankie]here[/url]. P.S. We were down a man.