[quote][/quote][quote][b][i]The Definitive Guide to Halo 3's Forge[/i] by superduper66[/b][/quote][quote][/quote] In this guide, you'll read and gain an understanding of what Forge is, how you use it in its basic form, and how to use many advanced techniques, including methods of Forging, and how to Forge maps using Foundry and Sandbox, as well as learning about spawns and how to make a good map. This guide has just about everything you need to know, but at the same time it is not perfect and can always be improved by information that is not included. This thread is merely based on my experience as a Forger and experience from other people from which I have gathered and compiled into one thread. There is no one way to make a map as everyone has their own Forging style, but following the tips in this guide will greatly enhance your ability to Forge a map regardless of who you are. Forging is not for everyone, but anyone who does Forge must always realize this quote: "Patience is a virtue". Forging is very time consuming and can be very tedious, but with patience and practice, you'll Forging maps out your ass all day long. :-) [quote][/quote][quote][b][Part One] The Basics[/b][/quote][quote][/quote] Hello fellow Bungie.net-ers! If you are here, you are interested in the "Forge" feature of the Xbox 360 game [i]Halo 3[/i]. [quote][b]About Forge[/b][/quote] "Forge" is an in-game feature to the Xbox 360 game [i]Halo 3[/i]. In "Forge" mode, players can select a multiplayer map from their map archive and tweak, create, or even destroy objects present on any multiplayer map. Although you may move and fight freely as a player in "Forge", the real work is done in [u][b]Edit Mode[/u][/b], or [u][b]Monitor Mode[/u][/b]. Pressing up on the D-Pad of your Xbox 360 controller enables Edit Mode. In this mode, you are free to manipulate virtually any map object, such as weapons, vehicles, map objectives, and more. Pressing up again on your D-Pad will return you to [u][b]Player Mode[/u][/b]. Turning into Player Mode is great if you want to test out your creation. Forging in [i]Halo 3[/i] can support up to eight total players when signed into Xbox LIVE or System Link, and four total players on a local console. This allows for multiple players to Forge together or fly around in Edit Mode. This may help make work go faster, and they may even help come up with ideas you never even thought of. [quote][/quote][quote][/quote][quote][/quote] Here are a few tips to get you started on your Forge journey: -You are assigned a set budget for adding items to each map. If you run out of budget, you can delete objects for more "money". Each object is worth a certain amount of "money". -Not all objects (such as vehicles and weapons) are available on every map. -Press the blue "X" button on your Xbox 360 controller when you have an object highlighted to learn more about the object and its available properties. -To save your map, simply press the Start Button and select "Save Map". If you would like to play your map, go to the "Custom Games" lobby and select your map from the map archive and start the game up. -If you ever are unsure of what the controls for "Forge" are, pressing the Start button on your Xbox 360 controller will show you all the controls. [quote][/quote][quote][b][Part Two] Foundry and Sandbox[/b][/quote][quote][/quote] Ok, so you know what Forging is all about. Great. But now it is time to put your knowledge to the test. There are two maps that were created specifically for this feature: [url=http://www.bungie.net/images/News/WeeklyUpdate/CampaignScore/DLC%20News%20story%20size/H3_DLC_Foundry_Environment-DEFAULT.jpg]Foundry[/url] and [url=http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/kotaku/2009/01/sandbox.jpg]Sandbox[/url]. Each map has its own distinct features, but the have one thing in common: Forge. Let's get into the major differences of these two maps. [quote][b]Foundry[/b][/quote] Foundry is a map located inside of a warehouse. Players can edit every single object in this voluminous industrial warehouse, placing stairways, walls, bridges, and tunnels to create an entirely new play space and build almost any kind of map imaginable. Foundry was the very first map released as DLC (Downloadable Content) and also the first map released for the Halo series specifically for imaginative customization. It features urban style walls, windows, dumpsters, and industrial boxes to fit with the theme of the warehouse that is Foundry. The map, although completely customizable, has a very dull color tone to it, making it hard for maps to look different or nice. However, many of the objects in Foundry align neatly and look clean. Foundry also is not very large, only being able to support a Wraith as its largest vehicle, and no flying vehicles. However, the walls allow for much neater forging, and the lines on the ground allow for easy lining up of objects and neater maps overall. [quote][b]Sandbox[/b][/quote] Sandbox was the next Forging-specific map to be released as part of the Mythic Map Pack (Part One). Sandbox essentially is a Forger's dream. Along with Sandbox's overloaded amount of Forgeable objects, it also features three distinct layers of the map for near limitless Forging possibilities: [url=http://halowiki.net/images/thumb/4/4e/SkyBubble1.jpg/800px-SkyBubble1.jpg]The Sky Bubble[/url], [url=http://halowiki.net/images/thumb/1/1a/SandboxOverview1.jpg/800px-SandboxOverview1.jpg]The Ground Level[/url], and [url=http://halowiki.net/images/thumb/6/66/Crypt1.jpg/800px-Crypt1.jpg]The Crypt[/url]. Each level, in Forge mode only, features a grid line for neat forging so you can easily line up objects without worrying if they are even. Unlike Foundry and other maps, Sandbox constantly hits what is known as an [url=http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?cid=17271]Item Limit[/url], as well as the usual Budget Limit. There are so many objects usable on Sandbox, that if too many are placed on the map, no more objects can be placed. Other maps [i]can[/i] hit this limit, but Sandbox is often the main culprit for this issue. Thankfully, to help prevent the limit from happening too soon, Bungie has warned users that if they want to make full use of Sandbox that they should adhere to the following: "Instead of making a blank slate by deleting all the objects, simply move them to the side while you build and you'll be in control of the full 640 objects." A.k.a. 'Stacked" maps. For your Forging convenience: [url=http://www.bungie.net/Online/Halo3UserContentDetails.aspx?h3fileid=66977698&fset=44155]Sandbox Stacked[/url] [url=http://www.bungie.net/Online/Halo3UserContentDetails.aspx?h3fileid=67014500&fset=44155]Skybox Stacked[/url] [url=http://www.bungie.net/Online/Halo3UserContentDetails.aspx?h3fileid=67228662&fset=44155]Crypt Stacked[/url] [b]IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING DEFAULT AND STACKED SANDBOX MAPS:[/b] Be very careful when setting default Sandbox items to "SPAWN AT START: NO". The objects are very glitchy and sometimes either remain put, disappear for the entire round, or move to another spot on the map. A good tip, if you are looking to interlock or geomerge them, is spawn and object, have that object not spawn at start, and then place down the Default Object where you want it. If your objects on Sandbox are acting glitchy and not allowing you to grab it, it may be because you set a default item to not spawn at start. If that is the case, just start a new round, wait next to that object, and wait for it to disappear-then-reappear. Then it'll be safe to change back to "SPAWN AT START: YES". Then start a new round and it'll be normal. [quote][/quote][quote][b][Part Three] Bungie-made Maps[/b][/quote][quote][/quote] This is probably the most helpful tool you'll ever have with you. Looking at Bungie-made maps will answer almost any question you have, in terms of what weapons are appropriate, how long their spawn times should be, if vehicles work well, objectives, where weapons should be placed, where players should spawn, how many spawns, etc. Look at maps that are similar to the one you want to make. If you are making a large scale map meant for more than twelve players, you would want to look at maps like Avalanche, Valhalla, Longshore, Standoff, Rat's Nest, etc. If you want a smaller team based map for around eight players, looking at maps like Guardian, Blackout, Citadel, Heretic, Construct, The Pit, Orbital, Assembly, Ghost Town, etc. You get the idea. You may also get building ideas based off of core gameplay concepts that Bungie-made maps have, such as the vertical lifts of Construct, or the ability to fall to your death on Guardian, or the Symmetricallity of The Pit. Even from Halo 2 or Halo CE maps, such as Wizard, Headlong, Coagulation, Battle Creek, Chill Out, etc. Nearly all of your ideas, apart from your own imagination, will derive off of Bungie-made maps. [Edited on 03.07.2010 10:33 AM PST]