John, Thad, Greg, [insert newbie name here] please read this:
[from Bungie.net]
-This is a editorial tutorial (make sense?) NOT DONE BY ME- I have not censored it, or edited the content
yet. Any objectionable language or inappropriate content will be deleted.
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HALO Multiplayer Guide
| [Chill out] |
[Chiron TL-34] |
[Longest] |
[Wizard] |
[Derelict] |
[Boarding Action] |
Introduction[back]
In real life it is never cool to beat down your friends and family and then gloat about it,
but it's perfectly acceptable and even encouraged while playing multiplayer HALO.
Of course, no one really likes to lose and have their little brother/[Terminator] rub it in, so the
HALO team put this guide together especially for you.
The next time you sit down with a group of friends you?ll be the one gloating... unless of
course your friends all read this document too, in which case you will merely be a
participant in one of the greatest games of multiplayer HALO ever. We?ve tried to break this document up into
logical sections, so if you?re having trouble figuring out how to use that pesky rocket
launcher, you can just hop down to the rocket launcher section. Bear in mind that while we
can offer tips and strategies, it's up to you to learn and use them. The best way to get
better is simply to practice; this document simply offers some suggestions on what to
practice.
Part 1: Weapons[back]
The Pistol:
The pistol is arguably the best overall weapon in the game. If you find a pistol lying
around, pick it up and use it! Good in almost all situations, long range or short. Once
you get those shields off your opponent he's as good as dead. Go for head shots! Practice
keeping the pistol sight at opponent head level during game play, and head shots will
become more natural. [ed. note: It takes only 3 direct head shots to kill your opponent.]
Remember, the pistol has a zoom, but it takes time! Try to keep a
longer range on other players when using the pistol. Full auto is not as accurate as single
fire, so "vid" the pistol: squeeze the trigger for each shot. You'll be much more accurate
that way. The only downside of the pistol is the relatively slow melee attack, but don?t
discard an empty pistol too quickly; ammo from dead players is often abundant.
Assault Rifle:[back]
Because it's one of the weaker guns in the game, you might want to stay away from the
assault rifle unless you're sure you need it. (There are those
who would melee with an
empty pistol rather than pick up the AR). If you must use this weapon, don?t use it at
long range. If you HAVE to use it at long range, use burst firing for a slight increase
in accuracy. The AR is only decent at a short to mid range unless you're just trying to
scare someone. Go for full auto when in close range. It is weak against shields, but good
to have in a combo with a plasma weapon (drop an enemy?s shield
with plasma fire and flip
to AR to finish them off). Melee attacks with the AR are relatively quick, and it can be
a good close quarter weapon choice for full auto fire and melee attacks. Also, remember to
reload at every quiet opportunity.
Shotgun:[back]
Like the pistol, the shotgun is a choice weapon. Relax that itchy trigger-finger and hold
off until you're close to your target, then go for the head. At close range a shotgun can
kill in one blast. Don't waste your shotgun ammo on long-range targets, as the shotgun is
so ineffective in these situations that you may as well be shooting them with marshmallows.
For this reason, the shotgun is good to have in tandem with a scoped weapon (rocket
launcher, pistol, or sniper rifle)
so you can deal effectively with long- or short-range
targets . The shotgun is also effective against vehicles ?
when they're in range. Melee attacks are slow with the shotgun, so be sure you have a shell
in the chamber before approaching your enemy!
Sniper Rifle:[back]
Take your time, aim for the head, and conserve ammo. Contrails will instantly give away
your position if you miss your target, so keep a steady hand and a cool head. Use the 2X
zoom to find a target, then zoom in with the 10X scope when you have it in your sight.
If your target is moving, don't waste time and effort trying to track them; place the
reticle in the target's path and let your enemy move into your sights. Keep moving when
you have the sniper rifle; it's possible to concentrate so deeply on what you see in the
scope that you lose track of what's going on around you. If you are playing with motion
trackers, remember to glance at yours regularly. People will see your contrails and use
them to figure out where you?re hiding. Melee with a sniper rifle is slow, and should only
be done if you have no other choice. The shotgun and sniper rifle make a brutal combo.
Even if you don't fire it at all, the sniper rifle is valuable as a spotting scope. It's
very useful for watching an enemy base as you approach on foot, or for helping coordinate
a team assault. This is true of any scoped weapon, but the sniper rifle is especially
useful because you can also pick people off without being ?in? the fight. When playing
against snipers, moving laterally makes
you a harder target to hit (running at them or
jumping make you an easier shot). Keep track of rounds fired, and make your move while
they reload. At close range, a shotgun can blow through shields and kill in one blast,
making it an excellent gun in small, tightly enclosed maps.
Rocket Launcher:[back]
Aim for the feet. Sometimes jumping will give you a better angle to hit your opponent?s
feet and makes it more difficult to hit your feet if your opponent also has a rocket
launcher. The more you are in the air the better; descending on someone from above with
the rocket launcher is excellent, especially when playing Rockets in Multiplayer. The
rocket launcher has good splash damage;
shooting a low ceiling or wall next to an
opponent can put him in a world of hurt. One shot will kill when used properly; make
it a good one as the reload time is horrendous and the delay between shots feels like
an eternity when your first shot misses
and your opponents rush you with guns blazing.
Rockets have a pretty slow velocity too so remember to lead your targets by quite a bit,
especially if they are in a vehicle. Rockets are very good against vehicles as they will
not only do a great deal of damage to your enemies but often flip their vehicle as well.
A super shield is no match for a well-aimed rocket ; and don?t melee with a rocket launcher,
it isn?t worth your time (unless your opponent is facing the wrong way). A rocket launcher
and shotgun combination is what HALO is all about. When playing
Oddball games, a
rocket launcher is surprisingly useful for quickly removing the ball from its current
surroundings. If the enemy is closing and you really don?t think you'll survive, launch
the skull and deny them the time. If you fire a rocket and miss, switch weapons, even
if you have one shot still left. That final shot is your emergency shot. Also, if you
miss that first time, you're probably not going to get another rocket shot off without
killing yourself; by the time you're ready to fire again the target will be too close.
Plasma Pistol:[back]
This gun reminds me of the Cricket in
?Men In Black?. The uninitiated might think this
weapon sucks, but it doesn?t. Charged shots are extremely important and brutal: they track
their targets and will instantly drop shields. Don?t rely too much on the guidance,
however, and bear in mind that charged shots won't track
vehicles. One charged shot will
bring down a 400% super shield on a guy in a tank
(and try it against a tank with four
passengers!). This is especially key when playing Iron CTF
or other custom variants with
extra health. You can kill someone in two shots by wiping out his shields with a charged
shot, then switching to the pistol and ventilating his skull. The plasma pistol?s primary
fire is also useful, as it stuns opponents and you can get a pretty good rate of fire if
you twitch the trigger at the moment when the plasma shot fires. You can really hurt
enemies by shooting them in the back
rapidly. Even better, the melee on the pistol is
incredibly fast. Try an overcharge shot as you are running full-bore at someone, keep
hitting him with primary fire until the gun overheats, then melee
attack as you are right
on top of him. This is a good gun to carry in tandem with a weapon like the pistol
or AR;
wipe out your enemies' shields with the plasma pistol and then switch weapons to finish
them off.
Plasma Rifle:[back]
This is a well-rounded weapon, suitable for a
variety of situations. The plasma rifle is
good against shields, but watch that overheat meter to avoid what could be a fatal pause
while your gun overheats. Once the shields are gone, aim for the head, as head shots do
twice as much damage; as with the pistol,
learning to keep the plasma rifle trained on the
opponents noggin will always pay off. The plasma
rifle also has a stun; very useful
against the tank. Like the plasma pistol, it's a good weapon for
shooting someone in
the back or pinning him in place (if they are charging you with the shotgun,
for example).
Melee attacks with this weapon are pretty fast, and it's a great weapon to
run and gun
with (close quarters fire + melee). A great weapon to have at your hip,
the plasma rifle complements almost any other weapon in your arsenal.
.\[some other, random information:][back]
When playing with rocket launchers, the person at a higher
elevation has the greater
advantage.
If you miss a charging target, you probably won't have time to fire off a second rocket
before they are too close.
Even if your opponent has shields at 400%, a single overcharged shot will take them down
to nothing.
Needler:
Don?t use the
needler in multiplayer unless you know
what you are doing. A tight collection of needles in an enemy is your best friend -
unless you are right next
to him. Use more as a stealth weapon, or perhaps kamikaze style to take them with you.
The melee attack speed is horrendous, and if you pick it up you had better
make sure you
have something short-range to complement it. The needler is most effective when used
against an enemy who is unable to sidestep. Ladders, tight corridors, and narrow gangplanks
are all good places to catch a person and put enough needles into them to seal their
fate.
Fragmentation Grenades:[back]
These have a short fuse so they're more useful in closer combat situations. They?re good
to use when you have the drop on someone, and good for ambushes as they are more difficult
to see and more difficult to avoid. Toss a frag grenade on the ground just as someone is
coming around the corner, or throw one behind him as he's backing up. If you?re being
chased, juke around a corner and drop a frag grenade at your feet, then turn around and
finish off your pursuer. When you're about to die, squeeze the grenade trigger! The
"suicide grenade" eventually becomes a reflex, and sometimes it injures or even kills
your own killer.
[it is good killing practice to throw a grenade in the direction of an enemy at the
very beginning of an engagement. 2 things will happen, both of them are good. 1 you will
kill him, or bring down his shields (obvious benefits). The other effect it will have,
generally on more experienced players- they will actually try to avoid being hit with
explosive shrapnel (go figure)- dodging in the opposite direction of your throw. So if
you throw a grenade to his right, he might dodge left. Then you can either
lead him to the
left with yet another grenade, or be ready with whatever weapon you might have and lead him
with your ordenance.]
Plasma Grenades:[back]
Plasma grenades are good against the tank and somewhat less effective
against other
vehicles[I politely disagree. The plasma grenade will stick to any part of any
vehicle, EXCEPT the windshield of the warthog (see below for info on
warthog). I always love when
I am guarding a base, playing capture the flag (herein referenced as
CTF) using the plasma
grenade to repell rebel forces. When they come careening around your base to the back
door and try to "sneak" in- I will usually let them get the flag and get back into the
warthog. WHAT? BLASPHEMY I TELL YOU!!!
Yeah, I know it takes restraint.
BUT- when he
gets back into the warthog with our precious flag, and starts to get back to his base, the
little blue plasma grenade that I threw at the back of the warthog is
now fused to the
warthog, and will kill the flag stealer, flipping the warthog into the
air. VERY
SATISFYING]. Be aware of the longer fuse however! If you want to school someone, stick
a plasma grenade to his head. Feel free to point and laugh at him; just watch that he
doesn?t charge you and take you out with him. Use plasma grenades to get at hard-to-reach
spots like high ledges by tossing them at a ceiling or wall near your target; the
grenades will just fall straight to the floor and stay there, instead of bouncing about
like frag grenades.
[probably my favorite way to kill]:
Melee:[back]
You probably won't want to use melee attacks as your primary attack. However, they are
good to finish off opponents, especially when you consider the humiliation factor! Run
at someone and charge-shoot him, then melee attack on the run. Hit someone in the back
of the head and you get a free taunt.[meaning if you melee someone in the back of the
upper torso region (for instance you sneak up on someone who is using the sniper rifle
and has a bad, bad case of "tunnel vision") they will die with just one loving stroke of
your weapon.] When using plasma weapons, melee attacks are the perfect solution for
those overheating incidents. Though all weapons do the same amount of melee damage,
the plasma pistol has a superior melee attack in terms of speed. If you're running when
you hit a person with a melee attack, you'll do about 50% more damage. If you're running
and near the peak of a jump, you'll do about 75% more damage, almost enough to kill an
opponent outright. Both the flag and the skull
can be used as melee weapons - extra
humiliation for killing someone with either! Melee attacks on the back of the head are
strong enough to instantly kill and humiliate an opponent.
Part 2: Players
Basic team strategy:[back]
Talk to your teammates. Harass them when they screw up. A Team working together will
almost always defeat an opponent made up of
several individuals doing their own thing.
Operate in pairs. Get a partner and stick with him like glue. If one of you dies, regroup.
When people know who they are working with and who they are supporting, they know who to
listen to and who to talk to. There is much less confusion and the two man squad becomes a
killing machine greater than the sum of its parts
[ed note: That is called
SYNERGY:when
the sum of all parts together is greater than the sum of the individual parts].
Don?t group too close together as you are good rocket fodder that way. Remember what
color you are as those green triangles don?t show up well when you are close to each
other. If you forget, you can quickly check your color by performing a melee attack and
looking at your arm.
How to support your teammates:[back]
Talk to them. Cover them. Watch their backs and
don?t throw grenades at them. Shoot
anyone who is shooting at them. One good team strategy is to have one guy sniping while
the other goes on shock trooper duty. Players from opposing teams will see the second
guy first and shoot at him; then the sniper blows their heads off. If you?re defending
someone, use your body as a shield to take incoming fire (many a
CTF match has been won
this way). Give him room to move. Defend the door of the room or even the hallway outside,
not the region beside him. That way, you are not only less vulnerable to a single rocket
or grenade, but he has some advance warning should you fall.
Basic FFA strategy:[back]
[ed note: FFA stands for FREE FOR ALL, and we will be using FFA from now on to referr to
FREE FOR ALL]
Grab any health pack you see. Use power-ups[the blue triangle is called ACTIVE camoflage-
it makes you somewhat invisible- the pinkish square is an OVERSHIELD- it makes your
shielding stronger] as much as you can. Most of the time, being afraid of being dead is
worse than being dead.[ed note: the editor really agree's
with that] If you respawn quickly, you're back in the game, and you have another chance
to do what you have to do, whether that is killing others in Slayer, getting to the
hill in King of the Hill, or holding the skull on Oddball. Every second you waste
looking for a certain weapon or a shield power-up is a second someone else is winning.
The motion tracker only shows where you are when you're moving. Use it, love it. Get
to know the levels well and you will be able to read your opponent's location on the
motion tracker like a map. One tricky technique I sometimes use is when someone throws
a grenade at me and I can?t get away but am out of their sight: I just stand still.
Many times they think they have killed me. They come around the corner and I stuff a
shotgun in their mouths. If you have a designated target, don't go out of your way to
kill people other than that target unless they are trying to kill you. Most often it
will only weaken you before you find your target. That said, don't be the last person
to backstab your impromptu allies...Every second you spend looking for powerups or
fighting non-targets is a second someone else is winning.
Part 3: Vehicles
The Warthog:
[back]
Driver: the warthog driver has only one offensive weapon: the jeep itself. The jeep is a
very powerful weapon when used correctly. I find sliding sideways into people can sometimes
get better results than gunning straight at them. A good counter to this is sidestepping a
lot when you are on foot so keep an eye out for that. Get in the jeep with the weapon you
want to take out of the jeep. I like to use the rocket launcher to surprise other jeeps.
Jumping out of the driver seat can sometimes be a good thing. Plasma grenades bounce off
the jeep windshield, but work wonders everywhere else.
Gunner: The 50 cal. is a very powerful gun but not very accurate. Just keep the trigger
down as you have a never-ending ammo pail. However, if no one is driving you'll quickly
become a sitting duck.
Passenger: Don?t ride in this seat unless you have to; it's very hard to aim and you don?t
have full range. Strategically speaking, this seat is only good for transporting that
extra person. The passenger should probably be the first to jump off if any ground
resistance comes up. If you ride in the passenger seat and want to make a little
difference, use a rocket launcher. Remember you can throw grenades from the passenger
seat also.
In general, never stop moving. If you do, the driver is helpless, the gunner is vulnerable
to snipers, and the guy in the shotgun seat has a limited field of fire. Plus, you're more
vulnerable to that bane of Warthogs, the SPNKr[ed note: SPNKr is what each of the rockets
are called- why? I do not know, I do know that it comes from a previous game from Bungie
called- Marathon]. If you have the flag, drive. The flag is not visible when the driver
has it, but opponents can see when the passenger has it. The gunner is the most vulnerable
of the riders, and is usually the first to die. The best use for the jeep on many maps is
to drive in a wide circle around your target while the gunner fires continuously on it.
This keeps your gunner from having to aim too much, and keeps you a little bit safer from
enemy fire. When possible, drive clockwise--that way, the driver is not directly exposed
to enemy fire.
The Scorpion:
[back]
Driver: remember you have a secondary fire of an AR on the tank. Comes in very handy for
shooting at ground targets while you wait for your mortar to reload. If you decide to
?shell? with the tank by sticking in one spot you should consider turning the turret 180
degrees around so that your body isn?t as exposed; otherwise you can easily be sniped out
of the tank.
Side Seat: Use the side seat on the tank for personnel transport. If combat begins, get off
the tank as it is a huge target and easy to hit. The combination of side passengers
assaulting a base with tank support can be very effective. A great co-op strategy is for
a sniper to hop on a tank, and use his scope to call in long-range tank fire.
In general, the coaxial machine gun is not a terrific weapon, but it's useful against
snipers because it will knock them out of zoom if it hits them. Between cannon rounds,
hold that second trigger. Aim at the feet of your target with the primary cannon. Often,
the Scorpion's cannon fires a bit higher than you expect, and the splash damage from a
ground impact is almost as good as a direct hit. Possibly the best use for one or more
Scorpions is shelling an enemy base from long range, keeping them pinned down while your
teammates move in. It helps to have a sniper playing split screen with you, to help you
direct your shots. When shelling from a distance, turn the body of the tank away from
your opponent's base, so you aren't exposed to their fire. When playing split screen with
teammates, it helps to have a passenger with a sniper rifle spot targets for you.
The Ghost:[back]
A very maneuverable vehicle. Remember it can strafe. The guns stun also, so it can be
very effective against tanks if you sneak up behind them. You can also stun an opponent
and then run him over. Press A while driving the ghost to lift the nose a little, which
can be useful if you start to nose dive while in a long drop or if you want to catch a
little extra air off a jump. The ghost is the quickest vehicle in the game and is good
for delivering flags (it fits through many openings!) The Ghost is the ultimate assault
vehicle: it's fast enough to slip into a base, well armed, and provides excellent defense
from the front. When approaching a victim who is on foot, zigzag a bit to throw off their
aim and spread your fire out. A glancing blow with a wingtip is as good as a direct hit
(albeit less satisfying). Be careful about clipping things other than players with your
wingtips. The Ghost spins around very easily when you do so, and it can be difficult to
maneuver in tight spaces. The Ghost is an excellent assault vehicle, and when used in
packs, can easily liquefy the enemy lines.
Part 4: Power-Ups
Over Shield:[back]
The over shield can be useful, but it slowly drains away in multiplayer, so always be
mindful of your shield strength. You can surprise people sometimes with the over shield,
as you don't appear any different to them. Beware of the plasma pistol over change however,
as the over shield is no protection from it. Also remember that at close range the shotgun
will still tear through it. The over shield can also be useful when you need to fall from
extreme heights.
Over ShieldHealth PackActive Camouflage
Health Pack:[back]
Know where these are on each map and use them when you need to, as they will allow you
to survive another fight. Make sure you have full health before committing to a face to
face battle with another player, otherwise, chances are you?ll die first.
Active Camouflage:[back]
Active camouflage with a sniper rifle is very good, as invisible players cannot be seen
from a distance. Therefore, you are protected somewhat from other snipers -but be careful
that you don?t unknowingly let your active camo drain out while you are zoomed in and can?t
see your hands. People can see you on their motion trackers even with an invisibility, so
try to move slowly, since you only appear on motion trackers at about 50% speed or faster.
Shooting makes you visible again (but each weapon does this a little differently). Unless
motion trackers are turned off, you still show up on radar even when invisible.
Part 5: Maps
When playing any first person shooter against other people, the one key to gaining the
advantage is knowing the maps. Hearing your dead opponent scream in anguish, "HEY! WHERE'D
YOU FIND THE ROCKET LAUNCHER?!" can add a satisfying grin to your smugly tight lips.
Conversely, there are few things more frustrating than running circles in the tunnels
of 'Sidewinder' trying to figure out where to return the "#@*&!%" flag. Its all about
the maps, baby. You can't head your opponent off at the pass if you don't know where it
is. Know the map and own the map.
This next part of Bungie's multiplayer strategy guide contains basic map strategy along
with an overhead view of each map. Levels with more than one basic structural layout
have overhead maps for both areas.
A. Small Maps
Battle Creek:[back]
A small pocket canyon where two fortresses face each other, separated by only a natural
arch and creek. The key to fort penetration and defense is to control access to the back.
There are 4 ways into each fort, so keep moving and watch your motion tracker. In
addition, Battle Creek provides many opportunities to snipe from height. Use the ladder
and side caves to pick up a sniper rifle and then do one of the following. On the side
with the arch, jump diagonally onto the ledge which projects from the arch. This will lead
you up to the top of the arch and the rocket launcher. You can also run up the arch, but
there is nothing quite as inviting to your opponents as you exposing your backside for 10
seconds. On the side without the arch, walk out of the far cave exit (opposite the ladder)
and look for higher ledge off to the upper left of the cliff face. This also leads to a
deadly sniper perch. Use this position to cover both bases and to prevent anyone from
grabbing the rocket launcher. In addition, the roofs of both bases can be accessed by the
rocks and demolished walls on the structure?s sides. So use the roofs for defense and easy
flag base access. Check for power-ups in out of the way places. Explore every nook and
cranny. There?s enough packed into this small map to keep things very interesting. In the
sniper towers, you're still vulnerable to grenades. Jump down on trees and such to break
your fall if you jump out of the sniper towers. Getting on top of the two bases is an
effective way of attacking those within or hiding from those seeking you. If you face
either base from the opposite base, the route to the top will be on the left side of the
building.
Damnation:[back]
A covenant structure that was used to control water flow into a section of HALO. Damnation
is one of the few non-symmetrical maps in HALO, and it incorporates both a high and low
flag base. During CTF events stay close to the flag locations and snipe across the high
teleport road and the low damn crossing. Communicate well and the flag is yours, as it is
easy to attack the flag bases from multiple sides at once. The rocket launcher is located
in the middle of the lower corridor below ?shotgun alley?, so be sure to pick it up during
your travels. In addition, use the two sniper rifles to surprise and effective suppress
opponents. There's a good hiding place near the uplink crate. Watch your step! There are
a lot of areas on Damnation where you can walk off a ledge and die. Pipes, on the other
hand, can be fun places to hang out and get the drop on someone. You can?t hop to the pit
area from the falls bridge area, but you can do it the other way.
Rat Race:[back]
An asymmetrical map which involves some human mining into one of HALO's hallway system.
As with all multiplayer maps, keep moving to stay alive. To attack the high flag base
during CTF, use the teleporter located near the lower flag base and attack through the
cave system (you can also pick up a shotgun on the way). To attack the lower flag base,
use the same cave system, but drop down on the defenders using the ?murder holes?. You
can shoot the power-ups down from their roosts! Shotgun + over shield = dishes of pain.
Find out where those teleporters lead; they can come in handy.
Prisoner:[back]
A four story corridor of destruction. Most of the spawn points are on the first level,
so climb high as fast as possible to escape the chaos. Sniper rifles are located in the
two 4th floor platforms and can effectively cover the central corridor, although from
highly exposed positions. Respawn generators are located in the openings behind these so
be wary that opponents may pop in behind you at any given time. Grab the rocket
launcher and invisibility (below) from the central platform on level two and work your
way up. However, watch your tail. During CTF games, try to stay on the highest level as
much as possible. Falling down leads to a long walk up, and plenty of exposure to the
respawned below, so be careful. There are two ways up to each level. Practice your
jumping skills for this map. Needles can force players to either sidestep off a ledge
or become a popping pincushion.
Hang 'em High:[back]
A large storage facility on the HALO which provides an excellent location for all sorts
of scenarios. The sniper rifle and rocket launcher are located on the catwalks above, and
are well worth the risk. Meanwhile, the shotguns tend to spawn in the shelters on either
side of the maps, so spin through these areas occasionally during your exploration. For
ball games, try controlling the areas around the ?shotgun gallery?, as there are only two
ways in and out. The pistol rules this level. There are two ways onto the middle
platform, but you can't get off without taking some damage. Don?t get stuck in the
trench; it isn?t easy to get out. The invisible power-up is your friend on Hang 'em High.
Beneath the corner with the tall tower is a long tunnel. This is easily defended in team
Oddball games. Another benefit: it is situated beneath several spawn locations, where your
teammates will reappear when they die.
Chill out:[back]
A Covenant research facility on HALO, used to analyze HALO's material. This environment is
a series of connected rooms, with several changes in elevation. The rocket launcher is
located on one of the two horizontal beams, but use with extreme caution. The confines of
this map are tight. Grab the shotgun and the super-shield power up in the cooling room,
and go say ?Hi? up close and personal. In addition, use the geometry of the map for
different points of cover. Find that rocket launcher and you could be sitting pretty.
This map is really small and getting from one end to the other is easy, especially if you
know where all the teleporters go. Be sure to watch your motion tracker on this one;
there are a lot of turns so it's hard to see people coming.
Chiron TL-34:
[back]
[ed. note: Easily the worst stinking multiplayer map in HALO]
An intense training facility for SPARTANs. Keep moving, grabbing whatever weapons are in
front of you. Also, check out all of the rooms in the structure, as several strategic
opportunities exist in their positioning. If you can figure out the layout of this map
and where all the teleporters go, you will have the jump on many of your opponents. The
motion tracker is still useful through the teleporters as they lead where you would
expect. That is, if you see a red dot on your motion tracker pointing to the teleporter,
throw a grenade at the teleporter because there is probably someone coming through.
Similarly, if you're playing a game with nav points to guide you, trust the teleporters
and follow the nav point. Shooting rockets through the slits in the central, maze-like
room is very satisfying. You can get some good angles at teleporters with them. The
shotgun is very useful on this map. There?s a health pack in every room, though
sometimes you need to look for it. An ovherhead guide to Chiron TL-34 wouldn't be
complete without showing all teleporter destinations.
Longest:[back]
It is advantageous to take the higher ground, especially on offense. If playing
defensively, stay in the lower corridors, near the ends of the hallways. Power-ups are
especially good to have on this map. Learn to jump well over the ridges and you can
jump between halls easily. Grenades are fun to chuck down the halls. A great environment
for large or small teams. Use the ladders towards the middle to get the shotgun and
power-ups. In addition, the pistol (located in the bunkers) is also quite effective.
During CTF, guard the flag well, as once it is gone? its gone.
B. Arena Maps
Wizard:[back]
Another human training facility. Pick up grenades in the short
lower hallways and use plasma grenades for close confrontations. The pistol also does
well in this environment, although plasma weapons and the needler are equally effective.
The middle platform is a quick way to each of the four side platforms. Don?t hide next
to the teleporter; it's a dead end. In more ways than one. Get those power-ups and health
packs whenever you can.
Derelict:[back]
The second level is the key to this long unused part of the HALO. Power-ups appear in the
walkways around the edge of the second floor, and the rocket launcher lies in one of the
transition hallways. Use this second level to rain hell down on the folks below, or to
escape with the ball. Teleporters are the only way up. Figure out where each goes so you
can track players through them. Each teleporter goes 30 degrees counter clockwise. The
side hallways are good to hide in. Keep moving.
C. Large Maps
Boarding Action:[back]
Two human starships face each other in an epic
confrontation. A great environment for sniping, and use the sniper rifles in the far
corners of level 5 (on the left side, if you are facing the specific ship). In addition,
invisibility sits on floor 1 (on the right side), so pick up what you can and keep moving.
Otherwise, it can turn into a shooting gallery at the state fair. For CTF maps, attack
from levels above, as the flag bases are rather exposed. Of course, this strategy becomes
rather obvious, so defenders can use this to their advantage and rocket the flag-carrier
and flag into space The numbers on the sides of the walls will tell you where you are,
and where your opponents are as well...There are teleporters to the other ship on the top
and bottom floors. Getting to know how to get from one level to the next and from one
end of the ship to the next is very important. Sniper rifle rocks on this level; there
are two emplacements, up high. When sniper rifles are involved, never assume that nobody
can see where you're hiding...There are some good shortcuts you can take on your way
down. Look for ledges and platforms off the regular hallways. If a player is heading
toward a ladder, wait for him to start climbing, then snipe him. The sniper rifle is
invaluable on this level.
Blood Gulch:
[back]
[ed. note: This is the most used map in the HALO playing universe]
There is a good sniper spot behind the red base, up on a hill in the shadows. Use those
teleporters to get across the map quickly without a vehicle. Caves can provide good cover
to get you across the map. Parking a vehicle on top of your enemy's teleporter location
is an effective (if low and dirty) way of controlling the middle of the map. The rocket
launcher, which appears in the middle near a small bush, is a precious commodity. When
playing with vehicles, try to only use your rockets on a vehicle. Rocket ammo is in short
supply, especially if a lot of people are playing, and snipers like to pick off people
going for the launcher. So pick your targets wisely. When shooting a warthog, you want to
hit it so that you kill at least one of the passengers while flipping it so it tosses
everyone else. Try and nail the front of the warthog. This will usually kill everyone
except the gunner, and he'll be tossed out with a lot of damage done to him. Unless you
have a good shot (and time to reload), toss a grenade in or finish the other guy off
with your other weapon. Eventually you'll be brazenly standing in the path of oncoming
traffic with a rocket launcher. Flying vehicles will kill you, so remember your basic
laws of physics. Just for kicks though, try standing in a valley in the middle of Blood
Gulch and get a jeep to ramp up a hill and jump over you. Then fire a rocket at the jeep
as it flies directly over you. It will be a while before your opponents hit the ground.
When traveling across the map in the warthog, try to avoid taking big, flashy jumps &
instead weave around through the valleys: you?re less of a target this way.
Sidewinder:[back]
A giant, horseshoe, snow-covered canyon of death and destruction. Use the vehicles for
quick access to the other base, but careful of the warthog on ice and for snipers on the
higher levels. In addition, you can use the outer teleport route to pick up the rocket
launcher and to work your way around the outside of the canyon. However, the teleporter
between the bases and first teleporter station is one way, so be prepared for a bit of a
walk. In addition, a central base connects the two sides of the horseshoe, and also
contains grenades, power-ups, and pistols. For a quick CTF capture, try grabbing the
flag, running through this central base structure, and throwing the flag (to a waiting
teammate) through the power-up gate. In addition, ghosts can be used effectively to
either guard the flag or ram it home, however visibility can sometimes become occluded
by the structure. Use the teleporters to get across the map quickly, but remember: once
you leave the base you've got a long walk back. Parking vehicles on teleporter delivery
areas can block the teleporter. The most effective attack route on Sidewinder is up
through the tunnels leading from one base to another. Get the dual power-ups on your way
to the opponent's base, not on the way up the ramp to the middle. That way they will
last long enough for you to use them near the enemies (mostly applicable to team games).
Once past the middle of the tunnel route, you have two choices for attacking - down
through their tunnel, or right off the edge of the cliff. When defending, keep this in
mind - the enemy is far more likely to come in the door on the tunnel side of your
base. It?s easy to defend the base as there are only two ways into the base and only
one way to the flag. Note that there are only two ways up to the tower, but three ways
out. Don?t drive the jeep on the ice; you will be a sitting duck. Conversely, keep an
eye out for warthogs on the ice; they're easy targets. The sniper rifle can be your
friend or your worst enemy on Sidewinder. Try to take your vehicle to strange and
interesting places. Sometimes a vehicle is best used blocking a doorway on this map.
If someone is camping near your teleporter outlet points with a shotgun or some other
death-dealing doodad, try running through the teleporter backwards - often you'll be
face to face with the ambusher and in a better position to deal with him. When Scorpions
are available, a horrifyingly effective tactic is to shell the enemy base from a distance,
hitting the second floor and the front doors constantly. If you find yourself the victim
of this, the teleporter on the second floor is often your best hope, since it will get you
clear of the bombardment, near a rocket launcher, and often behind the enemy tanks. When
playing CTF, a favorite tactic is to get the flag and then run into the tunnels. Instead
of turning and running up the tunnels, turn and run down the other side, where the over
shield and invisibility power-ups can be found. Once you arrive, throw the flag through
the bars (preferably to an ally on the far side). Not only is this faster, but it's almost
impossible for the enemy to recover their flag once it's through the bars.
Part 6: Gametypes
Race Games:[back]
Race: If you want to win, don?t try killing people unless they are really in your
way; it just wastes time, and sometimes respawns people closer to their waypoint. Know
the map and know the track so you can easily and quickly get from one waypoint to the
next. If you get ahead of the pack early on you have a better chance of winning. I find
adding respawn time growth of 10 seconds or 5 seconds makes race games more violent, if
you go for that sort of thing; people have more of a motivation to kill each other that
way. Good race maps are Blood Gulch, Wizard, Rat Race, Battle Creek, Damnation and maybe
Derelict.
Team Race: Remember everyone on your team has to complete the laps. If you complete
them early on it may be a good idea to either camp at a waypoint or escort the players
who don?t have any waypoints. Sticking together is sometimes a good idea for team mates
but usually very hard to do. Splitting up and getting a player to complete a lap early
on so they can help later is a better strategy.
Rally: Don?t go chasing after every single rally point; you?ll probably get stuck in the
middle of them. I find camping in an area with a few nearby waypoints can win the game
(of course that depends a little on luck too).
Team Rally: Again remember that all the team members have to get 3 flags. You may be
better off letting one player at a time get the rally point. Defend the position until
they can get there and get the flag if you can. Don?t be too greedy; if a players ends
first, they can camp waypoints better later.
When you play team race, getting together in a fully loaded warthog is a nice way to
accrue checkpoints 3 at a time. However, all your eggs are in one basket.
Flag Games:[back]
Good maps for CTF are Blood Gulch, Sidewinder, Battle creek, Damnation, Longest,
Prisoner, and perhaps Hang 'em High.
CTF: Remember you can melee attack with the flag. You can drive and gun the vehicles
with the flag; this is your best bet as you will have the flag and an offensive weapon.
Move in packs. If you push your opponents too hard they might hole up in a defensive
stance. In that case, take a defensive stand yourself; otherwise it stalemates until
the other team sends out one team member to sneak up on you when everyone is away from
the base. Make use of fast vehicles for speedy getaways. Again, work as a team; divvy
up responsibilities and weapons (ex. Defense = rockets)
Iron CTF: If a teammate has the flag, help him out because the other team can?t return
the flag if the flag gets dropped. You only have a short time before it gets returned.
See tank strategies too. Generally this variant can be played much like regular CTF; just
keep an eye on your ammo.
CTF Pro: You must defend your flag much more in this variant. Many times you will find
yourself at your base with the enemy's flag but unable to score because your flag has
been taken also. In this case you must hunt down the other flag carrier as quickly as
possible. Defend the flag carrier on your side as the other team will be doing the same;
you may want to hide the flag carrier outside your base but close by.
Invasion: Knowing a quick way to the enemy's base can be very useful during Invasion
games. You may not want to return an enemy's flag if it isn?t near your base; otherwise
they will have it right away again. Sometimes the best defense is a good offense.
Working as a team is key to winning capture the flag.
King of the Hill Games:[back]
The best maps for hill games are Blood Gulch, Battle creek, Wizard, Chiron, Longest,
Damnation, Chill Out, and Rat Race.
King of the Hill: You may want to let your opponents duke it out before getting on the
hill (unless they are ahead). Get to the hill quickly. Remember that you can still accrue
hill time while in a vehicle. Sometimes it's helpful to get off the hill to ambush an
opponent. Get grenades if at all possible before going to the hill; they are quite
handy.
Team King: You only need one team member on the hill to score and having more doesn?t
help your score. Having some players roam and intercept incoming players can alleviate
a lot of stress at the hill.
Crazy King: Some hills can be easier to defend than others. Hills spawn in different
spots every minute.
Stay on the hill only as long as it is wise. A dead body does not accrue time.
Ball Games:[back]
Good oddball maps: Chill Out, Damnation, Wizard, Derelict
Oddball: Find a defensive position and take the ball there. Use explosions to move the
ball around quickly; this can be useful to get the ball down from high places, or to punt
the ball away from opponents or towards yourself. Throwing the ball at your opponent can
sometimes be good; they have to fumble a little to shoot at you, and in the meantime you
pump them full of lead. The weapon you're carrying when you pick up the ball is the
weapon you'll grab when you drop it, so choose your weapon carefully. Remember you can
melee with the ball; two hits will kill an opponent. You won?t score time while driving
or gunning vehicles when you have the ball, but it's still sometimes useful.
Team Ball: Ball control is important; if your team has the ball you spawn close to your
teammates.
Accumulate: Get several kills in a row, then camp - your time counts faster the more
kills you get in a row.
Juggernaut: Can be good on Boarding Action. Make sure you are well armed when you become
the juggernaut.
Switching to a gun in front of an opponent throws the ball into his hands, leaving him
momentarily defenseless.
Slayer Games:[back]
Good slayer maps: The smaller maps and arena maps are better slayer maps, but all are
pretty good. The best are Chill Out and Damnation I think.
Slayer
Team Slayer
Slayer Pro
Elimination
Phantoms
Endurance
Rockets: Good on Derelict and Longest
Snipers: Good on Hang 'em High, Sidewinder and Prisoner.
Tanks are easy ways to rack up kills, but be mindful of snipers.
Settings:[back]
Here?s some good multiplayer settings that I like and others may want to try:
No shields, 50% health, pistols Slayer game. If you like one-shot/one-kill and fast-paced
games, give this a try. Play to at least 25 kills probably.
Single flag CTF. Very different strategies than regular CTF games.
Moving hill, hill in motion tracker. Kind of a scavenger hunt. Can be fun on the
larger maps with vehicles. Might want to make time to win 5 minutes.
Try out the different vehicle sets on the vehicle maps.
Ghost race on Blood Gulch, repsawn time 10 seconds, respawn time growth 5 seconds.
No shields 200% health: Same amount of overall health, different ballgame all together.
Multi-ball juggernaut ball: The player who kills the most juggernauts can corner all the
balls on the map. The oddball settings are the deepest and most versatile; play around
with different traits with and without the ball.
Try some team race; that way not all team members have to perform laps and some can play
more defensively.
Weapon sets will replace weapons; this includes your starting equipment. Different
weapon sets can really change a game's strategy.
Try playing some games without the motion tracker; just set the other players on radar
to no.
If you want something a little silly try an invisible players team game without friendly
indicators. If you really want to see chaos, try this with 50% health.
Don't limit yourself to the 26 preset gametypes. The possibilities are endless.
[end of tutorial]
There. Now you know. Go forth and dominate. [HOME]
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