Shield Ball
Shield Ball is a small map designed for Oddball games only. It takes place in the open area of Rat's Nest where you can see the Pelican. A grid of shield doors has been set up so that they float a couple feet off the ground. This means that players can throw grenades underneath the shield doors to injure of kill the ball carrier hiding on the other side.

I never used to play a lot of Oddball because the games were always very predictable. The ball carrier would just run away like a chicken or camp behind a shield door and wait to beat someone down with the ball if they got too close. Neither scenario was much fun for me. But now, the ball carrier attacks as much as he is attacked. He can camp behind a shield door, but the enemy can easily place a grenade between his legs or shoot at his feet. The result is an Oddball "dance" where players constantly go back and forth through shield doors, dodge grenade tosses, and circle each other.

Within each shield door square, you'll find a grenade. There are plenty on the map but they all respawn after 20 seconds, not the default 10 seconds. This is because I did not want to create a scenario where you can corner the ball carrier and throw an infinite number of grenades at him. In a one on one game, you may find yourself without any grenades to throw. Go to another square or try to shoot the ball carrier. In larger games, there will usually be someone just spawning with the default 2 grenades. Tactical players will use careful grenade tosses to "herd" the ball carrier toward a teammate.

At each end of the map you'll find a Power Drainer. This can be incredibly effective because a thrown Power Drainer will sail right through a shield door. Follow it up with a well-placed grenade under a shield door for an easy kill.

Map Overview

Map Overview, angled

Beneath the Shield Doors

One final note: make sure you're actually through the shield door before you toss that grenade.

I have to admit, I have not done a lot of testing on this map. In fact, I've only played a single game of one on one, standard Oddball (it was 5 in the morning and he was my only friend online in Halo). It was really fun and we both decided that it would be good as a team game too. I'd be interested in how this plays with other Oddball variants. Anyone want to try Rocketball?

My enemy throws a grenade at me

My view of that grenade... bonus points for getting my emblem in there

Bungie.net Link: Shield Ball