By: JJ3672

Download Here:
http://www.bungie.net/forums/posts.aspx?h3fileid=37495379

'Two floating bases with two equally risky ways between them. Bouncing mongeese included. Don't look down. 2-8 players.'

Backstory

When the Covenant first attacked the Earth, humans built floating structures using gravlift technology to defend against the oncoming assault. The bases were connected using teleporters and plasma shields so that humans could easily travel from one base to another. However, it was setup so that if the Covenant destroyed one base, then the other bases wouldnâ€™t be dragged down with it. When construction was completed, there were a total of 25 aerial bases.

The assault on the bases was brutal. Mortar fire knocked all but two of the bases out of the sky. Hundreds of Spartans died in defense of their homeland. But the bases were essential in repelling the Covenant assault, and so many enemy Phantoms and Banshees were destroyed that the Covenant were forced to retreat from the area and regroup.

Today, even in peacetime, the remaining two bases stand as a memorial to the soldiers stationed on these bases that lost their lives.

Overview

This is (as to my knowledge) the most unique and innovative floating map made on Standoff to date. Iâ€™ve seen many floating maps before, and many seem like a bunch of boxes and bridges haphazardly thrown together to form an aerial base. I promise you that Azure Trail is very much unlike most other maps of its type. This map is symmetrical and set up for team games and FFA (though team is preferred). The max team game is 4 vs. 4 (6 players for FFA), although that might be a bit too crowded, so 2 vs.2/3 vs. 3 is ideal.

This is an overview of the whole map. Enough said.

This is an overview of the main/middle floor of each teamâ€™s base. The mancannon at lower right is part of a section called the Leap of Faith. The receiver node at left is where players will come out of the leap of faith. The bridge at top left leads to the upper floor with the mongeese.

Leap of Faith â€“ trust the Halo gods on this one, because a careless jump will lead to a fall much longer than expected. The mancannon will push you into the semi-hidden tunnel below if you jump right into its stream. The only way out of the tunnel is through the teleporter on the other end which takes you to the receiver node near the barriers (at the same base). Each team has one of these.

This is an overview of the top section of the map, including each teamâ€™s upper floor and the central platform. The obvious path of shield doors is the Azure Trail. The bridge at lower right leads back to the main/middle floor.

Azure Trail â€“ this is the trademark feature of the map. It is a series of shield doors perfectly aligned to make a path leading between the top of the bases. Keep in mind that the path can only be traversed by mongeese, and that the timing in exiting the mongoose is crucial to avoid falling to your death. Note that the central platform cannot be reached by grenade jumping (only by mongoose), so donâ€™t try it. If under fire, donâ€™t be afraid to exit early and aim for the brute shot platform at either base.

This is an overview of part of the bottom section of each teamâ€™s base. The whole area with the crates and pallets is called the Lower Tunnels. The leap of faith is at far right, and its receiver node is at center.

Lower Tunnels â€“ this area consists of a couple interlocked double boxes and some floating pallets. The pallets can be destroyed to restrict access to the boxes or trap players inside (30 second respawn). The far box contains a teleporter leading to the same spot in the enemy base (two way node). The choice is yours: allow transport between the two bases by teleporters, or cut it off so that the azure trail is the only way to cross. Each team has these.

This is an overview of the azure trail, center platform, and other bottom section of each teamâ€™s base. The fence box with the fusion coils is the brute shot platform (lower level), and the connecting bridge leads back to the main/middle floor. The teleporter visible is the sender node for the leap of faith.

Details and Pickups

Note: all weapons/equipment are in same place on the other teamâ€™s side except for the Bubble Shield and Sniper (which are positioned in the center).

Looking down the leap of faith. The Power Drain and Mauler can be seen in the tunnels.

The central platform. The Sniper is easily visible and the Bubble Shield sits in the azure trail on the opposite side of the platform.

The brute shot platform. The Brute Shot sits inconspicuously between the two fusion coils (120 second respawn for coils).

The lower tunnels. The Plasma Pistol sits atop the crate at right, the Sentinel Beam is behind the barrels in the right tunnel, and a Firebomb is held by the weapon holder below the aesthetic overshield. The left tunnel contains a teleporter to the same tunnel in the other base.

The top floor and left side of main/middle floor. Two Mongeese sit on back of top platform and a pair of Plasmas sits on front of platform. A pair of Frags can be found underneath the bridge on the main/middle floor. Two SMGâ€™s are located in front of the frags against the small boxes.

Right side of middle/main floor. Two BRâ€™s rest against the barriers in the foreground, and a Carbine rests against the barricade in the background.

Lists

Weapons:

1 Sniper, r=150, c=1
2 Sentinel Beams, r=180
2 Brute Shots, r=120, c=1
4 BRâ€™s, r=30, c=2
2 Carbines, r=30, c=2
2 Maulers, r=60, c=1
4 SMGâ€™s, r=30, c=2
2 Plasma Pistols, r=30

Grenades:

4 Frags, r=10
4 Plasmas, r=10
2 Firebombs, r=30

Equipment:

2 Power Drains, r=60
1 Bubble Shield, r=60

Vehicles:

4 Mongeese, r=instant

Powerups:

none (all Overshields and Camos are purely aesthetic)

Gametypes:

Slayer
CTF (flag spawns and returns are below each teamâ€™s bridge, it is recommended that you allow the flag carrier to drive vehicles)
Assault (bomb spawns are in front of mongeese on top of each teamâ€™s base, bomb plants are on each teamâ€™s brute shot platform)
Neutral Bomb (bomb spawns on central platform near sniper, bomb plants are on each teamâ€™s brute shot platform)
Oddball (ball spawns on central platform near sniper)
Crazy King (hill spawns on central platform and in each teamâ€™s sentinel beam tunnel)
Mosh Pit (hill spawns and stays on central platform)

Miscellaneous Pics

If your mongoose catches fire, exit immediatelyâ€¦

Divine intervention?

Uh, buddacrane might want to come have a look at thisâ€¦

Download Here:
http://www.bungie.net/forums/posts.aspx?h3fileid=37495379

Apologies for the delay in posting this, I had other stuff to do. Mechanism should be up in another week or two, and Iâ€™ll tell you in advance that it throws all conventionalities associated with the word â€œswitchâ€ out the window.

And check my sig for future map updates, or to DL Propulsion and Cagematch if you havenâ€™t already.