Forge City: Downtown vGold

"Get a boost or get wasted, this metropolitan city block has something for anyone. "

*The Final Version is here! Very different from the images below.* Will update images soon

Click to see the changes between versions:
> Fixed barriers
> Fixed diner lights
> Fixed safe zone
> Fixed respawn timers on Hogs and Gooses
> Added barriers around Rockets
> Removed a window from Diner
> Made Spiker and PP more noticeable
> Blocked off small hole in Elevators
> Removed a Cover from Diners
> Added brace to skybridge
> Added really large barricades around the map
> Lowered the vehicle garage
> Smoothed out bumps
> Relocated some weapons
> Add support for all base gametypes except Invasion, Rally, and King of the Hill
> Added additional havens
> Fixed Race checkpoints, Stockpile flags, and other objectives
> Rockets and GL illuminated to be made noticable
> Tents redesigned again
> Spawns fixed
> Stripper Pole flipped
> Stockpile, Landgrab, and Race objectives fixed
> Added extra propane tanks and other fine details about the map (such as manhole covers)
> Added kill zones to rocks behind Red Base
> Remodeled Tents
> Changed design on glass windows and removed some other windows
> Shifted the Elevator to the side and removed laser doors
> Remodeled some awnings and the fire escapes
> Fixed Flag Spawns
> Added concussion rifle and gravity lifts to Underpass
> Some weapons and grenades relocated
> Blue Base moved 10 coordinates to align with Red Base
> Ally-ways have been added to each building between the Hallway and Diner
> Underpass railings removed
> Small tunnels provide alternate access to Ghost at Underpass, which you can exit via a teleporter that takes you to the building on top
> Teleporter at HQ allows you to teleport to the top story Lobby
> Race initial spawn fixed
> Fixed initial spawns and aligned starting platforms
> Raised the side HQ up and slanted windows
> Removed 2 plasma grenades
> Replaced sign at Post Office with awnings
> Changed colors in Underpass to brown
> Added kill zones underneath Tents
> Replaced Covenant Crates with Barriers and Sandbags in Diner with Covenant Crates
> Relocated DMR and Needler
> Added detail to Diner lights
> Added cover outside of the Diner
> Removed a back wall from top Lobbies
> Moved Flag Return Zones to spawning Platform
> v7 now works with Race, Territories, and Headhunter
> Replaced Gravity Hammer with Ghost
> Added "Stripper Pole" to Evening Pub
> Made Shotguns more noticeable
> Fixed Safe Zones
> Post Office and Bus Stop have been swapped with each other and are now in opposite places. They've also been redesigned slightly
> Rockets moved to opposite side of map
> The Underpass has slightly been remodeled
> Some walls were changed on the exterior of the Diners and an Awning was added
> The Lobbies have been redesigned so the Sniper isn't able to shoot at the Elevator
> Grenades added around the map
> Railings added to the sides of the map

Build Smart!

Forge City is a collection of City-Style maps being forged by the Halo community. We're basically building different styles of Urban maps and "connecting" them together. To connect them, we must have a distinct location where another part of the map would go. The following map, Downtown, is one part of Forge City. For more details, visit this thread on Bungie.net.

Downtown is a metropolitan map loosely based off of Rat's Nest. It mimics a city block and centers around a couple of 2 story buildings with 5 explorable and realistic rooms. If you wish to bypass the image explanation, here's a Video Walkthrough on Youtube

In this thread, I've linked Version 4. There will be some minor differences between the images here, the video, and the final map, because they were taken between versions 2, 3, and 4. This map was built solely by me over the course of 8 hours. So without further ado, let's get the tour started!

From this angle, we see the left side of the Red Building. The gravity lift to the bottom corner takes you to the fire escape, which is also accessed from the second story of the building. Each building features a Garage, Storage Room, Lobby, Hallway, and a Diner, as you will see below.

Here's a back view of the Red Building (as in, where Red Team spawns). To the bottom right, you can see the Storage Room, which is where a Plasma Pistol, Spiker, and a Health Pack spawn. For objective games, the Stockpile, Flag, and Assault goals spawn here. You can hop right over to the Garage to mount a Mongoose or Warthog. The Hallway room on the bottom left cannot be accessed from the Garage due to a glass window. It leads to 7th Street in the middle of the map, and spawns 2 DMRs. If you take a sharp right from inside the Hallway, you can enter the Sunshine Breakfast. The Hallway now has a Window in it for cover.

The Diner above is the Evening Pub (bar), which establishes the nighttime setting of this side of the map. It and the Sunshine Breakfast were inspired by the diner from the TV show Seinfeld.

In this shot, we have a closer look at the bar counter. As homage to the cliche, the shotgun spawns behind there for the Bartender! Notice the Flatscreen TV in the background as well; Those little eye-catching and realistic details are what add depth to this map.

Sunshine Breakfast is the Diner on the opposite side of the street. Its most noticable difference is the Television being smaller and the light being Orange, as well as the sign being right-side up (to signify waking up).

Something interesting to note about the Sunshine side of the map is it's near the waterfall. This makes noise, adding to the "morning" vibe. In essence, this creates two distinct sides, since the Nighttime area is quieter.

Here's 7th street in all its glory.

The incline leads to the Underpass, which is a tunnel that houses a Gravity Hammer. Had Forge World come with an increased Budget, I would have extended the tunnel further and added more buildings to this side of the map.

The Bus Stop with Rockets. I've since remodeled the railings to free up Budget. Build smart! Remember, for Version 6, this and the Post Office have switched sides on the map, yet they retain their weapon placement.

The sidewalk of Red side.

This is a simple lobby that adds depth to the map. A healthpack spawns on the Brace, and a Sniper and Needle Rifle rest on the Banks you see immediately after arriving via the Elevator.

Directly in front of you by the crates is an open window, allowing you to shoot to the other team's Lobby. I originally had the Objectives spawn up here, but it can be easy to hold the buildings and it'll lead to slow gameplay. The second Story's main use is to access the Sniper or the Sky Bridge, which you see in the following shot. The Fire Escape has a Propane tank for that extra realism as well.

If the Sniper Rifle placement becomes a problem and people start sniping you as soon as you go up the elevator, I will add more cover to the Elevator and/or relocate the Sniper. Keep in mind that this map is still in the beta phases of testing.

Here's an overview of the map. This was an older version, and the garden in the building Lobbies has been replaced with the Brace tunnel (once again, build smart!) I've added an Overshield in the middle of the Skybridge as well, providing additional incentive to use the Lobbies. I just hope Bungie patches it so we can see the Overshield being used!

The Above image is of the Post Office, which houses a Turret and a few grenades. It's a simple yet unique structure that I try to incorporate on all my City maps. I've added rocks to the exterior since this photo. There are spawns set up for Green Team here.

This is the Tent, which houses a Grenade Launcher and a Flag in Stockpile.

Here's the run-down of what you can find on the map:

DMR x8
NR x6
Grenade Launcher x 2
Gravity Hammer x1
Rocket Launcher x1
Sniper Rifle x2
Plasma Pistol x2
Spiker x2
Needler x2
Shotgun x2
Warthog x2
Mongoose x2
Ghost x1
Concussion Rifle x1
Sticky Grenade x8
Frag Grenade x4

And there you have it! I have plenty more maps and films on my File Share, so feel free to browse around. I'm always open to feedback, suggestions, and ideas, so if you see anything you think could make the map better, don't hesitate to let me know. If you'd like to build a City map with me, send me a message on my GT.

Thanks Forgehub!!!