PLEASE NOTE:
Version 2.0 is available now, and is a new file. If you like the map, please bookmark the new version. There have been significant improvements to the performance, aesthetics and gameplay since release.

Robota is a symmetrical 2v2 map built for Slayer, CTF and Strongholds set in a droid factory. It was built for the HSFN November Forge-off put on by Halo Spark Forge Network, Creative Force and the Gravemind Community. You can find out more about the contest HERE. The challenge was to take a blockout by WhosBlaze and add art and weapons to it.
[FONT=Verdana][COLOR=#ff4d4d]_________[ART DESIGN]_________[/COLOR][/FONT]

The name "Robota" was taken from a multimedia art project by concept artist Doug Chiang, who has worked on the modern Star Wars movies as well as other films including Terminator 2. It is not an attempt to build anything from that project, but the name served as a jumping off point.

One of several pieces of retro sci-fi art that inspired me.

Chiang's work served as an inspiration for the design of the non humanoid droids on the map, but I also looked to several other pieces of retro science fiction art to nail down a style, including work done by Ralph McQuarrie. I colored the map in a way that's supposed to mimic the look of film stock from the 60s/70s.

Red base, looking towards mid.
[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=7]_________[GAMEPLAY]_________[/SIZE][/FONT]

One of my favorite parts about designing this map was that Blaze's initial blockout was built in a way that allowed for a variety of weapon and game mode placements. It's a symmetrical map that could conceivably be rotated in a few different ways depending on where you want the center line to be. After a number of different layouts, I settled on bases and weapon positions that featured the two exposed walkways on opposite sides of the map.

A Hydra spawns on the top of the walkway near red side.

The walkways were non ideal locations for flags, since there could be an easy capture right across top mid, but the amount of effort required to get onto the mid level ramp and clamber up on to each one seemed to give a risk / reward factor that made them good power item spots.

A Barbed Lance spawns on the walkway near blue side.

I also placed an OS in bottom mid to draw players towards the center of the map.

Overshield spawns in bottom mid.

There are two Splinter Grenades on the map, which I've placed in exposed windows that are hard to get to. There are also 2 classic sight BRs on the level. At red and blue bases are Storm rifles, which spawn with half power.

[FONT=Verdana][COLOR=rgb(255, 77, 77)][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=7]_________[WEAPONS]__________[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR]

Weapon spawn times are for the most part set to standard matchmaking settings, but clips and times have been adjusted in some cases.[/FONT]

Weapon Set"
POWER ITEMS:
Barbed Lance - 2 Clips - 180 sec
Hydra - 2 Clips - 120 sec
Overshield - 120 sec

STANDARD WEAPONS:
Classic Sight BR (x2) - 2 clips - 20 sec
Storm Rifles (x2) - 50% power - 45 sec
Brute Plasma Rifle (x2) 50% power - 20 sec
Splinter Grenade (x2) - 20 sec
Plasma Grenade (x2) - 20 sec

Although this contest has been over for a long time, I occasionally tweak and update my levels to keep them fresh. If you have ANY feedback whatsoever, please let me know.