https://dl.dropbox.com/u/25717477/Halo Reach/Kiparis final/Kiparis - final title mid.jpg
This ocean resort still floats at sea, awaiting those who perished searching for it.

Although not immediately visible, Kiparis was heavily inspired by Last Exit from ODST. More than just the firefight map, bits of all the architecture of ODST shows up in the map, with a distinctly human element of railed walkways and right angles combined with the occasional circle. In fact, little more than the perimeter walkways and the central gazebos mimic Last Exit. The raised walkways that figure so prominently in Kiparis are seen throughout ODST, most notably in another firefight map, Crater. Even so, Kiparis has its own unique structure despite being what looks like a typical symmetrical map. The unique structure is what I wanted to create most for Kiparis instead of ripping structures off other maps. In addition, rather than building structures in the middle of a map, to protect infantry, and leaving space around them for vehicles like most big team battle maps such as Sand Trap and Rat's nest, I took the approach of putting vehicles in the middle with cover for infantry around the sides. This strategy keeps vehicles as the focus of any game on Kiparis without them being too overpowering or completely separate from infantry.

Kiparis is a completely symmetrical map designed to support large parties for BTB. A bit more than the average circular or figure eight map, Kiparis has three loops to keep those warthogs busy and hopefully keep tread marks off your visor. In addition to the open roads, Kiparis features elevated walkways around its entire perimeter, safe from all but the most brazen, and suicidal, drivers. In addition to the pair of warthogs, two ghosts and four mongooses encourage you to look both ways for those offensive drivers. Sniper rifles, grenade launchers, concussion rifles, and the coveted rocket launcher give vehicles a reason to watch out too, but watch your ammo counter because it won't last forever.

Light Weapons
16 DMRs
8 Needle Rifles
4 Needlers
4 Assault RiflesPower Weapons
2 Sniper Rifles
2 Grenade Launchers
2 Concussion Rifles
1 Rocket LauncherEquipment
8 Frag Grenades
4 Plasma Grenades
4 Health PacksVehicles
4 Mongooses
2 Warthogs
2 Ghosts

Kiparis plays best for capture the flag, always a BTB favorite, with the flags, "blowing in the breeze, in clear view of the other team," almost taunting them to come grab it, but beware, the defenders have a clear view of it too and snipers will gladly fill the unwary rusher's head with high velocity armor piercing rounds. The last five feet really are the hardest here, walking across the open roof just hoping the enemy sniper doesn't spot you. Kiparis also excels in assault, where everyone will find out how defensible the gazebos really are when trying to plant the bomb. Even Rocket Race is a blast--literally--if anyone has a real need for speed and rocket launchers. Of course Kiparis supports everything else and is by no means boring with any gametype, but those are some of my favorites. If you're missing any of the BTB gametypes, you can download them below.

Now without further ado, the only map I have put more than a few hours into and still managed to finish. To spare everyone hours of scrolling and loading 50 images, I only embedded the layout images and put the rest in this awesome slideshow so you can sit back, relax, and let flickr save your hand from carpel tunnel syndrome. Enjoy.

Special thanks to everyone who put up with this in the many stages of me breaking one thing when I fix another. I could name all the people who helped test since the first TGIF when I unveiled it, two and a half months ago, but that would take all day. Including everyone who clamored for a wraith on here. Sorry guys, but that's just not happening. In case you missed it, another download link for the map and standard Big Team Battle gametypes.