Sandbox Exhibition

Conkerkid11 · 07-12-2009

Exhibition, recently known as Velocity is a unique asymmetrical competitive map placed on the ground floor of Sandbox. The attacker and defender base fit in perfectly with the sandy atmosphere along with the cover. Exhibition is not your average two base asymmetrical Sandbox map. Exhibition looks and feels like it is another map of it's own. You will feel like it was sitting right next to Epitaph as an option in the pre-game lobby. The neatly geomerged bases make the map feel like it was a full map at one time... But over time was covered in sand. Don't be surprised if the aesthetics catch your eye in the middle of a battle rifle firefight. Just don't focus too much of your attention on the amazing structures though... This is still a serious fight. The attackers might have a slightly less distance to travel in order to reach the rocket launcher, but that doesn't mean they will be the first to get the rocket launcher. The defenders have catwalks to their advantage... The attackers have... Well, the ghost, and a couple less catwalks that lead out of their base. I'm pretty sure that your party will have a hard time letting go of Exhibition... Don't worry though. Exhibition plays out well with every gametype, so you'll be able to keep your party entertained for hours without ever having to switch the map.

The creation of Exhibition started about a month ago when we had lost our internet connection due to... Well. Exhibition started out as just another geomerged double box that represented the defender base. And if you have been following Velocity for as long as I've had it hidden on my hard drive, then you would know how much I struggled with coming up with the idea for the attacker base. At first I just started out with a geomerged large block that represented the attacker base, and then, like the defender base, I built on from there. The hand started out as four tear drop merged large blocks symmetrical to each other. From there I geomerged each at a box's height stacked on a tall box. The thumb was added recently when I remembered that hands have four fingers and a thumb. I was also recently told that the pinky finger is smaller than the rest of the fingers... I looked at my hand and realized my mistake. Just pretend it's a monter hand that has four of the same sized fingers and one odd looking thumb. Exhibition has been the toughest map to make because of all the accurate geomerging and interlocking... I'm glad the gameplay is as good as the map looks.

A famous aqueduct on Earth located in New Mombasa was the only source of storing water for the civilians that lived there. But on that nightmarish day when the forces of both Covenant and Brute armies rained down on Earth they destroyed everything. However the Brute Chieftain caught sight of this beautiful structure and had to have it. He ordered both Brute and Covenant forces to carry the aqueduct off to a specific location on The Ark. The Brute and Covenant forces did so, but without knowing that specific location was defended by Forerunner forces at the time. The Forerunners saw the aqueduct and recognized it as a structure they built a very long time ago that the Humans on Earth came and stole from them. The Forerunners opened a portal to Sandbox, and the aqueduct slipped through along with the Covenant and Brute forces. Anything living that had traveled with the aqueduct is long dead by now. But something tells us that the aqueduct is still there. Although hidden by the sands of time... It is still there...

I recommend playing with 8-12 players.
Exhibition plays with all default gametypes.
Battle Rifle Starts Are Required!

Assault
Exhibition works best with one-sided Assault matches due to the fact that it is an asymmetrical map. However Exhibition is set up for every Assault gametype. Teamwork is necessary when playing Assault, as the game plays out just like a VIP match. Each player on the attacker team must stick closely with the bomb carrier but not too close. Each player on the defender team must know the location of every power weapon on the map in order to gain the advantage. The needler, the rocket launcher, and the sniper rifle are the main weapons each player should look out for.
Capture The Flag
Just like Assault, Exhibition plays best with one-sided Capture The Flag matches. I, and others have found this to be Exhibition's sweet spot. Like most asymmetrical maps Capture The Flag is the favorite gametype among everybody in the crowd. Know your sniper rifle locations and that will make the biggest difference between winning or not.
Infection
The zombies spawn in the attackers base, and the humans spawn in the defenders base. Being that the defenders base is really huge, I'm sure you will get a kick out of this gametype! Whether it's Save One Bullet, or Hide And Seek. I'm sure you are your party will have a fun time!
Juggernaut
Exhibition is set up for Juggernaut but hasn't been tested yet. Most likely it will play out like it does on any other map you've played Juggernaut on. But who's to say it plays well on Exhibition?
King of The Hill
King of The Hill is either your favorite gametype or it's your least favorite. The hill locations are excellent but it all depends on what gametype the players favor the most. King of The Hill isn't my favorite on Exhibition, but it could be yours.
Oddball
The oddball is located in the middle of the map, and there is no way to get the oddball out of the map. With FFA I would try and keep the maximum amount of people at 6 or 7, but with teams it plays with the regular 8-12. I have found there to be no camping issues on the map, and there really isn't a superior place to keep the Oddball.
Slayer
The spawn points on Exhibition are set up for both FFA Slayer and Team Slayer. Although like on Guardian some players might spawn closer to a power weapon than others, you will face no spawn killing issues. For FFA I would keep the maximum amount of players at 8, and for team games it plays with the regular 8-12. Battle Rifle starts are highly recommended in every gametype, but for Slayer it matters the most.
Territories
Every type of Territories gametype works on Exhibition just fine. And I'm pretty sure it will be better than King of The Hill. Like I said, it all depends on what the players enjoy most. Every gametype is fun, but it all depends on each individual player's opinion.
VIP
Exhibition isn't set up for Rocket Race. But then again who attempts to play Rocket Race on a competitive map anyway? VIP plays out just like Assault but instead of a bomb carrier you have a VIP. And instead of the player picking up the bomb to become the bomb carrier, the player is randomly chosen upon death.

5 Battle Rifles - 30 Second Respawn - 2 Spare Clips
Yes, you may be wondering why there are so very few battle rifles on Exhibition. Well it's mainly because of the horrible item limit on Sandbox and the budget. If not for the OLN I could have continued placing battle rifles on Exhibition despite the budget. I was at $0 and yet battle rifles were still a placeable object. But due to the OLN I couldn't place any. So the problem was fixed by telling you Exhibition require battle rifle starts.
2 Shotguns - 90 Second Respawn - 1 Spare Clip
Despite the size of Exhibition there are still tight corners and places easy to hide in and pop out just to one shot the enemy without them even knowing it. Every map needs a shotgun, so why not have two of them?
2 Sniper Rifles - 120 Second Respawn - 1 Spare Clip
The mistake was not made where the defending team has a sniper rifle in their base. So thank me for that you pathetic attackers. But beware, this only happens in asymmetrical matches, in symmetrical matches each sniper rifle spawns in each base.
2 Brute Spikers - 90 Second Respawn - 1 Spare Clip
Every map needs dual wieldable weapons... Right AZN FTW?
2 Plasma Rifles - 90 Second Respawn
Like I said before... EVERY normal competitive map needs dual wieldable weapons...
Needler - 90 Second Respawn - 1 Spare Clip
I have had a needler in every one of my maps so far. So why not my best map?
2 Brute Shots - 120 Second Respawn - 1 Spare Clip
I was once told the defenders needed a weapon that would destroy the ghost. Well here you go... It's a shame you didn't notice it before. It's right in front of both bases!
Rocket Launcher - 120 Second Respawn - 1 Spare Clip
There was this guy who told me the rocket launcher needed to be moved somewhere else because the attackers could reach it before the defenders. I don't remember his name, but I tested his logic and both people who raced for it reached it at the same time. Unless you have a vehicle and the other guy doesn't, this is bound to be the hot spot for a couple minutes at a time.
3 Covenant Carbines - 30 Second Respawn - 2 Spare Clips
Their only on Exhibition because I know they are better than battle rifles. Pick it up... It won't bite you.
2 Maulers - 90 Second Respawn - 1 Spare Clip
I was almost tempted to rid Exhibition of both maulers when I found out nobody was using them. But then I was afraid the budget wouldn't come back. Nobody disliked them, right?
Ghost - 90 Second Respawn
This is what seperates an attacker from a defender. The defenders have a large base. The attackers have a ghost...
2 Warthogs - 150 Second Respawn
At first I had a ghost spawn at the defender base during asymmetrical games. But I had to get rid of it due to weapons on the map being more important. It's a shame to... It would make the gameplay so much better.
3 Frag Grenades and 4 Plasma Grenades
If you read the story the map is based around you would have realized both Covenant and Brute forces were a part of this map. But the Brutes lived longer than the Covenant forces and only their grenades were left behind... All the Covenant forces used their grenades to go kamikaze. Wait... No. A recent update just ruined this entire story. Sorry about that!
Bubble Shield - 60 Second Respawn
Out of all seriousness I have seen this used in every Capture The Flag match. I have no idea who finds it and throws it out there, but it just happens.
Trip Mine - 90 Second Respawn
Located nearest the attacker base this usually ends up blowing up their own ghost to tell you the truth...
Regenerator - 60 Second Respawn
Placed in the same spot it is placed on default Sandbox this will come in handy during every gametype. Just as long as you have a shotgun, mauler, oddbal, flag, etc...
Overshield - 120 Second Respawn
One of the most recently added gameplay changes to Exhibition is the overshield. The flag carrier picks it up as he's juggling the flag towards his base. The bomb carrier picks it up before planting the bomb, and the purple elite picks it up right before getting smashed by the ghost.
Power Drain - 90 Second Respawn
This can't effect gameplay much, can it? Well it does... It's placement is most excellent, provided that the attackers are headed the correct direction.
2 Mongooses - 30 Second Respawn
I was told that Exhibition needed mongooses, so here they are. Don't worry, nothing was removed from Exhibition to make way for these mongooses.

MAP UPDATES

Version 1.1 Update

Minor spawn issues fixed
Every spawn point moved
Sniper rifle at attacker base moved
Sniper rifle at defender base moved
More spike grenades placed around the map
Bubble shield moved
Second sniper rifle that spawned in asymmetrical games removed
Needler placed against cover
Shotgun at attacker base moved

Version 1.2 Update

Spawn points redone
King of The Hill hill locations redone
Sniper rifle at defender base set to spawn in both asymmetrical and symmetrical games
Shotgun at attacker base moved to opposite side
Plasma rifles at attacker base moved farther away

Version 1.3 Update

Spawn points redone again (Thanks Bartoge!)
Starting points not overlapping spawn points
Tunnel structures redone
Overshield structure created
Mauler placed where needler was
Needler placed where plasma rifles were
Plasma rifles placed next to trip mine
Rocket launcher placed on weapons holder
Power drainer and wall structure added near blue base
Regenerator placed underneath the arch by red base
Warthogs moved to more convenient places on Exhibition

ATLAS LINK

Phill3593 · 07-12-2009

Whoa-This looks like the best competitive map I've ever seen. The walkways are beautiful and the hand looks so awesome and unique. But the most incredible thing looks like the blue base. The walls and wedges are all perfectly geomerged. (from looks)I really am shocked. Yea, uhh-Flawless, Perfection, Epicness. I have never given a map over a perfect 5/5, but this one looks like it could top that. 5.1/5

Remember this is all from looks, I will get back to you on gameplay. Seriously though, everything looks phenominal. Wow, Wow . . . and WOW.

JumpMan · 07-12-2009

Great job. I saw the little sneak peak you made before, and i must say that this map is really well balanced and looks really fun to play on. All the geo merging must take forever though im sure it wa all worth it, this will be really fun to play on and looks really fun for assault.

RC · 07-12-2009

Well, it looks like you beat me to using a hand in a map... I'm still going to do mine though, its too far along to change now (don't worry, its a lot smaller than yours)

But seriously, this is very well forged. I know I am not patient enough to do that much geomerging, but you are I guess.

Good job, I love one sided ctf and king of the hill. Don't forget infection, everyone loves that.

abandoned heretic · 07-13-2009

Damn. All the overhead road areas make it feel like hang em high from previous halo games but it looks a hell of a lot better. I really could'nt imagine a gametype that could not work with that map. All of the structures look great. I want to get on it right now and play assault on it but I no longer have gold membership. Overall you presented it great like you usually do, and the map looks like something no one will be deleting soon.

Hey Its Landon · 07-13-2009

I checked this one out in forge right after i saw this post. The pictures impressed me a lot and I really want to get a game on the map but don't have many people to play it with =(. After looking at this creation of yours though, I thought it would play excellent with One Flag as you said.

Everything I saw was almost flawless and I loved the red base a lot. Your geomerging was top notch and there's not much I can complain about. Great map and keep up the good work. It should pay off one day.

Gollygeeanelite · 07-13-2009

My jaw dropped when I saw blue base. I will admit that I didn't reD the whole description but I did catch the weapons section. The map aesthetically looks amazing, and aesthetic maps are the only maps I like to play consistantly. They give you a drive of realism and are attractive to the forger. This map is a keeper 5/5 =D

xPromekx · 07-13-2009

.....WOW! Simply amazing, this map looks insane. The geomerging and interlocking looks near perfect and some of the ideas are incredible! I dont think I'll ever be able to come even close to this, you are a Pro forger, pure and simple.

Meteor · 07-13-2009

This looks brilliant and looks like it would play brilliantly. I love BTB maps that involve geo-merging (I am working on one myself, though I must say yours is much, much smoother) so you have my download. Blue base is fantastic.

I forsee this becoming another personal favourite like Celestial did :)

Cal · 07-13-2009

Very well detailed explanations of game variants. Thanks. I can see that you have put a lot of time and effort not only into the map itself, but the story and all other nice bits that this thread has. Imo, this map deserves a feature. Well done mate.