WWBD (What Would Bungie Do?)

[Predicide]

Here's my attempt at offering some sound advice for forging. This is directed more at unexperienced/beginning forgers.

When forging a new map, ask yourself "What would Bungie Do?" What I'm trying to say by this is that if you want to see some patterns that work, just load up any default map configuration. Notice a few things.

1. How many use teleporters? Answer: (Avalanche/CS Edit) 2, and zero before any DLC was released. Teleporters are never used in default maps for a reason. They are problematic. Teleporters provide rapid transportation, but can be disorienting. It's harder for a new player to get used to the space of a map when teleporters are involved, and let's face it, when you forge a map, it's new, even if a player is familiar with the dafault version. Teleporters have been wisely replaced in Halo 3 with the man-cannon. Obviously, teleporters are way cooler and sci-fi-ish (???), but man-cannons are much more functional for gameplay reasons. Bungie was gracious enough to allow teleporters to be used in forge. By all means, use them, but only when it makes sense to. And use them sparingly.

2. Objectives. Have you ever deleted all bomb spawns and bomb plants you didn't want only to find that when you reloaded your map, they had been replaced? Well, the game insists that there be a certain number of them. Look at a default map to find out how many symetrical and asymetrical objectives for attackers, defenders, and both are needed at a minimum. If this is still confusing (I still get confused by it), there is a quick fix. Say your map is only for asymetrical games and you don't want to see the symetrical spawns in forge. Instead of deleting them over and over, just hide them. They won't appear if you play the appropriate gametype. Make sure to do a test run to see if you got this right. Also remember that this will make your map unplayable on symetrical games, but if that's your intention, no prob.

Edit: here is a list of the minimums that will be replaced if you delete them.
CTF: 2 flag spawns, 2 flag plants. 1 of each for attackers and defenders
Oddball: 1 ball spawn
KOTH: 1 hill marker
VIP: 1 go-to point
Juggernaut: 1 go-to point
Territories: 1 territory marker. make sure if you only have 1, the symmetry is set to "both"
Assault: 2 bomb plants, 3 bomb spawns. same as CTF but you need a neutral spawn as well
Everything else (starting points, respawn areas, etc.) can be deleted and the game won't replace them.

3. Grenades. Ever notice that on the default maps, there either frags and plasmas OR frags and spikes? I wonder what this could be telling you. Maybe after lots of play testing, Bungie figured out that games were more fun and balanced (grenade spamming, anyone?) if players were only able to carry 2 sticky grenades and 2 frags, instead of 4 stickies and 2 frags.

4. Spawns, weapons, vehicles, etc..... Just look for yourself at the defaults to see what Bungie considers to be balanced and sensable in many differant aspects.

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Disclaimers

A. I'm not an expert, and in many of my maps it seem that I could have followed my own advice.

B. Also, obviously, the defaults are not the only resource. There is actually a bountiful collection right here on Forge Hub. Just check the featured maps section.

C. I am aware that many of Bungie's "decisions" about weapons and spawn points have had their fair share of criticism. In that case, WWBD is also a great opportunity for some good jokes, and I want to hear them.

[Titmar]

Good tutorial and a good post. You have my approval.

[Poztar]

All good advice. Nice job.

[TXGhost]

Very nice. I hate playing maps with an excessive amount of teleporters for no real reason. And grenade spamming is just not cool. Good post.

[RubbrDuckE]

Good advise. I agree teleporters just don't fit in most maps. Ive seen them in plenty of maps and they stand out and usually look out of place.

[FallDamage]

good advice bout the grenades, also is it just me or do the grenades have different trajectories making it harder to stick. so only having one sticky makes it a little less confusing.

[the other dark]

Those are some pretty good points. I'll take those into account when making maps.

[Reap3r 13]

I agree with everything. But don't do what Bungie does with spawn points or you'll be walking into walls

[Killer678]

I totally agree with this. Especially the tele part.

[G043R]

There is also a really good thing to note with numbers on bungie maps. Like for example how many Grenade Spawn points on a map there is about 8 sets of 2 usually set up... 4 of each type... 6 sets on others...