Sandbox Plex

[Solo]

Forged by ZoroSeerus, TKS x MoNsTeR x, Soloist
Design by ZoroSeerus
Title banner and headers doctored by ZoroSeerus
Credit for weapon and game type .gif(s) goes to © Bungie, LLC

After a lengthy hiatus, the intangible trio that is Zoro, Monster, and myself broke out the hammer and chisel once again. This time on Sandbox; in the fiery depths of the crypt. We struggled for months attempting seemingly impossible projects requiring an absurd amount of budget, which only plagued us with ambiguous problems. Although I cannot exactly speak on behalf of the other two individuals, I believe it was in our best interest as a group to gear the focus towards Plex. What we ultimately gained from our decision includes a bold new layout with unparalleled nonlinear game play. Plex also treats players to a well integrated MLG weapon set. Now, combing Zoro's talents as a competitive map designer along with our group's skills and efforts in the Forge, this new installment is presented to you with superior standards.

Plex is setup for Team Slayer, Neutral Assault, and CTF Multi-Flag. All of which are to be played in conjunction with MLG settings. A full party of eight people is recommended, as the map covers the entire allotted space of the crypt. If you would like to attempt a 3v3 game, be my guest. But be aware that the nature of smaller groups promotes an offset in this behemoth's equilibrium. The moral of the story is, kids, invite all of your friends to the party if you plan on giving this baby a go!

(Click the links below to download each game type)

Slayer

Like I said, keep the party to eight people for this one, as well as the following game types. Know your way around the map in order to time the sniper rifles and custom power up.


Capture the Flag

For capture the flag, MLG 5 Flag is recommended. You may be thinking, dude, how am I going to last five flag captures on a full-crypt map? You'd actually be surprised at how quick teams will score, and the amount of intensity coming from your teammates calling out opponents or weapon spawns. CTF is glorious, give it a try!


Assault

We set up three (3) bomb-plant areas on the bases to give players a little more freedom to dodge enemy fire while still being able to successfully arm the bomb. It really blends well with the lines of sight, and I'm extremely pleased with the outcome of the technique.

Below, we've included an accurate SketchUp model key for better understanding of the weapon placement. Here is the overview:

The weapons placed on Plex are as follows:
Name - Quantity on map - Respawn Time - Extra Clips

Battle Rifle - 4 - 10 - 2
Well, it's the weapon you spawn with. The BR's placed on the map are really just for extra ammunition. The BR is unstoppable if you can keep steady aim.

Covenant Carbine - 2 - 60 - 2
These are valuable in the sense that there are only two of these present in Plex, so use them wisely. Maneuver your way to either purple or yellow side platforms to snag them.

Sniper Rifle - 2 - 180 - 1
A controversial weapon, indeed. The LOS blockers implemented on Plex prevent overpowering snipers, so you'll be fabricating all kinds of ways to demolish the enemy team.

Fragmentation Grenade - 4 - 30 - N/A
There are two frag grenades underneath each base. Make sure you don't disregard them during game!

Plasma Grenade - 4 - 30 - N/A
Along with the stock fragmentation grenades, plasma's make the perfect duo. When carefully executed, a well placed grenade can be devastating.

Custom Power-Up - 1 - 120 - N/A
Grab this and use it to your advantage. Retrieving the custom powerup will alleviate any stress from snipers of the opposing team. Be careful not to burn it however, as it floats above the jump-up underneath top-middle.

Julian's Thoughts (Solo)

I wrote the above opening statement from a first person point of view, but there are without a doubt, more details to reveal. To start off, I've been working with Monster for around two years now, and have released two maps with him over that course of time. After the work we did on Syndicate and Stockade, I knew I had to offer him a position in the labor of Plex. With his attention to close detail, and persistent painstaking precision, the decision to have him contribute to this project obviously paid off. As for Zoro, I came in contact with him around January when I began conceptualizing my MLG map now known as Exodus. In it's primary stages, Lockdown co-creator Kronic Smoke was the one I was working closely with to bounce ideas back and forth. He later departed from the project for personal reasons. Soon after, Zoro was introduced to the map and offered his assistance on some of the finishing geometry attributes, which I am still grateful for. Now, the direction we have gone layout wise with Plex was made far easier granted that Zoro had it pre-designed. Prior to this release, I don't know how many times I kicked this kid in the ass to get in gear, buckle down, and get it done. Somehow, it worked. You're looking at the finished product, folks. Every piece you see here represents compromise among all three of us. Nobody truly remembers how it happened, or who did what, but it persists to be the most complex Forge creation I've ever been involved with. Take it easy everyone, enjoy the map, I need a Rolling Rock.

Scott's Thoughts (Zoro)

Plex, well where can I start? I started designing this map when I thought making a design where it wasn't a "2 base 2 tower" kind of design (Basically because of Tak and Ciabatta). I also wanted to try to go for a nice 4way, instead of doing an inverse sym map, and seeing as how it has no side towers, that was easy. When I was designing Plex, I wanted walkways that weren't that big, because I wanted you to have to keep moving and not really hold anything. I also did not realize how HUGE the crypt is, and how massive the bases would be, but I still like them. I also tried to incorporate a lot of "weird" ways around kind of. For example, the ramps right above the colored slide jumps have a ramp going up to them. Ok, well enough of my rambling, go try out Plex for yourself. Overall, Plex is a great map, I would know, I designed it =P.

Scott's Thoughts (Monster)

Plex has probably been my favorite, yet hardest map I've ever been a part of. Solo and Zoro first came to me with the design quite a while back. I was astonished at the lines of sight and very, very unique structures, especially how the bases and top mid connect together through series of walkways. I immediately joined into the process of creating this masterpiece. We started building Plex and, to be honest, we hit some bumps in the road, with the MLG map pack and all. However, we kicked it in high gear and began to go to work on our little gem set in the crypt of Sandbox. I hope you all feel the same great love that we feel for this map. Enjoy!

In case you missed it up top,

[Devil95]

Oh so close, Sorry Dude your Download Link isn't working. Better fix it. I dont happen to have something to help sorry about that. But this map looks very confusing. Lots of walkways. Very smooth. Nice Job. 5/5

[DeKnoZx]

The post looks extremely good and well put together. I love seeing threads that look clean and get to the point as well as containing a clear explanation of how everything goes along with the map.
Now about the map itself, the last time I saw this map in forge it was about three-quarters away from being completed and just from there it looked great. Can't wait to see this thing in map and forge, and then i'll leave some more feedback before MW2...

Need some download links dude... ;]

[Solo]

Thanks. :) You guys are now set to download the map.

Zonked, did you add me back yet on XBL?

[HSDSETH]

Absolutly amazing! I love all of the intricate walkways and bridges. The forging was masterfully done and obviously took a long time to build. 4.9/5

[RehnX]

I like it.

The only time I played it was before the snipers were placed and I definitely think slayer is its strongest gametype. The walkways make being sneaky with the flag too easy(I remember being behind the other team with their flag just moving from box-to-box and was able to make it all the home to score).

The spawns are nice, in the 4 games we played I only had one or two "WTF" moments.

OV, I am not sure about..It worked great..When it wasn't burned(Read:once), and I am guessing the snipers will make it be burned even mroe often.

And the map itself just looks good.

5/5

[MisterRemy]

Very scaffolding-like from what I can see. I like it alot, and it definetely has it's own unique style to it. I'll check it out in more depth in a little while and update my post later. Very nice presentation too.

EDIT: Alright, I checked it out and overall it seems very decent. I don't know 100% how it would play, but some of the areas are quite open, and accessibilty to the block-high parts of the map is nice, but seems limited.

I <3 those upper window structures, it reminds me of amplified almost (Like a high point to lockdown the base and put shots on people.) Alot of the map reminds me of assembly because of the lower sneaky areas (towards the outside of the middle) and the higher, more exposed pathways in the center. I like alot of the jump-ups and those arch-type structures that protrude from the walls.

Anyway, I like how unique it is. Your forging seems Halo 2 enspired for some reason.

Good job, matey.

[DeKnoZx]

Originally Posted by Solo

Thanks. :) You guys are now set to download the map.

Zonked, did you add me back yet on XBL?

At my moms for the weekend so I won't be back on until sunday afternoon or sunday night... Ill add you and monster back when I get on.

[ZoroSeerus]

To bunnies, we might try ffa snipes later in the week.

[TKS x MoNsTeR x]

Originally Posted by MisterRemy

Very scaffolding-like from what I can see.

First off Remy, thanks for the good, lengthy post (that I deleted out of this quote).

But what on earth are you talking about.. very scaffolding-like.. that is?