Author:
Uc Gollum

Map Name:
Refraction

Canvas:
Foundry

Map Size:
Small

Player count:
2-6

What gametype(s) does your map support?:
All, excluding FFA

http://www.bungie.net/forums/posts.aspx?h3fileid=44302742

Jump Ahead:
Custom Variant
Description
Weapons & Equipment Listing
Screenshots
Action Shots
Special Thanks

__________________________________________________
Custom Variant:

Regeneration
This gametype is Team Slayer with a twist. The hills gives you 200% shield regeneration and 90% damage resistance. First team to 50 points wins.
After seeing an article about blocking off your map with Koth, i remembered that you can have On Hill traits. This gave me the idea of having "regeneration zones." As it is Koth, there is only 1 hill which you may have move. This game variant can be used with any map with Koth objective spawns. It would also be cool to see a map primarily based around this (this map is not...although it is possible i could slightly alter it to be).
______________________________________
Description:

I began this a while ago (April) right before finishing Descent. I planned on making an Epitaph-like level and adding some cool features i had planned in my mind.

The only way this is like Epitaph now is in the side hallways of the level. There is also a rocket/fuel rod cannon in the middle.

Refraction consists of two identical bases, two slightly altered halls, and a middle area with a bridge created from stairs. The entire map is un-Foundry-like. Most of the map is made of curves and different angles, making it a really fun map for grenade bouncing. I used almost all of the immovable objects possible to forge this map (didn't use 12 bridges and the non-building materials ie. man-cannon).

In the construction of Refraction, i (obviously) used plenty of interlocking and geomerging. Just about everything is slightly interlocked with its surrounding objects to prevent grenades, flags, oddballs, bombs, etc. from accidentally falling through. Objects, such as walls/ double walls, are also interlocked minutely into the ground to prevent grenades from slipping through the small crack.

Near the end of Refraction's construction, i got bored and created Hone Your Jump (i get new ideas and become distracted...). After finishing Hone Your Jump, I continued Refraction, and with the help of Fallenrat (thanks for helping me finish this map), a double wall was horizontally merged with the crane (to finish last hallway). We also had the idea for spawns (along with blocking off a way out of the map). As in Terminal (from H2), there are upper level rooms above the bases. These are "safe" spawns and they help a lot with reducing spawn kills. Even if you are spotted spawning up there, you may run further back in your fence box and throw your 2 default grenades + 1 frag (to push back the enemy).
__________________________________________________
Weapons:
Near the end of my map, during weapon selection, i had a new idea (well, one i had never seen). Weapon switching. In this map, the Rocket Launcher will never respawn and instead, a Fuel Rod Cannon will. This also happens with the snipers. The Beam Rifle will switch to a Sniper Rifle.

Weapon/Respawn Time/Total On Map/Run-Time Maximum
SMG (2 spare clips)_____10 seconds_____2 on map_____4 Max
Magnum (2 spare clips)_____45 seconds_____2 on map_____4 Max
Plasma Rifle_____20 seconds_____2 on map_____4 Max
Plasma Pistol_____90 seconds_____2 on map_____4 Max
Battle Rifle (2 spare clips)_____90 seconds_____1 on map_____2 Max
Carbine (2 spare clips)_____90 seconds_____1 on map_____2 Max
Sniper Rifle (1 clip)_____150 seconds_____2 on map_____2 Max
Beam Rifle_____Never_____2 on map_____2 Max
Rocket Launcher (0 clips)_____Never_____1 on map_____1 Max
Fuel Rod Cannon (0 clips)_____120 seconds_____1 on map_____1 Max
Needler (2 spare clips)_____60 seconds_____2 on map_____4 Max
Assault Rifle (2 spare clips)_____30 seconds_____2 on map_____4 Max

Plasma Grenade_____45 seconds_____4 on map_____8 Max
Fragmentation Grenade_____30 (4)-45 (4)seconds_____8 on map_____10 Max

Bubble Shield_____90 seconds_____1 on map_____2 Max

__________________________________________________
Screen Shots:

Description is above the screenshots

Blue Side
This is the blue side. It is easily signified by its tower holding 3 invisibility power-ups, along with a single invisibility power-up located directly above the dumpster (in base). A beam rifle is located on the wall at Flag spawn. This Beam Rifle switches over to a Sniper Rifle after 150 seconds.

On the double box on the right side of the base (our perspective), an SMG with 10 second respawn can be seen. On the opposite double box, a Needler with a 60 second respawn can also be seen. The bridge near the Needler is the most used route to the Rocket/Fuel Rod Cannon located in the center of the map.

Defender's Base
This is a close up picture of the base located on Blue side. In asymmetrical games, this is the Defender's base. Again, you can see the Beam Rifle, which eventually switches to a Sniper Rifle. In addition, two fragmentation grenades spawn every 45 seconds in front of the dumpster.

On the sides of the base, fence wall ramps can be used to reach the second floor. From here, you may jump to the Sniper Platform/Flag Spawn, or you can enter either the Crane, or the Curved, Hall. There is also a path leading to the Rocket Bridge on the Crane Hall side (of Blue Base).

Above the Sniper Platform is a fence box. This is the "Safe Spawn." It is not safe at the beginning, when the Rocket Launcher is active (2 shots, no extra clips). A lone fragmentation grenade is located on either side of the Safe Spawns (there is a divider in the middle).

Red Side
This is the red side. It is easily signified by its tower holding 3 overshield power-ups, along with a single overshield power-up located directly above the dumpster (in base). This side of the map is also more shaded, giving it a "darker" feel. A beam rifle is located on the wall at Flag spawn. This Beam Rifle switches over to a Sniper Rifle after 150 seconds.

On the double box on the right side of the base (our perspective), an SMG with 10 second respawn can be seen. On the opposite double box, a Needler with a 60 second respawn can also be seen. The bridge near the Needler is the most used route to the Rocket/Fuel Rod Cannon located in the center of the map.

Attacker's Base
This is a close up picture of the base located on Red side. In asymmetrical games, this is the Attacker's base. Again, you can see the Beam Rifle, which eventually switches to a Sniper Rifle. In asymmetrical gametypes, there is neither a Beam Rifle, nor a Sniper Rifle at this base. As with the opposing base, two fragmentation grenades spawn every 45 seconds in front of the dumpster.

On the sides of the base, fence wall ramps can be used to reach the second floor. From here, you may jump to the Sniper Platform/Flag Spawn, or you can enter either the Crane, or the Curved, Hall. There is also a path leading to the Rocket Bridge on the Curved Hall side (of Red Base).

Above the Sniper Platform is a fence box. This is the "Safe Spawn." It is not safe at the beginning, when the Rocket Launcher is active (2 shots, no extra clips). A lone fragmentation grenade is located on either side of the Safe Spawns (there is a divider in the middle).

Safe Spawns (Third Floor for Each Base)
The Safe Spawns consist of two interlocked fence boxes. Each fence box extends out a little ways, narrowing as it goes. At the farthest point of each fence box, a fragmentation grenade spawns every 30 seconds.

The only time this is not safe is when the Rocket Launcher is active (only 2 shots, 0 clips). Although it is safe, it is not impenetrable. A single grenade jump will land you up here. Grenades may also be thrown into, Rockets/Fuel Rods shot up into, and bullets shot through these areas.
For the most part, you are less likely to die, but you cannot camp.

Center Overview
This is an overview of the central room. It is aimed towards the Blue Side. On the bottom-left side & mid-right side of the picture, you can see a tower of barriers. I haven't seen this before, so i thought it'd look cool.

In the middle of the central room is the Rocket Bridge. It is made from 4 Stairs, combining the largest acute angle with the right angle to create a parallel plane. Geometry (Remember? <A+<B+<C = 180)!!

The Rocket Launcher in the middle has no extra clips, thus giving it 2 shots. Once it has been used, a Fuel Rod Cannon takes its place instead. This Fuel Rod Cannon has no extra clips (total of 5 shots) and it respawns every 120 seconds.

Underneath the Rocket Bridge and directly below the Roadblock is a Bubble Shield. This is the only (usable) equipment on the map. It respawns every 90 seconds. The neutral bomb/flag objective point also spawns here.

Rocket Bridge
This is another view of the Rocket Bridge. Here you can get a better view its geometry.

Curved Hall
This is the curved hall. If you were to look at Blue Base from Red Base, the Curved Hall would be to your right. If you were to look at Red Base from Blue Base, the Curved Hall would be located to your left.

The Curved Hall holds a Battle Rifle (2 extra clips) that respawns every 90 seconds. Two plasma grenades spawn adjacent to the Battle Rifle every 45 seconds.

From atop the bridge, near the Battle Rifle spawn, you can view a large portion of the center area via windows. You may also shoot anyone in your sights. Two spawn points are located underneath the bridge and between the stairs.

Crane Hall
This is the crane hall. If you were to look at Blue Base from Red Base, the Crane Hall would be to your left. If you were to look at Red Base from Blue Base, the Crane Hall would be located to your right.

The Crane Hall holds a Carbine (2 extra clips) that respawns every 90 seconds. Two plasma grenades spawn adjacent to the Carbine every 45 seconds.

From atop the bridge, near the Carbine spawn, you can view a large portion of the center area via windows. You may also shoot anyone in your sights. Two spawn points are located underneath the bridge and between the stairs.

Warped Wall (...look here -- Red Side-- in game to view it...)
This is the Warped Wall, well, in the game. Via screenshots the wall looks perfectly straight, but for some odd reason, and depending on your angle of view, the lines and shape of objects will alter.

It is not as much warped, as it is curved, but warped sounds so much better. The best angle I have viewed it from is the one in this picture.
The lines on the wall (top half) will curve to the left, the top half of the columns will be slightly concave, and the edge of the box (on the right) will be slightly concave in a small area. It is not much, but it is cool and noticeable.

I discovered this when placing the bridge seen above. For some reason it just wouldn't stay straight. There would always be a slight disfiguration near the end at the double box, creating a slight bump. This was really, really bugging me. I finally looked to check if my doors were off-centered (one of my door techniques I use for intersecting...), and then WTF?? My doors were bent. A lot. My friend was there, and when I pointed it out to him, he laughed and said that sucks, but it's cool.

Something really weird is that when i name a map, I name it long before I get close to finishing. This was named Refraction (i remembered it from something --science, I later discovered via Google define search--) before I discovered this "glitch."
Google Definition Here
In a very general way, it is the bending of light. It may have little to do with this glitch, but it is a funny coincidence.

Outside the Map (just a glimpse at its intricacy)
This is just an outside look (the largest I could get) of my map. It took forever to make this map, but I'm glad I did = ). The Curved Hall was definitely one of the most difficult things I've had to forge.

Action Shots:

Special Thanks to:(i thought i was forgetting something)
Fallenrat, for helping me with spawns, weapons (i think), and horizontal geomerging a double wall with the crane. You got me past a huge nuisance which I had little motivation to attempt. I probably wouldn't have finished this map as early as today.
ShellShockNinja... For wasting lots and lots of time with me jumping around my map and circles (lol). I don't know if we ever got anything done. He also supported me and agreed with most or all of my ideas.
KMandSW for being there for nearly every play test.
A lot of people at Halo3Forgery for support & testing.
Whoever else i did not mention because of the extensive amount of time i created this map, thanks.

Dented_Drum, for helping me vastly improve my posts.