_____________________

Hello, Forge Hub community. My name is Jester, and today I am making my fifth contribution to the Forge Hub.
With the new Fx filters available in the Legendary map pack, the infection game-type has been revitalized. I have played several of these "sunset" game-types, and all of them have horrible balance issues. I thought to myself, "I bet I could make a balanced dark infection course!" And so I did. I am proud to present Pitch Black to the Forge Hub Community.

Game-type: Nightfall

The zombies are slightly stronger than usual, so surviving relies more on teamwork than on firepower.

Human attributes:

Normal health, no shields
Normal gravity and speed
No motion tracker
Magnum
Forced color: White

Infected attributes:

110% movement speed, 75% gravity
90% health, no shields
Forced color: Black
Alphas have poor active camouflage
Energy sword

Custom power-up attributes:

Good active camouflage
Duration: 90 secs

Phases of play
Each round lasts 7 minutes, 6 rounds in all.

Duration: 1 Minute

During the daytime, humans are safe from infection, as the infected are confined until dusk. Day is a time for humans to gather weapons for the coming night. Rest assured, there is NO ARMORY on Pitch Black. Instead, weapons are scattered throughout the map, and all of them have low ammunition (NO EXTRA CLIPS). Humans must scramble to acquire enough supplies to survive the nighttime.

Duration: 1 Minute

As dusk falls, the infected are released. Gravity lifts spawn and move the obstructions in their way and allow them to begin their assault. For the humans, dusk is a warning to find cover and get ready for nightfall. The infected are not too much of a threat, unless you get careless. Find your buddies, and get ready for a sleepless night.

Duration: 5 Minutes

Nightfall comes, and the living quake with fear. With almost no visibility, humans must rely on keen senses to keep them alive. Flares can be found in several of the hiding places, and they re-spawn every 30 seconds, so use them often. The flares, as well as fire, allow brief visibility; but be warned, your night vision is destroyed for a few seconds after they go out, leaving you blind.
Weapons can be found inside the hiding places, but all have only one clip, and NEVER re-spawn. If you failed to gather enough ammo to make it through the night, your only option is a risky excursion outside, as the weapons outside the hiding spots re-spawn with the nightfall.

3 minute mark/ 6 minute mark

Just to spice things up a little, two custom power-ups spawn after 3 minutes at the exits to the infected re-spawn areas. These power-ups give whichever infected who gets them first a minute and a half of invisibility. The reason for this is to give the game a "Jump start". Nobody likes a boring game, and these power-ups allow the infected to take care of seemingly invulnerable campers, as it is nearly impossible to see them. They spawn again at 6 minutes to jolt the end of the game.

Map: Pitch Black
Please join me for a tour of the map.

1) This is where humans start, at their crashed ship. The ship may be tempting to camp in, but dual shield doors ensure that anyone stupid enough to will soon join the ranks of the dead.

The crashed ship.

What happens to ship campers...

2) The tunnels here house a shotgun and a flare. They get EXTREMELY dark at nightfall, but are easily defendable, as only two entrances are open. The outside of this area contains nothing but scenery.

The tunnels at day.

Time to find a hiding spot.

3) This hallway has only two approaches, but both have plenty cover. The shorter hallway is well illuminated at night, but the longer one is pitch black. A turret that does NOT re-spawn sits in the corner. The infected may try to get you through the fence, but never fear, you are out of reach.

Two humans under siege in the corner.

4) This is the main hiding spot for humans, but not the most wise. There are three entrances into the main room, where the flare spawns. The lower level is only accessible through the hole in the floor, but it is a rather large hole and thus not easily defendable. On the plus side, a flamethrower spawns (but does not re-spawn) in the basement, but watch the propane tanks! Remember: you have no shield.

Covering the rather large hole.

The flamethrower cannot always save you.

5) This is one of the more defendable areas. There is only one entrance into the "cellar", but the infected can break through the back wall with enough time. A flare and a battle rifle make this a nice hiding spot, but it is also uncomfortably close to the first zombie spawn.

A flare illuminated the entrance to the cellar.

Fire creates a barrier and provides light.

Don't get too comfy; watch your back at all times.

6) The warehouse area is another spawn point for the infected. To reach it they must go through a one way teleporter. A shotgun spawns in here, as well as a SMG and a flare. Another hiding spot is available for use, but it is extremely close to the infected spawn, meaning you will have little time between attacks.

The warehouse is disturbingly quiet at night...

The hiding spot houses an SMG and a flare.

P.S: For those who want to complain about the pictures being too dark...do I even need to finish this disclaimer?

Author's note: I have been terrified before while playing Halo 3. Last TGIF my party played "Peasant Hunt" on "The Lost Chamber," a particularly frightening experience. I can say without reservation that "Nightfall" on "Pitch Black" is just as mind-numbingly scary. I screamed like a little girl, hopefully you will too!

DOWNLOAD Nightfall
DOWNLOAD Pitch Black