Published August 23, 2007

One of the most surprising and intriguing features of Halo® 3 is the Forge, which may be the first "social" mission editor. Forge lets you place and move objects around the game's multiplayer maps, which can totally change the gameplay and goals from the original missions.

Objects and Objectives
Forge isn't a map editor in the sense of deforming or adding terrain. You won't flatten mountains, drop in new buildings, or re-route rivers. Instead, it lets you move around the map and place weapons, vehicles, equipment, scenery objects, teleporters, and spawn points. Wonder how the Snowbound map would play if there are a pair of Brute Choppers on the map, and a single Spartan Laser hidden behind a rock? Forge lets you find out.

Now what's handier than being able to summon a Scorpion battle tank at will?

Editing a map couldn't be easier. When the level loads, you appear as a Spartan. Run around and find what you want to change, then press up on the D-pad. Instantly you're changed into a Monitor—a floating orb that can add, remove, and move objects at will. Drop a vehicle here, remove a weapon there, stack a pile of crates to provide cover over here, and move all the spawn points to high ground. Press the D-pad again, you're back in your Master Chief helmet, and you can run around and try out your new toys.

Taking a shot at a Monitor as another prepares to drop a crate.

Social Map Editing
It's not a Halo game without multiplayer elements, so you can invite up to seven of your friends into Forge. Work cooperatively to build the ultimate Valhalla battle map, or take sides and let each team build up their defenses. The great thing about Forge is that everything works, even in editing mode. So as your friend is merrily piling up crates, you can hop into a Wraith and start blasting him from across the battlefield. Or better yet, sneak up above him and just drop a Scorpion battle tank on his head.

A teammate takes a ride on a flying crate.

Multiplayer possibilities abound, and they're all up to you. For instance, you could set up a game where you only allow the party leader to edit the mission. So the multiplayer combat would progress normally, except that there would be a Dungeon Master-like overseer who could occasionally drop a Spike Grenade or Mongoose in front of you as needed. Because you can combine your maps with the expanded gametype and player trait editor of Halo 3, the possible game variations are endless. Once you create the ultimate Forge map, you can share it via Xbox LIVE®.

How free-form is the Forge? When asked what kinds of variations Bungie staffers had come up with in the game mode, one noted they had built a variation of the Jenga stacking game by using various game objects.

Like Jenga, but with Warthogs.

It's Your Call
The great thing about Forge is that it's truly what you make it: a chaotic free-for-all, or a carefully planned attempt at creating a well-balanced, entertaining battle scenario. If you've ever been frustrated with a map and thought you could have designed it better, here's your chance to spend some time in the Forge and prove it.

Article by Denny Atkin