Editing Cut Halo 3 vehicles

{{Title|Cut ''Halo 3'' vehicles}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{GameFiles}}
{{Series/Cut/H3}}
During the [[Development of Halo 3|production]] of ''[[Halo 3]]'', several '''vehicles''' were concepted and implemented - though ultimately cut for various reasons.

==Human vehicles==
===Falcon===
The Falcon was a vehicle [[Cut Halo 2 vehicles#Falcon|envisioned]] by [[Marcus Lehto]] during the [[Development of Halo 2|production]] of ''[[Halo 2]]'', but ultimately unrealised. Bungie continued their interest in the Falcon in the production of ''Halo 3'' with a handful of concepts being produced by Lehto and [[Isaac Hannaford]]. Ultimately, these concepts resulted in the creation of the [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornet]] gunship, with the Falcon later fully-realised in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' as a helicopter.
<gallery>
File:H2_Falcon_Concept.jpg|Marcus Lehto's early ''Halo 2'' Falcon sketches.
File:Early Falcon Concept.jpg|An early sketch for ''Halo 3'', by Lehto. Note the introduction of the Hornet's silhouette.{{Ref/Twitter|game_fabricator|1145531541377802241|Marcus Lehto|Quote=Just found this old sketch idea from one of my books between Halo2 and Halo3. Falcon design brainstorm I believe. Trying to cram the Warhog in there somehow.|D=18|M=07|Y=2022}}
File:H3 Falcon Concept.png|Concept art by Isaac Hannaford, featured in the ''Halo Encyclopedia'' and ''The Art of Halo 3''.{{Ref/Book|Enc11|Page=64}}{{Ref/Book|AoH3|Page=45}}
</gallery>

===Frigates===
In the original [[:File:H3 Script FirstDraft.pdf|first-draft script]] produced for ''Halo 3'', a number of frigates were to be featured in the game's campaign. Due to the early phase of development, the script calls them out as {{Class|Stalwart|light frigate}}s (the same a {{UNSCShip|In Amber Clad}} from ''[[Halo 2]]''), but they were ultimately redesigned for the final game as the {{Class|Charon|light frigate}}.{{Ref/Generic|Id=H3Script|[[:File:H3 Script FirstDraft.pdf|''Halo 3'' early script PDF]]}}

In the early script, a frigate named {{UNSCShip|Providence}} replaces {{UNSCShip|Forward Unto Dawn}} as the main ship featured in the game's plot. In addition, a number of other frigates are namedropped; {{UNSCShip|Madrid}}, {{UNSCShip|Ningbo}}, and {{UNSCShip|Ophir}}. Unlike the final game, [[seven]] frigates in total are featured in the campaign, with three kept in hiding by [[Terrence Hood|Lord Hood]] over the Arctic circle on [[Earth]], and another four in the Atacama Desert. These seven frigates are used in the [[Battle of Voi|attack]] on the [[Keyship]] at the end of [[The Storm]], and accompany the Elites' [[Fleet of Retribution]] to [[Installation 00|the Ark]] later on. In that battle, most of the frigates are destroyed with the exception of ''Providence'' and ''Ningbo''.{{Ref/Reuse|H3Script}}

Several pieces of concept art were produced for ''Halo 3'' depicting these frigates in combat, with the ''Providence'' prominently featured. The artwork featuring ''Providence'' is featured in the [[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)|2009]] and [[Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition)|2011]] ''Halo'' encyclopedias.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc09|Enc09|Page=262-263, 302-303}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=259, 274-275, 314-315}}{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.artstation.com/artwork/BkOYA|Site=ArtStation|Page=Halo 3 Spaceship designs and discards|D=21|M=7|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.isaachannaford.com/2011/01/halo-3-manualpromotional-sketches-and.html|Site=Isaachannaford.com|Quote=Halo 3 manual/promotional sketches and the Frigate Andraste|D=02|M=06|Y=2011}}

While ''Halo 2''{{'}}s ''Stalwart''-class frigates were redesigned for ''Halo 3'', a concept revision produced by [[Isaac Hannaford]] ultimately went unused - and was later used again in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' as the {{Class|Paris|heavy frigate}}. The ship depicted in this concept art, {{UNSCShip|Andraste}}, is featured in ''[[The Art of Halo 3]]'' and the aforementioned ''Halo'' encyclopedias.{{Ref/Book|AoH3|Page=37}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}

In the final ''Halo 3'' release, three ''Charon''-class frigates can be seen at the end of The Storm, with two going unnamed and the ''Providence'' renamed ''Forward Unto Dawn''. A fourth frigate is featured on [[Sandtrap]], {{UNSCShip|Aegis Fate}}.

<gallery>
File:H3_SpaceBattle_Concept.jpg|Concept art for ''Providence'' in combat.
File:H3_ProvidenceBattle_Concept.png|Concept art for ''Providence'' struck by weapons fire, used in the ''Halo Encyclopedia''.
File:H3_UNSCAndraste_Concept.png|Concept art for ''Andraste'' - ultimately unused in ''Halo 3'' but later reused in ''Reach''.
</gallery>

===Medical Troop Warthog===
A Medical Troop Warthog was a variant of the [[M831 Troop Transport Warthog]] that was to appear in ''Halo 3''.{{Ref/YouTube|vqFS4XGcqw8|Gamecheat13|Halo 3 Beta - Early Warthogs and Anti Air Wraith}} It was cut from the game during development; however, its files remained in the game's code and can be accessed through [[modding]]. It was first discovered in the files of the [[Halo 3 Beta|''Halo 3'' Beta]] and is present in the final game as well, although it was never used. Interestingly, Marines will sit on the stretchers like they would do on a normal M831 Troop Transport Warthog, suggesting that it was never fully completed.{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.reddit.com/r/halo/comments/2aumch/halo_3_medical_troop_hog/|SiteName=Reddit|PageName=r/Halo - Halo 3 Medical Troop Hog|D=20|M=9|Y=2021}}

Presumably, this vehicle's role would have been to transport wounded troops off of the battlefield to an aid station. It was therefore likely intended to be used during cinematics rather than during gameplay.
<gallery>
File:Medic Warthog 1.png|The Warthog modded into [[The Pit]].
</gallery>

==Covenant vehicles==
===Early anti-air Wraith===
In an early beta build of ''Halo 3'' dated March 2007, a very early version of the [[Ogab'd-pattern anti-aircraft Wraith|Anti-Air Wraith]] can be found. Unlike the version found in the final game, this early AA Wraith is covered in a purple sheen like the regular [[Zurdo-pattern Wraith|Wraith]], and lacks its [[fuel rod]] armaments. Instead, the early AA Wraith boats a pair of top-mounted automatic plasma cannons, though they share the same design as what would become the fuel rod cannons. The vehicle can be found on the map [[Snowbound]] in this beta build.{{Ref/Reuse|Kidd}}
<gallery>
File:H3_Beta_AAWraith_Driving.png|Driving the early AA Wraith.
File:H3_Beta_AAWraith_Shooting.png|Shooting the early AA Wraith.
</gallery>

===Drivable Scarab===
The {{Pattern|Deutoros|Scarab}} is featured in the final ''Halo 3'' game as an AI enemy which can be fought in the levels [[The Storm]], [[The Ark (level)|The Ark]] and [[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]. However, mission design documents for the level [[The Lost City]] showcase a planned encounter in which the player would be able to drive the Scarab and fire its [[focus cannon]]. In the level, the player was to emerge from a Forerunner structure to find a [[Flood]]-infected Scarab blocking their path. With the aid of [[Guardian Sentinel]]s, they were to destroy the Scarab and take it over - using it to destroy some gates keeping the Scarab locked in a courtyard before proceeding to drive the Scarab and use it to fight two other Scarabs.

While this segment was ultimately cut, the premise of fighting two Scarabs was preserved in the final game in the battle outside the [[Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel]] on The Covenant. Another attempt would later be made to feature a drivable Scarab in ''Halo: Reach'', though this was also [[Cut Halo: Reach vehicles#Scarab|ultimately cut]].
<gallery>
File:H3 ForeCity DesignDoc 2.jpg|A design document for 100_forecity, with the Scarab encounter noted at point D.
</gallery>

===Mantis/ walker Shade turret===
Referenced only as a physics model within ''Halo 3''{{'}}s code, the "Mantis" (not to be confused with the [[Skar'wa-pattern Mantis|Mantis AA gun]] from the campaign or the [[HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark IX Mantis|Mantis mech]] from ''[[Halo 4]]'') appears to have been a design for a cut mech of some kind. The physics model present within the ''Halo 3'' code references parameters for walking and manipulating legs. It is likely that these entries correspond to the early cut version of the [[Shade]] turret found in the March 2007 beta for ''Halo 3''. This early model Shade can be spawned in [[Forge]] on the map [[High Ground]], and resembles a walker with six legs, a seat and a [[plasma cannon]]. The plasma cannon has a very high rate of fire and can quickly destroy a Mongoose, though the overall movement speed for the Shade is slow, and it cannot climb stairs very well.{{Ref/Twitter|vengeful_vadam|1342515562597986304|The Vengeful 'Vadam|Shade turret was going to be able to walk, holy crap.|Quote=Shade turret was going to be able to walk, holy crap.
|D=20|M=9|Y=2021}}{{Ref/YouTube|Id=Kidd|l_CF6ubz5GM|Generalkidd|Halo 3 - Never Before Seen Cut Weapons, Vehicles & Equipment In The Beta}}

According to designer [[Dan Miller]], these Shades were intended to walk slowly to allow them to dodge incoming fire. The feature was ultimately cut as the turrets "looked stupid" and the design "didn't make sense".{{Ref/Site|Id=NeoGAFDan1|URL=https://www.neogaf.com/threads/halo-ot14-they-call-it-halo.507989/page-356#post-47803018|Site=NeoGAF|Page=Halo - OT14 - They call it Halo|Quote=Developer Insight #11 Shade turrets, like the one next to the Wraith, originally had legs, like miniature version of a Scarab's legs. The legs slowly moved the turrets so they could avoid incoming fire. This idea was tossed because the turrets looked stupid, and it didn't make any sense for them to have legs.|Quotee=Dan Miller|D=10|M=10|Y=2021}} [[Jaime Griesemer]] later elaborated on this, explaining that the Mantis was to have been "entirely physics driven" and posess the ability to jump - further agreeing that the concept was "ridiculous".{{Ref/Twitter|32nds|1636967255052517376|Jaime Griesemer|Quote=Horses, cats, walking turrets. They’re all hard. I think that thing was called the Mantis and it was entirely physics driven and it could jump and it was ridiculous.|D=18|M=03|Y=2023}}
<gallery>
File:H3 Beta ShadeWalker.png|The Shade, as spawned in [[Forge/Halo 3|Forge]].
File:H3 Beta ShadeWalker Rear.png|The rear of the walker.
File:H3 Beta ShadeWalker Driving.png|A Spartan driving the vehicle.
File:H3 Beta ShadeWalker Shooting.png|The vehicle shooting its plasma cannon.
File:HTMCC-H3-Generalshadewalker.jpg|The Mantis on [[Snowbound]], with a UV checker default texture.
</gallery>

==Forerunner vehicles==
===Guardian===
{{Main|Guardian Sentinel}}
Much like the [[Enforcer]] in ''[[Halo 2]]'', the cut enemy [[Guardian Sentinel]] was to work - behind the scenes - as a vehicle with AI. As such, properties for the cut Guardian enemy remain in the game files for ''Halo 3'' as a vehicle - the enemy was planned to be present on the cut level [[Guardian Forest]].

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Deleted Material}}
[[Category:Halo 3 deleted material]]