Editing Sandtrap

{{Era|RW}}

{{Multiplayer Map Infobox

|image=[[File:H3_Sandtrap.jpg|300px]]

|location= [[Installation 00]]<ref name="postmortem"/><ref group="Note" name="waypoint"/>

{{Article Quote|Although the [[Jiralhanae|Brute]] occupiers have been driven from this ancient structure, they left plenty to remember them by.}}

'''Sandtrap''' is a [[multiplayer]] map featured in ''[[Halo 3]]''. The map is set in a vast desert with rolling sand dunes and some enigmatic half-buried structures.  

==Setting==

Sandtrap is set in a desert wasteland on [[Installation 00|The Ark]].<ref name="postmortem">[https://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Sandtrap_Postmortem '''Bungie.net''': ''Sense of Scale - Postmortem''] - A postmortem anaylsis of Sandtrap.</ref><ref group="Note" name="waypoint">In Bungie's [https://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Sandtrap_Postmortem Sandtrap postmortem], a section of Sandtrap's design document reads ''"Deep within the boundless dune-fields of Waypoint, the high tech Forerunner structure encases the remnants of even older Forerunner stonework."''. During development of ''Halo 3'', "Waypoint" was the name given for the structure that would come to be known as The Ark.</ref> The primary focus of the map is a series of ancient [[Forerunner]] stone structures, buried in the desert sands. Surrounding the site is a circular Forerunner wall, lined with six massive Forerunner towers. The stone ruins extend off to both sides of the map, though those in the centre have been partially excavated by persons unknown.

At some point, likely during the [[Battle of Installation 00]], the area came under the occupation of the [[Jiralhanae]], who fortified the site with [[Brute landmine|landmines]] and at least one [[Type-52 Phantom]]. However, the brutes were later driven from the region and UNSC forces deployed from {{UNSCShip|Aegis Fate}} took control of the area, utilising [[D96-TCE Albatross]] ''[[03]]'' and two [[M313 Elephant]]s, named "Behemoth" and "Leviathan". An analysis of Sandtrap's atmosphere by the UNSC showed its atmospheric compositon to be the following:<ref name="elephant"/>

*'''Carbon dioxide''': 82.7%<ref name="elephant"/>

*'''Nitrogen''': 7.5%<ref name="elephant"/>

*'''Hydrogen''': 4.7%<ref name="elephant"/>

*'''Argon''': 2.5%<ref name="elephant"/>

and surface composition to be Carbon, Silicon, ???, ???, Sodium(?), Zirconium(?), Calcium, and other trace elements.<ref name="elephant"/><ref group="Note" name="elements">The Elephant [[:File:H3 Sandtrap ElephantScreen 2.png|readount]] lists what appear to be these elements. However, many are too blurry to make out properly.</ref> In addition, the composition of the structures is presently unknown, and life signs in the region are minimal.<ref name="elephant">[[:File:H3 Sandtrap ElephantScreen 2.png|Elephant analysis screens]] on the map.</ref>

[[File:H3_Sandtrap_Numbered.jpg|thumb|right|200px|1) The main base with the "cavern" below, 2) The destroyed Phantom, 3) The main "spine" of the level, 4) The upper "deck", 5) Smaller base, 6) The buried Albatross.]]

==Design==

[[File:H3_Sandtrap_Crypt.png|thumb|left|The "crypt" area.]]

The structures on Sandtrap are symmetrical along the map's long axis, with two different [[base]]s at either end - one by the UNSC encampment by the Albatross and another by the Phantom. Each base has access to an Elephant, a [[Type-25 Chopper|Chopper]], a [[M274 Mongoose|Mongoose]] and two [[M12 Warthog LRV|Warthog]]s. However, one side of the map's symmetry is fully unearthed by the excavations while the other largely still buried in the sand, adding some slight asymmetry to the map's layout. The central "spine" of the map is a two-floor triangular structure running through the middle of the map, acting as a ramp for vehicles on top and having a small infantry corridor running through the structure. One side of the spine has two small buildings with [[gravity lift]]s connected by bridges, and a vehicle-access underpass beneath the bridges.

The base near the Albatross is fairly open, while the base on the other side of the map is a multi-level structure with the bottom floor comparable to a crypt, while the top floor resembles the top of the aforementioned central spine. The downed Phantom off to the side of the map has a [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshee]] next to it. Sandtrap features odd Forerunner constructs (called Shrine Defenders in the ''Halo 3'' files) and is encircled with a "minefield" that features vertically launching mines to prevent players from venturing beyond its boundaries. The outer skybox of the map features a full model of a [[Charon-class light frigate|''Charon''-class light frigate]], the UNSC ''Aegis Fate''.

The map has a heavy emphasis on vehicular combat. All of the Forgeable vehicles available at the time in the game are on this map - for example, the "bases" are a pair of [[M313 Elephant|Elephants]] at opposite ends of the recently unearthed Forerunner ruins. There are also some very interesting sniper spots. For example, if you are inside of the crashed Phantom, it will be hard for other players to see you and the location gives you a very interesting view to take down some unsuspecting players. Also, a large hill gives you a good view over the field from overhead.

The "Secret of Sandtrap" is a community-generated idea that Sandtrap has a large secret, and was the subject of community speculation for many years.<ref name="postmortem"/> As such, players have spent countless hours poring over Sandtrap's details, attempting to uncode the "secrets" behind the following map production objects;

 

In an interview later conducted in 2010, however, Justin Hayworth did indicate that Sandtrap does have a secret involving the script found on the metal panels in the stone structures, the script being identical to that found on [[Epitaph]].<ref name="postmortem"/> Hayworth had the following to say;

{{Article quote|There are tons of strips of metal littered throughout Sandtrap that have weird digital writing on them and I wanted those to have meaning. My hope was that people would pour over the script and try to figure it out. It’s actually the same ‘text’ that appears on Epitaph.}}

 

Hayworth later professed to not remembering if he definitely did place a "secret" on Sandtrap, and what it was.<ref name="postmortem"/> A thread further detailing the cipher can be found [https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedetectives/comments/58dynk/the_secret_of_sandtrap_unsolved_bungie_cipher/ here].

==Strategies==

[[File:H3_Sandtrap_Underpass.png|thumb|right|A Mongoose driving in the "underpass" area.]]

*The [[Type-25 Brute Shot|Brute Shot]] is useful for flipping runaway [[M12 Warthog|Warthogs]] and [[M274 Mongoose|Mongooses]].

*The [[Type-25 Chopper|Chopper]] is valuable on this map, it is a great secondary option to eliminate enemy Warthogs, and sometimes you can splatter a [[Type-26 Banshee|Banshee]] with it.

*On several dunes to the side of the map where the sun is, you can easily see the whole area of the map. Set up here and you can dominate. A common tactic is to take the sniper and use a Mongoose to drive over to the area and snipe. Good secondary weapons are [[MA5C assault rifle|assault rifles]] to dispatch enemies that attack you at close range and [[M6 Spartan Laser|Spartan Laser]]s so any incoming [[vehicle]]s can be eliminated, and the sniper can continue wreaking havoc from afar.

*If you are good at sniping, get the [[SRS99D-S2 AM sniper rifle|sniper rifle]] and kill any enemy player that goes near the Banshee until one of your teammates gets it or it is destroyed.

*On the Phantom side, you can jump over the center dune with a Warthog and wipe out the enemy's Warthog station as well as steal the Spartan Laser.

*Have your VIP jump on top of your Banshee, then gently ease up to the large towers, by crouching and on the far side of the map, it is difficult for enemies to kill the VIP, the biggest threats are the Banshee, Laser, rockets, sniper rifle and occasionally, [[Type-1 plasma grenade|plasma grenades]] thrown long distances

*The Mongoose is a great vehicle for getting to the combat zone fast. Coupled with a passenger on the back and the ability to drive in the mine field, it can be a fast moving offensive weapon.

*The [[Type-2 gravity hammer|gravity hammer]] can easily send enemy Warthogs and Mongoose flying into the air, which allows teammates to easily pick them off.

*On Sandtrap heavy tanks are strong weapons and should be used. Tanks will usually survive a Spartan Laser hit so you are relatively safe inside. Just keep driving around the bases do not go into the middle of the map because A: mines are usually planted there and B: enemies could jump on the tank and easily hijack it or plant grenades on it.

*An effective position for enemy snipers is at the top of the tall towers (Phantom End). They get there by ditching a Banshee aircraft just above the tower tops, landing safely on top. The enemy will have prepared by gathering weapons and equipment such as bubble shields, [[flare]]s, Spartan Lasers and of course the sniper rifle. There is a 360 degree view of Sandtrap from the top of the towers and ground forces won't be looking up A good way to determine whether there is an enemy situated at the top of the towers is to look for an abandoned Banshee near the Elephant or in the vicinity of the towers. A wise enemy will, however, always destroy the Banshee once it has done it's job.

*Have your allies man the turrets inside the elephant while you drive so you'll have a basically indestructible mobile fortress. If an opposing player tries to kill the driver the other players manning the turrets can take them out and the driver can continue driving.

[[File:H3_Sandtrap_RocketLauncher.png|right|thumb|The rocket launcher spawn on the map.]]

<!--This section is for Forge tips, do not put things like "Add a Brute Shot, its more fun"  Give good reasons WHY and WHERE to add the object(s), like "Adding shield doors in the main hallway will change the flow of battle to the sides of it, allowing for more heated firefights in the side allies." Thank you for keeping Halopedia neat-->

*There are two ways to "bridge the gap" between the big wall in the center. The first is a simple two-way teleport system, obviously both being on the same channel. This allows for infantry to cross; however vehicles can't go through teleporters. The way to fix that is to place two permanent [[Gravity lift|grav lift]]s, one on either side, of the gap. This will allow most land-based vehicles going a decent rate of speed to cross, the only exceptions being [[M808C Scorpion|Scorpions]] and [[Type-26 Wraith|Wraiths]]. Be cautious going towards the smaller base (with the Albatross), as you may go through the holes in the top, and flip your vehicle over.

*Another fun way to "bridge the gap" is to use the [[Floating Forge Items]] trick on Crates. This also gives you the opportunity to make a new focus point for some of the attention if it is a [[Flag]], [[Bomb]] or [[Oddball]] spawn point.

*The map is obviously based on vehicular combat, so consider that when in Forge. Place vehicles like [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornets]] and [[M12G1 Gauss Warthog|Gauss Warthogs]], and make sniper towers out of the pillars, adding Barricades for cover, and a Two-Way Node from the top of the pillars to the bottoms.

*It is possible to make the Elephant fly while in Forge. Place all the map's explosives ([[Fusion core|fusion coils]] and [[Plasma battery|plasma batteries]]) in the Elephant and set the run time minimum to the highest number. Then, spawn a Hornet. Get into the Hornet and fire missiles at the explosives. The Elephant will do flips and get off the ground. It causes lots of lag and noise, but it is still fun to watch.

*There is a way to indirectly pick up the Elephant in Forge, though it will not spawn where you place it. Spawn a Scorpion tank and slip it inside horizontally from behind the Elephant. You will see hook-like attachments on top of the Elephant. Slip the Scorpion under that and lift. It will rise a little then the tank will slip out from under it eventually.

== Variant: Sand Tarp ==

[[File:H3_SandTarp.png|thumb|Sand Tarp.]]

{{Article Quote|Something feels wrong. Like... like something is missing...}}

'''Sand Tarp''' is a map variant released to improve the gameplay balance in any team-based gametype. It was due to be released on September 16th, 2008, but was delayed until the 23rd. It is included by default as a built-in map variant in ''[[Halo: The Master Chief Collection]]''. The following is a list of changes made;

*The [[Elephant]]s have been removed.

*If asymmetric gametypes are played on this map, the defender's base will no longer be the large crypt near the [[Phantom]] crash site. Instead, attackers will spawn in the crypt, and defenders at the other "open-area" base. In other words, the attacker's and defender's bases are switched, and the defenders are at the Albatross so that the attackers do not have to pull the flag out from the "impenetrable" crypt.

*One [[Type-52 Prowler|Prowler]] replaces a Warthog at each base.

*An additional [[AIE-486H machine gun|machine gun turret]] has been placed near each base.

File:H3_Early_Sandtrap_3.jpg|A screenshot of an early version of Sandtrap.

==Note==

<references/>

{{levels|H3|mode=yes}}