Editing The Pit

{{Status|Gameplay}}

{{Multiplayer map infobox

|image=[[File:H3 ThePit.jpg|center|300px]]

|map=War Games Map_Set/: 590-1<ref name="HU">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/locations/earth '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Universe: Earth'']</ref>

|location=[[UNSC Training Facility Bravo]] [[Africa]], [[Earth]]{{Ref/Reuse|HU}}

{{Article quote|Software simulations are held in contempt by the veteran instructors who run these training facilities.}}

'''The Pit'''<ref name="humpday">[http://halo.bungie.net/news/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12690 '''Bungie.net''': ''Humpday Challenge: Con Artists'']</ref> is a symmetrical ''[[Halo 3]]'' [[multiplayer]] map. It was included in ''[[Halo Online]]'' under the name '''Hangar'''.

==Universe and lore==

{{Main|UNSC Training Facility Bravo}}

While most contemporary combat simulations occur in the [[Holography|holographic]] and pneumatic world of [[War Games]], UNSC Training Facility Bravo - alongside others located throughout the [[East African Protectorate]] - offer unfettered, live combat in real world settings. This methodology is the pride and joy of old-school drill instructors, whose lament the rise in illusory combat environs. Ironically, this site was then replicated in War Games as The Pit, a testament to its time-honored combat value.{{Ref/Reuse|HU}}

The facility itself is set in a large aircraft hangar. Although a fence prevents trainees from leaving the arena, multiple [[D77H-TCI Pelican]]s, [[Scout Warthog]]s and [[M831 Troop Transport Warthog]]s can be seen on the facility's runway, with [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] looming in the distance. The interior of the facility has numerous hallways and platforms with which to simulate a combat environment, and motion-activated pop-up targets of [[Jiralhanae]] wielding [[Paegaas Workshop Spiker|Spikers]] and [[Kig-Yar Sniper]]s. The map also has a control room with multiple readout screens.

==Overview==

===Layout===

Even though it is a symmetrical map, The Pit is multi-leveled, giving players many avenues and routes via ramps and walkways in which to hide and/or engage the enemy. While each side of the map is identical in geometry and [[weapon]] placement, several power weapons and [[power-up]]s exist in the central area. A [[SRS99D-S2 AM sniper rifle|sniper rifle]] sits on the bottom level of each base.

On either side of the map exists an identical base with identical weapon and spawn points. Each base consists of an upper and lower area, which mainly designates where the sniper rifle and [[M90 shotgun|shotgun]] are located. The Upper and Lower bases are connected by walkways and ramps, and offer plenty of cover from enemy fire, as well as an assortment of weapons and equipment. The bases have very long sight lines and if a [[sniper]] were on top they would have a clear view of the other base.

=====Upper Base=====

Also known to players as "Sniper Tower," this area of the base covers the three-leveled structure where the sniper rifle, [[Type-25 Brute Shot|Brute Shot]], and a [[regenerator]] spawn. From the top of the tower, players can see directly into the other team's tower. Snipers often use this perch, as they have a field of view over their side of the map. This area of the base is located closer to the [[Type-1 energy sword|Sword]] Room and [[overshield]] Alley, giving players quicker access to those power-ups. A [[AIE-486H machine gun|machine gun turret]] is also located at the top of the tower, but players often become easy prey to snipers when mounting this weapon (the turrets are also in clear view of each other).

=====Lower Base=====

The area of the Lower Base is adjacent or similar to the Upper Base, but is considered much larger. In this area, players spawn in either a rectangular room with ramps leading to the shotgun or Upper Base. The Shotgun spawns in the farthest corner in a small hallway curving around the edge of the map. This open area features much of the combat, as it is multi-leveled with ramps that access the Rocket or Camouflage Hall, as well as the High Bridge and Sword Room. Players can pick from a selection of a [[BR55HB battle rifle|battle rifle]], [[Type-52 Mauler|Mauler]], or two [[Paegaas Workshop Spiker|Spiker]]s. Above the Lower Base is a room which is only accessible by re-spawning or by butterfly jumping in it. This room is an excellent sniper perch. It is also a very effective hiding place in game types such as Team Doubles.

====Rocket Hall====

====Camo Hall====

====Sword Room====

It is possible to throw grenades through a gap in the top of wall parallel to the entrances. It's also possible to get a [[power drain]] through the gap with a little luck and a good jump. A ramp on each side of the Sword Room gives players an entry and exit way to either Upper Base or Overshield Alley. Players may also take the high route, and travel across the "High Bridge" granting them access to the center area of the map. Maulers spawn on both ends of the tunnel closest to the "High Bridge", and a power drain is in the center of the bridge with [[Okarda'phaa-pattern plasma rifle|plasma rifles]] to the sides, near the ramps leading to the power drain.

File:H3 ThePit SwordRoom.png|The Sword Room

====Overshield Alley====

===Strategies===

*At the start of a match destroy the [[Fusion coil]]s before flanking; typically a [[grenade]] sails next to them if they are still there, destroying anyone foolish to stand close. In contrast throw a grenade so it ricochets off the wall to roast opponents attempting to flank you.

*If you destroy the [[M831 Troop Transport Warthog|Troop Transport Warthog]] behind the fence, you can drive it, but you will still die after a few seconds.

Outside of the map, there are three Warthogs, two of them are damaged Scout Warthogs, but the other one is an undamaged Troop Transport Warthog. The Troop Transport Warthog can be driven if brought into the main section of the level. To do this, you must glitch a teleporter on the other side of the fence. Once there, destroy the Warthog. After a ''very'' long time (15-45 min.), the Warthog will respawn. To get it inside of the map (so that you can drive it without being killed by the [[The Guardians]] within five seconds), you must use grav lifts and flip the vehicle to get it onto an elevated gray platform outside of the map, and then onto yet another platform, from where it can be pushed into the map. You must be quick, if you are not quick enough, the Warthog will disappear and you will need to wait until it respawns back outside the map.

==Production notes==

[[File:H3 ThePit ReferencePhoto.jpg|thumb|250px|A reference photo of "Crime Town" taken from the production of ''Mindhunter'', used for reference in The Pit's aesthetic.]]

In the initial conception of The Pit, developers [[Steve Cotton]] and [[Chris Carney]] were inspired by architecture of [[:wikipedia:Bernard Tschumi|Bernard Tschumi]]. They were inspired by cultural centres in France, in which several buildings were built underneath one large roof. An early point of the Pit's design was to use light to differentiate both sides of the map, with one side being in light and the other in shade. This was eventually rotated, with the light area being the light streaming into the hangar from the runway and the dark area being the back wall of the hangar.{{Ref/Reuse|postmortem}}

 

The Pit was originally designed to have a [[Forerunner]] landscape with machines running around the map, and built into a cliff face. Once blocked out, the map was a "disaster". The middle street wasn't controllable, so it was decided to make the street into a wall. The bridge crossing the street became the camo hallway in the final build.<ref name="postmortem">[http://halo.bungie.net/news/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=Pit_Postmortem '''Bungie.net''', ''Excavating The Pit'']</ref>

 

In this original design for The Pit, the map was to be the size of a small town roughly the size of ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' map [[Hang 'Em High]], with action in the rooftop area and on the ground. In this design, the map would be two storeys high, with players fighting to control a street running down the middle while each team controlled half the town. Inspiration was later taken from ''[[Halo 2]]'' map [[Turf]], while playing around on the roofs. Players would be able to grab the flag out of the base and get onto the rooftops with it, and "be like Spider-Man"; jumping and running along the roof back to the friendly base. To prevent situations like those common in [[Zanzibar]] CTF, the flag would be spawned on the lower level and players on the top, so defenders have quick routes to return the flag.{{Ref/Reuse|postmortem}}

 

As production got going properly, the Pit's layout changed very little with the main exception being the reduced verticality from the original concept. Originally, however, the Active Camo would have spawned in a room down a ramp. This was removed and changed to the green corridor known in the final map variant.{{Ref/Reuse|postmortem}}

 

The inspiration to set the map in a training facility came from a piece of concept art by [[Isaac Hannaford]] set in a realistic modern day facility, built out of plywood, metal and spray paint. One concept produced by [[Paul Russel]] set the map in a human pump station, with a waterfall on one part of the map. This idea would set the level in a human military base that would later be reused and turned into the [[Crow's Nest]] level in the campaign. The map itself would be set in a cave with a waterfall leading into a pool, where players would be able to jump off the map and die.{{Ref/Reuse|postmortem}}

 

In creating the aesthetic of the final level, concept done by [[Lee Wilson]] for ''Mindhunter'' was used for inspiration. In doing concept production for that film, Wilson had been sent to a secret facility in Holland to gather reference that he nicknamed "Crime Town". The facility had molded concrete structures that could be reconfigured or detached for training missions. From there, the artists "put in a UNSC flavor – some metal bars, little connectors, and panels. And thus The Pit was born".{{Ref/Reuse|postmortem}}

 

At one point, the man cannon fans were to be mobile forge objects that could be placed anywhere.{{Ref/Reuse|postmortem}}

 

During development, the Pelicans on the runway were placed in a layout to emulate ''Black Hawk Down''.{{Ref/Reuse|postmortem}} An earlier version of the map also had [[AV-14 Hornet]]s placed on the runway outside the level, resulting in the player being able to glitch through the fence and drive the Hornets. This was ultimately removed for the final game.{{Ref/Audio|Id=Podcast|The Bungie Podcast|Episode=August 2007 (4)|Time=35:00}}

 

The control room on the map was added with the original intention being that the monitors would actually display CCTV footage from the cameras placed around the map. The room is heavily enclosed due to how expensive this rendering is, but at one point the system was fully working and standing in the control room would let players see what was going on in other areas of the map. The cameras would operate like AI and follow players near them, but had to count as another player due to how much processing power they needed to work correctly. Because of this, it was cut but the control room remained as the sword room.{{Ref/Reuse|postmortem}}

 

The Pit's internal name during development was ''Cyberdyne'' and was first discovered shortly after the release of the [[Halo 3 Beta]]. However, it was referred to at least once before official reveal under the name of "Gym Class".{{Ref/Reuse|humpday}} The Pit's final name is a reference to ''The Wire''. It was named by Joe Tung, as it's "where all the deals went down".{{Ref/Reuse|postmortem}}

*Inside the room containing the energy sword, there is a phone that you can melee and will fall on the floor. Then you melee it until it is upside down. If you zoom in on it, you can see a [[Windows logo]].

*Throughout the level, messages can be heard on the public-address system. Unfortunately, most likely due to the way sounds are saved in Halo 3's Films, most of these sounds will only play once and cannot be heard again, even if you rewind the film. Some known messages are:  

**''"This is a reminder: The supporting firing range is off-limits every other Sunday."''  

**''"This is a reminder: Tampering with fusion cores is a disciplinary offense."''  

**''"This is a reminder: Fusion cores should not be stacked more than one high."''  

**''"Clear the runway: [[AV-14 Hornet|Hornet]]s inbound."''  

**''"The white zone is for unloading and loading only."'' (reference to the movie 'Airplane')  

**''"Will the owner of a blue SUV please move their vehicle."''  

***The voices were recorded by [[Lars Bakken]] and [[C. Paul Johnson]].{{Ref/Reuse|postmortem}}

*The screens in the ops centre show the same readouts as those in the mission Crow's Nest.

File:H3_ThePit_EarlySideView.jpg|An early side view of The Pit.

File:H3_ThePit_EarlyLayoutSketch_1.jpg|An early layout of the Pit.

File:H3_ThePit_EarlyLayoutSketch_2.jpg|An early layout of the Pit.

File:H3_ThePit Concept.jpg|Concept art of The Pit by Isaac Hannaford.

File:H3_ThePit_Exterior.jpg|An outside view of The Pit

File:H3_ThePit_TroopHog.JPG|A player using a Troop Transport Hog on The Pit.

File:H3 ThePit-HeatMap.jpg|A birds-eye view of The Pit.

File:H3 ThePit-Base1 Overview.jpg|The Pit's Upper Base in view.

File:H3_ThePit_Schematic.png|The base schematic for the [[Crow's Nest]] base.

File:H3_ThePit_Seismic.png|A readout of Seismic Activity on Earth.

File:H3_ThePit_WorldMap.png|A full map of seismic activity on Earth to go with the previous slide.

File:H3 The Pit out of bounds.jpg|A view of the map's exterior.

{{Ref/Sources}}

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