Editing The Silent Cartographer

{{Status|Gameplay}}

|player=[[Master_Chief_(gameplay)#Halo:_Combat_Evolved|Master Chief]]

|place= On the surface of [[Installation 04]], in and around the [[Cartographer#Installation 04|Silent Cartographer]]

|objective=Find and access the Cartographer

[[File:PelicansAnniversary.png|thumb|300px|''[[Echo 419]]'' (front) and ''[[Bravo 022]]'' (back) approach the island.]]

[[File:HA SC 1.jpg|thumb|300px|A Forerunner structure on the beach.]]

''The Warthog proceeds to drive off around the island, encountering Covenant resistance. The vehicle approaches a structure protruding out of the cliff wall. A [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Spirit]] dropship beside it takes off.''

[[File:HA SC 2.jpg|thumb|300px|The Cartographer's security facility.]]

[[File:Cartographer Zealot.jpg|thumb|300px|As the door is unlocked, the Zealot guard charges out, sword at the ready.]]

[[File:CartographerCEA.jpg|thumb|300px|John-117 activates the Cartographer.]]

[[File:CartographerOutroCEA.jpg|thumb|300px|''Echo 419'' descends into the depths of Halo.]]

Known as <code>B30</code> during development, the level geometry for ''The Silent Cartographer'' went through multiple design iterations by Bungie employees, including Art Director [[Marcus Lehto]] and Environmental Artist [[Paul Russel]].{{Ref/YouTube|Id=IGN|9ndZbg8Mr-Q|IGN|Halo: Combat Evolved Devs React to Speedrun (Martin O’Donnell, Marcus Lehto)|D=27|M=5|Y=2021}} As one of the first levels constructed, it was originally a testbed sandbox where Bungie tested lighting, graphics, weapons or vehicles.{{Ref/Film|Id=Commentary|[[Halo 3 Legendary Edition|''Halo 3'' Legendary Edition]], Halo: Combat Evolved developer commentary}}

The level geometry was given to designer [[Jaime Griesemer]], who then led the design on level objective and combat encounters.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=IGN}} Director of Cinematics [[Joseph Staten]] has stated that the original objective of the level was to assassinate a Covenant "Prophet," which at this point in time was described as "an Elite with a funny hat" who was searching for the Cartographer.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=Commentary}}{{Ref/Film|[[Halo 3 Legendary Edition|''Halo 3'' Legendary Edition]], Halo 2 developer commentary}} However, this is conflicted by design documentation stating the Prophet assassination mission was a cut level that took place earlier (in some cases <code>[[Cut_Halo:_Combat_Evolved_levels#B10|B10]]</code> and others <code>[[Cut_Halo:_Combat_Evolved_levels#B20|B20]]</code>).{{Ref/Site|Id=DigsiteDeliveries|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/digsite-deliveries|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Digsite Deliveries|D=07|M=07|Y=2023}}{{Ref/Site|Id=DigsiteDeepDive|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/news/digsite-deep-dive|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Digsite Deep-Dive|D=20|M=06|Y=2024}} As well, this statement is conflicted by information that the objective of the mission wouldn't become a map room until later. It is still possible however that this level would have featured the Prophet assassination, as the objective of the mission changed over time.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=DigsiteDeepDive}} The objective of assassinating a Prophet would later form the basis for the ''[[Halo 2]]'' campaign levels [[Delta Halo]] and [[Regret (Halo 2 level)|Regret]].{{Ref/Reuse|Id=Commentary}} [[Engineers]] were meant to appear on this level, but were removed from the game, though their [[tags]] remain in the map file. The wave-advancing artificial intelligence for the opening beach assault, in particular, became one of the two AI scripts Griesemer and programmer [[Chris Butcher]] developed for the game, the other being the defensive AI seen throughout other levels.{{Ref/Film|[[Bungie ViDoc: O Brave New World]]}}

The level was first showcased by Project Lead [[Jason Jones]] and Joseph Staten during [[Halo Gamestock 2001 Demo|the gameplay demo of ''Halo Combat Evolved'' at Microsoft Gamestock 2001]]. In the demo, the player arrived at the island on a Banshee, and drove a Warthog to the Cartographer facility. The player ventured deeper into the facility, defeating Covenant defenses before reaching the Cartographer. When activated, the Cartographer displayed the spinning hologram that became the one at the security override station in the final game. The demo did not feature any cinematics or scripted dialogue. Instead, Staten narrated the game’s premise as an introduction while the track ''[[Truth and Reconciliation Suite]]'' plays in full as background music.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=gamestock|6uvDdjN7qKE|Martin O’Donnell|Halo Gamestock 2001|D=27|M=5|Y=2021}}{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gamestock-2001-hands-on-halo/1100-2696082|Site=GameSpot|Page=Gamestock 2001: Hands-on: Halo|D=27|M=5|Y=2021}}

By [[Halo: Combat Evolved Beta 1749|''Halo: Combat Evolved'' Beta 1749]], the general level design has been completed. Minor changes and additions were made prior to the final release: for example, Assistant Art Lead Steve Abeyta added a unique sitting animation for the Marine sitting opposite of the player in the Pelican at the beginning of the level, and artist [[Shi Kai Wang]] animated the holographic Halo ring breaking into pieces when the Cartographer is accessed.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=Commentary}}

During the ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' developer commentary included in the ''[[Halo 3 Legendary Edition]]'', Joseph Staten stated that a level was intended to take place in between The Silent Cartographer and Assault on the Control Room. He recalled that due to this level's absence, the cinematic depicting Echo 419's descent inside the bowels of Installation 04 was created to justify the travel to a completely new region in the next level. However, Jason Jones interjected, clarifying that The Silent Cartographer and Assault on the Control Room internal names were <code>B30</code> and <code>B40</code> respectively, indicating that no level was cut. They both then agreed that during development they had "painted themselves into a corner" due to the two missions directly transitioning from a exterior island extraction to a deep Forerunner interior, and with a lack of things like "big matte painting helped transitions," the team needed to create the cinematic seen in the final game.{{Ref/Reuse|Id=Commentary}}

*It is possible to get on top of the island by grenade jumping, or via a Mgalekgolo melee boost.

* This is the only level in ''Halo Combat Evolved'' to feature an ocean. Players will ''not'' drown if they drive a [[Warthog]] out into the sea, which extends out roughly half a kilometer in every direction from the shore before abruptly ending at an invisible wall. At these distances, the Warthog will be fully submerged, and underwater, there are odd effects on lighting, in that the flashlight has no effect and everything is pitch black, including most of the player's arm and gun. This lack of a kill-area also applies to NPCs; enemies lured out into the sea will not die, and any marines riding on the Warthog will not only survive being submerged, they can even freely speak underwater. This curious feature of ocean exploration remains fully intact in ''Anniversary''.

* This level is the most popular to perform [[Warthog jumping]] on, due to the large number of Marines, Warthogs, and the presence of rocket launchers. Its popularity lead to the creation of the flash game called Warthog Launch.{{citation needed}}

* If the player returns to the circular open area where the pair Hunters are confronted before boarding ''[[Echo 419]]'', there will be a landed Spirit dropship with a lance of Grunts and Jackals guarding it. These lances were probably part of the forces that overwhelmed the Marines guarding the beach.

* When entering the chamber of the unlocked door in the Cartographer building, there is a large locked vent-like installation in the wall of the first room with sleeping Grunts. This vent-like component may be some sort of inactive [[Sentinel launcher]].

* In ''Anniversary'', the beginning of the level during the ride on the Pelican is treated as a cutscene. On [[cooperative play]], the screen will remain as one HUD until the Pelicans land. This is similar to the ''[[Halo: Reach]]'' campaign level ''[[The Package]]'', although the second player has no control of the HUD in this case.

===Development images===

 

===''Halo: Combat Evolved''===

File:HaloCE-SilentCartographer-Island.jpg|The Cartographer island seen from a distance.

File:HCE Coop BeachAssault.jpg|Two Spartans and marines deployed to the beach during cooperative play.

File:Sangheili Beach.jpg|A Sangheili Major leading Covenant forces at the beach.

File:HCE CoOp Hunters.jpg|Two Spartans fighting a pair of Mgalekgolo during cooperative play.

File:TSC01.png|The security substation's console.

File:MinorElite4.jpg|Two Sangheili Minors defending the Cartographer.

===''Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary''===

{{succession box | before = ''[[The Truth and Reconciliation]]'' <br />| title = [[Halo: Combat Evolved#Campaign|''Halo CE'' Campaign Missions]] | years = '''''The Silent Cartographer''''' |after = ''[[Assault on the Control Room]]''}}