Tempest

Tempest
Map overview
Game:	Halo: Reach
Map file name (?):	dlc_medium
Lore information
Location:	Forerunner weather spire, Unidentified Halo ring
Gameplay overview
Terrain:	Rocky beach, light forest, Forerunner structures
Recommended number of players:	8-16 players
Recommended gametype(s):	Forge Capture the Flag Assault Stockpile

“

Though we may never fully understand these devices, it is not our nature to leave ancient stones unturned.

”

Tempest is a multiplayer map that is featured in the Noble Map Pack for Halo: Reach.

Universe and lore

The map is set in an open environment with many openings and chasms, for a diverse amount of combat in a Forerunner environment on an unspecified Halo installation, in a complex of structures comprising a part of the ring's weather control system.

Overview

Layout

One side of the map opens to an open beach, with towering cliffs and a river on the other side. The terrain rises near the center where several large rocks provide cover. On opposite sides of the center are two large Forerunner structures, serving as the bases, accompanied by smaller structures and passageways around them. Connecting the main structures is a beam of energy that will disable any aircraft passing through it with an EMP. Man Cannons located on the side structures allow fast access to the flanks of each base. An additional Man Cannon at the front of each base launches players to their Machine Gun Turret situated atop a rock overlooking the central battle. On both sides of the map, small caves serve as alternate routes to the bases. There is also a crashed Longsword providing cover on the beach side.

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  Tempest Map.

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  A heatmap of Tempest.

Callouts

The following are locations on the map that are so named on the player's heads-up display during gameplay:

• Forest Base
• Rocky Base
• Center
• Cliff Side
• Beach Side
• Wreckage
• Rock Fort
• Rocky Walkway
• Forest Walkway
• Rocky Tunnel
• Forest Tunnel
• Rocky Perimeter Tunnel (blocked on the default map, available in Forge Mode and custom maps)
• Forest Perimeter Tunnel (blocked on the default map, available in Forge Mode and custom maps)
• Power Source

Forge

Tempest is considered to be a map intended for Forging on, albeit not as extensively as Forge World. The map retains most of Forge World's large item palette, and is one of two maps planned to support the Thorage functionality in the upcoming Forge update for Halo: Reach as part of Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

Production notes

Main article: Cut Halo 3 levels § Beachhead

Tempest was initially concepted as Halo 3 multiplayer DLC under the internal name beachhead, before its inclusion in the Noble Map Pack. The map was being worked on as early as October 2007, shortly after Halo 3's launch, though ultimately never released. It was later finished off in the aforementioned Reach DLC, and included in an incomplete state in the Halo 3: ODST Editing Kit. Unlike the release version of Tempest, this one take more of an influence from the tropical beach palette used on the map Last Resort, though otherwise has very few layout changes from the version eventually released for players.

The working title for Tempest during the Reach production era was "DLC Medium".

Trivia

• Every now and again, the beam of energy that connects the two structures will charge. This will send a pulse of energy along the beam's trail, bouncing off the hexagon patterned tile and into the sky. This is reminiscent of the bases in Valhalla.
• Unlike most other beam-emitting towers, which intermittently emit a single bolt of energy, the tower on this map emits a continuous laser-like beam every minute or so.
• Near the waterfall closest to the forest tunnel, there are fish that resemble Bluegills. These fish can be shot and killed.
• The edge of the installation can be seen both to the left and right of the map.
• The crashed Longsword has the same ID numbers as the Longsword that crashes in the Halo 3 level The Ark.
• This map is likely located on the same Halo installation as Forge World is. Though the architecture is more akin to Installation 05 while Forge World's is more like Installation 04.
• The birds found on this map are invincible to anything except a Spartan Laser, Scorpion round, or Gauss round, which will reduce them to smoke.
• A radio is found beneath the crashed Longsword. It repeats a conversation in four segments.
• Players can put a teleporter inside the power source like the glass isn't there and teleport themselves inside it, similar to the back of the bases in Avalanche, and the area inside the glass in The Coliseum in Forge World, but for those they have to go right up to the glass.
• The towers in the background are strikingly similar to the ones John-117 transversed in the Halo 2 campaign level Regret.
• The Energy Beam that connects the two bases not only can disable vehicles but if you stand in it for to long it can kill you, counting as a death from the The Guardians.
• The crashed Longsword is much smaller than all others. The cockpit is too small for a Spartan.

Gallery

Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

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  Halo 3-era concept art.

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  Halo 3-era concept art.

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  Halo 3-era concept art.

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  A screenshot of Beachhead, as featured in the modding tools.

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  A screenshot of Beachhead, as featured in the modding tools.

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  A screenshot of Beachhead, as featured in the modding tools.

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  Early concept art of Tempest.

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  Comparison between the in-progress and finalized beach.

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  Comparison between the in-progress and finalized Forerunner spire.

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  The general area of the map.

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  View from under one of the main structures.

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  Thorage items on Tempest.