Z-4190 bubble shield
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
The Bubble Shield, otherwise known as Shield Grenade, is a United Nations Space Command defensive device.
Mechanics
On top of the device is a safety cover, which can be flipped up to expose the red activation button. After that, it emits a charging sound and upon resting on the ground for a short time, creates the shield. The shield itself is a Geodesic dome (of sorts) made of tessellating hexagons. Note that the bubble-"grenade" won't necessarily rest in place on the ground once activated. In the new Halo 3 ViDoc "Is Quisnam Protero Damno!" released by Bungie.net, the bubble-shield is seen used in the Alpha-stage Halo 3 footage for multiplayer. The bubble-grenade rolls down a hill as the Spartan-II concealed in the sphere back-pedals away from an enemy. Information later released by Bungie, however, stated that the sphere would rest on the ground and the Spartan II would need to stand still to enjoy it's effects.
Appearances
It was first seen in the Halo 3 "Starry Night" CGI Trailer. Since Bungie stated that all assets in the commercial were produced by them, it is safe to say this device will show up in the game. Frankie has said that the shield is ONI tech.[1] However, it should be noted that this shield resembles the description of the Onyx Sentinel shields in the Eric Nylund novel Ghosts of Onyx.
It was seen again in-game in the Halo 3 ViDoc "Is Quisnam Protero Damno!". A player deployed it while running from BR fire. The shield successfully absorbed all projectiles and grenade explosions fired. It appears to be a large sphere-shaped object. It can roll around while activated. It appears much larger than its first appearance in the Starry Night commercial.
In the Halo 3 Beta, the bubble shield has been placed onto a tripod, making it stationary.
This "object" is one of the few equipment items, next to the Trip Mine, Power Drainer and a Jump pad.
Differences
There is some shape difference in the Shield Bubble seen in the Starry Night trailer and the Halo 3 ViDoc. The deployable device in the Starry Night trailer was more cylindrical in shape and had a button on top. The deployable device in the Halo 3 ViDoc was more tire shaped (roundish) and had the button on it's circumference.
The latest leaked Halo 3 internal beta footage has brought to light a new design for the "Bubble Shield". A tripod-like device that will stay stationary unless moved by a grenade on the inside. Throughout all these physical changes, the shield itself has stayed the same with the hexagon patterns and transparency.
Tactics
The bubble shield projects a defensive field around the user when deployed that appears impervious to harm. In the latest ViDoc, it appears to be thrown onto the ground as a way of activation. In the latest ViDoc, it rolled down a hill, Frankie has said in a weekly update that the Bubble Shield will not roll in the Beta, whether or not it will roll in the final game appears to be unlikely. Though it appears, it will be a stationary device, but this could only be in the Halo 3 Beta.
Spawns
This Equipment spawns on High Ground, Snowbound, Valhalla, and Last Resort. This is not finalized.
Trivia
- It has to be picked up, like the Trip Mine, Power Drainer and Portable Grav Lift because it is an equipment.
