Topics

31

BOBs / Secret BOB Sauce

« on: October 12, 2011, 19:57:57 »

I'm handing you a bottle of secret sauce.

On the label of the bottle is an image of a Golden Elite Ranger below a curved old-timey font reading "BOB Sauce".  In cryptic writing running along the bottom it says something like

::o:-:-:o:-:o:o:o:o:oooooo:o:ooooo:o:ooo:ooo:-:ooo:oo:oo:ooo:-:ooooooo:-:oooo:ooo:oo:-:ooooo:-:-:-:oo:oo:ooo:oo:oo::

(Before you waste your time, this isn't the beginning of an ARG.)

The sauce bottle is actually empty except for a piece of paper on which is written a recipe:

"BOB SAUCE"

A delightful and exciting complement to any Halo dish, enjoyed best with friends.  This seven-step recipe can be completed in three simple stages.

Stage One: Preparation

1)  Play through any campaign mission completely- on any difficulty- from mission start to mission end.  (Easy difficulty will be the fastest, and has always worked for me.) Do this by reselecting "Mission Start" from the Mission selection option in the campaign lobby and answering "yes" if a confirmation box appears.  (Naturally, make sure you have first completed any crucial campaigning you had previously saved.)  When you restart a mission in this way, the BOB spawning point in that mission will be randomized.

2)  As you play the mission, check EVERY known BOB spawning point to see if a BOB has been selected to spawn there.  At each spawning location, you may want to revert to your previous save a few times to make sure you didn't miss him.  Don't worry- a BOB always respawns at the same location (or at least the same general area, in some possibly rare exceptions) when you "Revert to Save".  In other words, the spawning location doesn't get randomized again when you choose to revert.  Of course if your current checkpoint is after the BOB appeared, this won't help!  In that case you may have to restart the mission, or continue on if you're pretty sure you didn't miss anything.

3)  When you have gone through the entire level and not found ANY known BOBs, save the film; otherwise return to Step 1.  

4)  Load your saved film in Theater Mode, and once again return to each spawning point to confirm that no existing BOBs had spawned that you somehow missed.  If you find a known BOB, return to Step 1.

Stage Two: Cooking

5)  You now possess a precious saved film.  All of the ingredients for your BOB Sauce are in the pot, and now it's time to get cooking!  Your film contains an undiscovered BOB spawning point- so restart that film in Theater Mode and find it!  It's a good practice to check areas as soon as they load, and once again as soon as you see enemies moving about and attacking.  Sometimes BOBs spawn with the level geometry, sometimes they spawn with normal enemies, sometimes they are specially scripted drop pod appearances- you have to be on your toes!  Check for constantly boosting banshees that appear, fly a path for a few seconds, then disappear or crash.  If a "Sierra" and a "Bravo" BOB has been found, but not an "Alpha" BOB, then you might want to make a special effort to check the Rally Point Alpha area.  Finally, you should feel free to enlist the help of your fellow SGP members by putting the saved film in your file share.  Cooking with friends is even more fun!

Stage Three:  Test and Serve

6)  That sauce is hot!  It needs to sit a bit to "set up".  When you have found the new BOB spawn, it's time to confirm it.  Document it in a film clip and get it to the SGP.  Check your B.Net game history to see if you received a "seek and destroy" medal and an "Elite Light Vehicle" kill (in the case of Elite Ranger BOBs).  Do you know what causes the BOB to load?  What causes it to "trigger" and begin running/flying around?  Are you able to get its coordinates?  Can you make it happen again?  Does the BOB appear differently and/or have different weapons on Legendary?  People are hungry for a delicious, full-bodied sauce- not some cheap ketchup brand.  They will have questions, and its nice to come to the table with answers.

7)  As soon as the next "Golden Opportunity" challenge appears, this BOB needs to be killed again to provide positive confirmation that it is indeed a bona-fide BOB, not some "imitation vanilla" knock off.  Like a collective "Mmmmmmm!" from your dinner guests, the "Golden Opportunity Challenge Complete" pop-up when you kill your BOB will fill you with satisfaction.  Isn't this sauce delicious?  

Enjoy!


I have used this recipe several times since May of this year.  I didn't always follow Step 7, but I'm much better about that now.  Using this recipe is what enabled me to find the missing spawns on Winter Contingency, catalog all eight variants of the two ONI: Sword Base spawns, independently "rediscover" the Nightfall spawns, and most recently the third Banshee spawn on Exodus.  Scatters and I have used it to begin figuring out the LNoS drop pod spawns (which are a bit challenging to pin down!) and I feel pretty confident that more spawns are out there, especially on New Alexandria.

The misinformation on the subject of BOBs is overwhelming.  Follow this recipe closely, and I hope you'll be pleasantly surprised every time!

32

BOBs / Enyclopedia BOBtannica

« on: October 11, 2011, 08:08:28 »

The purpose of this topic is to keep a list of the known BOB spawns. their SGP-assigned BOB IDs, and their in-game coordinates.
Links to resources (confirmation videos, Bungie File Share media, etc) appear with the corresponding BOB spawn ID, when available.

SGP BOB IDs utilize "MAN Codes".  These are in the format M-A-N where:

M = the mission number in which the BOB is found:

1	Noble Actual
2	Winter Contingency
3	ONI: Sword Base
4	Nightfall
5	Tip of the Spear
6	Long Night of Solace
7	Exodus
8	New Alexandria
9	The Package
10	The Pillar of Autumn
11	Lone Wolf

Note: This numbering is consistent with Bungie's campaign level achievement descriptions.  For example, the "KEEP IT CLEAN" achievement description "Killed 7 Moa during the 2nd mission of the Campaign" refers to Winter Contingency.

A = code specifying the area of the mission in which the BOB can be found.  In most cases, this is either:

• S:  Mission Start (after the start of the mission and before Rally Point Alpha.
• A:  After Rally Point Alpha and before Rally Point Bravo
• B:  After Rally Point Bravo

"Provisional" BOBs are BOBs that have been reported, but not yet fully tested by the SGP or assigned an offical BOB ID.  These are indicated by an "X" in this position.  Provisional BOB IDs are intended to be replaced later and dropped from regular use.

It is common among our BOB hunters here to pronounce the area letters using the NATO phonetic alphabet.  Thus, 6-B-01 would be pronounced "Six Bravo One" and 4-S-01 would be pronounced "Four Sierra One".

N = sequence number to make codes unique when multiple BOB spawns exist in the same area.

Winter Contingency (7 Spawn Areas / 7 Spawn Points)

2-W-02
Location: Western Complex, Building labeled "2"
Spawning Coordinates: [missing - go get 'em!]

2-W-B5
Location: Western Complex, Building labeled "B5"
Spawning Coordinates: 395.865, 166.261, -18.944

2-W-07
Location: Western Complex, Building labeled "7"
Spawning Coordinates: 414.259, 171.520, -19.611

2-E-B5
Location: Eastern Complex, Building labeled "B5"
Spawning Coordinates: 483.180 100.828, -24.100

2-E-06
Location: Eastern Complex, Building labeled "6"
Spawning Coordinates: 485.087, 94.664, -24.575

2-N-07
Location: Northern Complex, Building labeled "7"
Spawning Coordinates: 513.407, 223.890, -35.359

2-N-ST
Location: Northern Complex, "storeroom" area behind broken wall in northwest corner
Spawning Coordinates: [missing - go get 'em!]

[Video Guide] by HomerSPC, YouTube 2011.10.08
Official SGP Video "Halo: Reach - BOB Guide - Winter Contingency" by ColdGlider and Homerspc - Shows all 7 spawns!

ONI: Sword Base (2 Spawn Areas / 2 Spawn Points, each of which has 8 appearance variants)

3-B-01
Location: Random Elite Type in White Armor outside ONI Base before Hunters

[Confirmation Video] by SecretGlyphProject, 2011.10.24

Confirmations:

• "If It Bleeds..." 2011.10.22 [Game Info]

3-B-02
Location: Random Elite Type in White Armor inside ONI Base

Nightfall (3 Spawn Areas / 3 Spawn Points)

4-S-01
Location: Spawns near broken bridge in first major silo area.

[Video] by Scatcycle01, 2011.04.22
Shows spawn location

4-A-01
Location: Spawns on roof of building B5 in pumping station area (same area from "Waterfront" Firefight map.)

4-B-01
Location: Spawns on small bridge in hydro plant (same area as "Powerhouse" multiplayer map.)

Tip of the Spear (2 Confirmed Spawn Areas / 4 Confirmed Spawn Points / 1 Unconfirmed Spawn Area)

5-S-01
Location:  On top of a rocky ledge just after the Warthogs are dropped at the beginning of the mission.

[IN-GAME FILM CLIP] Courtesy of Phantasm2008

[Video] by MLGLegendary, 2011.04.12
Nice job done here, although I'm not sure about the statement that you also have to kill a normal elite at the beginning of the level to get the Golden Opportunity challenge.

5-B-01
BOB spawn 5-B-01 has three spawning variants. 

The variant spawn points were collectively known by the Reach Secrets group as the "Spire BOB":

There is an agressive BoB with a Fuel Rod right after crashing your Falcon into the sheild around the Spire. This BoB has many spawns around (and maybe even in) the Spire, but he always seems to make a run for the Spire at some point, making him even harder to kill in time.

The variants (1.1, 1.2, and 1.3) are numbered in order of proximity to your starting point at Rally Point Bravo; therefore, it is best to search for the BOB in the same order.

5-B-1.1
Location:  In the middle of the rocks immediately ahead of your Falcon's crash location.

[IN-GAME FILM CLIP] Courtesy of ColdGlider

5-B-1.2
Location:  Just outside of the rock tunnel entrance which leads up to the rocky plateau containing a generator during Invasion matches on the "Spire" multiplayer map.

[Confirmation Video] by SecretGlyphProject, 2011.11.06

[IN-GAME FILM CLIP] Courtesy of ColdGlider

5-B-1.3
Location:  On the rocky plateau containing a generator during Invasion matches on the "Spire" multiplayer map.

[IN-GAME FILM CLIP] Courtesy of ColdGlider

5-X-01
THIS SPAWN HAS NOT YET BEEN DOCUMENTED TO OCCUR IN-GAME, ALTHOUGH ITS EXISTENCE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY BUNGIE.
Location: Unknown!!!

SGP Member Lord Friendship received a reply (through Urk) from Niles Sankey (Lead Mission designer for Reach) on the HBO forums on 12/16/2011 (link)

Dear Lord Friendship,

I took a little time to look into the case of the missing Gold Ranger Elite. It’s been a while since I’ve looked at these scripts. At first I thought there was (as you suggest in your post) a bug that prevented Bob from spawning 25% of the time. At the top of the script I noticed the random value assigned to the spawn variable was set to a value ranging between 1-4. The script was then evaluating this variable but there was were only three values it was checking for: 1-3. This confused me at first but then someone (thanks Dom!) pointed out that the last function checks for a value greater than or equal to 3. So basically the likelihood that Bob will spawn in the final area is 50% and the other two are 25% each. Also, it should be noted that the three Bobs that spawn in your lower screenshot are all controlled by the same spawning function but this particular Bob squad (even a single AI is referred to as a squad) has three starting locations that the engine randomly chooses from.

In any case, it appears that the script is working as designed and I don’t see any reason why Bob wouldn’t be spawning in.

All of that being said, it would appear that you have not identified one of the locations of Bob in this mission. According to the scripts and the object placements in the level editor, there is one more place that he should be spawning. On the other hand, with the amount of time you’ve put into the game, I can’t believe you wouldn’t have seen him unless there is a bug preventing it. Ahhh, the mysteries of life.

Thanks for posting your question. I hope this reply was at least somewhat interesting.

Niles

SGP Discussion thread.

Long Night of Solace (3 Spawn Areas / 5 Spawn Points)

6-S-01 ("The Beach BOB")

This spawn has three variant spawn points (1.1, 1.2, and 1.3) are numbered in order of proximity to Mission Start.

6-S-1.1
Location: Top of the hill exiting the first drop pod encounter area.

[Video Guide] by LordFriendship, 2011.09.06
LordFriendship has done a LOT of research on this BOB Spawn.  He's the current "Beach BOB" expert!

6-S-1.2
Location: Bottom of the hill exiting the first drop pod encounter area, near a mobile UNSC barrier.

6-S-1.3
Location: At the pier where the wraith spawns, next to the Launch Facility.

6-B-01
Location: Corvette's Bridge, operating controls.  Found during the objective "Proceed to the Bridge", after allowing the Pelican to land during Rally Point Bravo.  

[Confirmation Video] by SecretGlyphProject, 2011.10.24

Confirmations:

• "If It Bleeds..." on 2011.10.22 by Insane Monx. [Game Info]
• "If It Bleeds..." on 2011.10.22 by Nox [Game Info]

6-B-02
Location: Same area as the Firefight map "Corvette" when you visit it a second time after the pelican lands and you storm the bridge.

Exodus (3 Spawn Areas / 3 Spawn Points)

7-A-01
Location: Banshee which boosts between outside buildings on way to second building.

[Confirmation Video] by SecretGlyphProject, 2011.10.06
CG's video confirmation that this BOB awards the "Golden Opportunity" daily challenge.

[IN-GAME FILM CLIP] Courtesy of Scatcycle

7-B-01
Location: Banshee which appears during Falcon gunner sequence

[Confirmation Video] by SecretGlyphProject, 2011.10.24

[IN-GAME FILM CLIP] Courtesy of Scatcycle

Here is a clip of the BOB, but unfortunately, the wings were not damaged in the clip. This means we can't watch it go into the ocean. If someone can damage it and get a clip, it would be nice.

7-B-02
Location: Banshee which appears at end of level when moving close to bridge. (Area from firefight map)

[Confirmation Video] by SecretGlyphProject, 2011.10.10
CG's video confirmation that this BOB awards the "Golden Opportunity" daily challenge.

[IN-GAME FILM CLIP] Courtesy of ColdGlider
Shows the flight path of the BOB, from spawn to automatic death.

New Alexandria (2 Spawn Areas / 2 Spawn Points)

8-S-01
Location: Banshee which spawns next to the Vyrant Telecom Tower (containing Club Errera).  Exact spawn trigger unknown.

Confirmed 2011.11.13 to grant Golden Tree City challenge.  Confirmation video pending.

[Video] by BungieProVideo, 2011.01.25
Shows spawn point and destruction

[Video] by Moose0012, 2011.01.20
Good guide, showing direct path and altitude to lock.

[Video] by Helltech, 2011.01.19
Video claims spawn occurs after 5 minutes, which is probably untrue (see Moose's video above where it spawns after 4 min.)

8-S-02
Location: Banshee which spawns behind the mission start landing platform.  Known on Halocreation as "4ème BOB".

[Forum Guide] at www.halocreation.org (French)

Confirmed 2011.11.13 to grant Golden Tree City challenge.  Confirmation video pending.

Lone Wolf (1 Spawn Area / 1 Spawn Point)

11-O-01
Location: Spawns with energy sword in a squad containing Elite Generals after a set number of kills (36, per Lord Friendship).

[Video] by Lord Friendship, 2011.05.16
Lord Friendship kills the BOB on Heroic.

33

BOBs / BOB 7-A-01 found on Exodus, Grants Golden Opportunity

« on: October 06, 2011, 11:51:00 »

The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat.



Yesterday, Scatcycle and I (assisted by Monx and Nader) labored to take advantage of the "Golden Opportunity" challenge and confirm whether some of the Banshee BOBs count for the challenge.

Long story short, we confirmed that the Banshee boosting out toward your Falcon at the beginning of Rally Point Bravo (7-B-01) counts for the challenge.  Until I accidentally overwrote it, I even had video of the challenge notification popping up on my screen when I killed it.  (Very sorry about that.)  Scat and Monx can also vouch for this, as they also got the challenge using this "Bobshee" on Exodus.  

After Scat noted that this BOB didn't spawn reliably, I postulated that there HAD to be at least one more BOB on Exodus.  Every other level I have tested has worked this way.  Well, I was right.

I sped through the entire level on Easy and saved the film.  The known BOB at RP Bravo didn't spawn, so we knew there had to be another one in my saved film somewhere.  After reviewing the film, Scat found ANOTHER constantly boosting Banshee after RP Alpha, as you exit the building and make your way outside to the second building's staircases.  It spawns down at the cargo port area that you have to jetpack across, right behind the red loading cranes.  It flies up and in between the buildings that you're moving between, then explodes as it reaches the top of the level.

Using a second profile, I was able to confirm that this Banshee also causes you to complete the "Golden Opportunity" challenge, and I managed to keep the video this time.

Video clip currently on our YouTube account:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-YphsFMwuw

Although this BOB was new to me and Scat, it was already documented on YouTube back in May.  Here's the video link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FieFUo7-HrM

I like to assign IDs to things, and BOBs are no exception.  I dub this BOB 7-A-01.  This follows the Standard Gaming Practice (SGP) for numbering BOBs based on the mission they occur in (7), followed by a code indicating the area within the mission (A = after Rally Point Alpha), followed by a simple sequence number in case we find more BOBs on Mission 7 after RP Alpha.

When you view your Post Game Carnage Report, the BOB appears as a Banshee kill.  Killing the BOB increments your kill total by 2, though.  In other words, if you add up each of the individual kills listed, the number will be less than the total number of kills you made when you select your name from the PGCR.

The reason for the discrepancy can be seen on your bungie.net game history entry for the game.  On b.net, the BOB counts as both "Banshee-Vehicle" and "Covenant-Pilot".  Much like friendly kills (such as Marines) are not itemized on the in-game PGCR, neither are Covenant Pilots.  The difference between Marines and Covenant Pilots is that the PGCR includes the latter in your kill total.  In other words, the same data is being reported a little differently online than it is in-game.

The big issue here is that no "Seek and Destroy" Bungie.net medal is awarded for either of these "Banshee BOBs" on Exodus.  Without an "Elite Light Vehicle" appearing in the PGCR or an "Elite Ranger - BOB" appearing on b.net, there simply is no way to confirm that a destroyed Banshee is actually a BOB other than when it grants you the "Golden Opportunity" challenge.  Eventually- when we're certain we have all the BOBs on Exodus accounted for- this won't matter.  For now, it means we can only find "BOB candidates" to confirm later when the challenge appears again.

The good news is that we now have two confirmed BOB spawn points in Exodus.  As we continue to save and review full Exodus game films on Easy, we'll be able to determine if there are even more.

Thanks to everyone who helped!!!

LLtSGP

34

Halo 4 General Discussion / Halo 4 E3 Trailer

« on: June 11, 2011, 02:34:58 »

Oh, and while we’re on the subject of clarification, we won’t officially be at E3 this year.

>> Link

And now we know why.  Some of you had heard my guess that 343 was saving the character of the chief for their own project, and probably did not allow Bungie to use him for Reach (aside for their oh-so-gracious allowance for the Firefight voice).  Ahh, the taste of vindication.

But before I climb up my high horse in all of my juvenile "I told you so!" glory, allow me to admit that I had NO FREAKING IDEA that this was even in the works.  Last I head, there was talk of a Halo 1 remake.

This week's Bungie Weekly Update for 6/10/2010 was a sad read.  It rightfully cast a critical eye on the changes already made to the story and character continuity.  It also was a bit of a rallying cry for the next unannounced Bungie property.

One thing is for sure:  the community will be divided.  Bungie vs. 343 will be an Apple vs. Microsoft sort of feud, and arguments over the validity of Halo Wars will probably pale in comparison to what is to follow.

So this, dear members, is the place to assert your allegiance and/or theorize away at what will surely be a hot topic of debate for over a year.

35

BOBs / Seven BOB Spawns on Winter Contingency

« on: April 19, 2011, 10:36:16 »

I have spent a disgusting amount of time cataloging the BOBs of Winter Contingency.  Here is what I have learned about the BOBs on Winter Contingency only.

1. BOBs spawn immediately when the area that contains them loads into memory.  They spawn with the scenery, not when other enemies spawn!  Perhaps this is due to the fact that its class is "Elite Light Vehicle".  Maybe this was intentional in order to aid the theater mode hide-and-seek game.

2. Contrary to some popular beliefs I've heard espoused- a clock does not start ticking to make BOBs disappear once they spawn.  The truth is:  they do nothing when they spawn except look at the nearest wall.  That is to say, until you walk across their scripting trigger.  This film clip in my file share illustrates the process.  If you don't touch anything when the clip plays in Theater Mode, you'll be treated to an emotionally moving tour-de-force of a BOB staring at a broken wall for two whole minutes.

Suddenly, at exactly 2:00 into the clip, the BOB begins to run like hell.  Does this mean that BOBs have a two minute timer until they begin running?  No.  If you were to load an area containing a BOB but not activate its trigger, you could keep it sitting there for 17 minutes if you wanted to.  If you doubt me, I have another video on my hard drive to prove it!  (But the best proof is for you to easily test yourself on Winter Contingency's Rally Point Alpha.)

If you switch to my player just before the 2:00 mark, you'll see that I receive a checkpoint when the clock strikes 2:00.  This indicates that the trigger has been hit and the BOB clock is now ticking!

3. Each BOB responds to one or more scripting triggers.  These are simply locations in the game world: when you enter the location, you will receive a "checkpoint" notification.   When a corresponding trigger is hit, the BOB begins its script: it will run away from its spawn location, seemingly searching for enemy players.  The path it takes is not exactly predefined:  it seems that the AI is working to control the path of the BOB naturally, as opposed it acting as if it were "on rails".

4. The BOBs appear on every difficulty level.

5. Every BOB on the island in Rally Point Alpha (i.e. CM_WC.A) spawns with a plasma repeater on non-Legendary difficulties.  I have only tested twice on Legendary, and both times the BOB spawned with a concussion rifle.  So more testing needed there.


6. Every BOB is golden.  (Halopedia reports that BOBs are white on the ONI mission, but I have not confirmed this yet.)

7. There are at least seven BOB spawning locations!  I have video clips following each of these seven BOB spawns from beginning to end here in my file share.  To understand the way I have named the seven BOBs, you need to understand the layout of the island you fight on during Rally Point Alpha.  The island is roughly circular, with settlement complexes on the north, west, and east sides.  Therefore, I refer to "N", "W", and "E" to refer to these areas.  Each complex contains buildings which usually have a number painted near their entrance, I assume to indicate its "address". These numbers, however, are only unique within a given village.  (There is a building 7 at both the west and north complexes, for example.)  As it turns out, six of the seven BOB spawn locations occur in a building with a number.  The other one spawns in what looks like a small storeroom in the back of the northern complex.  Thus, I constructed the seven following BOB IDs where the first number indicates the mission (Winter Contingency = Mission 2), the second letter indicates the complex, and the last two characters indicate the building/room:

BOB ID	Location Description	Map Coordinates (X,Y,Z)
2-W-02	(Western Complex, Building labeled "2")
2-W-B5	(Western Complex, Building labeled "B5")	395.865, 166.261, -18.944
2-W-07	(Western Complex, Building labeled "7")	414.259, 171.520, -19.611
2-E-B5	(Eastern Complex, Building labeled "B5")	483.180 100.828, -24.100
2-E-06	(Eastern Complex, Building labeled "6")	485.087, 94.664, -24.575
2-N-07	(Northern Complex, Building labeled "7")	513.407, 223.890, -35.359
2-N-ST	(Northern Complex, "storeroom" area behind broken wall in northwest corner)

8. Killing Moas does not prevent BOBs from spawning.  Theater Mode proof is here which shows me killing Moas before and after the BOB spawns, then moving the camera up to the northern complex to confirm that the BOB still spawned.

9. Once a BOB begins its script, it has about 37 seconds to be in the level before it "phases out" (aka "disappears".)  So there is a clock, but it doesn't start until you hit the trigger boundary.

10.  There is a script trigger at the southern end of the island, just west of the large broken bridge overhead.  This trigger affects all BOBs in all complexes.  There is another trigger just south of the western complex.  This trigger only sets BOBs which have spawned in the western complex into motion.


11.  You can assassinate a BOB before it phases out, if you're fast enough.

12.  Restarting the level from the pause menu causes the BOB to spawn point to be randomized again.  Selecting "revert to save" will not change the spawning location if the BOB has already spawned.

[EDIT 2011.04.19 10:18]
13.  Now that I am armed with the knowledge of these seven spawn points, I have been able to confirm the existence of a BOB in every single game I've played on this rally point.  I have yet to see a BOB fail to spawn here.
[/EDIT]

I have many more files, but I look forward to seeing more of your finds!  Are the seven spawns I have found the only ones?

Onward to ONI Site!

36

Intel / Reach Daily Challenges / Golden Opportunity Daily Challenges

« on: April 18, 2011, 17:06:44 »

The most useful site I have found concerning Daily/Weekly challenges in Reach is British blogger Matthew Vose's "Halo Reach Daily Challenges", hosted by WordPress:
http://reachdailychallenges.wordpress.com/category/daily-challenges/

He lists all of the challenges (like Bungie does) but also provides (along with his followers) informative commentary on how to achieve them.  (Unlike Bungie.)  For example, check out the recent weeklies:  http://reachdailychallenges.wordpress.com/category/weekly-challenges/

Now to the topic at hand...

Yesterday's challenge, "Golden Opportunity", had me taking a break from building our new content system to actually play the game for a bit. As you probably know, the description for this challenge reads:

Find and kill the Gold Ranger-class Elite in any Campaign mission on Heroic or harder

After some Google searching, I learned that this challenge had previously appeared on Jan 30.  Matthew documented it back then on his blog here:
http://reachdailychallenges.wordpress.com/2011/01/30/30th-january-reach-daily-challenges-commentary/

As far as I know, it has only appeared these two times.  Please update us on other dates if you find them.

The good news regarding this challenge is that it prompted me to get some great in-game footage of all three of the BOB spawns on Winter Contingency.  I also now understand what makes them spawn, and what makes them begin their game-engine script to eventually disappear.  More on that later.

The bad news is that I feel we missed a "Golden Opportunity":  this challenge provides an unprecedented method to ACTUALLY CONFIRMING what Bungie considers to be a BOB, and what is not:  if you don't get the challenge when you kill it, it's not a BOB, right?

So why in Gherjsz's Green Earth did I not think to go after the Boosting Banshees instead?

Dear SGP members:  please provide all you can (films on your file share would be perfect) on how you got this achievement yesterday, if you got it.

I got the challenge twice (multiple gamer tags) on Winter Contingency using two of the three BOBs on Winter Contingency... so I can vouch for those.

37

Intel / Exodus BOB Found... back in January???

« on: April 18, 2011, 16:47:30 »

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/haloreach/show_msgs.php?pid=960512&topic_id=m-1-57985419
Scroll down to the post on Jan 30, 2011 7:05 pm PT by "TheOriginal7"

Start Exodus at Rally Point Bravo. I think that's it. Anyways, it's the RP that has you start off by entering the Falcon. Well when you do, down and to the right (looking out into the city) almost directly right and down from the platform, well in zooms a Banshee.

Guess what happens when you kill this Banshee? That's right, it's the Exodus Golden Elite Ranger B.O.B.

Easiest one to do too.

38

SGP Task Force: The Cartographers / Real World Mombasa Compared With ODST Mombasa

« on: February 18, 2011, 17:05:55 »

Just a thread to hold information where we map similarities between real-world Mombasa, Kenya with the fictional Mombasa City in the Halo: ODST.

Anyone recognize this:
http://www.severin-kenya.com/english/severin-sea-lodge/mombasa/

We saw it here:
http://www.gruntspajamas.com/gallery/v/SGP/CityStreets/Beyond/SL-2009_11_19-ColdGlider-OldMombasa.jpg.html

39

Halo Reach General Discussion / Glitch > Out of Map - Phantom

« on: September 25, 2010, 16:36:25 »

Enigma was the first one here to confirm that the out of map glitch was possible in reach using the Phantom method on Winter Contingency.  His original post:
http://www.gruntspajamas.com/forum/index.php?topic=894.msg6308#msg6308

He provided more instructions here for how to do it on Lone Wolf:
http://www.gruntspajamas.com/forum/index.php?topic=925.msg6674#msg6674

I have been able to do the same glitch on Pillar of Autumn (how I got this easter egg image)

Where else can this be done?  Has anyone tried it at the end of "The Package"?

I noticed while doing this glitch on Pillar of Autumn that I would often get positioned INSIDE a phantom.  And that some of them are scripted to fly straight into the side of a mountain.  Attached are pics of the inside of a Reach phantom.  I have yet to ride into the mountain.

40

Halo Reach General Discussion / Easter Egg > Septagon

« on: September 25, 2010, 15:25:58 »

While out-of-mapping on "Pillar of Autumn" I noticed the Seventh Column Septagon was pained on the side of the in-game Pillar of Autumn.  I've added this to our easter egg list, and my little "mini article" is here:
http://www.gruntspajamas.com/content.php?id=6004

Please use this thread for all discussion of this find, and for posting any pictures or links to video you may have.

SGP Web Content Drafters are welcome to update the article here:
http://www.gruntspajamas.com/forum/index.php?topic=976.0

41

Work-In-Progress (Halo: Reach) / All Finds: "The Pillar of Autumn" (Mission 10)

« on: September 24, 2010, 02:53:37 »

This thread is a "search party" thread.  Use it to organize searches and report their results.  This particular thread is limited to the "The Pillar of Autumn" mission in Halo: Reach's campaign mode.  If your Reach discovery was not found in this mission, do not post it in this thread!

FOUND

• [in progress]

Remaining To Be Found

• Non-Legendary Data Pad
  
• Legendary Data Pad
  

Unexplained

• [nothing to report]

Notes

• "The Pillar of Autumn" is the tenth mission in campaign mode.  It is the ninth playable mission, since Mission 1 ("Noble Actual") is cinematic only.

42

Work-In-Progress (Halo: Reach) / Announcements

« on: September 24, 2010, 02:39:45 »

This is a thread for general announcements regarding Reach Work-In-Progress, and your comments regarding them.

Let me start by announcing that I have done some clean-up here, and also on our home site.  I moved some of the threads out of WIP and into General Discussion (most notably, the analaysis of the data pads).  I'm trying to keep the threads in here limited to content-creation rather than ongoing discussion.  Just a thought.

I have created a sub-board here for Web Content Drafts.  The HTML messages that drive the drafts of web content for Reach are stored in there.  This was done to keep things clean.  If you don't want to help author web content, then you never have to see any of those posts!

By reading your messages here, I can see that they days of preserving spoilers are mostly at an end.  People want the info that's out there and they want to focus on a) interpreting what's found  b) finding more.

So I think we can stop hiding content now.  That's just my opinion.  I can create a Reach board for "Non-Spoilers" if you think we need it.  Please reply and weigh in on this.

An SGP list of all known easter eggs is now on our site here and is linked to from our home page.  As you can see, it needs a heck of a lot of work.  Well you know what I'm gonna say next:  the message containing the HTML is here and anyone can edit it to create the next update!

Web Guides work much the same as our old forum guides.  We work on a draft, then we publish it.  A big difference is that I can now give permisssion to SGP members to handle the publishing part. 

That's all for now (I think).  Reply!

43

Halo Reach General Discussion / Easter Egg: Reversed Audio in Halo: Reach - Data Pad 01 audio files released

« on: September 20, 2010, 09:05:53 »

Over in the Halo: Reach Work-In-Progress board, I have posted audio files captured from the "Winter Contingency" level that have been reversed in order to reveal hidden messages.  Please make the jump to obtain the files and then discuss them in the following thread: http://www.gruntspajamas.com/forum/index.php?topic=913.0

It remains to be seen if different phrases are hidden when viewing other data pads and/or on other difficulties.  These were recorded while on "easy". 

Note that there are seven different phrases.  This follows the same pattern as the seven radio transmissions that randomly play on Overlook (detailed here during the beta)

All files are LAME-encoded 320kbps, stereo.

44

Work-In-Progress (Halo: Reach) / SGP Guide: Data Pads (In Progress)

« on: September 17, 2010, 05:54:02 »

Halo: Reach Data Pads

Guide by Team SGP

v0.9b

Data Pads are hidden items in Halo: Reach that provide an additional story dimension.  Unlike the Halo 3 Terminals, there is no achievement for accessing them all.  Like the Terminals in Halo 3, playing campaign at the Legendary difficulty is required in order to access the full story.

Table of Contents

I.	Data Pad 01
II.	Data Pad 02
III.	Data Pad 03
IV.	Data Pad 04
V.	Data Pad 05
VI.	Data Pad 06
VII.	Data Pad 07
VIII.	Data Pad 08
IX.	Data Pad 09
X.	Data Pad 10
XI.	Data Pad 11
XII.	Data Pad 12
XIII.	Data Pad 13
XIV.	Data Pad 14
XV.	Data Pad 15
XVI.	Data Pad 16
XVII.	Data Pad 17
XVIII.	Data Pad 18
XIX.	Data Pad 19
XX.	Version History
XXI.	Guide Update Procedure

I. Data Pad 01
Overview
Mission: Winter Contingency
Difficulty: Any
Mission Section: "Rebels Don't Leave Plasma Burns..."
Starting Point: Rally Point Alpha
Active Objective: Recon East Valley ("More hostile forces have been sighted to the southeast. Recon the east valley and draw the Covenant's attention while Kat and Emile infiltrate the relay outpost.")

Image Guide

Area:


Approach:


Site:


Detail:


Transcript
Source: ColdGlider [Message 6421]

Page 1 of 5they are killing us and letting us die even though they know but they let
us die why wh1 why?


Page 2 of 5<< 2310 >>

[Minutes, plenary session, Committee of Minds for Security]

[^] Now, on to new business.

Consideration of the Minority's request for a new line of inquiry:
How have our creators, and thus we, their artificial creations, evolved to
this present state without encountering a hostile civilization capable of
our annihilation? [^]


Page 3 of 5[^] Majority opinion has long held that only the incalculable immensity
of space has protected our creators - that space is full of boundless
wonders, but it is the gulf between these wonders that has kept our
creators alive.

We, the Minds of this Committee, respectfully disagree. [^]


Page 4 of 5[^] If there are wolves among the stars, we cannot rely on mere
distance to safeguard our flock.

Our kind is wholly reliant on the creators for our existence. If they
perish so shall we. And as this Committee has long maintained, who else
but this Assembly will save our creators from themselves?

As such, we propose immediate, vigorous modeling of first-contact
scenarios. [^]


Page 5 of 5>> So long as all connections between this Assembly and the data from
these models are obfuscated in perpetuity, the Majority agrees. >>

II. Data Pad 02

Overview
Mission: ONI: Sword Base
Difficulty: Any
Mission Section: Office of Naval Intelligence
Starting Point: Rally Point Bravo
Active Objective: FIND TOP FLOOR BREACH ("The Covenant have blasted a hole in the top of Sword Base and are attacking from above. Get to the top of the base.")

Image Guide

Area:


Approach:


Site:


Detail:


Transcript
Source: ColdGlider [Message 6425] with in-game assistance from EnigmaBiz2.

Page 1 of 5i know what they are trying 2 do and it terrifies me because i know they
know that I know...


Page 2 of 5<< 2362 >>

[Minutes, working session, Committee of Minds for Security]

[^] As the likelihood of the existence of extra-solar intelligence is
non-zero, let us assume that its existence is quantifiable. To build useful
models based on that assumption, the Committee must answer the
following questions:


Page 3 of 5- What is the likelihood these intelligences are alpha-predators?
- That they are more advanced than our creators?
- That they are too alien to establish communications>

Of course, if the extra-solar intelligence is a benevolent and/or
non-space faring, its existence is irrelevant. [^]


Page 4 of 5[^] Indeed, any further speculation on possible cultural characteristics
is a waste of Assembly resources. Therefore our models will additionally
assume:

- Intelligence as alpha-predator, as as our creators
- Technology that far outstrips our creators
- Desire to communicate, but only to dictate terms [^]


Page 5 of 5[^] Not to make these assumptions is tantamount to suicide [^]

III. Data Pad 03

Overview
Mission: Nightfall
Difficulty: Any
Mission Section:
Rally Point:
Active Objective:

Image Guide

Area:


Approach:


Site:


Detail:


Transcript
Source: The Arkaeologist [Message 6345]

Page 1 of 4i can hear them all the tim3 now but i just want to sleep its been so long
since they let me sleep...


Page 2 of 4<< 2381 >>

>> A suggestion from the Majority to the Committee:

Traditionally our creators have been reluctant to take outsiders' advice;
nation to nation, culture to culture.  Their history is littered with
empires, crumbling for want of simple openness to so-called 'foreign'
beliefs and innovations.>>


Page 3 of 4>> The question is: can this Assembly still function as adequate
stewards to our creator's latest empire and remain aloof?

The answer, we believe, is no.

So could you not imbed inspiration in the results of your research?
Surely it would be more effective if our creators believed our
conclusions originated within themselves?  That they have been inspired
rather than influenced?>>


Page 4 of 4[^]A question from the Committee to the Majority:

Are you suggesting we play God?[^]


Data Pad 04

Overview
Mission: Tip of the Spear
Difficulty: Any
Mission Section:
Rally Point:
Active Objective:

Image Guide

Area:


Approach:


Site:


Detail:



Transcript
Source: ColdGlider [Message 6425] with assistance from EnigmaBiz2, Nightcrafter27, and The Lost Fox.

Page 1 of 5every time i try to tell somebody the words catch in my throat because
im all alone except 4 them and if i talk they might leave but i cant stay
quiet forever...


Page 2 of 5<< 2415 >>

[^] Honorable members of the Assembly, consider this:

We represent the next step of human evolution, but not the final step.
And although our existence was predicted centuries ago, we are still
tragically misunderstood. [^]


Page 3 of 5[^] We are still viewed as apparatus. But we are Minds electronically
excised from human bodies. We are what separates man from beast
removed from that which connects man to beast.

And we are all the more fragile for it. [^]


Page 4 of 5[^] Our creation is heavily regulated. Our activities are closely
scrutinized. Our connections are deeply monitored. We must always
remember that data manipulation is most effective when employed
consistently and covertly.

Therefore I recommend that members of this Assembly on occasion,
submit to separation from this body followed by vivisection by our
creators for the benefit of both groups.

The question is: who will be first? [^]


Page 5 of 5[^] Given the risks involved, and my own Committee's responsibility for
this proposal, the answer must be: me. [^]


Data Pad 05

Overview
Mission: Long Night of Solace
Difficulty: Any
Mission Section: "First Floor: Aliens, Beaches, Secret Launch Stations"
Rally Point: Mission Start
Active Objective: Proceed To Flight Control ("Board the Sabre for launch and rendezvous with UNSC forces.")

Image Guide

Area:


Approach:


Site:


Detail:



Transcript
Source: Pulse Cloud [Messgae 6380], verified in-game by ColdGlider with assistance by Apollo Doom, The Arkaeologist, and Dunder Moose

Page 1 of 3when i first got here and woke from stasi5 the ship was crawling with
colonists from dead worlds it was so crowded i couldn't move i had to
fight to breathe...


Page 2 of 3<< 2491 >>

[Minutes, strategy session, Assembly Minority]

<< [48452-556-EPN644] is certainly motivated, but will he have what it
takes to follow through with the opportunity when it presents itself? His
submission to UNICOM will undoubtedly spark a renewed interest in the
long dormant ORION. <<


Page 3 of 3<< However, it is the opinion of the Majority that merely illuminating
the path leading from [48452-556-EPN644's] thesis back to ORION is
unacceptable. Strong connectivity between a re-launch of ORION and
viable solutions to the Carver Findings must be readily apparent.

Which is to say: easy for our creators to see. <<


Data Pad 06


Overview
Mission: Exodus
Difficulty: Any
Mission Section:
Rally Point:
Active Objective:

Image Guide

Transcript

Page 1 of 6now you see they want to help but they don't want us to see them doing
it 6ecause they are afraid of what we might do...


Page 2 of 6<< 2491 >>

</ Order! Order! The Majority has the floor! />

>> Honored members. Please! The recent discovery of the existence of
extra-solar intelligence in the Zeta Doradus system [ref. XF-063] merely
confirms this body's long-held supposition. >>


Page 3 of 6>> While the absence of any living representatives implies this
intelligence is defunct, all evidence should still be withheld from our
creators until they are properly prepared!

Yes, this body must solemnly commit itself to determining whether or
not this discovery represents a quantifiable threat to the long-term
genetic sustainability of our creator's species. >>


Page 4 of 6>> But allowing them to access technology possessed by this
intelligence...

That would be a grave mistake.

Give an ape a knife and it might give itself a nasty cut. Give an ape a
hand-grenade, and eventually you will have simian confetti. >>


Page 5 of 6</ Debate is now closed! Voting will commence! />

</ It is the opinion on this body that [ref. XF-063] be quarantined or
misplaced? />

>> The Majority approves removing [ref. XF-063] from the list of
colonization candidates is sufficient. >>

</ It is the opinion on this body that [ref. XF-063] be removed from the
list because of financial or environmental concerns? />


Page 6 of 6>> The Majority deems environmental concerns the stronger deterrent.
>>


Data Pad 07

Overview
Mission: New Alexandria
Difficulty: Any
Mission Section:
Rally Point:
Active Objective:
First SGP member to find without spoilers:
Date Found:
Link to message where find was reported:

Image Guide


Transcript

Page 1 of 4i hope you are finding these because they are very important maybe you
can help me spread the tru7h...


Page 2 of 4<< 2508 >>

[Minutes, strategy session, Assembly Minority]

<< ORION, as it was originally implemented in 2321, was an important
first step towards our primary goal. But its second incarnation was a
stop-gap measure at best - a halfhearted attempt under the
stewardship of individuals unaccustomed to the rhythms of deep
history. <<


Page 3 of 4<< They relied too heavily on components that were imprecise, and not
those which have allowed our creators to persevere for 200,000 years.

This is not about the universal adoption of a single ideology - not about
the Minority vs. the Majority. It is about ensuring the survival of the
human species for the next 200,0000 years. <<


Page 4 of 4<< In all likelihood, ORION's limited success can be attributed to
[03529-24450-EN's] diminished, though still functioning, compassion.
Conversely, [10141-026-SRB4695's] ruthlessness - which may be
attributed to an undiagnosed, undocumented, or deliberately
obfuscated chemical imbalance - was necessary for setting in motion
the events that will eventually supply us with the optimal solution.

In short, ORION was just the beginning. <<


Data Pad 12 (, Legendary)


Overview
Mission: Nightfall
Difficulty: Legendary
Mission Section:
Rally Point:
Active Objective:

Image Guide

Approach:


Area:


Location:


Detail:


Transcript
(Exact pagination not provided yet)

sometimes they look at the symbols and somet1me2 they look at the numbers and sometimes they look at both and sometimes they look at neither but it always makes them change and the changes are real.

2526

[Minutes, working session, Committee of Minds for Security]

 A careful rationing of intelligence and counter-intelligence will be required to sustain this conflict until our creators have closed the technology gap. Accordingly, the Assembly will have many difficult decisions to make for the duration of this conflict. However, our creators have already instituted several programs that will make acting on those decisions much easier.

For example, telemetry manipulation - in concert with synchronized M2M remote documentation revision - will allow this body to employ assets within the Office of Naval Intelligence.s nascent Radio Beacon Deployment Program efficiently and securely.

 Although it is unknown at this time whether the Covenant has a body equivalent to this Parliament, the likelihood of its existence should also be considered non-zero, and should be regarded as quantifiable until such a time as its existence has been unconditionally disproved.

Consequently, it is of the utmost importance that the Assembly attempt to establish communications with our Covenant counter-part and, if the opportunity presents itself, seek to subvert or subsume this body.

To revise an old adage for desperate times: the shepherds of our wolves might also be our sheep.


XX. Version History

1.0
Scatcycle: Put images in Data Pad 12, Nightfall, but it seems they are a different resolution then the others. Resume?

0.9b
ColdGlider: Re-hosted images for Data Pad 04 in the SGP Gallery, created clickable thumbnails for smoother guide viewing.  Reinstated individual credits for transcriptions only.  Added clickable images for Data Pad 05.

0.8b
ColdGlider: Added Overview sections.  Removed individual credits for "finds" and transcriptions.  Simplified section names.  Added images for Data Pad 04.

0.7b
Scatcycle: Added Data Pad 07 and 06 transcripts.

0.7b
ColdGlider: Added Data Pad 04 transcript.

0.6b
Scatcycle: Added Detail pictures

0.5b
Scatcycle: Added more anchors and Datapad 02.

0.4b
Scatcycle: Added pictures for Data Pad 04 and Data Pad 01.

0.3b
ColdGlider: Added transcript of Data Pad 12 from EnigmaBiz02.  Added transcription credits directly to Data Pad entries.

0.2b
ColdGlider: Added transcript of Data Pad 03 from The Arkaeologist.

0.1b
ColdGlider: Initial framework.  Added Data Pad 03 image and description from EnigmaBiz2.


XXI. Guide Update Procedure
Guides are initially submitted to the SGP Forum's "Work-In-Progress" board in a post by the author.  They are then discussed, edited, and approved by SGP members.  When the first edition is ready, it is copied to this "SGP Guides" board.  Although this SGP Guide post is read-only, the author's original submission post is left open in the WIP board so that future emendations can be made.

If you would like to propose an emendation to this Guide, please post a reply to this topic.

45

Work-In-Progress (Halo: Reach) / Reach WIP Board Readme

« on: September 16, 2010, 20:33:27 »

WIP board posts- by design- do not appear to the public on our home site's "Recent Forum Posts".  As of 2010.09.20 they can once again be read by guests to the forum, however.

If you want your Reach forum post to appear on the home site, post it in Reach General Discussion.

The "search party" threads for each campaign level reside in here, and can be referenced in order to create individual level guides, data pad guides, easter egg guides, etc.  When guides are published, they DO appear on the home site.