Forge is one of the most recognizable map builders of all time within gaming. When it first released in Halo 3, everyone knew that it was there to stay. Since then, Forge has been used in five more games; Halo: ODST, Halo: Reach, Halo 4, Halo 2: Anniversary, and Halo 5. It was even officially released on PC, and we’re expected to see Forge in Halo: Infinite since it was co-developed by Skybox Labs (who also made Forge for PC).
343 Industries took over the Halo franchise from Bungie, so a lot has changed. This includes the overall Forge mechanics. To stay at the top of the game, we’ve gathered the best tips for anyone to absolutely excel at using Forge.
8 Unlimited Money Exploit - Cash Isn’t A Problem
Just as the name suggests, it is actually possible to spend more money in Forge than your budget allows you to. This is an exclusive tip for Halo 3.
Start with buying at least one of every object that you want to use on your map (it must be an empty map). Then one by one, press X while facing each object, and set the “Run-Time Maximum” to one number higher than the amount of those objects that you’ve placed on the map. Now, if you did this correctly, you should be able to have an unlimited budget.
7 Floating Objects - Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A Bee
Ever wanted to build raining Fusion Coils or build an entire structure in the air? The floating object method allows you to do exactly that, and it can be used to build unusual maps. This is also an exclusive tip for Halo 3.
To just make an object float until it gets touched, create a pile of other objects, and then place the object which you wish to float at the very top. Once your item stops moving, delete the whole pile beneath it. If you want your object to float permanently, place a teleporter at the top of the pile instead because teleporters won’t fall whenever they get touched. Then you can just place your objects on that teleporter.
6 Play Other People’s Maps - Learn From Others!
People have made so many unique maps that you can play, pick apart and take inspiration from. While the game keeps changing, people build much more complex maps, and you have the privilege to learn from most of them.
Reddit user Mojoswoptops2020 got a lot of attention when he posted the Tatooine sunset scene from Star Wars, which he had built in the Halo 5 Forge. That is just one example of things that you can create nowadays, so play other people’s maps and dissect them until you find out exactly how they were made.
5 Play Test Maps With Other Players To Avoid Unfinished Maps
Building a map can be very fun and engaging, but if your purpose is for other players to play it, you have to actually test it for that very same purpose. Because if you only try the map for yourself, you might easily miss important details, allowing players to have an unfair advantage by finding loopholes or tricks.
Or, your map perhaps really isn’t what you envisioned in your head, then ideas and feedback from players with an outside perspective can be for the best.
4 Experiment With Different Textures - For Visual Beauty
Textures or object themes might not be a valid option as of yet in the Halo Franchise, but it is possible to make your own, in a way. If you start combining different objects, walls, or items, it can very well look like new things entirely.
This will make your players appreciate your map more because it’s not the same usual surroundings that they’re used to. You can make walls with certain patterns on them or a staircase with a railing. Almost anything is possible when you combine things.
3 Faster Workflow - A Quick Access Method
Sometimes, when looking for an object that we want for a build, we can spend 5-10 minutes just scrolling through the menu to get what we want.
A quick way to save time is to place one unit of every item on the map; this makes it so that you can see everything in front of you and just copy whatever you want. This is also a great method for getting new ideas for your builds; you see something you think would suit your build instead of remembering its name.
2 Forge More - The More The Merrier
It’s often said that the more you do something, the better you will become at it. And with Forge, that same lesson applies. But if you’re new at making maps, you might feel that many functions and tools are confusing.
However, once you start experimenting and playing around with it, you’ll soon get used to everything Forge has to offer. Once you do, you’ll be surprised at how much you can actually build and accomplish. And whenever Halo: Infinite gets released, there are sure to be even more amazing features, most likely. So just throw yourself out there, experiment, and have fun.
1 Have Fun - Because It’s The Most Important Thing
Just to “forge more” and “have fun” may seem like vague tips, but that’s all that it comes down to if you want to be great at building maps in Forge. If we want to be great at anything, we have to enjoy something that has to do with the process. Otherwise, we’ll probably quit halfway through.
Just have as much fun as you can. If you want to build cool maps for your friends or upload them onto social media, as Mojoswoptops2020 did, as long as you have fun with it, then you’ll eventually learn Forge just like the palm of your hand.
