Although the Brute occupiers have been driven from this ancient structure, they left plenty to remember them by.
Starting from the downed Albatross dropship, the base there consists of a small structure with little cover. Hidden behind it is the Elephant and surrounding it are a few support vehicles.
In the center of the map is the main structure with two main parts, consisting of one smaller and one large building. The buildings are divided up into intervals with air lifts up to the roof in the middle of the walkways. On the roof of the main structure are two cross over bridges where teams spawn on multi-team gametypes.
Directly across the map from the albatross dropship is the other base, consisting of a larger temple-like structure with an interior that is open to all four sides and no air lift in the middle. If you proceed directly through this structure, there is another smaller room with some more default spawn points. Behind the temple is the other Elephant and a few support vehicles.
Off to the side of the map where the UNSC cruiser is floating in the background is a small covenant base with a wreaked dropship and a few containers for cover, along with two plasma batteries and a banshee. On both sides of the temple and one side of the larger main structure there are small square structures with entrances from all four sides which provide cover from vehicles attacks.
- Content
for Big Team Slayer
by Goalie Master 8
- Teams either spawn at the base adjacent to the downed phantom or the base next to the downed pelican. Both teams spawn with identical vehicle inventories, with the power weapons being in the middle and anti-vehicular weapons at each base.
Beginning
At the start, there are a few jobs to be fulfilled.
-Three people should get in the warthog and drop the passenger off at the banshee (if your teammates take the warthog, get there via mongoose). After dropping off the passenger, circle around the map, if possible killing the enemy who wields the Spartan Laser.
-The dropped off passenger should take the banshee. Be sure to keep dodging around and staying behind buildings until it is confirmed that the Splaser guy has been killed.
-A player should take the Spartan Laser and find a good vantage point where they can see all vehicles on the map. The Spartan Laser is located at the entrance to the Sniper Tunnel on one side, and next to the warthog on the other.
-Get the missile pod and stay back with it, waiting for vehicles. Don't charge ahead with it and try to shoot walkers with it. It spawns on top of the cover base on one side and in the downed pelican on the other.
-Rush for the Sniper Rifle. If you spawned at the pelican base, go straight through the tunnel ahead. If you spawned at the base near the phantom, grab a mongoose, go through the valley to the right, and then turn left and go into the tunnel.
-Whoever gets the sniper should kill the enemy with the Splaser as to clear the ground for friendly vehicles.
-Another player should get the rocket launcher.
-Though it is not as key to gaining an early lead as the other positions, someone can get in a chopper and provide backup
After Things Settle Down
Elephant
-Though, it is not often used, and should not be used when playing with an unfamiliar team, the elephant can be a great vehicle and weapon if used properly with a good team. You probably should not use it unless everyone on your team has a mic, as communication is nessecary.
-The Elephant is indestructible, but very easy to board.
-There are three ways to enter an elephant. The rear entrance, the front mongoose dock, and the ramp. The rear entrance accomodates vehicles and can be used as a parking space (see next tip)
-First off, reverse a warthog into the Elephant and make sure nobody on your team drives it. The turret on top can be used as a rear chaingun. This warthog is less for kills and more for defense against being boarded.
-Get a driver. Driving is a very boring job, with a slow vehicle like the elephant, but someone has to do it. You don't need to be constantly driving in circles around the map. Once you find a place where your gunner has a great viewpoint, stop.
-The Missile Pod can be taken on the ledge above the cockpit for a complete view of the map.
-Make sure you have the sniper rifle, otherwise your gunner is a sitting duck.
-Somebody should get on the rotating indestructible turret. Look for enemies in the open valleys and canyons where there is no cover.
-Rip the tripod turret of its stand, and go to the drivers cockpit. Stand behind the driver, guarding the cockpit.
Sniping From a Bird's Eye View
-By now, it is likely that the banshee had been destroyed and respawned. Go to the sniper tunnel, retreive the new sniper, and make a rush to the banshee, if possible getting teammates to clear the way for you.
-Ask other teammates if they want the banshee. If anyone responds, tell them to wait near the downed pelican for you. With the banshee, bomb the base and clear it for a landing. Circle around just to make sure no enemies are there. Go on top of the towers, and jump out of the banshee. The banshee should slide down the diagonal edge right into the hands of the person who wants to pilot it.
-You now have close to a bird's eye view of the map. It is very hard for you to be killed, and you are only in danger if the other team gets the rocket launcher and thinks to shoot it at you, or if the banshee is boarded. Enjoy Sniping!
General Strategies
-Stay in cover and use the BR to kill opponents (on foot)
-If the enemy team controls all the vehicles and anti-vehicle weapons, STAY INSIDE! Don't run out of cover and try to kill a gunner with a machine gun if you obviously know you are going to die. Stay inside and make them attack you on your terrain.
-If an enemy is camping in a tunnel, get the brute shot and grenades and either flush them out, or flood the tunnel with grenades and kill them.
-Bubble Sheilds can be lifesavers in the open canyons and valleys, which lack natural cover.
-If you are being shot at with the heat seeking missiles from the missile pod while in the banshee, dodge by performing evasive manuvers, and by circling around either one of the two tall structures in the map. If you do this, the missiles will try to "cut corners" while tracking you, but will end up hitting the buildings instead. You will know you are being targeted by missiles by a beeping noise from the banshee.
Sandtrap HEAVY VARIANT
-The Heavy Variant of Sandtrap adds Prowlers, Wraith, and Scorpion Tanks to both sides. The Tanks are located behind the base on either side of the Elephant, and the Prowlers spawn next to the Warthogs. Also, an additional banshee spawns, leading to more fights between the pilots themselves, and less of both teams rushing the banshee and one team having air dominance until it is lasered.
-At the beginning, the player who would normally get into the chopper can get into the tank. Also, the player who would not be assigned an objective can get into the secondary gunner seat.
-Straight on, the Scorpion Tank beats the Wraith Tank, but unknown to many, the Wraith can hide behind cover and get a teammate to scout for them and report to them the location of the scorpion. Instead of taking the scorpion head on, the Wraith can use its weapon as a mortar, firing on the tank while being safe from enemy fire.
-If the elephant will be used, instead of backing the Warthog into it, a Scorpion can be used, which allows for cannon fire and machine gun fire.
-Taking out a tank head on will never work without a tank of your own or a missile pod/Spartan Laser. If you have them, then great-use them. But if you don't and the tank is steadily racking up kills, you will need to resort to some guerilla tactics: Hide in a cave or tunnel with a power drainer. As the tank passes by, throw it (make sure it passes you and you are behind it). Then quickly jump on the back and board it. This strategy is even easier if a teammate can throw a flare, while you take advantage of the confusion.
Sand Tarp Variant
-This variant of Sandtrap contains no Elephants, but is otherwise the same.
