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Frozen Valley: Difference between revisions

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{{Era|RW}}
{{Status|Gameplay}}
{{Multiplayer Map Infobox
{{Multiplayer map infobox
|name=Frozen Valley
|name=Frozen Valley
|image=[[File:Frozen Valley3D.jpg|300px]]
|image=[[File:Frozen Valley3D.jpg|300px]]
|game=[[Halo Wars]]
|game=''[[Halo Wars]]''
|location=Presumably [[Harvest]]
|devname=<code>Arabia</code>
|map=
|location=[[Harvest]]
|date=
|playernumber=3v3 (6 players)
|gametypes=
|parscore=
|terrain=*Snow/Ice Tundra
|terrain=*Snow/Ice Tundra
*Forerunner
*Forerunner
*Mountainous
*Mountainous
|weapons=
|symmetry=Symmetrical
|vehicles=
|equipment=*[[Deployable lookout tower|Sniper Tower]]
|power-ups=*[[Forerunner Spire of Healing]]
*[[Forerunner Bonus Reactor]]
|gametypes=
|playernumber=3v3 (6 players)
}}
}}
{{Article quote|A wide open map, this cold wasteland features two bonus Reactors and a Forerunner Spire of Healing.}}
'''Frozen Valley''' is a [[multiplayer]] map for ''[[Halo Wars]]''.{{Ref/Reuse|OHWCS3v3}}


'''Frozen Valley''' is a [[Halo Wars]] [[multiplayer]] map.<ref>http://www.halowars.com/forums/permalink/451842/454925/ShowThread.aspx#454925</ref>
==Universe and lore==
Frozen Valley is a large 3v3 map situated on Harvest, with mountain ranges and a chasm splitting up the region.  


==Summary==
==Overview==
Frozen Valley is a large 3v3 map in Halo Wars. The map is situated on nuclear-winter Harvest, with mountain ranges splitting up the map. Plenty of building sites can be found on this map and a [[Forerunner]] Spire of Healing is found in the center of the map. It is possible that the Forerunner may have battled the [[The Flood|Flood]] here as the Spire of Healing suggests it was placed for the purpose of war, or it could have been used to heal Forerunner combatants that were damaged while fighting the Flood elsewhere.
Plenty of base build sites can be found on this map, all of which are initially occupied by [[rebel base]]s and defended by [[unidentified insurrectionist group|rebels]]. A [[Forerunner Spire of Healing]] is found in the center of the map, while one starting base on each side has a [[Forerunner secondary reactor]] directly in front of it. There are [[energy wall]]s at two opposing edges of the map, and, when activated, raise an impassable barrier perpendicular to the paths linking one side of the map to the other.
This map is the only Skirmish level in ''Halo Wars'' that is not completely functional symmetrical: one side of the map features a chasm and an L-shaped Forerunner wall with a path between the two, while the other side features a singular plateau with no path in its centre. This is balanced by having the L-shaped Forerunner wall stand further than the plateau.
 
===Layout===
<gallery>
File:Frozen valley final.jpg|A top-down view of Frozen Valley.
</gallery>


==Strategies==
==Strategies==
Vehicles dominate this map up and down. Mobility is key. A group of locked down Cobras can essentially lock down a mountain pass, making it impassible. Expect to use your leader teleport/[[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] drop a lot to hit the enemy in the rear. As [[James Gregory Cutter|Cutter]], try to place an [[M312 Heavy Recovery Vehicle|Elephant]] in the middle Healing Spire as quickly as possible to secure one of the most important locations on the map. It is also a good idea to control the shields so you can strategically force an enemy's army to go a certain way, possibly funneling them into your [[SP42 Cobra|Cobras]]. [[Type-47 Ultra Heavy Assault Platform|Scarabs]] are also very effective and good to use on this map as it has many large mountains and hills which only the scarab and air units can reach.
*Vehicles dominate this map up and down. Mobility is key. A group of locked down [[SP42 Cobra|Cobras]] can essentially lock down a mountain pass, making it impassible. Expect to use leader teleport/[[D77-TC Pelican|Pelican]] drop a lot to hit the enemy in the rear.  
*As [[leader]] [[James Cutter]], try to place an [[M312 Heavy Recovery Vehicle|Elephant]] in the Spire of Healing as quickly as possible to secure one of the most important locations on the map.  
*Controlling the energy walls to strategically force an enemy's army to go a certain way, possibly funnelling them into a perimeter of Cobras. [[Deutoros-pattern Scarab|Scarabs]] are also very effective and good to use on this map as it has many large mountains and hills which only the Scarab and air units can get over.
*As Covenant leaders, a one-man army can be very effective if used correctly on this map. Keep a large force to defend the central base and send a full upgraded leader to damage the enemy forces as best as possible. Then either recall the leader to a [[Covenant citadel]], or simply move him to the Spire of Healing for a free health recharge. The latter choice saves the need for [[Huragok]] or a [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] ally's [[Heal and Repair]]. This tactic often works best as [[Ripa 'Moramee]] as he is more difficult to hit in Rage mode, and can therefore do more damage before being forced to retreat.
*Have a Heal and Repair on units in the Spire of Healing to temporarily double the healing process. This is useful on units that take time to heal, such as the Scarab.
*On 3v3 Party Teams, many players can use teamwork to share the bonus reactor in order to research their higher Tech required upgrades. This is a very useful tactic as it means a Covenant player no longer needs to research the [[Ages of Reclamation|Age of Reclamation]], and a UNSC player no longer needs to build a fourth [[UNSC Reactor|Reactor]] or upgrade two.


If using a member of the Covenant, using a leader as a one man army can be very effective if used correctly on this map, keeping a large force to defend your central base you can send a full upgraded leader to damage the enemy forces as best as possible, then either "Leader Recalling" him or simply moving him to the Spire of Healing for a free health recharge, this saves the need for [[Huragok|Engineers]] or needing to be healed by a [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] allies Healing Ring. This tactic often works best as the [[Arbiter]] as being in rage mode means he is more difficult to hit and can therefore do more damage before being forced to retreat.
==Production notes==
Frozen Valley was the first 3v3 map designed during the [[Development of Halo Wars|development]] of ''Halo Wars''. During the internal testing phase of the game, the map was one of the most playtested, and went through the majority of development with few major tweaks to layout. The only major change was to the map's central area; originally the map would have one bridge crossing in the middle for both armies to clash over (notably similar to the layout seen in the later ''[[Historic Battle map pack]]''{{'}}s [[Glacial Ravine]] map). As more points of interest for the map came online (such as [[Forerunner secondary reactor|secondary reactors]]) designer Justin Rouse wanted to add more angles of attack, which were limited by the limited layout of the map as it stood. Routes were added to the sides of the map, ultimately making the map more fun to play.{{Ref/Site|Id=OHWCS3v3|URL=http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/maps/frozenvalley.aspx|Site=Official Halo Wars Community Site|Page=Skirmish Maps - Frozen Valley 3v3|LocalArchive=Archive:Halowars.com/Skirmish_Maps/3v3_Maps#Frozen_Valley_3v3|D=20|M=4|Y=2017}} During the game's [[Halo Wars Alpha|Alpha build]], the map was named "Arabia".


Have a Heal/Repair on units in the Spire of Healing to temporarily double the healing process. This is useful on units that take time to heal, such as the Scarab.
During the later development of the [[Downloadable content|DLC]] for ''Halo Wars''. [[Robot Entertainment]] saw fan requests for more 3v3 maps and decided to see if it would be possible - with the ''Historic Battles'' pack originally slated for only three 1v1 and 2v2 maps. To compromise, Frozen Valley was used as a base to build Glacial Ravine, cutting down on development time and allowing a fourth map to be added to the map pack.{{Ref/Site|URL=http://www.halowars.com/GameInfo/maps/GlacialRavine.aspx|Site=Official Halo Wars Community Site|Page=Skirmish Maps - Glacial Ravine 3v3|LocalArchive=Archive:Halowars.com/Skirmish_Maps/3v3_Maps#Glacial_Ravine_3v3|D=20|M=4|Y=2017}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Frozen Valley and [[Barrens]] are the only levels in [[Halo Wars]] to feature the [[Forerunner Spire of Healing]].
*This map was the only level in ''Halo Wars'' to feature the Forerunner Spire of Healing until the release of the [[Historic Battle map pack]], which introduces ''[[Barrens (Halo Wars map)|Barrens]]'', another map that features the Spire of Healing at the map's centre.
*On this map, luck determines which two players will have a tactical advantage by having their default base near a [[Forerunner Bonus Reactor]].
*On 3v3 Party Teams many players use teamwork to share the bonus Reactor in order to research their higher Tech required upgrades. This is a very useful tactic as it means a [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] player no longer needs to research the [[Ages of Reclamation|Age of Reclamation]], and a UNSC player no longer needs to build a fourth [[Reactor]] or upgrade two.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:FrozenVal.png|A strategic map of Frozen Valley.
File:FrozenVal.png|A strategic map of Frozen Valley.
File:FrozenvalleyLA final.jpg|A three-quarter view of Frozen Valley.
File:HW Screenshots Leipzig 1.jpg|A battle occurring on Frozen Valley.
File:HW Screenshots Leipzig 3.jpg|Two Covenant bases in the corner of Frozen Valley.
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}


{{Levels|HW|mode=yes}}
{{Levels|HW|mode=yes}}

Latest revision as of 13:13, December 22, 2023

Frozen Valley
This is an overhead view of Frozen Valley from the Halo Wars community site.
Map overview

Game:

Halo Wars

Map file name (?):

Arabia

Lore information

Location:

Harvest

Gameplay overview

Terrain:

  • Snow/Ice Tundra
  • Forerunner
  • Mountainous

Map layout:

Symmetrical

Recommended number of players:

3v3 (6 players)

 
A wide open map, this cold wasteland features two bonus Reactors and a Forerunner Spire of Healing.

Frozen Valley is a multiplayer map for Halo Wars.[1]

Universe and lore[edit]

Frozen Valley is a large 3v3 map situated on Harvest, with mountain ranges and a chasm splitting up the region.

Overview[edit]

Plenty of base build sites can be found on this map, all of which are initially occupied by rebel bases and defended by rebels. A Forerunner Spire of Healing is found in the center of the map, while one starting base on each side has a Forerunner secondary reactor directly in front of it. There are energy walls at two opposing edges of the map, and, when activated, raise an impassable barrier perpendicular to the paths linking one side of the map to the other. This map is the only Skirmish level in Halo Wars that is not completely functional symmetrical: one side of the map features a chasm and an L-shaped Forerunner wall with a path between the two, while the other side features a singular plateau with no path in its centre. This is balanced by having the L-shaped Forerunner wall stand further than the plateau.

Layout[edit]

Strategies[edit]

  • Vehicles dominate this map up and down. Mobility is key. A group of locked down Cobras can essentially lock down a mountain pass, making it impassible. Expect to use leader teleport/Pelican drop a lot to hit the enemy in the rear.
  • As leader James Cutter, try to place an Elephant in the Spire of Healing as quickly as possible to secure one of the most important locations on the map.
  • Controlling the energy walls to strategically force an enemy's army to go a certain way, possibly funnelling them into a perimeter of Cobras. Scarabs are also very effective and good to use on this map as it has many large mountains and hills which only the Scarab and air units can get over.
  • As Covenant leaders, a one-man army can be very effective if used correctly on this map. Keep a large force to defend the central base and send a full upgraded leader to damage the enemy forces as best as possible. Then either recall the leader to a Covenant citadel, or simply move him to the Spire of Healing for a free health recharge. The latter choice saves the need for Huragok or a UNSC ally's Heal and Repair. This tactic often works best as Ripa 'Moramee as he is more difficult to hit in Rage mode, and can therefore do more damage before being forced to retreat.
  • Have a Heal and Repair on units in the Spire of Healing to temporarily double the healing process. This is useful on units that take time to heal, such as the Scarab.
  • On 3v3 Party Teams, many players can use teamwork to share the bonus reactor in order to research their higher Tech required upgrades. This is a very useful tactic as it means a Covenant player no longer needs to research the Age of Reclamation, and a UNSC player no longer needs to build a fourth Reactor or upgrade two.

Production notes[edit]

Frozen Valley was the first 3v3 map designed during the development of Halo Wars. During the internal testing phase of the game, the map was one of the most playtested, and went through the majority of development with few major tweaks to layout. The only major change was to the map's central area; originally the map would have one bridge crossing in the middle for both armies to clash over (notably similar to the layout seen in the later Historic Battle map pack's Glacial Ravine map). As more points of interest for the map came online (such as secondary reactors) designer Justin Rouse wanted to add more angles of attack, which were limited by the limited layout of the map as it stood. Routes were added to the sides of the map, ultimately making the map more fun to play.[1] During the game's Alpha build, the map was named "Arabia".

During the later development of the DLC for Halo Wars. Robot Entertainment saw fan requests for more 3v3 maps and decided to see if it would be possible - with the Historic Battles pack originally slated for only three 1v1 and 2v2 maps. To compromise, Frozen Valley was used as a base to build Glacial Ravine, cutting down on development time and allowing a fourth map to be added to the map pack.[2]

Trivia[edit]

  • This map was the only level in Halo Wars to feature the Forerunner Spire of Healing until the release of the Historic Battle map pack, which introduces Barrens, another map that features the Spire of Healing at the map's centre.

Gallery[edit]

Sources[edit]