RECON-class Mjolnir

The Recon Armor is a type of United Nations Space Command body armor.

Introduction
The Recon Armor is a variant of the standard Mark VI MJOLNIR powered battle armor. It is an Armor Permutation in Halo 3 multiplayer. Armor permutations have no effect on gameplay.

Development and History
The Armor was developed parallel to the Scout Armor and the B5D Ordnance Testing Facility in Swanbourne, Perth, Australia. The main aim of it was to create armor with stealth capabilities, specifically by reducing its IR signature, reflective surfaces, and Cherenkov radiation emission.

Descriptions
The Mjolnir VI/R variant was developed concurrently with the Mjolnir Mark VI Powered Assault Armor. The goal was to increase stealth capability without impacting endurance.

In developing the Mjolnir VI/R variant, the goal was to increase the armor's overall stealth capabilities with little or no loss of endurance. This was achieved by relying on several tried-and-true methods.

In developing the Mjolnir VI Powered Assault Armor/R, the emphasis was to increase stealth capability, specifically by reducing its IR signature, reflective surfaces, and Cherenkov radiation emission.

''Descriptions provided by BTHR Zero X of the Bungie.net forums. Special thanks to ash55 and cALI kriTicaL, who provided Zero with the descriptions.''

Helmet Characteristics
The Helmet features largely rounded features with a rise along the top of the head with two black triangles pointing out the front of the head on each side of the rise. It has a thin visor and an area of black alloy beneath it, surrounded by armor. The helmet is largely angular with a pair of what look like breathers on each side of the mouth and a small indent on the forehead.

Shoulder Characteristics
The shoulder pads are a more angular version of the EVA, with a box like shoulder pad and a section jutting out and down the arm. It also features a slanted rectangular strip of metal jutting outwards at a 90 degree angle from the shoulder pad. They are similar to the Mark V shoulder armor.

Chest Characteristics
The Chest piece is similar to the Mark VI but instead of being made up of smooth plates reflecting the human body it is more angular like the other parts of the armor and reflects it with a few small changes.

Unlock

 * Head: Bungie Employees and community members who recieve it as a gift from Bungie


 * Shoulders: Bungie Employees and community members who recieve it as a gift from Bungie
 * Body: Bungie Employees and community members who recieve it as a gift from Bungie

Controversy
When it was finally announced by Bungie to be only usable by Bungie employees it prompted a community backlash. On Bungie.net, a topic devoted to the search of it ran for fifteen thousand posts, Luke Smith (a.k.a. Lukems and Bungie Employee) and other possessors of the armor left cryptic clues behind to its potential unlock, many community members feeling that this lead them on. Also, many have seen it as 'false advertising' as Bungie not only released an image of the Mark VI, CQB Armor, EVA armor, and the Recon armor on Bungie Day, they also showed it along with the ODST Armor at the PAX Omegathon '07.

Trivia

 * The armor permutation was first discovered in the Bungie update on the 7th of July then later with videos from PAX ’07 and leaked images.
 * The game guide makes no mention of the Recon armor. It is noted that Bungie requested that some of the armor permutations not be in the guide.
 * Bungie has said on October 11, 2007 that the Recon armor is available only to Bungie employees.
 * Some torrents have allowed the ability to get the armor, from burning an illegal copy of the game. Doing so will result in your gamertag, your system's MAC address, and your IP address being permanently banned from Xbox Live, with no hope of ever playing Xbox Live on that system again.
 * According to Bungie, as of October 26, 2007, Bungie will give it out based on good deeds and valuable community service and occasionally because the players make them laugh. There will be plenty of occasions and reasons to get it.