Forum:Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide

Figured with the release, I'd start the discussion. I have to say I'm not even half way done and I find this Guide much more informative then the previous guide, particularly the section on Fireteam majestic. Col.  Snipes  4  50  14:29, 16 September 2013 (EDT)


 * I still need to get my hands on one. Anything particularly interesting? Sith-venator Wavingstrider Fett helmet.jpg ( Commlink ) 14:31, 16 September 2013 (EDT)


 * There's a few significant revelations (I won't spoil). Colonel Grade One.png Col.  Snipes  4  50 Colonel Grade One.png 15:20, 16 September 2013 (EDT)


 * But spoilers are gooooooooooooooooooooood. Sith-venator Wavingstrider Fett helmet.jpg ( Commlink ) 16:01, 16 September 2013 (EDT)

Think I'll wait to buy it until I see some reviews of it. Hopefully the mistakes, if any, are few and far between (*cough* Halo Encyclopedia *cough*).-- 15:27, 16 September 2013 (EDT)


 * I have certainly tried to minimize that. It had 5 full review passes and it changed quite a bit from the version I first saw in February.It will not be the Encyclopedia all over again. :)-ScaleMaster117 (talk) 15:39, 16 September 2013 (EDT)


 * I can vouch for that. Aside from the fact that it uses the word "ad hoc" a little too often, the mistakes are very minimal. It is a must-have item for every hardcore Halo fan. -- Xamikaze330  [Transmission |Commencing ] 15:41, 16 September 2013 (EDT)Xamikaze330


 * Grrr you guys are teasing me :| Sith-venator Wavingstrider  Fett helmet.jpg ( Commlink ) 16:00, 16 September 2013 (EDT)

Onager
Just wondering is the Onager in Halo 4 specifically identified as the same type in Halo: Reach? Because the Guide is saying there is another type in Halo 4. Col.  Snipes  4  50  18:23, 16 September 2013 (EDT)
 * Yeah, you're right. We'll have to use the same article, but create a subsection to cover both variants. I'm working on it. -- Xamikaze330  [Transmission |Commencing ] 18:28, 16 September 2013 (EDT)Xamikaze330

Infinity sub-vessels
The EVG says the sub-vessels of the Infinity are a different class frigate then what's currently listed here. Just wondering if the sub-vessel's class has already been confirmed or we just assumed what it was. Col.  Snipes  4  50  21:55, 17 September 2013 (EDT)


 * Hmmm...it's actually pretty explicit on the Strident-class page that they are the frigates docked in the Infinity. Not sure where your reference comes from. In which entry does it come into question? -ScaleMaster117 (talk) 22:02, 17 September 2013 (EDT)


 * Ok that's what the EVG says and what i meant, I read the SO episode with the sub vessel being labelled as a different class, I'll just change that article.Colonel Grade One.png Col.  Snipes  4  50 Colonel Grade One.png 22:14, 17 September 2013 (EDT)

Spartan ranks
As established in the Guide, the Spartan branch has only two ranks, Spartan and Spartan commander. I was wondering how these could be added in terms of the rank category. I was thinking one page titled "Spartan (rank)" detailing the normal Spartan's role and the Spartan commander's role. Another option is just adding it as a section in the branch's page. I'm open for suggestions. Col.  Snipes  4  50  16:26, 19 September 2013 (EDT)
 * Holy frack, two ranks? Sith-venator Wavingstrider Fett helmet.jpg ( Commlink ) 17:01, 19 September 2013 (EDT)

You seem to want them to have ranks but the Guide doesn't really say that. It explicitly says that all Spartans are equal and that detachments operate under a commander (note the use in the guide of the lowercase "c") and other Spartans are just assembled into fireteams and a fireteam has a leader (also not a rank, just a position). 'Spartan' is not a rank, but simply what they are. Don't over-complicate. :) -ScaleMaster117 (talk) 17:18, 19 September 2013 (EDT)


 * So we're back down to one rank? Sith-venator Wavingstrider Fett helmet.jpg ( Commlink ) 17:25, 19 September 2013 (EDT)


 * Pretty much. There really is no need to over-complicate things. -- Xamikaze330  [Transmission |Commencing ] 17:26, 19 September 2013 (EDT)Xamikaze330


 * No ranks among the Spartan-IVs! Palmer as a "commmader" (again, lowercase "c") is a term to indicate she's in charge; a position, it's not a "rank". DeMarco is the leader of a fireteam but is the equal to Palmer and Hoya for instance within the Spartan Branch. They are all Spartans. Their job positions give some more authority in a few cases, but there are no rank distinctions. -ScaleMaster117 (talk) 17:36, 19 September 2013 (EDT)


 * So an entire branch of the military has no ranks. Hmm. This kind of seems like a bad move considering that militaries that have done this in the past always go back to using ranks due to difficulties with command and control. Sith-venator Wavingstrider Fett helmet.jpg ( Commlink ) 17:44, 19 September 2013 (EDT)


 * It's like they went back to the Stone Age in terms of military organization. Or a hippie commune. I could see this kind of arrangement working in a small, tight-knit elite unit (like the original S-IIs who did have ranks) but an entire military branch with hundreds, if not thousands of members? I'm wondering where the Spartans fit in the chain of command between different branches; for instance, what is the pay grade of a "Spartan"? Are they subordinate to conventional military commanders in the field? Could the multiplayer "SR" ranks be canon in any capacity or are they just a leaderboard type ranking system? --Jugus (Talk  | Contribs ) 00:10, 20 September 2013 (EDT)


 * If you say it out loud it sounds even stranger. Sith-venator Wavingstrider Fett helmet.jpg ( Commlink ) 00:32, 20 September 2013 (EDT)


 * I don't know the entire reason for it, but I'm under the impression that although these are volunteers for the Branch, the Spartans are still rather used as battlefield weapons. Their SR if you will is based on the skills they have and hone in the War Games simulations. They fall into line with the mission at hand. With hundreds to choose from, you get a mission where you need a good sniper, a demolitions expert, and a couple of fastest sprinters and you gather who you need for your Fireteam. It's a skill-based organization rather than a top-down rank hierarchy. I don't know how they interact with other branches and who's subordinate to whom in that case. -ScaleMaster117 (talk) 06:42, 20 September 2013 (EDT)


 * Ok so my second option seems to be the popular choice, just a section on the Spartan branch page detailing them. Also, ScaleMaster raises a good point how would their branch's "ranking system" interact with the other branches. Palmer in Episode 2 referred to Captain Lasky as "Tom", while it was an extreme circumstance it was informal meaning a Spartan commander must hold some standing in their detachment's theatre. Colonel Grade One.png Col.  Snipes  4  50 Colonel Grade One.png 13:51, 20 September 2013 (EDT)
 * ...or it indicates that there may be a certain friendship level they share. There are a few exchanges and jibes between them that suggest a close friendship. on the other matter, I would also like to know the inter-Branch hierarchy.-ScaleMaster117 (talk) 14:03, 20 September 2013 (EDT)

Well there is Del Rio referring to Palmer as "lieutenant", so maybe they refer to their former rank, personally I think this one rank for hundreds, maybe thousands could end up being a little messy. Col.  Snipes  4  50  14:19, 20 September 2013 (EDT)


 * What's not clear there is that there is a seated Infinity crew member in the background behind Palmer, so it's unknown if Del Rio was addressing Palmer (outside his Navy Branch) or his officer on the bridge... -ScaleMaster117 (talk) 15:15, 20 September 2013 (EDT)