JackVibe/Sandbox

A watchtower deployed during the Fall of Reach.

The Covenant military employ a type of watchtower on the battlefield.^[1]

Overview

= Design details

A watchtower is comprised of protected circular platform and a gravity base. As a rather ordinary example of platform suspension within the Covenant, the gravity base features an anti-gravity generator in its center, from which the circular platform is suspended in the air at a stable and static position. The anti-gravity generator functions also as a gravity lift, transporting supplies and troops freely and swiftly through a gap in the center of the platform.^[1]

The perimeter of the base is comprised of three ramps and three pillars placed in a motif: one ramp to one pillar. The protected platforms demonstrate a variety of design. The platform typically has three protective pillars and large gaps between them. The pillars are taller and thinner compared to the ones of the base and the gap between them is bigger. The gap is used for snipers to have a clear line of sight and for Gunner Unggoy to place their Pek-pattern plasma cannons. Some towers' platforms, instead of the usual oval pillars, have three thinner, longer pillars that support a rooftop-like cover.^[2] Some are also connected an energy wall next to them, and will activate when the tower is occupied.^[3]

The base, when deployed on the ground, can not be moved again. The platform, however, is not as steady as the base; weapons fire, such as the M41 SPNKr, the Pez'tk-pattern fuel rod gun from a distance and the M90 or M45 shotgun from nearby, could knock off its balance and it may fall off.

= Usage

The watchtowers are mainly used to fortify specific areas on a battlefield, or allow scouts to form a perimeter before the establishment of a forward operations citadel or other advanced occupation site.^[1] The tower is able to garrison a whole Covenant file, but usually single Kig-Yar Snipers, Jiralhanae with carbines, and Heavy Unggoy will also occupy it.^[4]

In-game information

In Halo 2, the platforms are indestructible. The player can climb on them by the anti-gravity lift, and can use it just like any Covenant. However, their position becomes highly exposed then. They appear in numerous campaign maps as well as in the multiplayer map, Relic.

In Halo 3, they are destructible. They are also able to be climbed and appear in some campaign levels.

In Halo Wars, they are known as Sniper Tower. They are deployed by the Covenant, but once every single Covenant troop on it is killed, UNSC soldiers can garrison in it, increasing their combat capabilities. A Covenant file is usually found on top of them defending the Kig-Yar and Unggoy Heavies there. In Skirmish, they are left neutral for either team's taking, providing a useful defense, if needed, plus they will not be destroyed no matter how many times a marine hits it. Certain maps, such as Tundra or Fort Deen, include lookout towers that are connected to energy walls. When garrisoned, the energy shield wall activates and prevents ground units from moving through. These walls can be bypassed by air units, Jiralhanae Jumpers, and occasionally Deutoros-pattern Scarabs.^[3]

In Halo 3: ODST, many are seen deployed in New Mombasa. They are once again destructible.

In Halo: Reach, they are largely similar to those in Halo 3 with minor aesthetic upgrades.

In Halo 4, they are very similar to their Halo: Reach counterparts. However, the player must crouch to enter it due to narrower hole of entrance.

Trivia

Halo 2 is the only game in the trilogy to use deployable lookout towers in multiplayer. The tower can not be destroyed but it can be shot off.
Tags for deployable lookout towers (and Shades) exist in Halo 3's Snowbound. The towers can be manipulated in Forge, but have no names, costs, or maximum limits. The tops of the towers tend to spontaneously disappear, and do not respawn.
If the top part of the tower is flipped upside down while a Grunt is on the plasma turret, the Grunt will keep firing normally.
In Halo Wars, they are referred to as a "Sniper Towers".
In Halo Wars, when garrisoned with Marines, one will take cover at each of the fins and will blindly fire at enemies.
In Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST, if you can detach a tower with plasma cannons from the base without destroying it (use a Gravity Hammer), and if the tower is tilted more than 45 degrees, a message saying "Inoperable turret" will appear when the player is near the turret, even if Grunts are still manning them.
The base of the deployable lookout tower resembles the symbol for the Deployable Cover and the portable gravity lift in Halo 3.
In Halo 4, the base of the tower will always be active and lift vehicles. The base will also explode when heavily damaged, harming those nearby and lifting the tower momentarily but still work.
On all Halo 2 and Halo: Reach deployable lookout towers that have been knocked down, the base is still active and can be used to push you up directly into the air. From this position, you can continue to hover and snipe enemies. This glitch is absent from Halo 3; once the tower is destroyed, the gravity lift of the base does not work. However, the tower itself (if still intact) will push you through the hole in the center, as if the gravity lift was under it. This is most likely a design shortcut; placing the lift on the tower ensures that once the tower is destroyed, the lift would also be disabled.