Halopedia:Projects/Reach Mapping

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The Reach Mapping Project aims to cross-reference both in-game and supplementary material to attempt to make sense of Reach's regional structure. The current pages for Viery Territory, Ütközet, Eposz and Alföld and potentially others do not have a clear or consistent hierarchy of locations, which reflects Halo Reach's lack of a consistent approach to detailing locations.

Goals

Current research

Thanks to several sources including the maps included with Dr. Halsey's personal journal, Halo: Outpost Discovery, the Order of Battle seen in the opening cutscene of Tip of the Spear and a Covenant deployment map seen on the bridge of Ardent Prayer, it is possible to begin piecing together a good idea of Reach's landscape and layout.

Official maps

To begin with, here is a full world map of Reach, taken from the in-game texture used for the holotank of the Covenant corvette.

Reachglobe.png

Thanks to the map provided by the Hall of History in Outpost Discovery (left), we can place the cities of Manassas, New Alexandria, Esztergom, Quezon, Sopron and Casimir. The map provided in Halsey's Journal gives us the locations of SWORD Base (marked SWO), CASTLE Base (marked CAS), Visegrád (marked VIS) and several thus-far unidentified sites.

These sources combined allows us to place a number of important locations seen in Halo: Reach and supplementary material (Halo: The Fall of Reach, Halo: First Strike, Halo: Shadows of Reach, Data Drops etc) with a fair degree of accuracy, and begin piecing together the overall geographical structure of Reach.

This is a fan made map that combines the locations provided by this map from Halo: Outpost Discovery, and this map provided with some editions of Halo: Reach. The original image is this texture sheet for Reach, used in Halo: Reach.

Thanks to this information, we can begin collating together other sources and references. One key in helping decipher these locales are the location paths usually seen in the cutscenes of Halo: Reach in the camera views, in the bottom right of the screen (these are provided below). Several other resources are collated below.

Resources

Primary resources

Additional resources

Books

Chapter headings

Halo: The Fall of Reach chapter heading paths

  • Chapter 3: Epsilon Eridani System, Reach Military Complex, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 4: Epsilon Eridani System, Reach Military Complex, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 5: Epsilon Eridani System, Reach Military Wilderness Training Preserve, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 6: Epsilon Eridani System, Office of Naval Intelligence Medical Facility, in orbit around planet Reach
  • Chapter 8: Epsilon Eridani System, Reach UNSC Military Complex, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 24: Epsilon Eridani System, Reach UNSC Military Complex, Planet Reach, Camp Hathcock
  • Chapter 25: Epsilon Eridani System, Reach UNSC Military Complex, Planet Reach, Omega Wing-Section Three Secure Facility
  • Chapter 26: Epsilon Eridani System, Fleetcom Military Complex, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 27: Epsilon Eridani System, UNSC Military Reservation 01478-B, Planet Reach

Halo: First Strike chapter heading paths

  • Chapter 1: UNSC vessel Pillar of Autumn, Epsilon Eriani System Near Reach Station Gamma
  • Chapter 2: Epsilon Eridani System, Unknown Aerial Position, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 3: Epsilon Eridani System, Orbital Defense Generator Facility A-331, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 4: Epsilon Eridani System, Longhorn Valley, Planet Reach

Halo: Shadows of Reach chapter heading paths

  • Chapter 1: Insertion Run, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 2: Vadász Dombok, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 3: Vadász Dombok, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 4: Tárnoc Gorge, Ujeger Highlands, Vadász Dombok, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 5: Kisköre Manor, Juh Mező Township, Arany Basin, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 6: Kisköre Irrigation Tunnel, Juh Mező Township, Arany Basin, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 7: Dombräd Springs, Észac Plain, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 8: Infirmary, Logistics Base Gödöllő, Bük Burn Cavity, Arany Basin, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 9: Juh Mező Aqueduct, Gödöllő Steppe, Arany Basin, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 10: Map Room, Logistics Base Gödöllő, Bük Burn Cavity, Arany Basin, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 11: Underglass Approach, Banished Armory, New Mohács, Arany Basin, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 12: Banished Armory, New Mohács, Arany Basin, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 17: Landing Zone Bella, New Mohács, Arany Basin, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
    • Figyelő Point, Bíbor Cliffs, Highland Mountains, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 18: Végtelen Mászás, Dél Eléri, Arany Basin, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 19: Vanadinite Mountain, Csongrád Region, Highland Mountains, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach
  • Chapter 20: CASTLE Base Access Shaft, Csongrád Region, Highland Mountains, Continent Eposz, Planet Reach

Halo: Reach

In-game Location Camera Paths

Level/Source and Location Image Path
Winter Contingency/Visegrad Relay Visegrad Location HR.PNG HIGHCOM/SPECWAR/GROUP 3

MT-HDP/RM_OBS/VHC_ABN/FL

RCH/VRY/UTKZT/EPSZ/VISGRD

ONI: Sword Base Sword Base Location HR.PNG HIGHCOM/SPECWAR/GROUP 3

AI-ARTC/DIRCT FEED/SAT/REG

RCH/VRY/UTKZT/EPSZ/BD CTH/SL D1

Tip of the Spear/Szurdok Ridge Orbit Over Szurdok HR.PNG HIGHCOM/SPECWAR/GROUP 3

AI-ARTC/DIRCT FEED/SAT/REG

RCH/VRY/UTKZT/SZURDK RDG

Tip of the Spear/Orbit over Szurdok Ridge Szudork From Orbit HR.PNG HIGHCOM/SPECWAR/GROUP 3

AI-ARTC/DIRCT FEED/SAT/REG

RCH/ORBIT/VRY/UTKZT

Tip of the Spear/Orbit over Mohács Orbit Over Mohacs HR.PNG HIGHCOM/SPECWAR/GROUP 3

AI-ARTC/DIRCT FEED/SAT/REG

RCH/VRY/UTKZT/BARS/MOHACS

Long Night of Solace Sabre Facility Location HR.PNG HIGHCOM/SPECWAR/GROUP 3

MT-ARTC/PLAYBACK/CV/SCTY

RCH/VRY/UTKZT/EPSZ/FARKS LK

The Package/ONI: Sword Base (Tunnels) Sword Base Location Alternate HR.PNG HIGHCOM/SPECWAR/GROUP 3

MT-ARTC/PLAYBACK/CV/SCTY

RCH/VRY/UTKZT/EPSZ/BD CTH/SWD

The Pillar of Autumn/Aszod Shipbreaking Yards Aszod Location HR.PNG HIGHCOM/SPECWAR/GROUP 3

AI-ARTC/DIRCT FEED/SAT/REG

REACH/ALFOLD/UNG/ASZOD

The Pillar of Autumn/Aszod Shipbreaking Yards Aszod Shipbreaking Yards Location HR.PNG HIGHCOM/SPECWAR/GROUP 3

MT-ARTC/PLAYBACK/CV/SCTY

RCH/VRY/UTKZT/EPSZ/ASZD/A3CRC

Halo: Reach ViDoc: A Spartan Will Rise/ONI: Sword Base (Halsey's Lab) Sword Base Location 2 HR-ASWR.PNG HIGHCOM/SPECWAR/GROUP_3

AI-ARTC/DIRCT FEED/SAT/REG

RCH/VRY/UTKZT/EPSZ/BD CTH/SWD/SL D2

Environment Details

Computer Screens and Terminals
Winter Contingency (Visegrád Relay, 50KM from Visegrád, Eposz)
ONI: Sword Base (Sword Base, adjacent to Babd Catha Ice Shelf, Eposz)
New Alexandria (New Alexandria, Eposz)

Confirmed information

  • In Chapter 24 of Halo: The Fall of Reach, the Highland Mountains are located on Reach's northern continent. Camp Hathcock is located among the mountains as metioned in this chapter too.
  • In Chapter 1 of Halo: Shadows of Reach, Big Crater Bay is confirmed to be the large body of water south of the Babd Catha ice shelf/SWORD Base.
    • Chapter 1 also reconfirms that Eposz is a continent.
    • Chapter 1 also confirms that the Arany Basin is east of the Highland Mountains.
  • In Chapter 3 of Halo: Shadows of Reach, Eposz is confirmed to be a supercontinent.
  • Troy Denning on Twitter places Vadász Dombok just south of the crater in the center of the large landmass (what has been theorised as Aszod below). (Link)

Theorycrafting

Hypothetical location placements

Hypothetical locations of Farkas Lake and Asźod.
  • Aszod - Based on the Halo: Reach radio conversations, Aszod appears to be near or in the direct flight path of the Highland Mountains. It is also arid and appears to be within a crater. As such, that narrows it down to one crater east of the mountain range containing CASTLE Base.
  • Military Wilderness Training Preserve - CASTLE Base is located approximately at 500km south of Visegrad, and Halo: First Strike reveals the Military Wilderness Training Preserve is nearby. A mountain range in the skybox directly south of Visegrad Relay appears identical to one that can be seen in the distance in the multiplayer map Highlands, which is located in the preserve. Though the in-game compass from the multiplayer map does not support this, as it places this mountain range in question to the southeast of the preserve. Additionally, the promotional trailer Patrol, in which UNSC Army unit 3 Charlie are ordered to investigate a disturbance in the Visegrad Relay, takes place in the Longhorn Valley, within the preserve.

Other theorizing

  • In the radio conversation for Overlook, the two speakers mention that the Army is moving in to Pálháza and suggests that it is directly connected to Visegrad. The further description of Visegrad's location further suggests that the two are located close together in northern Alfold.
  • In the final Data Drop, the Pillar of Autumn technician says they are holding position over Lábatlan but see activity over Eposz, suggesting that Lábatlan is not connected or a part of Eposz.
    • In the same Data Drop, a different technician suggests that they contact Casimir Station while being over Lábatlan. This suggests two things. One that Casimir Station is in orbit of the city of Casimir and two that Casimir Station (and by proxy, Casimir itself) are part of Lábatlan or close by geographically.
  • In the cutscene/level The Heretic of Halo 2, Reach is briefly seen being glassed. In the original version, Reach had a completely different design. In the Halo 2: Anniversary version of the level, Reach was redesigned and appears to be based on Halo: Reach's version of the planet. This is confirmed by comparing details with terrain maps of the planet. By doing this, it appears the cutscene shows us parts of the sea and bits of land near and west of New Alexandria.

Depolyment of forces based on available information

August 12th, 2552

Based on the satellite image provided at the beginning of Tip of the Spear, here are the known UNSC deployments that day. Note, this only includes ones whose rough locations in relation to established locations.

  • 8th Armored Brigade — (APP-6A: AW 8 X)
    • 38th Regiment — (APP-6A: AW 8 ||| 38) - Southeast of CASTLE Base
    • 169th Company — (APP-6A: AW 8 | 169) - South/Southeast of New Alexandria
    • 267th Company — (APP-6A: AW 8 | 267) - Northeast of New Alexandria
    • 352nd Company — (APP-6A: AW 8 | 352) - North of Manassas
    • 371st Company — (APP-6A: AW 8 | 371) - Southeast of Esztergom
  • 34th Infantry Brigade — (APP-6A: INF 34 X)
    • 581st Regiment — (APP-6A: INF 34 ||| 581) - Northwest of Esztergom

August 14th, 2552

Based on the hologram seen in on the Ardent Prayer in Long Night of Solace here are known Covenant deployments notated points of interest on this day.

Cleanup

Locations

Checked boxes indicate articles that have been updated with new info and images.

Characters

Double check that locations and location based info is updated on various character related pages. This includes SPARTAN-II program and SPARTAN-II training pages.

Battles

See also