Halo 3: ODST Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Glyphs and treasure hunting; the truth about the Sword in ODST
  • Subject: Glyphs and treasure hunting; the truth about the Sword in ODST
Subject: Glyphs and treasure hunting; the truth about the Sword in ODST
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1000th !! xD

  • 10.07.2009 12:50 PM PDT
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-__-; What?

  • 10.07.2009 12:56 PM PDT
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I was playing earlier (no pics cuz I had to go but I can get them tommorow if you need) and I found one of those "stone henge" areas with the sad SI, I then went through a door after looking at te glyphs and beating in the already dead elites, and found myself in an area which looks alot like the crater firefight map which is absolutely red hot with glyphs. Seriously the whole place was covered in them. I dont know if this has already been found but it just stood out to me personally.

  • 10.07.2009 1:07 PM PDT

-The Rookie

Posted by: SeasonedVeterans
If you are just joining us, the main discussion of this thread has shifted to unlocking the secret associated with the stonehenge rooms and glyphs around New Mombassa at night. The following info about the sword led to the idea of an unlockable easter egg in ODST, and is still worty of a read. If you wish to join the treasure hunt (why not!) skip to the last pages of this thread and catch up!
Thanks for your contribution, and have fun!


Sorry, forgot to include this at first: This is all work done by I adJACENt I, and Pope Rex. Pope started the idea by looking at the Medal Chest, and then we both worked on it from there.

As most of you are aware, there is no Energy Sword in ODST. Except for this guy, but he doesn't count. ;) Energy Swords are the signature weapon of the Sangheili (Elites), and since all of the Elites featured in ODST are already dead, it's no surprise that you cannot find a Sword anywhere. There is, however, and empty Sword hilt near a bunch of dead Elites and Brutes in the Tayari Plaza level, when Buck asks Dare "What's with all the dead Elites?"

Well, as some of you may know, there are two medal GIFs in the ODST GIF database pertaining to Swords. The Sword Spree, and the Slice and Dice. In Halo 3, the Sword Spree was obtained by killing 5 enemies in a row with the Sword without dying, and the Slice and Dice bumped that number up to 10.

Those images were obtained by viewing the Page source of a person's ODST medal chest. These pics are not to be confused with the Sword Spree and Slice and Dice from Halo 3. Completely different URLs and sizes. If you attempt to go further up on that url, and try to view all medals, you get a "Sorry, but you are not authorized to view this page" message, which is understandable. Whether there's a secret or not, I doubt Bungie wants us viewing every single little GIF they have for the stats.

So the question is: Why were there Sword Spree medals made up for ODST, if they did not include a Sword in the game? There are three viable options here...

1. The medals were made due to someone initially thinking there was a Sword in the game. Maybe Elites were in the first stages of the game, maybe we could have stumbled on that fight between the Brutes and Elites, and picked up a Sword off a dead Elite. Maybe they were there just in case someone decided to put a Sword in later. Definitely plausible.

2. Two words, three letters: DLC. Maybe a Sword will be included in some DLC further down the road. DLC has not been confirmed at this point, and there are currently no plans to release any. So...

3. There is a Sword somewhere in the game, that is meant to be either unlocked or found, and this is what I will focus on for the rest of the thread.

Our first clue to there being something unlockable was the ODST Medal Chest. If you look at this picture, you will see two areas I wish to draw your attention to. First is the Weapon Spree medals. Notice how there are black boxes to the right of the sprees of 10. Now, on the bottom, after Hero, the medal box ends, and the last two slots are just grayed out. Why would there be black boxes in the Weapon Spree block, but not at the bottom of the chest?

Also, I forgot to add the following in, Pope reminded me of it...
In the source code of the ODST medal page, the black medal boxes appear as an object type "hidden medal" as part of a "medalblock" class.

Here: <div id="ctl00_mainContent_psPlayer_rptMedalRow_ctl01_rptPlay erMedals_ctl02_ctl00_pnlMedalHidden" class="medalBlock">


Well, we figured there must be some other medal, that no one else has found and unlocked yet. Since these blocks were next to the Weapon Sprees of 10, we first assumed that there would be a spree of much more than 10. Pope tested this theory out, and found that 100 straight splatters will still not give you any extra medal (we tried that here). We next thought that maybe there was something outrageous you had to do, like playing an entire Round/Set on Legendary while only getting Splatters.

So along this line of thinking, we started trying out various URL's to find a GIF of a medal not on the medal chest. At one point, I started trying some of the Halo 3 MM medals, just for the hell of it. Sure enough, I found the Sword Spree and Slice and Dice. As pointed out earlier, these were part of the ODST GIFs, not the Halo 3 GIFs. Two completely separate URLs.

So now we have these two medals, and no way of achieving them. If we are correct in our assumptions, there is a Sword somewhere in this game, most likely Campaign. We scoured the streets of New Mombosa, looking for any sign of this Sword. We found the empty hilt in Tayari Plaza, and we also came across an odd saying from the Superintendent on this same mission. When we first meet a local guy, he sends us into some buildings to flank a few Brutes. While transitioning from one buliding to another, we hear Buck say something like "What the hell happened here?" And the SI responds "Slow down. Final notice: Bill past due." Could this be a clue? Does anyone know why the Si would say that?

Another possible clue is the little "Stonehenge" room with the two dead Elites. It has 6 pillars, with the 'Y' markings on them, two dead Elites, two Engineers floating around, and a Carbine on the floor next to one of the Elites. What are those markings for? Do they show directions to anything, similar to all of the SI symbols around the city that point to Audion Logs and Beacons? Why do they look different, without anything between the prongs?

These same symbols are located in the Tayari Plaza section at night, while playing as the Rookie, where all the dead Elites and Brutes are. Why are these special symbols only where Elites are at?

There are a couple of other similar rooms around, too, all accessible through a Security Door. Some of them have Engineers, some with Audio Logs, some with other enemies. On the VISR map, these rooms show the pillars inside of them, but when you get into the room, all you can see are shadows where the pillars once stood (Mickey's pod crash site is one example). What's the deal with that?

So, we're left with many questions. Why are there spaces for medals next to the Weapon Sprees of 10? Why are there Sword medals when there is no Sword (that we know of) in the game? What are these symbols that only show up near the dead Elites?
umm in the game when u go to one side of town theres an energy sheild thats blocking u to go there so mabey theres a sword in there?

  • 10.07.2009 1:10 PM PDT
Subject: The truth about the Sword in ODST

Have Recon and want to hang out with other people with it.
Then join :: We are RECON or W.A.R

Interesting I'm going to look around.

  • 10.07.2009 1:22 PM PDT
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Posted by: Shadowhelm18
Hello,
Off The Top Games will be hosting a Shoot em up LAN Tournament Next weekend at KingsGames Brooklyn In Brooklyn,NY. all information will be provided below. So Come out and show off your skills and take home the Cash to prove it. All Games will be for XBOX 360. for more information on the event please visit KingsGames.com or email us at OffTheTopGames@gmail.com. Hope to see you there.
Tournament Details:
Each tournament has a $10 entry fee. All entry fees will be given out as prizes with 70% to the winner, 20% to the finalist and 10% to third place finisher. A $10 house fee will be collected. Players need pay only one house fee per day but can compete in multiple tournaments on the same day. Our event schedule is as follows:
Saturday 1pm: halo 3 2v2
Saturday 6pm: Gears Of War2 2v2
Sunday 1pm: COD4 Send off 2v2
Sunday 6pm: Halo ODST 2v2


GTFO! use the classifieds in other words.

  • 10.07.2009 1:36 PM PDT
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Just have to add on, how do you do halo odst 2 v 2? surely the multiplayer classes as halo 3.

  • 10.07.2009 1:37 PM PDT

Anybody need a lucky driver?

psh ill destroy anyone in gears. hammerburst anyone? They need it for halo. Anyway has anyone tried hopping over the barriers during the campaign?

  • 10.07.2009 2:11 PM PDT
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Those glyphs represent Foreunner ships.........

  • 10.07.2009 2:32 PM PDT

Posted by: LockeGenRedux
Okay, Not to act like a troll or overstate the obvious but...
If you go and look at your medal chest, Hidden medals that you have not gotten have a small ? Medal thing instead of the actual medal. If you look to the other bar, these are not present. Why would Bungie do that if there was medals there? Hidden medals that nobody would get?

Or, In a more likely case... Its a filler spot. To keep the lines of 3 Medals going across? Perhaps they ran out of Medal Ideas and decided to use those as filler spots. If they did the medals streaks like in Halo 3, There would be an Extra on the bottom.
MEDAL MEDAL MEDAL
MEDAL MEDAL MEDAL
MEDAL MEDAL MEDAL
MEDAL
Like so. I suppose they wanted it to look uniform. And thats probably why this thread has 30+ Pages about this. Its intresting, but Unlikely that the Sword would be there.

Plus, like said so many times, The ODSTs could not wield the Energy Sword. If you take a look at Halo Wars, Forge was a bad-ass Marine who didn't care for anything but saving the Spirit of Fire, but he could barely lift the damn Sword. Sure, it had a Metal Guard on the side of it, But that would be, what... 5lbs extra?
Fact: ODSTs can not wield the Energy Sword. There is no Spree. End Thread.

Continue if you must, but I'm telling you now, Your all wasting time. And So am I, Cause You all probably wont listen to this anyways.


He was a marine. They are ODSTs. End of story.

  • 10.07.2009 2:38 PM PDT

Posted by: Shadowhelm18
Hello,
Off The Top Games will be hosting a Shoot em up LAN Tournament Next weekend at KingsGames Brooklyn In Brooklyn,NY. all information will be provided below. So Come out and show off your skills and take home the Cash to prove it. All Games will be for XBOX 360. for more information on the event please visit KingsGames.com or email us at OffTheTopGames@gmail.com. Hope to see you there.
Tournament Details:
Each tournament has a $10 entry fee. All entry fees will be given out as prizes with 70% to the winner, 20% to the finalist and 10% to third place finisher. A $10 house fee will be collected. Players need pay only one house fee per day but can compete in multiple tournaments on the same day. Our event schedule is as follows:
Saturday 1pm: halo 3 2v2
Saturday 6pm: Gears Of War2 2v2
Sunday 1pm: COD4 Send off 2v2
Sunday 6pm: Halo ODST 2v2

We don't need your advertisements thank you very much.

  • 10.07.2009 2:40 PM PDT

Anybody need a lucky driver?

I need a partner for exploring right now. message me if ur down.

  • 10.07.2009 2:43 PM PDT
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There are less than 2000 pandas alive in the wild. Donate to the San Diego Zoo to keep their pandas provided with food and what they need to survive at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/adopt/index.html

If anyone feels like exploring levels or the streets, i don't care which, send me a friend request, and a message whenever you feel like looking around. I might not join, but oh well, at least I'll be one more person that might join you lol.

Gamertag: Calimar

  • 10.07.2009 3:03 PM PDT

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names. (quoted from J.F.K)

I hope this wasn't mentioned already but in Halo 2 at the beginning of the one level were your pelican crashes in the city, I believe is Mombasa, not sure though.

There is a Energy Sword on that level and the only one at that, simply grenade jump from the start right above the hole right before you get outside jump around, cross the bridge follow the roofs to your right and there's a hole inside one of the buildings with a dead elite and a energy sword stuck in the ground.

  • 10.07.2009 3:04 PM PDT
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Posted by: Fromatic
I hope this wasn't mentioned already but in Halo 2 at the beginning of the one level were your pelican crashes in the city, I believe is Mombasa, not sure though.

There is a Energy Sword on that level and the only one at that, simply grenade jump from the start right above the hole right before you get outside jump around, cross the bridge follow the roofs to your right and there's a hole inside one of the buildings with a dead elite and a energy sword stuck in the ground.

I don't see how that is relevant in any way.

  • 10.07.2009 3:17 PM PDT
Subject: Glyphs and treasure hunting; the truth about the Sword in ODST

love ya :]

you really wanna make me explore this...if anyone wants to walk around to find anything my GT is SikesOutBish. I know most of the city area.

  • 10.07.2009 3:25 PM PDT

Im down to look around hit me up

GT - Tufirata

  • 10.07.2009 3:29 PM PDT

Never...
Sleep...
Again.

  • 10.07.2009 3:31 PM PDT

Get over yourself - drink vodka!

Posted by: Chocomog
Posted by: Fromatic
I hope this wasn't mentioned already but in Halo 2 at the beginning of the one level were your pelican crashes in the city, I believe is Mombasa, not sure though.

There is a Energy Sword on that level and the only one at that, simply grenade jump from the start right above the hole right before you get outside jump around, cross the bridge follow the roofs to your right and there's a hole inside one of the buildings with a dead elite and a energy sword stuck in the ground.

I don't see how that is relevant in any way.

They hid a sword "out of" a map in Halo 2. They could have easily done something similar in ODST, though we're looking even deeper now than simply a secret sword.

[Edited on 10.07.2009 3:46 PM PDT]

  • 10.07.2009 3:46 PM PDT
Subject: The truth about the Sword in ODST

My guess to the answer is that the Sword Medals are there because the game is made using the Halo 3 engine. Of course this could be disproved by the adding of the stick medals but it's the only other thing I can think of.

  • 10.07.2009 3:57 PM PDT

Posted by: The BS Police
Posted by: Time Glitch
Posted by: Inferno82695
Agreed. if theres a puzzle its probably assoosiated with the "stonehenge" areas


Gotta be. The strange Y symbols that have the Super associated with them tend to only pop up around mysterious objects or dead elites.

There has to be something to them. I don't know what, but there has to be something. While exploring the city for audio logs, the symbols also appeared around campaign missions, but they were of a different variety. The ones that included the Super surrounded dead elites or other mysterious occurrences, while the ones that contained strange symbols permeated around campaign missions.

I'm usually no good at viral puzzles, but I want to see where this one goes. Saved thread.
More than likely the strange symbols near dead Elites is in a sense a hint at the Engineers mistreatment by the Brutes.

The Engineers were never bothered by the Elites in the known fiction. The Elites would allow engineers to go about their business unless if their skills were needed elsewhere. The Brutes killed the remaining Elites in New Mombasa and started planting Bombs in Engineers.

Take a look at this screenshot.

The superintendent logo has a sad face, the symbol bellow him is a Y and right bellow that pillar is a dead Elite. It seems to me that the Engineers do not like the Brutes very much.

In your screenshot I saw the same thing in the ending of odst when you see the prophet, if you look below you'll see the stickman also
hmmm....

  • 10.07.2009 4:04 PM PDT
Subject: Glyphs and treasure hunting; the truth about the Sword in ODST

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names. (quoted from J.F.K)

Posted by: The MLG Pope
Posted by: Chocomog
Posted by: Fromatic
I hope this wasn't mentioned already but in Halo 2 at the beginning of the one level were your pelican crashes in the city, I believe is Mombasa, not sure though.

There is a Energy Sword on that level and the only one at that, simply grenade jump from the start right above the hole right before you get outside jump around, cross the bridge follow the roofs to your right and there's a hole inside one of the buildings with a dead elite and a energy sword stuck in the ground.

I don't see how that is relevant in any way.

They hid a sword "out of" a map in Halo 2. They could have easily done something similar in ODST, though we're looking even deeper now than simply a secret sword.


Yeah after reading this and the other boards and skimming it seems it's only a glitch so far but that doesn't mean anything!

If I remember correctly they had a half a easter egg in Halo 2 for IWHBYD and finally added it in Halo 3. Don't see why they wouldn't do the same for ODST, even though I haven't played the game myself yet, need money ^^;

  • 10.07.2009 4:05 PM PDT