Halo: Reach Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: A Look Inside The Covenants Evil Minds: Torture Machines
  • Subject: A Look Inside The Covenants Evil Minds: Torture Machines
Subject: A Look Inside The Covenants Evil Minds: Torture Machines
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

I've always wondered what a Covenant torture machine would look like. Sure, they aren't known for taking prisoners, but I am hoping Reach could continue to personify the Covenant as an evil entity. I had some examples of mine.

Scenario: You and your allies board a Covenant carrier and find yourselves in a large chamber. It is dark and you notice several objects.

The Scythe

Imagine the device from the Edgar Allan Poe poem,"The Pit and the Pendulum". The name describes itself. It would be a pit that has a giant plasma warmed bladed pendulum slowly coming down at a center holding chair.

The Heretic Brand

Remember that staff Tartarus branded the Arbiter with in Halo 2? Expect THAT to make an appearance.

The Pin

The occupant would be strapped to a wall by energy shackles and would periodically be shot at with Spiker rounds that would move up from the legs before hitting the skull.

The Needler Mask

Think of a large tribal mask. Now imagine it with Needler rounds sticking out of the sides. At no certain, the rounds fire into the wearers head, exploding.

The Engineer Bomb

The Engineers in Halo 3: ODST were forced to where explosive vests in a sense. Put these on a human and periodically fire at him, not killing him, but wearing down the vest. Sooner or later, boom!

The Sarcophagus

We've seen Lekgolo worms as Hunters and Scarabs, now they are used for torture. Newer types of aggressive flesh eating worms would flood the sarcophagus and slowly eat away at the unlucky occupant inside.


These things are demented yes, but I want a reason to hate the Covenant again. In Halo: CE and Halo 2, they threatened everyone. In Halo 3, they wee merely gun fodder to pass the story along. If players were to see these kinds of machines in the Covenant ship or base, they would HATE the aliens. Just saying.

  • 10.11.2009 8:39 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

How about Jackal pits as a torture hole. You misbehave, and you're thrown in a pit with a bunch of hungry Jackals XD

[Edited on 10.11.2009 8:41 PM PDT]

  • 10.11.2009 8:40 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

dude this is still a halo game, but interesting idea nonetheless

  • 10.11.2009 8:41 PM PDT
  • gamertag: [none]
  • user homepage:

Posted by: Master Megatron
We are NOT the Locust.

Never made that reference, I just think something along what I mentioned would be cool. Hell, give the Brutes a purpose, they seem fit for the torture position.

  • 10.11.2009 8:45 PM PDT

I think those are great ideas. In Halo 3 they didn't really seem like they'd ever be a threat. I too would like the Covenant to be real bad guys this time around.

Now, expanding on your ideas. Maybe there could be a way to save the captured people at every trap, and after you save them they join your squad. Interrupting an Elite firing squad on a Marine just in time would be pretty -blam!- awesome!

  • 10.11.2009 8:47 PM PDT

Here’s what Luke had to say about the differences in treatment between the Spartans and Elites in Reach:

“Instead of piece-by-piece customization like the Spartans, Elite customization is a full model swap with models selected from the various Elite classes appearing throughout the Campaign. There are all kinds of reasons for this, not the least of which is our continued emphasis on the Spartan as your identity in Reach.”

Posted by: Master Megatron
We are NOT the Locust.
Did you play Halo 2? Do you remember the introductory cutscene?

The arbiter gets publicly humiliated, stripped of his rank and armor, and then branded with a mark of shame.

After that, he is dragged by Brutes through prison cells containing jackals, whom the brutes threaten to throw their prisoner to, in addition to contemplating eating the arbiter.

  • 10.11.2009 10:38 PM PDT

Um... I like Halo? I don't really know what to say. I'm a student at the moment, I hope to become a criminal profiler, and I enjoy pretty much everything as long as it's good.

Posted by: Master Megatron
Posted by: Go Vader
Posted by: Master Megatron
We are NOT the Locust.

Never made that reference, I just think something along what I mentioned would be cool. Hell, give the Brutes a purpose, they seem fit for the torture position.


Because everything you mentioned sounds like something the Locust would do.

Now, let's get to some real reasoning. First off, the fleet at Reach was an all-Sangheili fleet. Not one Jiralhanae anywhere near it. They have no purpose here.

Second, this is a planetary invasion. There is no TIME to torture people like you want them to be. We have things to do and no time to waste making humans scream (which they do enough of on the battlefield). We are here to clear out the human infestation and get to the Forerunner ruins on the planet. Interrogations can be performed later.

Third, there is no room on a military craft for such rooms, and no need with how often they would be used (not often). There are far better uses for the space aboard.

Fourth, and you said it yourself: We don't take prisoners. We kill you and move on to the next guy. Even if we did, it would only be personnel we deem important, which is seldom and does not warrant the presence of any torture areas.

Fifth, that branding stick is a ceremonial device, used to brand the Mark of Shame into the flesh of those that dishonor themselves. Why would it be present on a war vessel?

Sixth, Lekgolo worms have not demonstrated flesh-eating activity.

First: The Fleet wasn't all Sangheili. It was just that you didn't see any Brutes.

Second:Who says it's going to purely be about the Battle of Reach? It could be about the battle and a little later on or before even. High priority targets could be captured and tortured.

Third: Yes there is. Those ships are -blam!- huge! You could put them in advanced brig-like torture devices.

Fourth: Yes they do. In pretty much every Halo game the covenant capture at least one Human prisoner.

Fifth: Make it into a torture device, plain and simple.

Sixth: Just because it hasn't been mentioned doesn't mean it's not possible.

  • 10.11.2009 10:53 PM PDT

Here’s what Luke had to say about the differences in treatment between the Spartans and Elites in Reach:

“Instead of piece-by-piece customization like the Spartans, Elite customization is a full model swap with models selected from the various Elite classes appearing throughout the Campaign. There are all kinds of reasons for this, not the least of which is our continued emphasis on the Spartan as your identity in Reach.”

Posted by: ClosedJohn117
Sixth: Just because it hasn't been mentioned doesn't mean it's not possible.
For example,
Brutes were at first contact on harvest. But we didn't see them or hear about them until late in Halo 2.

  • 10.11.2009 11:40 PM PDT

Don't worry, It's gunna b k.

Dont they just hang them up and beat them?
like in the uprising comic?

  • 10.12.2009 12:06 AM PDT

Awesome ideas. I hope Reach actually earns that M rating. Push the boundaries Bungie! We know you can make great games, now make a great dark one!

For the record, I've never played Marathon so maybe you've already made demented games, but a darker halo would be interesting...

  • 10.12.2009 12:17 AM PDT

blarg, bow chicka wow wow, boomshakalaka,

i've always wanted to fear the covenant. they seem almost humanised in halo 3 and i want to feel like im fighting a relentless enemy,like in the halo wars trailer, where the came out and stabbed the marines. i also dont want the grunts/ jackals to run away. scare me bungie, please.

  • 10.12.2009 12:43 AM PDT

Sangheili aren't creatures how bring poeple pain, brute do, but they will not be in reach...
Sangheili are more intellegent than humans.....
if poeple think about halo wars; HALO WARS IS NOT MADE BY BUNGIE.....

  • 10.12.2009 1:36 AM PDT