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This topic has moved here: Subject: Onyx Sentinels > Ring Sentinels?
  • Subject: Onyx Sentinels > Ring Sentinels?
Subject: Onyx Sentinels > Ring Sentinels?

Why?

I can't seem to understand why Shield World Sentinels have greater firepower and shielding than that of the sentinel guardians of the Ring Instillations, can anyone clear this up?

Is it because of the UNSC weapons they were using? The Covenant managed to put the Sentinel guardians down until they were overwhelmed, so were they just as power or what is the case here?

  • 04.07.2011 10:09 PM PDT

"Sa kyr'am Nau tracyn kad, Vode An."

Simple, shield world sentinels are protecting a much bigger installation.

  • 04.07.2011 10:17 PM PDT

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I never understood this either. We know that there are various types of Sentinel.... but the almost unstoppable nature of the Onyx Sentinels is strange. Why arent Onyx Sentinels on the Rings and why not the Ark?? Surely the Ark should have them?

I chalk it down to the writer simply needing something new to provide a challenge to the Spartans on Onyx.

  • 04.07.2011 10:26 PM PDT
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Maybe the Sheild Worlds was a concept decided after the Rings were already made and thus having more advanced sentinels.

  • 04.07.2011 11:42 PM PDT
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Just in case: Spoilers.

It's been a bit since I read Halo Cryptum but if I remember correctly the Diadect suggested that the Shield Worlds be built as means of finding and eliminating Flood infestations in their infancy. Overwhelming firepower seems a given for such a role.

  • 04.07.2011 11:46 PM PDT
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Posted by: Methew
It's been a bit since I read Halo Cryptum
It hasn't been out very long.

  • 04.07.2011 11:51 PM PDT
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Posted by: Sierra 1993DJC
Posted by: Methew
It's been a bit since I read Halo Cryptum
It hasn't been out very long.

Two months(?) is a bit in my terms.

  • 04.08.2011 12:17 AM PDT

Gamers Anon

Achronos: And what's this about a "design team" I've been hearing? Apparently stosh is so awesome he's now considered a "team".

The ring world ones are most likely produced on extremely large scales to stop the flood at whatever cost. The shield world ones have a lot more time to build their forces up and make better sentinels.

  • 04.08.2011 12:53 AM PDT

what always annoyed the hell out of me, ever just sat back and watched the sentinels wiped out Flood, they make an absolute mockery of them, especially the shielded, blue beamed sentinels. at least they did when it was appropriate to the story, then they got murdered, hate that, plot convenience.

remember saying to my friend (who introduced me to this whole Universe) 'how come they lost the war? those robotic dudes are murdering all the Flood...?', still believe that is a valid question. how the hell were Flood supposed to have infected Forerunner ships and what not, there is no obvious way into a ship without being let in.

also perhaps Onyx had those super sentinels because it was more likely to have to stop starship style threats, rather than individual Flood, so they needed magnitudes more fire power to destroy incoming, potentially infested Forerunner warships.

another interesting question for you, Halo is described as a Fortress world right? how come they had no obvious armament or defences, surely a weapon of that magnitude should be able to defend itself, though the whole 'portal' deployment could be its defence, deploy - activate - disappear.

  • 04.08.2011 4:32 AM PDT

Posted by: Sierra 1993DJC
Maybe the Sheild Worlds was a concept decided after the Rings were already made and thus having more advanced sentinels.


This is probably the the case.
SPOILERS: As Mathew mentioned, Halo: Cryptum describes the shield worlds as being an alternative concept to the Halo rings. The Didact had already constructed some before his exile but the overall strategy was never implemented en masse because of Forerunner political strife. It is likely that, once he was released and the Master Builder deposed, the Shield World strategy became a more prudent focus of the Forerunner battle plan.

The increased lethality of the of Onyx Sentinels was likely due to two reasons: 1000 extra years of weapons research and a shift in leadership philosophies. We know that the Ark began construction shortly after the Didact entered his cryptum and with it, the means to produce Halo rings. We also know that the rings are produced automatically as needed by the Ark's systems. With all Forerunners on the Ark being (presumably) Lifebuilders focused on indexing and collecting, it is very unlikely that anyone was concerned with the effectiveness of already-proven-adequate Sentinels. Furthermore, with the Master Builder decommissioned and the Prometheans thrust back into power, the warrior classes again had control over the Halo program. Why wouldn't they, a rate focused entirely on military might, want to ensure that their tools (Sentinels) were the very best for the job?

If Onyx is, in fact, a post-cryptum-opening shield world, it makes good sense that the Sentinals (and probably a variety of other technologies) are more advanced than those on Halo.



Posted by: PLUT0NIUM 235
another interesting question for you, Halo is described as a Fortress world right? how come they had no obvious armament or defences, surely a weapon of that magnitude should be able to defend itself, though the whole 'portal' deployment could be its defence, deploy - activate - disappear.


MORE CRYPTUM SPOILERS.
You can't think of Halo as a conventional battleship with tactical anti-air/ground weapons. The rings are not meant to fight on the front lines of battles. They act more in an interdiction capacity, destroying potential hosts for the Flood but not attacking the Flood itself. You are correct in stating that they have no real defenses. As seen near the end of Halo: Cryptum, the rings will automatically retreat if faced with the threat of direct attack.

That being said, they are not completely without offensive capabilities. The Didact alluded to the fact that the rings could be tuned or calibrated to specific areas of effect. The initial test firing took place at Charum Hakkor and only effected that and the adjacent planet. Charum Hakkor itself sustained substantial physical damage as a result of the attack. All of the Precursor ruins were shattered and the atmosphere itself was made nearly unbreathable. Of course, the final use of the rings was executed at a very wide blast radius with the intent of sterilizing the galaxy. However, under different circumstances, Halo could have continued to be used as an extremely effective offensive platform.

[Edited on 04.08.2011 5:12 AM PDT]

  • 04.08.2011 4:57 AM PDT


Posted by: Sierra 1993DJC
Maybe the Sheild Worlds was a concept decided after the Rings were already made and thus having more advanced sentinels.


It actually happened the other way around. The Shields were designed first.

OT: Well, Onyx Sentinels were protecting something much more valuable: all of the Forerunners (supposedly) and the galaxy's life hidden safe in the Shields. It'd be the ultimate defense against the Flood: An unstoppable trillion+ swarm of these super sentinels.

The Rings' main defense was secrecy; no one knew where they were. Plus you also must remember: its a game, we don't want every sentinel to be a boss.

  • 04.08.2011 5:09 AM PDT
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"Time was your ally human. But now it has abandoned you. The Forerunners....have returned. And this tomb... is now yours". - The Didact

Fighting Onyx sentinels in the games would be too diffuclt,maybe they did this for gameplay reasons.

In Cryptum the sentinels of Halo were able to hold the Forerunner fleet back,i don't think those weak sentinels from the games did that.I'm sure those were super powerful ones.

My point is,it's just to make gameplay far easier for us.

  • 04.08.2011 5:33 AM PDT


Posted by: hotshot revan II
Fighting Onyx sentinels in the games would be too diffuclt,maybe they did this for gameplay reasons.

In Cryptum the sentinels of Halo were able to hold the Forerunner fleet back,i don't think those weak sentinels from the games did that.I'm sure those were super powerful ones.

My point is,it's just to make gameplay far easier for us.


Sorta like how it can be considered the ones we fight are basically mall cops and the ones in Cryptum were like SWAT teams. They can fight the military, but will probably lose.

  • 04.08.2011 5:38 AM PDT
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Deva Path


Posted by: DecepticonCobra

We are all going to get banned aren't we?


Posted by: Methew
Just in case: Spoilers.

It's been a bit since I read Halo Cryptum but if I remember correctly the Diadect suggested that the Shield Worlds be built as means of finding and eliminating Flood infestations in their infancy. Overwhelming firepower seems a given for such a role.


This. Shield worlds were suppose to be the outposts of the galaxy. They were made to target the flood with precision and little damage to anything else.

[Edited on 04.08.2011 6:34 AM PDT]

  • 04.08.2011 6:34 AM PDT