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Subject: Before making your theories, read here!

@accordingto343

Your one stop shop for all of 343's fabulous errors and ridiculous notions in the Halo lore.

In the Universe Forum's early days, many quality theories were crafted, some can still be seen on the Top Forum Topic bar to the right. However, that is starting to no longer be the case. This is just a handy guide for those of you who have wild ideas in your mind and you want to share them as a theory on what is to come or has occurred yet still remains a mystery in the Halo Universe. Please keep in mind this is not the definitive guide, if you have quality suggestions, share them.

Examples of quality theories

The Precursor, The Flood, and the Acceleration of Evolution: V2.6

Halo 4, In plain sight. V 1.5 Origins update

Mendicant Bias and the Great Intragalactic Scavenger Hunt

Cite your sources!

Perhaps the golden rule of creating a theory, source citation. This should be a concept your average middle schooler should understand. When you are asked to do a research paper, you are asked to also make a works cited page, this is no different here. If you want your theory to be taken seriously, you need sources.

Your sources can come from the games, books, and other forms of media. To properly incorporate your sources make sure you state where it came from, if it's a book state the page number, if it comes form the game provide the cutscene as a YouTube video, if it comes from media like Halo Legends state the episode it appears in and perhaps even the running time. All sources can even provide quotes, if they help your theory provide them.

Example

Say you believe Mendicant Bias is responsible for sending Master Chief to the Mysterious Planet in the Halo 4 trailer, you could provide a quote from the final(?) Terminal in Halo 3.

And so here at the end of my life, I do once again betray a former master. The path ahead is fraught with peril. But I will do all I can to keep it stable - keep you safe. I'm not so foolish to think this will absolve me of my sins. One life hardly balances billions. But I would have my masters know that I have changed. And you shall be my example.

Mendicant Bias to John-117.


Obviously more would be expected, but try to follow a format like so.

Other notes:

Posted by: Spartan1065
Halo wikis and other such sites are secondary sources. Go to the primary source the book, game, or video/cutscene you are citing.


Make sure you do not use the Halo wiki as your primary or only source for information. They are a wiki, anybody can edit them and provide false info that is speculation at best. As mentioned above, use the books, games, and media as your primary sources.

Make your theory readable!

I don't care if you probably have the greatest theory in the world, if you can't be bothered to provide readable spelling, grammar, and punctuation, I won't read it. Also, when dealing with paragraphs, don't make a giant wall, break them up to readable chunks. And for the love of whatever religious deity or lack thereof, Please Don't Type Like This, it's highly discouraged.

Finally, make sure your theory flows nicely. Do not throw your proof everywhere randomly hoping we all piece it together. Make on idea flow to the next accurately.

Do NOT be hostile to those debating your theory

There is a bad habit in the Universe of theory makers becoming overly defensive about their theory. Word of advice, do not start flame wars or begin name calling if someone doesn't accept your theory and they explain why. Your theory is not fact and until it is proven right or wrong, the burden of proof is on you to defend your theory while accepting constructive criticism.

Guide wrap up

Here is the guide in a nutshell.

1. Cite your sources and evidence.
2. Use proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, paragraph spacing, and make your theory flow from one point to the next.
3. Don't be a whiny -blam!- if someone doesn't agree with your theory.
4. Play nice.

[Edited on 09.14.2011 3:32 PM PDT]

  • 07.17.2011 1:49 PM PDT

Brains beats brawn get used to it

Fear the Red Comet

Variety is the spice of life.
Long live games.
Death to all fanboys.

A certain Moa lover can learn a thing or ten (if learning is possible for that person) about this instead of pulling "facts" out of thin air when supporting anything.

  • 07.17.2011 2:24 PM PDT

Oh hey there

Posted by: petarded2
It's a metaphor for the 07s' lack of identity. too old to be newfa­g, yet too new to be oldfa­g, we wander b.net in search of a home, forever trying to be something we are not.

Despite the fact that I often disagree with your views on recent canon disputes, *cough* Reach *cough*, this is a sorely needed thread.

The Universe has lost a few key members over the past year.

  • 07.17.2011 2:53 PM PDT

Stupid ass washing machine...

Great guide OP, hopefully this will sort out the more... retarded members of the Universe forum and return this place of deep thought and discussion back to it's former glory.

  • 07.17.2011 2:54 PM PDT

Oh hey there

Posted by: petarded2
It's a metaphor for the 07s' lack of identity. too old to be newfa­g, yet too new to be oldfa­g, we wander b.net in search of a home, forever trying to be something we are not.

I would also add that Halo wikis and other such sites are secondary sources. Go to the primary source the book, game, or video/cutscene you are citing.

  • 07.17.2011 2:59 PM PDT

@accordingto343

Your one stop shop for all of 343's fabulous errors and ridiculous notions in the Halo lore.

I'll add that because folks tend to mostly or exclusively use wikis as their sources.

[Edited on 07.17.2011 3:04 PM PDT]

  • 07.17.2011 3:01 PM PDT
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Do not waste your tears, I was not born to watch the world grow dim. Life is not measured in years, but by the deeds of men.

Posted by: goldhawk
We should know better, because we are better.

This is a great thread, it should be pinned. Help clean up this forum a bit.

  • 07.17.2011 4:03 PM PDT

Expressing my strong liberal views without shame. Favorite quotes below:

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
"One starts to live when he can live outside himself."

- Albert Einstein

This forum is slowly dying due to lack of population unfortunately. Meanwhile, the Reach forum is exploding with immaturity and flamers.

  • 07.17.2011 4:12 PM PDT

Brains beats brawn get used to it

Fear the Red Comet

Variety is the spice of life.
Long live games.
Death to all fanboys.


Posted by: Plasma Prestige
This forum is slowly dying due to lack of population unfortunately. Meanwhile, the Reach forum is exploding with immaturity and flamers.


This forum always had a low population to begin with. Before Reach this forum moved just as slow as the classified almost.

What's killing this forum are the amount of idiots posting trash threads (canon related or not) constantly.

  • 07.17.2011 4:19 PM PDT

Oh hey there

Posted by: petarded2
It's a metaphor for the 07s' lack of identity. too old to be newfa­g, yet too new to be oldfa­g, we wander b.net in search of a home, forever trying to be something we are not.

Posted by: StealthSlasher2

Posted by: Plasma Prestige
This forum is slowly dying due to lack of population unfortunately. Meanwhile, the Reach forum is exploding with immaturity and flamers.


This forum always had a low population to begin with. Before Reach this forum moved just as slow as the classified almost.

What's killing this forum are the amount of idiots posting trash threads (canon related or not) constantly.
The loss of several older members that posted intelligently didn't help either.

  • 07.17.2011 4:42 PM PDT

I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.
--Ralph Ellison

Posted by: bquick34
why should we trust you?


Did you even read the OP? It's all common sense stuff. Honestly, it's disgraceful that something like this even needs to be posted. Sadly, it does.

  • 07.17.2011 4:53 PM PDT

Thread saved. This is very useful if I say so myself.

  • 07.17.2011 5:19 PM PDT
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Do not waste your tears, I was not born to watch the world grow dim. Life is not measured in years, but by the deeds of men.

Posted by: goldhawk
We should know better, because we are better.


Posted by: bquick34
why should we trust you?

Because Cobra is a smart guy. If you want to be taken seriously here, you should follow most of those guidelines.

  • 07.17.2011 7:05 PM PDT

Don't worry, you're still your mom's favorite Bnet member.

Yeah, I'm getting pretty sick of those crappy and unfounded theories. I know it's in the Halo 3 forum and has been confirmed wrong, but this is a great example of a guy who did his homework.

  • 07.18.2011 6:40 AM PDT

@accordingto343

Your one stop shop for all of 343's fabulous errors and ridiculous notions in the Halo lore.

Posted by: MegaMuffin16
Yeah, I'm getting pretty sick of those crappy and unfounded theories. I know it's in the Halo 3 forum and has been confirmed wrong, but this is a great example of a guy who did his homework.

I should add that, almost forgot about it. Hell, Snakie's theory was confirmed wrong by Cryptum, so why not?

  • 07.18.2011 10:04 AM PDT
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Member of Bungie.net for nearly three years, still continuing!

Enjoy what you have and live on.

My gamertag is Elder Bias

Indeed, this guide would provide excellent for making a well established theories. Perhaps you would make similar guide, slightly different one for vs threads debates?

For a example: You must provide direct quotes and page numbers plus link to in-game cut-scene plus full blown mathematics to prove your claim on calculating firepower yields or durability against specific yields, etc. Also about canon rules can be included such as star wars canon rules, star trek canon rules, etc or whatever.

  • 07.18.2011 11:28 AM PDT

@accordingto343

Your one stop shop for all of 343's fabulous errors and ridiculous notions in the Halo lore.

I can try if you really want me to, but to be honest i don't think we need more VS threads.

  • 07.18.2011 11:29 AM PDT
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Member of Bungie.net for nearly three years, still continuing!

Enjoy what you have and live on.

My gamertag is Elder Bias


Posted by: DecepticonCobra
I can try if you really want me to, but to be honest i don't think we need more VS threads.


It may be needed because I know some people will always bring up vs threads. It's matter of time. I would love to be part in vs threads so I would be appreciated if you can make guide for that.

  • 07.18.2011 11:31 AM PDT

@accordingto343

Your one stop shop for all of 343's fabulous errors and ridiculous notions in the Halo lore.

Okay, I'll work on it.

  • 07.18.2011 11:34 AM PDT
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Member of Bungie.net for nearly three years, still continuing!

Enjoy what you have and live on.

My gamertag is Elder Bias

Thank you, it would help with controlling vs threads, I hope so.

Funny thing is that I found a guy said that star trek's photon torpedoes had capacity of 500 megatons which it was countlessly proved wrong. So this is a example of how it should be restricted because he never provided proof with actual work out of calculations.

[Edited on 07.18.2011 11:37 AM PDT]

  • 07.18.2011 11:37 AM PDT
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Deva Path


Posted by: DecepticonCobra

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


Posted by: raganok99

Posted by: DecepticonCobra
I can try if you really want me to, but to be honest i don't think we need more VS threads.


It may be needed because I know some people will always bring up vs threads. It's matter of time. I would love to be part in vs threads so I would be appreciated if you can make guide for that.



-Make it clear if the races are at their height or standard power

- make it clear if superweapons are to be involved

- do not base the superweapons as the power level for the entire race such they are usually experimental

- if the technology for the Race is inconsistent (stargate ancients) then they can't be used

- don't make a thread when it is obvious who would when (Forerunners vs cylons)

- If you are not going to accept the fact that your side might not win "forerunners vs xeelee or reapers vs forerunners" then don't participate

- If you do not understand the mechanics behind the universe that you are using (mass effect tech being based on relays) then don't participate

- give clear rules of engagements and follow them

- State the factors and weaknesses of both races before hand

I guess this would be a small intro but those are some guidelines

  • 07.18.2011 11:40 AM PDT

Versus threads really shouldn't even be in here. They're just silly. Then again, it's probably better than Halo 'story' discussion.

  • 07.18.2011 12:06 PM PDT

Am I supposed to write something funny here?

Saved.

  • 07.18.2011 12:23 PM PDT

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