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This topic has moved here: Subject: Halo 4 planet is Forerunner Capital (Some Cryptum spoilers)
  • Subject: Halo 4 planet is Forerunner Capital (Some Cryptum spoilers)
Subject: Halo 4 planet is Forerunner Capital (Some Cryptum spoilers)

Oops. I think I just lost your mind.

In Halo: Cryptum, the Forerunner Capital was composed of massive, circular "platforms" that housed cities. In the event of an attack, the platforms could rotate and form a sphere, enclosing the cities inside a protective shell. The planet shown in the teaser could be the Forerunner capital city.
In this video, at 8:00ish Frankie states that the "planet" is an artificial construct; this fits the description of the Forerunner capital.

[Edited on 08.14.2011 7:29 AM PDT]

  • 08.14.2011 7:22 AM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

So your only evidence is "it's a sphere"? We don't even know whether the Capital is still around, as the centre of the Forerunner Ecumene it would be a prime target for Mendicant Bias to attack again.

  • 08.14.2011 7:39 AM PDT
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Posted by: ajw34307
So your only evidence is "it's a sphere"? We don't even know whether the Capital is still around, as the centre of the Forerunner Ecumene it would be a prime target for Mendicant Bias to attack again.


you have to admit its a pretty good guess though

  • 08.14.2011 8:00 AM PDT

"Find where the liar hides, so that I may place my boot between his gums!" - Rtas 'Vadum

I think that whatever the Chief is heading towards is a bit too small. The Forerunner capital is 100'000km in diameter.

This puts it to scale. Bear in mind that Jupiter only has a diameter of about 70'000 km...

  • 08.14.2011 8:02 AM PDT

Oops. I think I just lost your mind.


Posted by: ajw34307
So your only evidence is "it's a sphere"? We don't even know whether the Capital is still around, as the centre of the Forerunner Ecumene it would be a prime target for Mendicant Bias to attack again.
It IS just a guess. I went at it from the standpoint of what would make sense within the franchise: something already mentioned, not something from out of left field that might alienate fans. The only other spherical constructs we know of are the Onyx Dyson sphere (debunked) and another shield world. Shield worlds have been done already, so a non-shield world construct would be newer and more interesting. If John is to face his "destiny" and (likely) encounter the Forerunners, the Capital is one of the most convenient places to do so - it's full of Forerunner stuff. The Capital surviving the Forerunner-Flood War is a difficult problem to look past, but it survived the first attack, and the Forerunner are able to move large constructs like Halo rings, so the Capital could have been moved outside the galaxy, possibly near the Ark, to protect it from the Flood and Halo.

Anton 1792 (Rtas Vadum) has a point - the Capital is RIDICULOUSLY large. The only explanation I have for this is that: 1) we never see it to scale with the Dawn, so we can't be sure of its size, and 2) as a series goes on, it must also go up in scale. We began this with an Earth-size ringworld and ended, as of our last installment, with the Ark, a gigantic (8-ish times Earth diameter) petal-world. These games are so big now they're like Hollywood movies, and now I think they'll start following one of Hollywood's most distinguishing tropes:
Bigger is better. Especially for sequels.

[Edited on 08.14.2011 8:08 AM PDT]

  • 08.14.2011 8:03 AM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Posted by: Irongam3r
It IS just a guess. I went at it from the standpoint of what would make sense within the franchise: something already mentioned, not something from out of left field that might alienate fans. The only other spherical constructs we know of are the Onyx Dyson sphere (debunked) and another shield world. Shield worlds have been done already, so a non-shield world construct would be newer and more interesting. If John is to face his "destiny" and (likely) encounter the Forerunners, the Capital is one of the most convenient places to do so - it's full of Forerunner stuff. The Capital surviving the Forerunner-Flood War is a difficult problem to look past, but it survived the first attack, and the Forerunner are able to move large constructs like Halo rings, so the Capital could have been moved outside the galaxy, possibly near the Ark, to protect it from the Flood and Halo.


But the Forerunners are a Tier 1 race, they can build entire worlds themselves. It is said in Cryptum that moving large objects through slipspace causes some kind of crisis, akin to the greenhouse gas problem we have today.

So why would they move the Capital through slipspace outside the Orion Arm and further this natural crisis when they could simply go through slipspace in their ships and build a world themselves?

A Shield World is more likely. They're built as safe havens, imagine if the Flood found them at the Capital - they'd be screwed. But Shield Worlds have cleansing systems and (Micro) Dyson Spheres where the Flood would be incapable of reaching.

  • 08.14.2011 8:14 AM PDT

Oops. I think I just lost your mind.


Posted by: ajw34307
Posted by: Irongam3r
It IS just a guess. I went at it from the standpoint of what would make sense within the franchise: something already mentioned, not something from out of left field that might alienate fans. The only other spherical constructs we know of are the Onyx Dyson sphere (debunked) and another shield world. Shield worlds have been done already, so a non-shield world construct would be newer and more interesting. If John is to face his "destiny" and (likely) encounter the Forerunners, the Capital is one of the most convenient places to do so - it's full of Forerunner stuff. The Capital surviving the Forerunner-Flood War is a difficult problem to look past, but it survived the first attack, and the Forerunner are able to move large constructs like Halo rings, so the Capital could have been moved outside the galaxy, possibly near the Ark, to protect it from the Flood and Halo.


But the Forerunners are a Tier 1 race, they can build entire worlds themselves. It is said in Cryptum that moving large objects through slipspace causes some kind of crisis, akin to the greenhouse gas problem we have today.

So why would they move the Capital through slipspace outside the Orion Arm and further this natural crisis when they could simply go through slipspace in their ships and build a world themselves?

A Shield World is more likely. They're built as safe havens, imagine if the Flood found them at the Capital - they'd be screwed. But Shield Worlds have cleansing systems and (Micro) Dyson Spheres where the Flood would be incapable of reaching.

Fair enough. I was just guessing that this time, 343 would do something different and new, so as to be memorable and prove their worth as the new creators of Halo. Remember that by the end of Cryptum, the attack on the Capital left the Ecumene's government in tatters - hardly in a state to construct another shield world. While it is possible this is a shield world built before the attack on the Capital, the Capital was not destroyed, but remained vulnerable in the Orion complex. While it would cause further damage, I think it would be a smaller loss to preserve what was left of the Capital rather than leave it vulnerable as a senseless waste of resources.

Also, a random related thought: where is Faber after the attack on the capital? If he survives the whole Forerunner trilogy, it would be AWESOME to see him in the new trilogy, I really liked his characterization and he could add a lot to the storyline in Halo 4.

[Edited on 08.14.2011 8:28 AM PDT]

  • 08.14.2011 8:22 AM PDT