Post by rekoshin on Oct 1, 2006 14:42:02 GMT -5
Covanent Vehicles
Ghost: A Ghost is a relatively small one unit vehicle, usually piloted by an Elite or Brute, although Grunts have been seen piloting them on occasion. It is the Covenant equivalent to a motorcycle. It is a lightly armed hovercraft, with only two plasma cannons as armament, but compensates for lack of firepower with extreme manueverability and speed. The Ghost rarely flips, and is capable of handling rough terrain, maintaining a constant distance between itself and the ground below it. The vehicle will drop and rise noticeably when crossing uneven terrain, and descending ditches or trenches rapidly often results in the vehicle crashing into the rise on the opposite side. The Ghost can boost to a higher speed, but at the expense of maneuverability. Also, the weapons cannot be fired while boosting. The name probably stems from its ability to enter combat at high speed and evade many attacks ghost-like.
Spectre: A light, rapid assault vehicle equipped with a rapid-fire plasma turret. Similar in function to the UNSC Warthog, this vehicle can ferry up to two passengers into battle, as well as carry a gunner and pilot. The passengers, however, are very vulnerable on the sides of the Spectre, due to a lack of cover. The Spectre is equipped with a powerful rapid-fire plasma cannon, much like a plasma rifle without overheating. Its function is also similar to the Warthog, which also sports a rapid-fire weapon in the form of a three-barrelled machine gun. The Spectre is the only Covenant vehicle a player can pilot that can be boosted without sacrificing significant maneuverability or the weapon.
Wraith: The Wraith tank is the primary Covenant heavy armor, often deployed, but only in small numbers, and piloted by Elites and Brutes. The nose of the tank is extremely well armored, able to withstand multiple dead-on rockets. The Wraith fires a large ball of plasma in a parabolic path, and is capable of firing at a medium rate of fire without overheating. The rear of the Wraith is less well armored, and seems to have a rear exit to the thingypit, which is normally primarily accessed by double-doors on the top of the nose. The Wraith runs on the same hovering technology of the Ghost, and retains the boosting ability, albeit only for limited spurts of speed. Newer versions also come mounted with a pair of light rapid-fire plasma turrets along the front of the tank to deal with infantry and airborne threats. The Wraith is so called by human Marines because you usually only get one look at the tank before you become one.
Shadow: The Covenant equivalent of an APC, the Shadow transports multiple Covenant soldiers, and can also carry light vehicles and cargo such as Ghosts. A rapid fire shade plasma turret is mounted high on the front end, but the operator is vulnerable to enemy fire. The transport itself is heavily armored, but offers no protection for the vehicles it carries into combat. So far, it is never seen carrying Covenant infantry. However, modded content within the game reveals that the Shadow was originally designed to include the ability to carry troops, and that both Grunts and Elites have unique sitting and driving animations and dialogue for the Shadow. The player cannot pilot this vehicle, although the plasma turret may be used and a person can mod the Shadow to make it pilotable. It is currently unknown whether or not it has a boosting ability or if it sacrifices the weapon's energy. A video of someone piloting a Shadow can be seen here.[3]
Banshee: The Banshee is the primary personal aerial assault vehicle of the Covenant, seen only piloted by Elites and Brutes. The Banshee is a small jet with a hood that opens upward from the rear, and is equipped with two stubby "wings", which are basically frames that terminate in the propulsion jets and anti-gravity pods that leave behind a signature exhaust trail. The Banshee is quite maneuverable, and is capable of performing loop-de-loops and barrel rolls to avoid incoming fire with the help of the boosting engines, which in common with most Covenant vehicles, results in the sacrifice of the weaponry for the duration of the maneuver. Banshees come equipped with two plasma cannons and a fuel rod cannon. Its name likely stems from the screaming noise made during tight turns and aerial maneuvers, like the scream of the paranormal creature Banshee, which heralds the death of a family member in Irish mythology. The link is clearly shown here - the scream is the prediction of the player's death as the Banshee approaches. However, this highly-audible sound often serves as an early warning, allowing the player to prepare for engagement and source an appropriate weapon.
Phantom: Roughly the Covenant equivalent of a UNSC Pelican dropship, the Phantom is armed with three plasma turrets mounted on its underside that deliver devastating firepower to any ground or air based target, but are vulnerable to rockets or other explosive charges. In the center of the belly is a miniature grav-lift much like the one used in the Covenant flagships, but not requiring a ground-based platform to operate. The Phantom is capable of transporting any variety of Covenant troops, supplies, and weaponry, and has been seen being piloted by Elites and Brutes. The Phantom has the unique ability of carrying vehicles as heavy as a Wraith tank, but it also can carry smaller vehicles like Ghosts or Spectres, which it drops from low alitudes into combat zones. These vehicles are fast and indestructible, (although in the E3 preview, a billboard fell on a Phantom and destroyed it) and may be piloted by either Elites or Brutes (this can only be discerned by radio communications between characters since the pilots are never seen). Also, a brute is seen piloting a phantom in the second cutscene before the "Sacred Icon". A video of someone piloting a Phantom can be seen here[4].
Scarab: A massive walking attack platform seen in three levels in Halo 2, used to clear the way for assaults against human bases and cities. The Scarab towers above the landscape on four hydraulic legs, each ending in a sharp point. Its body is unpainted metal that resists most weapons - a female Marine remarks that it withstood 50-calibre rounds and rockets with no noticeable damage. The machine is armed with a massive plasma cannon on the front of the main body, which is capable of obliterating human Pelicans and Scorpion tanks with a single shot, after a significant power-up time. A secondary rapid-fire turret is mounted above this, but is rarely used. It is also the only thing on the Scarab that can be destroyed by small arms. The control room, adorned with the Covenant purple colour, is located inside the main body, and manned by two or more Elites. Since the craft can be boarded, additional Covenant such as Grunts and other Elites usually crew the machine to fight off boarders. The ability to walk allows the vehicle to negotiate human cities and most areas where even hovercraft would not be able to reach. As far as the player is concerned, the Scarab itself is indestructible, but can be disabled. It is also one of the "props" for the multiplayer map Turf.
Prophet's Chair: While this is not really considered a vehicle, the Prophets use it as a vehicle and can be boarded like a tank, which is how the Prophet of Regret died. It has a beam cannon similar to that of a Hunter's fuel rod cannon and has a bulletproof shield that protects the operator. It can be modded to be operated by the player, as seen here. [5]
Seraph: Seraph fighter is rapid attack air/spacecraft it is the Covenant equivelant to the UNSC Longsword fighter and can be first seen docked in the hangar on the level the Arbiter. The Spec Ops commander Rtas 'Vadumee first mentioned its name when the Heretic leader was making a mad dash to is in a Banshee. He is stopped and killed by the Arbiter. It is shaped like a teardrop and but the entrance has not been identified, though one may infer that is on the top because the Heretic leader was last seen climbing the top of Seraph as though to enter the ship. It can also be seen during the end cinematic of the level cairo station, a Seraph flies past the hangar door being pursued by two human longsword fighters. Its weapons are currently unknown as no visible weapons are seen on it, although most fans predict that it has dual plasma cannons and two plasma torpedo launchers.
Ghost: A Ghost is a relatively small one unit vehicle, usually piloted by an Elite or Brute, although Grunts have been seen piloting them on occasion. It is the Covenant equivalent to a motorcycle. It is a lightly armed hovercraft, with only two plasma cannons as armament, but compensates for lack of firepower with extreme manueverability and speed. The Ghost rarely flips, and is capable of handling rough terrain, maintaining a constant distance between itself and the ground below it. The vehicle will drop and rise noticeably when crossing uneven terrain, and descending ditches or trenches rapidly often results in the vehicle crashing into the rise on the opposite side. The Ghost can boost to a higher speed, but at the expense of maneuverability. Also, the weapons cannot be fired while boosting. The name probably stems from its ability to enter combat at high speed and evade many attacks ghost-like.
Spectre: A light, rapid assault vehicle equipped with a rapid-fire plasma turret. Similar in function to the UNSC Warthog, this vehicle can ferry up to two passengers into battle, as well as carry a gunner and pilot. The passengers, however, are very vulnerable on the sides of the Spectre, due to a lack of cover. The Spectre is equipped with a powerful rapid-fire plasma cannon, much like a plasma rifle without overheating. Its function is also similar to the Warthog, which also sports a rapid-fire weapon in the form of a three-barrelled machine gun. The Spectre is the only Covenant vehicle a player can pilot that can be boosted without sacrificing significant maneuverability or the weapon.
Wraith: The Wraith tank is the primary Covenant heavy armor, often deployed, but only in small numbers, and piloted by Elites and Brutes. The nose of the tank is extremely well armored, able to withstand multiple dead-on rockets. The Wraith fires a large ball of plasma in a parabolic path, and is capable of firing at a medium rate of fire without overheating. The rear of the Wraith is less well armored, and seems to have a rear exit to the thingypit, which is normally primarily accessed by double-doors on the top of the nose. The Wraith runs on the same hovering technology of the Ghost, and retains the boosting ability, albeit only for limited spurts of speed. Newer versions also come mounted with a pair of light rapid-fire plasma turrets along the front of the tank to deal with infantry and airborne threats. The Wraith is so called by human Marines because you usually only get one look at the tank before you become one.
Shadow: The Covenant equivalent of an APC, the Shadow transports multiple Covenant soldiers, and can also carry light vehicles and cargo such as Ghosts. A rapid fire shade plasma turret is mounted high on the front end, but the operator is vulnerable to enemy fire. The transport itself is heavily armored, but offers no protection for the vehicles it carries into combat. So far, it is never seen carrying Covenant infantry. However, modded content within the game reveals that the Shadow was originally designed to include the ability to carry troops, and that both Grunts and Elites have unique sitting and driving animations and dialogue for the Shadow. The player cannot pilot this vehicle, although the plasma turret may be used and a person can mod the Shadow to make it pilotable. It is currently unknown whether or not it has a boosting ability or if it sacrifices the weapon's energy. A video of someone piloting a Shadow can be seen here.[3]
Banshee: The Banshee is the primary personal aerial assault vehicle of the Covenant, seen only piloted by Elites and Brutes. The Banshee is a small jet with a hood that opens upward from the rear, and is equipped with two stubby "wings", which are basically frames that terminate in the propulsion jets and anti-gravity pods that leave behind a signature exhaust trail. The Banshee is quite maneuverable, and is capable of performing loop-de-loops and barrel rolls to avoid incoming fire with the help of the boosting engines, which in common with most Covenant vehicles, results in the sacrifice of the weaponry for the duration of the maneuver. Banshees come equipped with two plasma cannons and a fuel rod cannon. Its name likely stems from the screaming noise made during tight turns and aerial maneuvers, like the scream of the paranormal creature Banshee, which heralds the death of a family member in Irish mythology. The link is clearly shown here - the scream is the prediction of the player's death as the Banshee approaches. However, this highly-audible sound often serves as an early warning, allowing the player to prepare for engagement and source an appropriate weapon.
Phantom: Roughly the Covenant equivalent of a UNSC Pelican dropship, the Phantom is armed with three plasma turrets mounted on its underside that deliver devastating firepower to any ground or air based target, but are vulnerable to rockets or other explosive charges. In the center of the belly is a miniature grav-lift much like the one used in the Covenant flagships, but not requiring a ground-based platform to operate. The Phantom is capable of transporting any variety of Covenant troops, supplies, and weaponry, and has been seen being piloted by Elites and Brutes. The Phantom has the unique ability of carrying vehicles as heavy as a Wraith tank, but it also can carry smaller vehicles like Ghosts or Spectres, which it drops from low alitudes into combat zones. These vehicles are fast and indestructible, (although in the E3 preview, a billboard fell on a Phantom and destroyed it) and may be piloted by either Elites or Brutes (this can only be discerned by radio communications between characters since the pilots are never seen). Also, a brute is seen piloting a phantom in the second cutscene before the "Sacred Icon". A video of someone piloting a Phantom can be seen here[4].
Scarab: A massive walking attack platform seen in three levels in Halo 2, used to clear the way for assaults against human bases and cities. The Scarab towers above the landscape on four hydraulic legs, each ending in a sharp point. Its body is unpainted metal that resists most weapons - a female Marine remarks that it withstood 50-calibre rounds and rockets with no noticeable damage. The machine is armed with a massive plasma cannon on the front of the main body, which is capable of obliterating human Pelicans and Scorpion tanks with a single shot, after a significant power-up time. A secondary rapid-fire turret is mounted above this, but is rarely used. It is also the only thing on the Scarab that can be destroyed by small arms. The control room, adorned with the Covenant purple colour, is located inside the main body, and manned by two or more Elites. Since the craft can be boarded, additional Covenant such as Grunts and other Elites usually crew the machine to fight off boarders. The ability to walk allows the vehicle to negotiate human cities and most areas where even hovercraft would not be able to reach. As far as the player is concerned, the Scarab itself is indestructible, but can be disabled. It is also one of the "props" for the multiplayer map Turf.
Prophet's Chair: While this is not really considered a vehicle, the Prophets use it as a vehicle and can be boarded like a tank, which is how the Prophet of Regret died. It has a beam cannon similar to that of a Hunter's fuel rod cannon and has a bulletproof shield that protects the operator. It can be modded to be operated by the player, as seen here. [5]
Seraph: Seraph fighter is rapid attack air/spacecraft it is the Covenant equivelant to the UNSC Longsword fighter and can be first seen docked in the hangar on the level the Arbiter. The Spec Ops commander Rtas 'Vadumee first mentioned its name when the Heretic leader was making a mad dash to is in a Banshee. He is stopped and killed by the Arbiter. It is shaped like a teardrop and but the entrance has not been identified, though one may infer that is on the top because the Heretic leader was last seen climbing the top of Seraph as though to enter the ship. It can also be seen during the end cinematic of the level cairo station, a Seraph flies past the hangar door being pursued by two human longsword fighters. Its weapons are currently unknown as no visible weapons are seen on it, although most fans predict that it has dual plasma cannons and two plasma torpedo launchers.