HR: Maps - Sword Base

Sword Base is one of the two maps currently available in the Beta. Here is a picture illustrating a number of the important items (click for huge):

These are locations you should be aware of:

1. Red Lift - This is accessed from the first level of the main atrium. There is a small opening in the wall, that leads around to a red gravity lift which will bring you to the third floor.
2. Green Lift - This is accessed from a room on the first level on one side of the map. It sends you to the third floor, but ends up in a tight room.
3. Mancannon - In the center of the atrium, provides access to both the "Lower Bridge" and "Middle Bridge" when jet packs are not equipped.
4. Low Bridge - The low bridge on one side of the map.
5. Middle Bridge - In the very middle of the map, spawns the Plasma Launcher ("n00b tube") right in the middle.
6. High Bridge - Green Lift room exits onto one side of this bridge. This bridge tends to see the most action in Slayer matches.
7. Sniper Ledge - Is actually all the way against the back wall (not the ramp itself). Can be accessed by going out the door from Red Stockpile and following the ledge out into the open.
8. 1 Flag Spawn - In 1 Flag CTF games, this is where the flag spawns. Has to be taken to directly upstairs to the second level, but is complicated by the Green and Red lifts being disabled.
9. Red Stockpile - In Stockpile games, this is the red spawn and where red flags are collected.
10. Blue Stockpile - In Stockpile games, this is the blue spawn and where blue flags are collected.
11. Sniper Rifle - Spawns against the pillars on this side of the atrium. For Covenant games, this is the Focus Rifle.
    

Grav Lifts. Lots and lots of activity centers around the lifts, especially in Slayer games. The top of Green Lift is an absolute CF and should probably be avoided if possible. Taking Green Lift up leaves you in a tiny room that is constantly spammed with grenades. Exiting the lift room involves dodging DMR/NR fire from both sides. At this point of the Beta, most people do not know how to access the Red Lift, so it's a much better option to get upstairs and flank people camping the top floor.

Currently, the mancannon is the fastest known way to move the flag in 1-flag CTF. A Scout can jump down from attacking spawn onto the ramp leading to the flag and sprint in. They can then hop over the railing, turn left and mancannon the flag up to Low Bridge. The flag carrier moves too slow to clear the jump themselves, but can throw the flag up for awaiting team mates. It may be possible to jump the other way onto middle bridge as well, but that involves passing the lift and coming the other way.

Weapons. I've only marked the Plasma Launcher and the Sniper Rifle on the map because they are easy to mark in the atrium. There is also an Energy Sword in a side room (fairly obvious) and a Shotgun under a staircase on the other side. The Plasma Launcher is the best power weapon in the Beta and is very much overpowered. The fastest way to reach it is to drop down to the main level of the atrium and take the Mancannon up. Or jet pack over, if equipped.

Sniping. I've marked the one Sniper Ledge, but there are also sniper perches on both sides of the map. A balcony is at the top of Red Lift that has visibility to much of the map. There is also a small perch directly above Low Bridge that is accessed via an inside ramp from the top of the Green Lift exit area.