MJOLNIR Mark VII (7): Lighter than the Mark VI (6) and possibly with new upgrades. What will it look like? Will it look like the Mark VI still, or have there been some aesthetic changes (both exterior and HUD)?

S-IV's (Spartan Fours): Going back to enlisting adults instead of children (like in Project Orion), will they be given powered armour just like the S-II's? Or will they be given something akin to ODST or S-III armour?

S-117's status: It's been five months since last contact with Spartan-117 (John-117) and the events of Installation-00 (The Ark) and still no word of whether he has survived or has been found. With Halo 4 coming next year, how long will it have been since Halo 3? Entirely possible that it has been less than five months (due to being so far from any UNSC or human-held planets, he might've not been able to contact anyone) or possibly even more than that.

This is a discussion topic, not a read-me of things to come. Sources are from the latest Halo book, titled Halo: Glasslands.

I know that the games come before the books, but as I've said, this is a discussion topic.

Now, thoughts? :3

E: Silly spelling mistake >X3
Edited by UBE Chief on Nov 23, 2011 at 03:47 PM

It is rumoured that the armour you see in the Halo 4 trailer is indeed the MJOLNIR Mk VII. HUD changes doesn't matter (in terms of canon) since it's never been consistent throughout the entire Halo series.

As for S-IVs, it is again speculated that they will be given standardised armour like the SPI. However, it is again speculated by the Halo community that they will be given access to MJOLNIR for real operations.

There's been a lot of discrepancies on the issue of how long S-117 spent in space after the events of Halo 3 by newer titles. So, your guess is almost as good as anyone else.

It is impossible that the armour shown in the Halo 4 trailer was the Mark VII as the Master Chief went into cryo with the same Mark VI he had ever since Halo 2.

It is entirely possible that the Chief was woken up only a few days after the Legendary ending of Halo 3 but was unable to contact the UNSC for five months. It is also equally possible that it took up to five months OR MORE for the aft section of the Forward Unto Dawn to drift close enough to the planet that Cortana had to thaw the Chief, hence the fact that it is stated in Halo: Glasslands that he has been out of contact for five-plus months.

We may not know what the S-IV's wear because they were not genetically selected at childhood like the S-II's and bioengineered to be able to use the MJOLNIR armour system. I'm willing to guess that they will use ODST or S-III armour, or even the new ONI armour systems (detailed in Glasslands).

Just saying, or guessing, Cortana could have made some improvements on the armor with all that intel she has.. it is possible to upgrade stuff in the field.

There is a very good chance that there won't be much explanation of how his armor changes. Just like the changes that occurred between H2 and H3 where it was supposed to be the exact same armor, but where the differences where notable.

The HUD in H3 was the only thing that changed from H2. It was still the Mark VI in the end. I'm willing to bet that the HUD will change again.

As for Cortana making adjustments - highly unlikely to impossible. She cannot remove parts while the Chief is in cryo and call it the Mark VII. It even says in Glasslands that there is a new supplier for the Mark VII.

She won't be changing the physical or external components but she might be able to modify some of the internal components for the better. just saying...

I seriously doubt it, Skyance. One, she probably didn't have the necessary equipment to make any of those modifications. Even if she did, John said "Wake me, when you need me." In Halo 4 trailer, she shouts "I need you!"

He probably didn't say "Wake me, when you need me" again, so I think my assumption is correct.

Yet I dunno, CAUSE THE GAME IS GETTING RELEASED IN 2012! Seriously, why can't people let it rest? It will come to them eventually.

Explanation: Better graphics.

Edited by YakZSmelk on Nov 24, 2011 at 04:02 AM

Not just better graphics, there are a bunch of subtle design changes that are visible if you actually look closely, especially in the FP models.

But, in the end, it is still the Mark VI.

I know that xP That wasn't my point, my point was that between h2 and h3 the armor did change slightly and there was no explanation. So it is possible that the same will happen here.

Well then, obviously, lol. The Chief never used his armours' booster system before - that's a change :p

not too mention he has a buldge in his crotch if I heard right that someone noted about the first trailer of halo 4 in this forum

Yeah, I mean they could have just decided not to worry about explaining it :P

I think your missing my point, the changes are based on better graphics. It allowed the artists to do more with the armor definition.

Now the armor in the Halo 4 trailer is clearly different which could be story related or just a consequence of 343 wanting to make their mark on the Halo franchise.

Better graphics, maybe? :trollface:

It's still the Mark VI. John couln't have gone into cryo with the Mark VI and pop out with a new set of armour. Fans (and I mean true Halo fans, not goddamn fanboys jumping on the fkin bandwagon) will wonder how he got it and question 343i/MS/Bungie(?) on the canonical value of his armour switch.

It is, however, entirely possible that he gets the Mark VII later on in Halo 4 - just not right off the bat.

Uggh, Its not just changes based on better graphics, there are some pieces that were redesigned when compared to the H2 models. Not just higher detail, but actually redesigned. Look at the hands for instance.

My point in the first place was that it is possible that they will not specifically address how his armor changes between the two, because it the changes between the H2 and H3 armors were not elaborated on. Granted they were fairly minor comparatively.

Everyone gets wood... even the chief

ANYways...

The remaining S-II's and S-III's are going to get the chance to be merged into the S-IV program, so that's an additional dozen (or so) troops. How many Spartans are there going to be now?

FTFY. I think.


Edited by Petera275 on Nov 27, 2011 at 12:16 PM

So yeah. No way it's the Mark VII.

E: The end of Halo 3 was in 2553, btw. After all, Halo 1 took place in September 2552, Halo 2 took place from October to December 2552, and Halo 3 was from late December 2552 to mid-Febuary 2553.
Edited by UBE Chief on Nov 27, 2011 at 12:12 PM

FTFY. :P

The armour design in the Halo 4 trailer was not made by 343i staff and that the direction of the trailer was by some other company contracted by Microsoft simply to reveal the project according to one source, and that the design is still not finalised. Given 343i's history with designs, particularly the different iterations of the Mark V armour for HCEA, I would not be surprised if the one we see in the trailer is still the Mark VI.

Thanks for that fix :P

Exactly what I'm saying. John couldn't have switched armours during his stay in cryo - it's just not possible. He also might not have had the equipment availible to get out of the Mark VI and into the Mark VII even if he did get out of cryo for a while.

Not to mention the fact that the Forward Unto Dawn is breathing hard vacuum. No way the Chief could survive without a suit/being in cryo.