About Halo Wars 2:

Official Info Page

Halo Wars 2 is the sequel to Ensemble Studios’ 2009 Xbox 360 RTS, Halo Wars.

• Platform: Win 10 / Xbox One
• Developers:  Creative Assembly , 343 Industries , Blur Studio
• Publisher:  Microsoft Studios

Main Features

• • Campaign: 19 total missions
  • Multiplayer/Skirmish: 5 distinct total game modes
  • 2 Factions and 16 Leaders (including DLC)
  • 14 total maps across all modes

My Role as Core Designer

Summary:

Halo Wars 2 consisted of a total of 9 releases. Between these, the type of work I was doing shifted here and there, which is detailed below this section. Throughout all the projects, the areas I was working on were:

• • Skirmish AI: Designed, implemented and iterated the skirmish AI strategies. Worked with our AI programmer to define and refine the AI’s macro and micromanagement behaviors.
  • Balancing: From the point of joining, I provided detailed analysis and feedback from the perspective of a high level RTS player. In the DLC phase of development, I had increasing balancing responsibilities.
  • Campaign AI: Co-designed the campaign AI scripting framework. Trained level designers in AI scripting and provided support where needed.
  • Multiplayer Level Design: Provided map layout details and helped establish level design standards.

Detailed List of Tasks and Responsibilities

Main Game

• Skirmish AI:
  • • My primary focus until release. Worked closely in all areas with our AI programmer, Derek Fagan. The primary direction was to implement an AI that doesn’t cheat, and plays human-like.
    • Co-designed the AI scripting system’s functionalities.
    • Designed and documented AI macro and micromanagement behaviors.
    • Designed difficulty modifiers
    • Scripted 5 AI strategies for each leader in each game mode (except strongholds, which had 1 per leader).
      • Boom AI: Economy and expansion-heavy.
      • Rush AI: Train anti-building units ->destroy enemy base ASAP.
      • Map Control AI: Light pressure -> energy node control focus.
      • Turtle AI: Super defensive with early turrets. Makes late game units.
      • Fast Tech AI: Upgrades to Tier 2 -> pressure with mid-game units.

• Campaign AI:
  • • Co-designed the framework for AI scripts used in campaign.
    • Designed difficulty modifiers used for campaign AI.
    • Trained the Level Designers in AI scripting.

• Balancing:
  • • Constantly researched build orders and their interactions throughout development to report on the state of balance.
    • Handled a small amount of balancing tasks.
    • Took part in defining unit roles, such as what counters what.
    • Gave feedback on all balancing areas.

• Multiplayer Level Design:
  • • Provided detailed feedback on map layouts.
    • Helped established certain design standards, such as no extensive resource crates near expansions, 4-5 energy nodes per map

Sargeant Forge Leader DLC