That'd be interesting at some point, but I don't think there's enough material out (visual references at least) to make a Halo mod that 1) takes place in space 2) doesn't involve humans getting their butts kicked 90% of the time and 3) doesn't require creating a lot of material from scratch. Just the glassing. I think it'd make games a little more interesting knowing that a chokehold points can be moved. And because any game would benefit from more wholesale planetary destruction.

I don't think it's possible. You may be able to hack a way around it using the entryvehicle entity files or the bombardment particles/textures, but it's unlikely.



Clearly, models are the only thing that make mods.

As far as making a planet uninhabitable? Doesn't the novalith cannon do this for a short time with its radiation debuff. Maybe it would be possible to extend the duration of the debuff so that it effectively lasts forever.

While it might not be possible to change the textures on a planet mid-game, perhaps it would be possible to have have some kind of effect animation (like the novalith cannon impact), that lasts effectively for the rest of the match.

I'm just guessing though. I have no real experience modding.

Making the planet uninhabitable is as simple as copying the novalith cannon / imp. TEC siege frigate debuff, and simply setting the number of end conditions to 0. I'm not sure if you can set visual effects to loop, which would be the only way to permanently change the appearance of the planet. There is no support for changing the texture, but if you could figure out how to make the bombardment effect loop, you could envelop the planet in a permanent cloud of swirly flame, and that might be real neat. I'm not really sure how the weapon/bombardment/ability effects work, so I couldn't help you there. As far as the hostile culture thing... That would be a little harder to work. I don't think an act that originates from player A can generate any culture other than player A's. If it was an orbital structure, you might be able to give it a negative culturespread value... I'm not sure if that would do what you want it to, but it might be something to try.

My suggestion for balancing an effect like this is to tie it to a particular unit or structure, and set the cooldown duration to -1, or perhaps make it cost antimatter, and the have the unit unable to regenerate antimatter, thereby making it a one shot type ability.

AWEZOME!

Maybe you could do something like the planetary shield.  Make a ship or whatever it is you want that can create a planetary shield on the spot but change the texture to make it look like glass, and change the ability to make it uncolonizable.  You might need to keep an invisable producer of the glass there but I'm not sure since I never tried anything like this.