The How-To Guide to Fabulous Armor Color Combinations

Whenever a friend approaches me with a problem they are seeking help with, I always try to step up to the plate and be there for them in any way I possibly can. I realized last week that someone desperately needed my assistance. His private message to me :

When I have an important meeting or social encounter I have my wife dress me as I am male and seem to be lacking the color coordination gene; it must be on the X chromosome. So since I will be soon entering the social killing fields of matchmaking I’m worried about my Spartan’s armor color combinations. There are so many colors and armor permutations that I am getting confused. Let’s be honest, how can I be a finely tuned killing machine if I am worried that I have the wrong secondary armor color or armor detail when pwning noobs? My wife is supremely helpfully with dressing me yet seems to have very little interest in my Spartan armor. Could it be due to Halo stealing away her husband every night??? It seems to me that I saw an official bs angel armor color guide on your blog soon after the Beta came out yet when I search for it I cannot find it. Would you kindly direct me to your color guide or offer some suggestions? Thank you for your assistance with this important matter.

Before you ask, that letter is not made up. I did a simple cut and paste to it; everything is verbatim. Finally I have found someone who truly understands the importance of color coordination, even in a video game. How my heart swelled after reading that letter.

After debating simply pointing him in the right direction of the article he was looking for, I decided to instead utilize this opportunity by teaching him the skills he needed to color coordinate his Spartan himself. I would much rather enable someone by giving them the tools they need to find the answer independently instead of presenting the solution on a silver platter. This way when he is faced with the same challenge in a different game, he can confidently maneuver his way to an acceptable answer without looking back.

I dedicate these basic guidelines to creating a truly fabulous armor color combination to my struggling friend. Not only will you look amazing when you are done but it has the potential to bring other benefits as well. Having confidence in your Spartan’s appearance carries the possibility of improving your game. Considering you will no longer be distracted by worrying about if your colors match or not, you will be able to focus on simply being a killing machine. And that is all any of us want, right? Let’s begin.

This is your basic color wheel. If you were in an orchestra, this wheel would be your instrument. A professional football player, your quarterback. Master Chief, your assault rifle. Study it. Learn it. Know it. Then use it.

Technique #1 : How to Choose Analogous Colors

A definition of analogous colors, from zimmerworks.com :

An analogous color scheme consists of any three or four adjacent colors on the color wheel. Their proximity to one another assures that analogous colors will contribute to a harmonious scheme, and where colors meet, they will blend beautifully.

It is quite easy creating a pleasant color combination using this theory. You simply choose colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. The important thing to note is to choose colors that are on the same ring. If you go with the lightest shade, choose the lightest shade with all the neighboring colors. If you go with the darkest shade, choose the darkest shade with all the neighboring colors. Bungie’s color layout makes this extremely easy. They give you three shades of the color in different columns. Simply stay in the same column, either the first, second, or third. Look how easy it is to choose analogous colors on the color wheel.

Noob instructions : Close your eyes and throw a dart at the color wheel. Start at the dart point and choose the two closest colors to it. You have selected analogous coordinating colors. Congratulations!

Technique #2 : How to Choose a Color Triad

Definition of color triad, from irvingisd.net :

Three colors space equally apart on the color wheel.

This technique is slightly more complicated than the last one but still completely doable. You simply form an equilateral triangle on the color wheel to create a more daring but coordinating color combination. The most common color triad is red, yellow, and blue. Orange, purple, and green is another basic color triad. To do the triangle triad easily on this particular color wheel, simply start with a color, rotate 60 degrees, count three colors in between, and select the next color. Rotate another 60 degrees, count an additional three colors in between, and then you have your third color. It is that easy, and this technique will yield a more bold result.

Noob instructions : Close your eyes and throw a dart at the color wheel. Start at the dart point and draw a big three sided shape. You have selected a color triad of coordinating colors. Congratulations!

Technique #3 : How to Choose Complementary Colors

Definition of complementary colors, from brigantine.atlnet.org :

Colors which appear opposite one another on a color wheel. When placed next to one another, complementary colors are intensified and often appear to vibrate. When mixed, brown or gray is created.

While you utilized a triangle with the last method, you only need to use a straight line with this one. Finding complementary colors is extremely easy. After selecting one color, you simply choose the color that is directly opposite from it. Complementary colors have a high level of contrast but as the term indicates, they complement each other superbly. Examples of contrasting colors include blue with orange, yellow with purple, and the ever classic red with green.

Noob instructions : Close your eyes and throw a dart at the color wheel. Start at the dart point then go directly across the wheel. You have just selected complementary colors. Congratulations!

Until you develop confidence in the area of coordinating colors that look good together, use the color wheel as a handy reference tool when customizing your Spartan. After attaining an attractive appearance for your character, your mind will be at ease on the virtual battlefield since you will know without a doubt that your armor coordinates fabulously. Now go pwn some noobs, you color coordinating stud you.