Dangerous Crossing
One bridge. One chasm. A thousand ways to die.
Dangerous Crossing is a multiplayer map in the first-person shooter video game Tribes (also known as Starsiege: Tribes). It is a sprawling, windswept terrain anchored by a colossal bridge that arcs over a bottomless chasm, with fortified bases perched on opposite rims. The map is infamous for its kill-zone sightlines and punishing emphasis on long-range duels and vehicular dashes, cementing its status as a crucible for competitive play in the game's early community.
- Game
- Starsiege: Tribes
- Type
- Multiplayer map
- Setting
- Outdoor canyon with a central bridge
- Base Count
- Two (one on each side of the chasm)
- Notable Feature
- Central bridge over a deep chasm
Lore & Background
Dangerous Crossing is set on a desolate, wind-scoured planet, likely within the contested territories of the galactic frontier. The map's defining structure—a massive, corroded bridge—spans a canyon so deep its floor is lost to shadow, suggesting a history of desperate traversal in a resource-starved war zone. The bases on either side are battered outposts, bristling with automated defenses, hinting at the strategic imperative to choke the enemy's supply line at this single vulnerable point. The chasm below is often choked with mist, and veteran players whisper of jagged rocks and wreckage that can shred an unwary faller.
In Their Own Story
The wind howled across the canyon as the Blood Eagle scout peered through his sniper scope. Below, the bridge creaked under the weight of a passing armored vehicle. He had been ordered to hold this crossing at all costs, but the enemy was relentless. A distant thump—a mortar round—sent dust cascading into the abyss. He squeezed the trigger, and the distant figure crumpled. For a moment, silence. Then the roar of a shuttle engine echoed from the far base. The crossing would be dangerous again.
Reader's Guide
Dangerous Crossing is a sprawling, open map built for the jetpack-fueled chaos of Tribes. The central bridge is the map's throat—a bare, exposed spine that offers almost no cover and draws fire from both base turrets and hidden snipers. Smart players exploit the jetpack to ski along the canyon walls, using terrain folds and rocky outcroppings as flanking routes to bypass the bridge entirely. The map spawns vehicles like the nimble Shrike fighter and the Wildcat ground vehicle, which can zip across the gap or serve as mobile gun platforms. The bases are standard-issue, with deployable turrets and sensor arrays that reward coordinated assaults. Control of the bridge often decides the match, but the map's open flanks also reward patient snipers and indirect mortar fire. Dangerous Crossing remains a masterclass in Tribes' signature blend of vertical mobility, long-range precision, and tactical positioning.
Did You Know?
- Dangerous Crossing was one of the most popular maps in the original Starsiege: Tribes, frequently featured in clan matches and tournaments.
- The map's design influenced later maps in the Tribes series, including those in Tribes 2 and Tribes: Ascend.
- The deep chasm below the bridge is often lethal to players who fall, but skilled players can sometimes survive by using jetpack maneuvers near the walls.
- The map's name is a direct reference to its central gameplay challenge: crossing the bridge under enemy fire.
More in World & Locations
Elsewhere in the Tribes universe
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