|
The funny thing is that the first few drops instantly turn to steam upon hitting the ground. The ground is hot enough to boil water. Jim's having his big speech while in the galaxy's worst sauna.
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 12:39
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 1, 2024 06:41 |
|
|
Kith posted:To be fair, volcanic climates actually experience frequent rainfall due to constantly boiling off every bit of moisture in the area. Wouldn't that rain also probably be either real acidic or real alkaline, too?
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 12:51
|
|
|
PurpleXVI posted:So one thing that strikes me about this Xel'naga artifact is that it can ostensibly de-zergify a zergified creature, which is fine, but... considering that zergified humans did not exist when the Xel'naga did, it seems odd that it would specifically target them. There's a lot more going on with that artifact in the later campaigns. And by "a lot more" I basically mean "it does whatever space magic the plot needs".
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 12:54
|
|
|
to be fair, it is pretty funny for Raynor to give a heroic speech that boils down to "the real Xel'Naga artifact was the friends we made along the way"
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 16:22
|
|
|
I don't remember what the artifact gets up to later and won't defend it, but given that one of the actors here is the inscrutable Dr. Narud who masterminded the collection of these particular fragments and assembled them in his lab, I don't think it's a stretch that it's capable of this specific act of bullshit.
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 16:29
|
|
PurpleXVI posted:Wouldn't that rain also probably be either real acidic or real alkaline, too? Now that I think about it, that whole cutscene might have been saved if Jim started giving the heroic speech… and then either begins hacking up his lungs because he left his helmet open, or Tychus has to tackle him into cover while shouting at him for doing something so stupid in a place where his face could melt off.
|
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 16:43
|
|
|
PurpleXVI posted:
Now I'm picturing the artifact turning a zergling rush into fluffy pomeranians. That's a missed opportunity, Blizzard.
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 16:53
|
|
|
PurpleXVI posted:I think it would be way more interesting if it had some big, unrelated effect that coincidentally could also de-zergify people. Like maybe it separates things of alien nature, so it would also rip out a cyborg's augmentations, or maybe it literally rolls back time for an area/creatures, or something. Without getting into too many details and thus too terribly spoilery - while not in that exact manner, that's... kind of the most consistent throughline for what the artifact actually "does" across the campaigns? It's mostly handwavey space magic but if there's anything consistent to it, as I recall it's kinda that.
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 17:11
|
|
|
Given the level of writing it just feels like what it does changes arbitrarily.
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 17:31
|
|
|
|
|
#
?
Nov 26, 2023 17:41
|
|
|
I've made it about halfway through LotV now, and while I was expecting the story to wear its influences on its sleeve, I wasn't expecting these particular influences lol. Dunno how much discussion we can have about that since the LotV LP is at least a few years away atm, I think.
|
|
#
?
Nov 28, 2023 04:41
|
|
|
While I'm mulling over these games plots in my head again, I'm curious: other than the recording of Mengsk wanting to rule the sector or see it burnt to ashes, what's actually inspiring the people to want to rise against him? Like, don't get me wrong, that's pretty hosed up, but assuming he'd laughed it off at that press conference as a deepfake (like, it's hundreds of years in the future, you'd think they'd have the technology to do that by then) instead of freaking out about it, what would've happened? Other than gunning down a civvie in the first mission and having some generically dystopian loudspeakers and billboards, the Dominion as shown in game doesn't seem like a bad place to live. Before the Zerg showed up, he'd managed to begin recolonizing planets ravaged in the last war, the city maps show a pretty high level of technology, and instead of just having Kate Lockwell disappeared, he seems willing to tolerate dissent in the press to some extent. We know why Raynor wants to rebel, but what would lead to the other people of the Dominion rebelling as well?
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 06:19
|
|
|
The dystopia of the Dominion is primarily implicit, rather than explicit. Someone calling themselves Emperor who polices the press' freedom of speech aggressively, it usually someone who has people's families disappeared and a creative array of torture tools. But yeah, I agree, it would help us have a stronger connection if we spent more time dealing with Mengsk's crimes than looking for magic thingies and looking at orbs.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 06:33
|
|
|
Mengsk was probably something approaching a breath of fresh air for not even bothering with the pretense that he was anything other than an autocrat, unlike the Confederacy.
|
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 06:56
|
|
|
drkeiscool posted:While I'm mulling over these games plots in my head again, I'm curious: other than the recording of Mengsk wanting to rule the sector or see it burnt to ashes, what's actually inspiring the people to want to rise against him? Like, don't get me wrong, that's pretty hosed up, but assuming he'd laughed it off at that press conference as a deepfake (like, it's hundreds of years in the future, you'd think they'd have the technology to do that by then) instead of freaking out about it, what would've happened? Other than gunning down a civvie in the first mission and having some generically dystopian loudspeakers and billboards, the Dominion as shown in game doesn't seem like a bad place to live. Before the Zerg showed up, he'd managed to begin recolonizing planets ravaged in the last war, the city maps show a pretty high level of technology, and instead of just having Kate Lockwell disappeared, he seems willing to tolerate dissent in the press to some extent. We know why Raynor wants to rebel, but what would lead to the other people of the Dominion rebelling as well? Are people revolting against him other than in the first two missions and the Media Blitz post-mission cutscene? I don't think there's that much of an open rebellion at any point in the game.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 07:00
|
|
|
gohuskies posted:Are people revolting against him other than in the first two missions and the Media Blitz post-mission cutscene? I don't think there's that much of an open rebellion at any point in the game. There were some bits early on with Raynor saying that everyone is ready to revolt, they just need a push, even if it doesn't happen on-screen. There's bits and pieces. When the Zerg attack starts, the Dominion abandons the outer worlds. New Folsom is described as holding a lot of political dissidents. The people on Mar Sara were being rounded up and shipped off for forced labour. There's enough to suitably give the impression you're fighting an authoritarian regime, but very similarly to Raynor's actual rebellion it mostly gets left to be referenced in dialogue rather than being actually engaged with in missions.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 10:13
|
|
|
Tenebrais posted:There were some bits early on with Raynor saying that everyone is ready to revolt, they just need a push, even if it doesn't happen on-screen. I guess that’s a fair point… it just feels weird that the game subtitled “Wings of Liberty” isn’t more focused on fighting for liberty. While everything is at least tangentially related, the actual meat of the rebellion was the prologue and one mission tree. You’d think it would’ve been more prominent.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 11:00
|
|
|
drkeiscool posted:While I'm mulling over these games plots in my head again, I'm curious: other than the recording of Mengsk wanting to rule the sector or see it burnt to ashes, what's actually inspiring the people to want to rise against him? Like, don't get me wrong, that's pretty hosed up, but assuming he'd laughed it off at that press conference as a deepfake (like, it's hundreds of years in the future, you'd think they'd have the technology to do that by then) instead of freaking out about it, what would've happened? Other than gunning down a civvie in the first mission and having some generically dystopian loudspeakers and billboards, the Dominion as shown in game doesn't seem like a bad place to live. Before the Zerg showed up, he'd managed to begin recolonizing planets ravaged in the last war, the city maps show a pretty high level of technology, and instead of just having Kate Lockwell disappeared, he seems willing to tolerate dissent in the press to some extent. We know why Raynor wants to rebel, but what would lead to the other people of the Dominion rebelling as well? It wasn't just that "I will rule or destroy", it was the revelation of the fact that no, Tarsonis was not a coincidence, he deliberately led the Zerg there with Psi Emitters. He wasn't some savior who swooped in amidst tragedy to start up a new government after the last one was tragically wiped away by alien invaders. He's a genocidal maniac who murdered a planet so he could grab power.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 11:24
|
|
|
drkeiscool posted:While I'm mulling over these games plots in my head again, I'm curious: other than the recording of Mengsk wanting to rule the sector or see it burnt to ashes, what's actually inspiring the people to want to rise against him? check out the first mission again. hell, if you have SCII, play it yourself! really walk around and pay attention to the setpieces. in no particular order, the first mission has the dominion doing: murder (the extremely dead vandal, "we got a runner!") kidnapping (an entire loving town) slavery (that dig site they're going to is not voluntary) war crime coverups (the body bags in the canyon) inciting paranoia ("watch your neighbors closely", speeches about dissent impeding progress) theft living under the dominion is not a good time!
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 15:47
|
|
|
gas prices are craaaazy
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 15:48
|
|
|
Hwurmp posted:gas prices are craaaazy you said it!  7.89 for unleaded? 8.59 for diesel??? mengsk must be stopped
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 15:49
|
|
|
Kith posted:check out the first mission again. hell, if you have SCII, play it yourself! really walk around and pay attention to the setpieces. in no particular order, the first mission has the dominion doing: There was also a little area that had what looked like an execution-by-firing-squad range.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 15:51
|
|
|
yeah that too mission 1 of WoL is extremely heavy-handed in showing just how insanely loving evil mengsk and his regime are which makes teaming up with them in the endgame suck super bad lmao
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 15:54
|
|
|
You could possibly make a joke about how even in fiction, Blizz doesn't have the courage to follow its nominal convictions.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 15:56
|
|
|
Kith posted:yeah that too yeah but we're teaming up with the good mengsk, as soon as the bad mengsk gets bumped off the throne everything will be fine and dandy
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 16:17
|
|
|
BisbyWorl posted:yeah but we're teaming up with the good mengsk, as soon as the bad mengsk gets bumped off the throne everything will be fine and dandy The great man theory of narrative resolution.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 16:22
|
|
|
all it takes to undo the war crimes of brownshirts is to put a twink in charge
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 16:28
|
|
|
I'll say one thing for Raynor's speech, I do appreciate how thick is lays on the "WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT TRUSTING EACH OTHER, BEST FRIEND TYCHUS FINDLAY!" when its juxtaposed with that final little dialogue the pair have at camp where Tychus is talking about pardons from Mengsk and tossing out the idea that Kerrigan might not deserve to be saved to take his friend's temperature on the endgame for all this. If the words hadn't hit him somewhere soft, he probably wouldn't have bothered.
Sanguinia fucked around with this message at 17:52 on Nov 29, 2023 |
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 17:48
|
|
|
BisbyWorl posted:yeah but we're teaming up with the good mengsk, as soon as the bad mengsk gets bumped off the throne everything will be fine and dandy I mean, notice that Raynor has never spent a single second talking about helping build something new after toppling Mengsk. His whole plan seemed to be "As soon as I kill Mengsk everyone will be free and happy and we can all go home content with a job well done!" Which would feel like a believable character flaw for Raynor if I thought for an instant Blizzard gave it any more thought than that line.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 17:51
|
|
|
drkeiscool posted:I guess that’s a fair point… it just feels weird that the game subtitled “Wings of Liberty” isn’t more focused on fighting for liberty. While everything is at least tangentially related, the actual meat of the rebellion was the prologue and one mission tree. You’d think it would’ve been more prominent. We're fighting for the liberty of the humanity still within Kerrigan from the Zerg part of her, not for the liberty of the people of the Dominion from Mengsk.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 17:59
|
|
|
gohuskies posted:We're fighting for the liberty of the humanity still within Kerrigan from the Zerg part of her, not for the liberty of the people of the Dominion from Mengsk. Thousands of people are fighting and dying just so Raynor can get laid. Maybe they all know this and they think it's awesome that they're campaigning for their boss man's sex life.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 18:01
|
|
|
PurpleXVI posted:Thousands of people are fighting and dying just so Raynor can get laid.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 18:08
|
|
|
PurpleXVI posted:Thousands of people are fighting and dying just so Raynor can get laid.   Because I'm going to be on my honeymoon, and y'all won't be seeing me 'till Starcraft 3.
|
|
#
?
Nov 29, 2023 18:11
|
|
|
Kith posted:check out the first mission again. hell, if you have SCII, play it yourself! really walk around and pay attention to the setpieces. in no particular order, the first mission has the dominion doing: I guess it's a bit hard for me to pin down exactly what I wanted from the narrative. Like, I completely agree with you, but that's all only shown in one mission on seems like a backwater planet, and even Raynor seems surprised when he exclaims "They're killing civilians!" in the first mission. I wanted an actual exploration of life in the core of the Dominion and how bad things were there that people were just waiting to rise up, and were willing to revolt against Mengsk even after the Zerg invade again only 4 years after Brood War and slaughter billions of people. Even if Mengsk is a monster, he's a monster leading a unified military force. BlazetheInferno posted:It wasn't just that "I will rule or destroy", it was the revelation of the fact that no, Tarsonis was not a coincidence, he deliberately led the Zerg there with Psi Emitters. He wasn't some savior who swooped in amidst tragedy to start up a new government after the last one was tragically wiped away by alien invaders. Again, that's also true, but I guess in my personal opinion, if people had to choose between freedom or security in the face of the Zerg killing billions of people, they'd be more inclined to stick with security. Then that could've tied in with the Haven plotline where Raynor could use that whole debacle to tell people "Hey, even if you stick with Mengsk, he'll leave you out to dry when the Zerg come!" and it would've inspired people to rebel against Mengsk even more.
|
|
#
?
Nov 30, 2023 00:19
|
|
|
BisbyWorl posted:
I was gonna ask if you thought they could possibly bring Raynor back after what happens in the epilogue, but then I remembered the entire story of StarCraft 2 exists 
|
|
#
?
Nov 30, 2023 00:22
|
|
|
BisbyWorl posted:
|
|
#
?
Nov 30, 2023 02:34
|
|
|
Kith posted:check out the first mission again. hell, if you have SCII, play it yourself! really walk around and pay attention to the setpieces. in no particular order, the first mission has the dominion doing: There's a lot of narrative dissonance here when you put it in context of what the Terrans were originally portrayed as, and it jumped out at me during my first playthrough of the game. I assume a number of people in this thread, I'm not sure what the number is, are not from the US. We have a particular cultural trope over here that the Terrans (see: Confederacy) were designed around, let me tell you about it. Several features of the particular (exaggerated in the writing, to be clear) cultural trope that the Terrans of the koprulu sector parody are: 1. Absolute mistrust of government in any way, shape, or form 2. Generalized hostility to outsiders, across the 'outsider' spectrum from Literal Alien to Guy From The Wrong Side Of Town 3. Inventive repurposing of abandoned/wrecked machinery to serve their needs 4. Loads and Loads of Guns That first mission lays it on too thick. Dominion forces are openly doing all this absurdly over the top totalitarian stuff to the point of parody, and they're doing it... to [Space] Rednecks. You're telling me that the Dominion could pull all this stuff without Billy Bob and his crew just coming into town on an armored pickup truck shooting off an army's worth of automatic weapons and rockets while waving their cowboy hats and going YEE HAW, HERE'S YER TAXES, GUB'MENT? Come onnnnnnn. I admit up front that this is not a problem inherent to the scenario or writing of Starcraft 2 by itself, but, given what I knew of the background of SC1 this first mission really stuck out as a bit much. Also that Mar Sara isn't an endless field of beautiful glass as if the Multiverse's Lords of Law had laid claim to this dimension, but y'know. One plot hole at a time.
|
|
#
?
Nov 30, 2023 03:32
|
|
|
Mengsk prevented all that by telling his subjects that Raynor's Raiders are woke
|
|
#
?
Nov 30, 2023 03:42
|
|
|
bladededge posted:You're telling me that the Dominion could pull all this stuff without Billy Bob and his crew just coming into town on an armored pickup truck shooting off an army's worth of automatic weapons and rockets while waving their cowboy hats and going YEE HAW, HERE'S YER TAXES, GUB'MENT? Come onnnnnnn. I don't disagree with the jist of your post, but didn't you just describe Raynor's Raiders here and their intervention? Don't local rednecks account for 80% of the marines he gets in that mission too? Then the plot loses itself five minutes later, and Blizzard have been trying really hard to make people forget Terrans are space rednecks, but that first mission is Jimmy Bob and his crew coming into town on an armoured pickup battlecruiser, shooting an army's worth of Gauss rifles while waving their cowboy power armour helmets. There might even have been a single YEE HAW, as a treat. Whenever Jimmy has to deal with Arcturus, the space redneck peeks out again. Too bad it's 5% of the plot versus 85% pining for zerg redheads and 10% pondering the orb  .(Also the two Odin missions, isn't Tychus so stereotypically redneck there he could poo poo confederacy flags?)
|
|
#
?
Nov 30, 2023 04:32
|
|
|
|
| # ? Jun 1, 2024 06:41 |
|
|
it is pretty funny that Jimmy, Arcturus, and Tychus are the Last Space Southerners. in the hands of better writers this could have been a reconstruction analogy or something
|
|
#
?
Nov 30, 2023 05:55
|
|
