Heart of the Swarm (details, discussion, etc)

What really depressed me about Ultralisks in SC2 is how they ended up simply having 'swipers' as opposed to the Transformers smashing into each other 'ompf' that they used to have in SC1. Now they just feel like giant scissors instead of ramming tanks.

frontliner2 Netherlands. September 26 2011 16:04. Posts 669

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On September 26 2011 15:56 Don Brash wrote:
What really depressed me about Ultralisks in SC2 is how they ended up simply having 'swipers' as opposed to the Transformers smashing into each other 'ompf' that they used to have in SC1. Now they just feel like giant scissors instead of ramming tanks.

At least they are almost completely useless

Starcraft is a very nice game and has great character. Pro games are great fun to watch!

Chaosvuistje Netherlands. September 26 2011 22:00. Posts 2546

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On September 26 2011 16:04 frontliner2 wrote:

Show nested quote +

At least they are almost completely useless

Educate yourself on their use please. Ultralisks aren't just the 'I upgrade these and A-move them without any support and they will vanquish everything' unit. They need special support akin to the darkswarm in SC1.

Ultralisks with speed Banelings will destroy any Terran ground composition if the Terran is slightly out of position. Ofcourse if you don't bring banelings, the Ultralisks will easily die to marauder packs backed up with siege tanks. The Banelings that are shielded from splash by the huge ultralisks deal with those marauder packs easily, forcing them to kite out of their comfort zone rather than having a ton of medivacs and just attack-stim-moving into the ultralisks.

Wounded ultralisks returned home to be transfused make it so that you don't need a hell of a large gas income, Queens will transfuse them back to a reasonable health saving you tons of gas. I use this in all my games when I go Ultralisks and it just helps so much in both keeping them alive and saving up other resources for a major techswitch should I need one. And the build time is amazing now that you can switch into them more easily.

Ultralisks are only stupid if the zerg lets it be. You don't send Ultralisks in tight spaces because lol AI. You don't attack move ultralisks and not retreat the weakened ones unless you have an overwhelming advantage. You don't transition into ultralisks without having atleast the +2 carapace upgrade and the chitinous plating. And you don't randomly transition into them blindly. If you do these, you will find Ultralisks to be a really beefy and good lategame unit that would be overpowered if it could destroy armies without support units like the Infestor, Queen or Baneling.

Back on topic: I have been looking forward to Blizzcon since the start of the summer. I'm especially interrested in the development of some more special missions and of course the multiplayer units. I hope they are doing something new for Protoss too, like a new harassment unit. Buffing the Warp prism is a step in the right direction, but a more harass based overhaul of the race would be a dream come true for me.

Follow me on @raamedia, updates on good TL threads and SC2 news. And also webdevelopment ^^

IntoTheheart Canada. September 27 2011 07:50. Posts 2728

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Hopefully I can connect my WoL into HotS's Bnets profiles (and play multiplayer without paying for it) but I don't think that

1) That's good for Blizzard's cash flow
2) That'll happen

I can still dream though.

When a ghost kill someone with their gauss rifle, are they performing gaussian elimination then? - Arnstein

Callynn Netherlands. October 01 2011 20:03. Posts 876

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for the purpose of the artifact being an allmighty weapon against zerg leaving no space for them to get out of control as they got, there could be several limitations to its power we are not aware of - like limited number of those artifacts, recharge time of the big kaboom measurable in years and more, limited nuber of use of the single artifact and you could probably go on with those. after all, the final activation hasnt cleared even all the Char, and considering the artifact was shattered and hidden all over the sector, it could have been impossible for xelnaggies to use it in time. with the zerg ability to breed, the time between they got out of control and the time they expanded to another planet allowing them to survive the blast (as a race) had to be shorter than short.

Exactly, but did you consider the Xel'Naga simply did not care if they died? They made the artifact for a later point in time. The Xel'Naga's lifecycle would cause them to die anyway (as I will explain below).

as a conclusion, wouldnt be afraid of the artifact being a first-to-come answer on anything zergish in times to come. the fact that blizz writers havent provided us with a reason not meaning there isnt any. after all, how the hell the characters got some info about it? only zeratul seemed to have some minor idea about the artifacts, and Raynor provided with an illustrated user manual in his dreams would be a deus ex machina way more severe

Dr. Narud (aka Samir Duran) who is in fact a Xel'Naga ('i have had countless names throughout the milennia") told humans he 'researched' the artifact, while in fact he may have helped create it millenia ago.

Back in April during a SC2 single player story press event we were at, we asked a question about what is going on with Samir Duran – when playing the game all the sudden there was this guy who’s name was Duran spelled backwards. So is there any connection between Samir Duran and Dr. Narud?

*Laughter* That is an interesting question. Yeah, I think it’s safe to say there is a connection between those 2 gentlemen. And certainly the story they are a part of isn’t only not done but is just now getting started. I think it’s very exciting that there is stuff that has been in the works for the background of this universe for many years. Many years in our world, and many many years in their universe that are really going to start to unfold now. And really, it’s all really going to be coming to the forefront in the next few years

Blizzard clearly does not deny that Dr. Narud is in fact Samir Duran, or at least another Xel'Naga.

To summarize DocDaneeka who brilliantly shed light on the 'whole plan' of the Xel'Naga, I have made a post of what I think is the case. Almost all of this is speculation based on SC1 and SC2 mission content and hints.

I'm going to start about what the Xel'Naga exactly are.
Considering natural evolution as it occurred on earth, there are several big steps evolution can take towards 'the perfect life'. Because life in essence is 'the controlled and balanced flow of energy which allows for complex processes that goes against the basic laws of physics. The steps on earth for now have been:

1: Complex molecule able to work against the energy flow of physics forms (example: sodium/potassium pump protein for the biologists under us).

2: Complex molecules uniting in a protective membrane, the first cell; an Archea (let's not discuss who was first, because that's not the point). To store 'knowledge acquired from past experiences of adaptation' the simplest forms of DNA start to form (RNA), causing the cells to 'improve' after every generation.

3: Multiple cells uniting: the first multicellular life forms occur (amoeba, seaweeds). More 'genetic knowledge' is acquired and accumulates.

4: Predator / Prey relations form: the fastest shift evolution towards intelligence takes place when, in order to acquire complex proteins faster, some life forms started to eat other life forms that already made these proteins for them. To find and catch them, the first nerve networks started to form. These later evolved into ganglia and even later on into brains. I'm skipping the 'going on land' as it's not relevant to evolving towards a 'perfect life form'.

5: Neocortex development: In life, the biggest step towards intelligence was the (on earth only 'recently' formed) neocortex. A part of the brain able to process complex assessments that are directly irrelevant to 'obtaining more food' but indirectly very much so responsible for this.

6: Metacognitive Neocortex Cooperation: In simple words, a human village. Multiple neocortexes (brains that aren'd idiots) work together to form a 'new level' of 'multicellular' life. Only now it's not multiple cells working together, but multiple organisms. They relieve each other, allowing for more complex developments to occur, such as tribes, cities, nations, global nations. That's where it stops for science, but the Xel'Naga are beings that have taking it steps further (science fiction for us).

7: Incorporated metacognitive life: In short, where multiple organisms function as one, and can no longer live without the other, and use their combined brainpower to work up solutions that cannot be achieved by any intelligent individual organism. Let's call this life form an Archon. Notice an important problem that arises with multiple organisms as one. That's right, their genetics start to fuse over time, and the 'classic' way of 'evolving' through 'natural selection' can no longer take place. On the contrary of that stands that because they are so advanced and their energy processes (no long ATP or ADP based, see biology) are so efficient, they are able to live for several thousands of years before perishing.

8: Fused metacognitive entities: When all genetics are solidified within the 'lifeforms' and reproduction has completely 'died out', entities like the Xel'Naga are born. These life forms are so efficient and all-knowing, that humans today would call them gods. But unlike gods, they are not immortal, no life process can take place infinitely (First and Second Rule of Thermodynamics + Genetic Decay: Cells cannot infinitely copy themselves, just like you can't make 5000 copies of copies, you end up with white paper after so many copies, because a small amount of data is lost each time you copy).
To solve this problem, the Xel'Naga attempted to create 'new bodies' for themselves. Bodies that could hold the Xel'Naga's 'godliness' without collapsing, but could be infinitely be regrown whenever they got 'too old'.

These bodies would need: A Purity of Form (body) and a Purity of Essence (mind). The dying Xel'Naga experimented with these two 'purities' by testing several thousands of lifeforms they encountered on various planets. They first found the protoss (apes on aiur), and then the zerg (larva on char). You all (should) know the rest.

The Zerg didn't feel like following their creator's directive and wanted their own life (the Overmind 'rebelled' against the Xel'Naga, just like the Protoss did (in a way)). What the Zerg Overmind, and definitely the Protoss did not know, was that this was all according to the Xel'Naga's plan.

The Zerg would accumulate all required genetic difference and solutions to the various challenges life has to fight against to live long and healthy.

The Protoss would accumulate the enormous psionic minds needed to support the Xel'Naga's metacognitive minds.

All that remained was that when 'near completion' these two species would have to 'merge'. To account for this 'problem' the Xel'Naga programmed the Overmind to not only accumulate all genetics it encountered, but to also eventually find and consume the Protoss, forcing them to be merged as one (the final genetics the Zerg needed to find).
This merging would results in Hybrids. And Hybrids are to be the new host bodies of the Xel'Naga 'spirits'.

However, the Xel'Naga never anticipated the coming and meddling of humans in their master plan. The Overmind found a solution to his 'chained programmed mind' by infesting a life form capable of being an intellect on it's own. A human mind would truly make the Zerg free, give them the free will they needed to unchain their programming of the Xel'Naga. Why they wanted to be free? Obviously because being the host body for someone else isn't a pleasant idea.

Kerrigan became the embodiment of this attempt to break free. When the Overmind, bent on finishing his programmed task to conquer and devour Aiur and all Protoss finally met his end, a new set of events were played by the Xel'Naga. Samir Duran, an infested terran (read, incomplete hybrid) became possessed by a Xel'Naga to finish the hybrid creation process. He then hit a solid wall of fail: Kerrigan had been taking over the control of the Zerg in the Overmind's absence, and the Zerg were no longer easy to tame.

While many renegade broods attempted to reform the old protocol of becoming a programmed Overmind, Duran saw the plans of his people falling apart. Instead of fighting Kerrigan, he decided to join her so he could kill her or let her be killed when the opportunity presented itself. When Duran's attempt to let Kerrigan die by the combined power of the infuriated UED fleet, protoss fleet and dominion fleet he went on to his original work of experimenting with and creating the final hybrids for his fellow Xel'Naga.

Onward from this it is all 99% speculation:
In Starcraft 2, Duran somehow enlists help of Dominion laboratories to conduct his experiments (also recall on the moon after the final zerg mission of brood war, Zeratul finds Duran's experiments protected by terran forces). Wether these are mind controlled infested humans or simply mind controlled humans is irrelevant, but they could also be willing allies of Duran under the command of Arcturus Mengsk or his son, Valerian Mengsk.

I feel that one of these two, Valerian or Arcturus has in fact struck a deal with Dr. Narud (who is obviously Samir Duran at older age/different host body). Which one of the two is still unclear, but the fact that Arcturus works hard to killing Kerrigan (with infiltrating Tychus into Raynors team) makes it clear that he is by no means an ally of Kerrigan's Swarm. This can of course have two reasons; Either the Xel'Naga want Arcturus to kill Kerrigan because she disrupted their plans, or Arcturus is simply scared that Kerrigan will still hunt her for what he did to her on Tarsonis. But simply because she let Arcturus live in Brood War, when he was taken hostage to use psi emitters, I doubt he feels she wants to still kill him (although she rants in the betrayal mission that he has to die anyway).

Now Valerian may have an actual agenda to protect humanity. If he somehow found out that Arcturus is dealing with, or being controlled by the Xel'Naga to create Hybrids, Valerian may attempt to overthrow his 'no longer rescueable' father for the good of mankind (and for taking the throne of mankind). However, then the question remains: Why is Dr. Narud (aka Duran) helping Valerian?

Because by taking the fight to the Zerg homeworld and by exposing Kerrigan to the artifact, the chances of infiltrator Tychus Findley to succeed at killing her off are much larger. Next to that, disrupting the Zerg control hierarchy is also in favor of the Xel'Naga's ultimate agenda to be able to either tame and eventually destroy the Zerg (as in the Zeratul last stand mission).
How did Valerian know so much about the artifact? Well of course because one of it's creators was working for him (Dr. Narud) and this guy did not have to do any research at all since he knows what it is (he is a Xel'Naga after all).

Lastly: Who then is this Dark Voice? Because many people assume it's a 'fallen Xel'Naga'. I think this is wrong in two ways. First of all, a Xel'Naga is a metacognitive entity, so there is no such thing as an 'individual Xel'Naga'. Secondly, while there is a single portrait appearing when the Dark Voice speaks, who ever said there is just one Dark Voice? All these Voices from 'The Void' are in my opinion the Xel'Naga energy life forms (spirits if you may) that are waiting for their host bodies (the Hybrids) to be finished. The Dark Templar who 'hear' these voices, are tapping into the same power as the Xel'Naga wield, which is also why they could harm the overmind and it's cerebrates (because the programming of the overmind was done by Xel'Naga technology/psyonic power).

Hope this isn't a TLDR post for many people. Inspiration from SCwiki, SC1, SC2 and many posters in this thread before me.

Comparing BW with SCII is like comparing a beautiful three-master sailing ship with a modern battlecruiser. Both are beautiful in their own way, both perform the same task, but they are worlds apart in how they are built and how they are steered.

ravemir Portugal. October 03 2011 17:41. Posts 595

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I'm surprised on how much of that isn't speculation. Great read!

"more gg, more skill"

ChristianS United States. October 03 2011 18:18. Posts 370

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I'll never forget the day when Jim Raynor swore he would be the one to kill Sarah Kerrigan. And I'll hold him to it. That was the day that I killed Fenix with a spawn broodling (what a way to go!)

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." -Robert J. Hanlon

DARKHYDRA United States. October 04 2011 09:18. Posts 303

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Sorry if this is an obvious question, when is blizzcon?

I thought by now we would have more info on HOTS but its been rather quiet.

Arco United States. October 04 2011 15:54. Posts 1934

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On September 26 2011 16:04 frontliner2 wrote:

Show nested quote +

At least they are almost completely useless

?

+ Show Spoiler +

Clearly not useless...maybe you're not using them correctly?

Last edit: 2011-10-04 15:55:08

energeist Canada. October 05 2011 03:07. Posts 21

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On August 15 2011 01:49 carloselcoco wrote:
If you see the written part of this One: http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/media/artwork/?view#/swarm-artwork04
It suggests it might be a new zerg unit for HotS.

Wow dude, reading comprehension.

The writing explicitly suggests that it is NOT a new zerg unit.

Ickalanda United States. October 05 2011 10:07. Posts 49

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New unit that got posted by the StarCraft facebook page, any ideas on what it is?

My guess is that the marine is getting an extreme buff, but being switched to being the only terran unit that you can make. Haha, but being serious, definitely looks like infantry rather than another Thor type unit just because of how it's legs look.

By the numbers boys!

Zokkar Israel. October 05 2011 10:44. Posts 106

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looks like egon stetmann

Taiko Austria. October 05 2011 19:57. Posts 78

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the arms of the new unit looks like it got shilds on both sides, so the primary weapon is the falmethrower on top. the question is what size the new unit has. is it bio or mech? my guess is that its some kind of a new variation of the hellion or a mix of maurader and hellion.

Callynn Netherlands. October 05 2011 20:05. Posts 876

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On October 05 2011 10:07 Ickalanda wrote:
[image loading]

Thats a Hellion Transformer according to the post found here on the general forums.

Also, this is a multiplayer unit so you posted in the wrong thread. This thread is about the single player campaign and ongoing story in HotS speculation.

Last edit: 2011-10-05 20:06:35

nerak Brazil. October 06 2011 00:15. Posts 234

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Although everyone in Blizz forums is guessing its a Hellion transformer, because of the flamethrower, Im sure its a bio unit because of
1) Legs
2) HELMET (right under the weapon!)

Anyway, IF its got something to do with Hellion´s game role, its almost surely a nerf.

Contrast adjustment should give a clue about what it is.

Can´t wait Blizcon!

[image loading]

"I am smiling" - Marauder Dynamite

Gyro_SC2 Canada. October 06 2011 02:12. Posts 513

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It's a marauder + flamethrower+medic shiel (he can heal himself)+ he has reaper jetpack+ helion wheel for speed bonus. Look like a balanced unit.

tikiu October 06 2011 09:27. Posts 1

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Edit
i would suggest to browse sclegacy and scarmory forums for more " realistic" speculations lore wise. still thread author has some unique points, that could bring some spice to the expansion, especially one with Kerr and the artifact. Apart from the author insights this thread has little to no "stuff" to be looked at!

Last edit: 2011-10-12 20:40:46

Praetorial United States. October 06 2011 09:31. Posts 3631

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On October 06 2011 00:15 nerak wrote:
Although everyone in Blizz forums is guessing its a Hellion transformer, because of the flamethrower, Im sure its a bio unit because of
1) Legs
2) HELMET (right under the weapon!)

Anyway, IF its got something to do with Hellion´s game role, its almost surely a nerf.

Contrast adjustment should give a clue about what it is.

Can´t wait Blizcon!

[image loading]

I'm going to get the Collector's edition. The Pokemon image is brilliant, and so is the teaser.

FOR GREAT JUSTICE! Bans for the ban gods!

DiracMonopole United States. October 06 2011 23:28. Posts 1175

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I'm going to start about what the Xel'Naga exactly are.
Considering natural evolution as it occurred on earth, there are several big steps evolution can take towards 'the perfect life'. Because life in essence is 'the controlled and balanced flow of energy which allows for complex processes that goes against the basic laws of physics. The steps on earth for now have been:

Stopped reading here, because this is just wrong.

oo_xerox Cuba. October 07 2011 10:59. Posts 849

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god damnit man, because of your thread, i will be very dissapointed with hots now, i know i will. I hope blizzards doesnt use the same techniques used in wol, i mean the story had so much potential. And you have very interesting questions indeed...

Kerrigan turning human doesnt makes sense to me, i hope she stays like some sort of terran-zerg hybrid but her turning completely human just seems too fictitious to me, i even hope that she retains some "queen of blades" personality, that would give so much dept to the story...

I could get a more coherent article by gluing a Sharpie to a dog's cook and letting it hump the page.