Reclamation

[Equiliari]

The first episode of Reclamation was just released:

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It seems like the one eyed Protoss from the opening cinematic is called "Akun Delar"

[DemolitionSquid]

It seems like the one eyed Protoss from the opening cinematic is called "Akun Delar"

His name is Khaldalis. "Akun Delar" means "vanguard."

[Visions of Khas]

Sweet.

Does Khas seem to have this Gul'dan thing going on?

[Robear]

Pretty good Protoss backstory exposition for people who never read the SC1 manual (or played SC1 at all), which is a large portion of their audience. Zealot guy has a nicely Zealot-y attitude and voice. So, good.

(also, there are arbiters in the fleet at the end. nice)

[sandwich_bird]

Sweet.

Does Khas seem to have this Gul'dan thing going on?

Yeah... Plus, what's up with the spirit bomb lol?

[Nolanstar]

That fleet at the end. phoenix, scouts, observers, warp prisms, tempests, oracles, arbiters and at least 2 different carrier styles plus a mothership and some hard to make out/might be new silhouettes . Loved it.

[Drake Clawfang]

I loved the pathos Artanis offered here. The protoss are so dedicated to retaking Aiur, but he asks the obvious question - should they? Is it worth the sacrifice of even more warriors to take back the planet when their race hasn't even recovered from its fall? I also like that he feels he cannot confront the other protoss with his reservations, because he must be their strong, stalwart leader that knows no doubt. And sure, Aiur is their heritage, but so are the dark templar and the Aeon of Strife. How can the protoss cling to some old traditions so strongly when those traditions come from a bloody history?

Also, I'd like it if a protoss calls out "My life for Shakuras" at some point in the campaign. "What is Aiur to us? A lost home, a tragic memory. A beacon of our race's pride going before its fall. Shakuras is our home now. My life for Shakuras!"

[TheEconomist]

I can hardly believe this is StarCraft. Characters weighing the costs and benefits of an invasion as if the consequences would be lasting. Phiosophical debates and foreward planning and, amazingly, functioning dialogue. Those five minutes were more interesting to me than most of the campaigns, even though I already knew the back story.

[Visions of Khas]

I also like that he feels he cannot confront the other protoss with his reservations, because he must be their strong, stalwart leader that knows no doubt.

I think this is a fair assessment. Perhaps he was caught up in a moment of pride and fervor, inspired by the heroics of Tassadar, when he declared the campaign for Aiur's reclamation. It's only after the fanfare has died down that he has time to contemplate this undertaking.

But we also have to remember that the tribes were splintering at this point, too; he needed to offer something substantial -- a hope to which all protoss still cling, Khalai and Nerazim alike -- in order to avert a catastrophe like the Aeon of Strife or the Discord. It's ironic that Artanis' actions will directly lead to such a catastrophe.


I'd like it if a protoss calls out "My life for Shakuras" at some point in the campaign.

I don't know if this will ever happen. Sure, it's served as a shield for the Protoss, but it's also a desolate wasteland of sand. (There's a Middle East joke in there somewhere...)

[TheEconomist]

The Dark Templar might have a fondness for Shakuras because of their history with it, but it will probably only ever be shame for Protoss as a whole. While we're on the Middle East, I guess it is comparable to the Jewish diaspora and always wanting to return to Israel, even though there's nothing particularly special about the physical landscape of Israel.

[KaiserStratosTygo]

That fleet at the end. phoenix, scouts, observers, warp prisms, tempests, oracles, arbiters and at least 2 different carrier styles plus a mothership and some hard to make out/might be new silhouettes . Loved it.

that was a damn nice scene.

mostly the Arbiters....

-

-

Infact entirely the Arbiters.

too bad we didn't get to see corsairs or scouts :/ but I can easily settle with Arbiters, I am reasonable and I will settle with those.

[TheEconomist]

mmmmmmmm, mass recall drops .... oh the memories, and the feeeeeeeels .....

[The_Blade]

*starts slow clap*

This was beautiful. NOW, I agree with Artanis' tone for this scene. Great dialogue. Can't wait for the rest.

As well, the circle is complete. Leviathans were present during the invasion of Aiur. Their art was retconned, but they used to look like this (bio-platforms with long spines):
http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/starcraft/images/5/51/Zerg_SC1_Art1.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080607201949

*spoilers*
Shakuras blows up. For the love of everything lost, we might hear a "... for shakuras" too

[Visions of Khas]

@ The Blade


Shakuras blows up. For the love of everything lost, we might hear a "... for shakuras" too


I suspected as much, but where's the confirmation? Was it from that campaign leak?

All of this talk of wanting a home really puts into perspective the Khalai's work on Kaldir, and what Kerrigan did to set back the Protoss' attempts at making new colony worlds for their people.

[Turalyon]

Semi-spoilerish stuff (no details though) follows.....




I hope that spoiler isn't true. The idea of yet another crushing loss and how they keep inexplicably coming back for more somehow is already a poor running-joke for the Protoss. This is not even considering the irony and paradox of them having suffered a couple phyrric victories already. One better hope that they can take back Aiur if that's the case... but then again, isn't the Amon threat supposed to show itself early in LotV? Oo-er..

[Gradius]

This...actually didn't suck. I have zero complaints. In fact, it makes me excited again. That shot of Aiur city with StarGates was just epic.


I loved the pathos Artanis offered here. The protoss are so dedicated to retaking Aiur, but he asks the obvious question - should they? Is it worth the sacrifice of even more warriors to take back the planet when their race hasn't even recovered from its fall?
I made a giant rant about why the protoss shouldn't invade Aiur in SC2 to begin with: http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/forum/topic/10895830045

But now I don't think I have as much of an issue anymore. At least now the writers are thinking about this issue and dealing with it in the game instead of glossing over it like it didn't even cross their heads. It's amazing what a little bit of consideration to worldbuilding can do.

That being said, I still don't understand why we even HAVE to retake Aiur in the first place when Kerrigan can just remove the swarm from there.

[Jconant]

Kerrigan isn't consciously controlling every zerg in her swarm and neither is she interested in doing the protoss any favors. It can be a stratagem to attack amon without worrying about protoss flanking her; so long as protoss are in a fragile state, the protoss won't risk such a gambit for retribution against her.

The zerg queens could also just be in a droning state of maintaining control of their respective territories.

[Gradius]

The protoss warp out animation reminds me of the SG1 Asgard beaming tech. Infinitely better than that crappy data geometry warp.


Kerrigan isn't consciously controlling every zerg in her swarm and neither is she interested in doing the protoss any favors. It can be a stratagem to attack amon without worrying about protoss flanking her; so long as protoss are in a fragile state, the protoss won't risk such a gambit for retribution against her.

The zerg queens could also just be in a droning state of maintaining control of their respective territories.
Then Kerrigan's evil. She's cool with letting a bunch of hyperadvanced sapient beings die by the droves? The protoss are her biggest ally against Amon, and she should be using the Aiur zerg to fight him instead. Still makes no sense to me.

[Nolanstar]

@TheBlade:
I actually assumed those spikey things where behemoths, not leviathans.

[drakolobo]

Zerg what was supposed to aiur was feral and "cold simetry" short story emphasizes that,when is proves to be not feral, is the mystery of who is controlling them.
Aiur planet is a unique and has objetive value,is origin of the psionic matrix, which provides power to Protoss and source of Khaydarin (even if it is self-replicating).+ ancient technolgy.

[Turalyon]

Then Kerrigan's evil. She's cool with letting a bunch of hyperadvanced sapient beings die by the droves? The protoss are her biggest ally against Amon, and she should be using the Aiur zerg to fight him instead. Still makes no sense to me.

Well, she did kill Protoss on Kaldir when a much more easier and non-violent alternative was always possible (ie: just leaving) afterall. Given the incongruency of the writers intentions of her portrayal (as good) and what has been written/shown (as evil), having her help the Protoss by giving them back Aiur just like that (even with the reason to help her fight against Amon) would actually seem inconsistent with what has been written/shown recently.

[The_Blade]

Then Kerrigan's evil. She's cool with letting a bunch of hyperadvanced sapient beings die by the droves? The protoss are her biggest ally against Amon, and she should be using the Aiur zerg to fight him instead. Still makes no sense to me.

Probably, being all powerful and primal, she just doesn't want any help or thinks she needs none.

Being good to Terrans does not means she has to be good to the Protoss. And she is not even good towards Terrans. She is just Zerg. MAYBE, she will repay her kill score on other races by killing Amon. At least, she thinks she can do so, in this way, without bowing to anybody. She always hatted being a victim or inferior. That's probably her strongest fear. She loves Raynor, but maybe as an idea too. She likes to think the people she cares about should be safe. Ergo, infest herself > save Raynor > make life for Raynor safe > leave Raynor. She was not a conventional human, has little experience with love/feelings, but a strong sense of supremacy. She just wants to be the Queen Bitch of the Universe so no one else is on top of her. That's what I think she trully loves. Too bad writing didn't help.


@TheBlade:
I actually assumed those spikey things where behemoths, not leviathans.

For a long time I did too. Now, I believe Behemoths existed just as a gap between "basic space travel swarm" and "First Great War swarm." The SC universe fails to show artwork about the Behemoth or at least SC2 does. Therefore it no longer exists in the modern swarm. SC2 has added references to solidify the vague world of the original games while changing lore where needed. Therefore, I think we should embrace a retcon or two if we are to keep SC's universe continuity.

[Nolanstar]

Probably, being all powerful and primal, she just doesn't want any help or thinks she needs none.

For a long time I did too. Now, I believe Behemoths existed just as a gap between "basic space travel swarm" and "First Great War swarm." The SC universe fails to show artwork about the Behemoth or at least SC2 does. Therefore it no longer exists in the modern swarm. SC2 has added references to solidify the vague world of the original games while changing lore where needed. Therefore, I think we should embrace a retcon or two if we are to keep SC's universe continuity.

They are mentioned in the short stories and novels as being used by Kerrigan. I imagine that they are more suited as troop transports then as combat units, so it is probably leviathans and behemoths working in tandem with other zerg.

[Nissa]

Okay, so watched it. Uh, I'm not quite as enthusiastic as everyone else, but it's cute. Not fond of them restating the obvious, or the voice acting, but eh.

[TheEconomist]

We have low expectations.

[The_Blade]

It's fun to have "things" again.

[Nissa]

Ah, okay, I see your point. I do like the art style of the clip. Though I was tempted to spend the video going "lalalala I can't hear non sc/bw canon lalalala...."

I wish....I wish that the people who did the voice clips for Heroes of the Storm did the writing for the game (assuming they're different people). It feels like those guys know exactly what's up.

[KaiserStratosTygo]

Ah, okay, I see your point. I do like the art style of the clip. Though I was tempted to spend the video going "lalalala I can't hear non sc/bw canon lalalala...."

I wish....I wish that the people who did the voice clips for Heroes of the Storm did the writing for the game (assuming they're different people). It feels like those guys know exactly what's up.

It has Arbiters.

that's literally I need to be content in life <3

[TheEconomist]

I'm sure there's Arbiter hentai some where for your kind.

[sandwich_bird]

I'm sure there's Arbiter hentai some where for your kind.

I googled it for the lolz; no SC but lots of Halo arbiter porn. I wonder if people are actually turned on by this stuff or if they're just doing it for the creep factor...

[KaiserStratosTygo]

I'm sure there's Arbiter hentai some where for your kind.

Rule 34, man.

if it doesn't yet.

it will soon.

[ragnarok]

I googled it for the lolz; no SC but lots of Halo arbiter porn. I wonder if people are actually turned on by this stuff or if they're just doing it for the creep factor...

Hopefully it's the latter, but unfortunately I see it more likely the former.

[Undeadprotoss]

The Dark Templar might have a fondness for Shakuras because of their history with it, but it will probably only ever be shame for Protoss as a whole. While we're on the Middle East, I guess it is comparable to the Jewish diaspora and always wanting to return to Israel, even though there's nothing particularly special about the physical landscape of Israel.

To be fair, to the Protoss, Aiur has huge significance to the Xel'naga, the khaydarian crystals were there for instance (which reminds me, shouldn't the zerg there be empowered by their presence? Considering that the crystals are able to be utilized by whichever species the Xel'naga create)

[ragnarok]

To be fair, to the Protoss, Aiur has huge significance to the Xel'naga, the khaydarian crystals were there for instance (which reminds me, shouldn't the zerg there be empowered by their presence? Considering that the crystals are able to be utilized by whichever species the Xel'naga create)

I don't think the Zerg as a species understood how the crystals worked. Only the Overmind did, given that most of the Xel'Naga had been assimilated into him. After all, if ALL of the Zerg knew about that, Kerrigan would have found about this years before WoL happened.

The Overmind probably didn't tell the swarm about all this, perhaps as a means to maintain control. That way, if other Zerg knew about the power the crystals contained, they might find a way to rise up against him.