StarCraft 2 Campaign: Personal thoughts and opinons

[Turalyon]

Your right, Peasant. Evacuation is a better example. My bad again.

As for the lack of urgency and/or tension, I feel the reason for this is because Raynor and his crew are almost always the ones taking the initiative and going on the offensive. In addition, Raynor (and other central named characters) aren't directly involved to boot, as the ones doing the fighting are almost always just nameless Raiders. Hence, that's why we, the player, who are supposed to identify with Raynor, don't feel like we're in much jeopardy during those missions.

I can understand your reasons behind the lack of tension/urgency but if the lack of jeopardy is due to the missions not featuring your story's characters (as you seem to put it), doesn't that say something about the missions not really serving the story or the characters? If the story is about getting to know what it is like to be in Raynor's shoes, the disconnect that you're implying means the missions themselves are largely superfluous to the the story. Then I'd be questioning why the heck is the majority of the 'story' spent doing missions that do not really contribute to story development or character development since the main players are not really involved.

In other words, by focusing the story development mainly between missions, there's a risk of alienating the audience through missions that seem like superfluous chores that take up most of the time and get in the way of the story.

[Eivind]

You could still address this in the story/ character analysis because this 'structural' issue does play a role in determining the final impetus/motivation behind Raynor's actions to save Kerrigan (was it pure love, the advice from Zeratul's vision, a combination of both? It can be unclear to someone who has not done the Prophecy missions).

I think Metzen and Kindregan adressed this on the Blizzcon lore panel, where they stated that Raynor's primary motivation, regardless of what the prophecy said, was personal.

[Eivind]

I'm writing the character section now, and I've realized that there are a hell of a lot of characters in WoL. So this might take some time. Maybe I'll split the thing in two.

[Turalyon]

I think Metzen and Kindregan adressed this on the Blizzcon lore panel, where they stated that Raynor's primary motivation, regardless of what the prophecy said, was personal.

I have quite something to say about that as well, but this isn't the place to do that and it's getting a little off-topic from your thoughts and opinions.

Keep up the good work

[mr. peasant]

I'm writing the character section now, and I've realized that there are a hell of a lot of characters in WoL. So this might take some time. Maybe I'll split the thing in two.

That's a good idea. Focus on a few at a time. Worst thing to do is try to cover/analyse too many things at once and getting them all mixed up in your head. Or, to try writing everything in one go only for some error to happen and losing everything you've just written.

Been there, done that, hate the T-shirt.

[Eivind]

Well, I was talking more about splitting it for the sake of not creating a huge wall of text here. I'd like people to discuss what I write, and if I dump every character in here in one go, it might be a bit much considering how long the entire thing is going to end up being.

I have quite something to say about that as well, but this isn't the place to do that and it's getting a little off-topic from your thoughts and opinions.

Keep up the good work

I don't mind you saying it, though it could obviously wait till I cover it for the sake of order.

[Eivind]

2.3 - Characters

In Brood War, the writers become strangely trigger happy, and a lot of the characters from the original game obviously couldn’t make it into the sequel because they were, you know, somewhat dead. The first to fall was Aldaris, then Stukov (who, in one of the series’ greatest moments, fell by the hands of his friend), then Duke and Fenix, and finally, Raszagal and DuGalle. Curiously, Kerrigan was involved in all of these deaths, either directly, or indirectly. In other words: when Zeratul says, “Justice demands she dies for her crimes”, we know what he’s talking about. Needless to say, with all of these deaths, new characters had to be created alongside the few that survived (Raynor, Mengsk, Kerrigan, Duran, Zeratul and Artanis). I’ll be using this post to look at all of them. Note that most of the characters, or at least the ones who have their own story, are designed in a way to make us learn about Raynor, as they play upon different facets of his persona to get their will. I’ll be looking more closely at that below. Also note that, whenever the player has to choose between several characters, we are essentially molding Raynor and putting our own imprint on how we want him to be (or how we perceive him).


Jim Raynor: After Rebel Yell, the original Terran campaign, Raynor continued to show up in the storyline. He took part in or witnessed some of the series’ biggest events, including the rise of Mengsk, the betrayal and infestation of Kerrigan, the rescue of Tassadar, the death of the Overmind, and the defeat of the UED and the simultaneous rise in power of Kerrigan. Needless to say, he was the perfect candidate for the protagonist for Wings of Liberty, where he takes center stage in an even bigger way than in the original game. Some have criticized Blizzard for not letting the player be an unidentified character in the same manner as in the original, but I don’t personally see how that makes the game any better. Yes, it worked quite well in the first game, but I appreciate this approach more.

As I mentioned earlier, Raynor is not a traditional revolutionary. He has been wronged, yes, and his past is like a library of reasons to be angry, but his heart is not in it. Throughout the story, he makes a lot of progress, but for the most part, that is because of other characters. Raynor’s interaction with others is a large part of the game, and in much of the story, he has to wrestle between some of them, at some points even having to choose between alternatives in a manner that offends, angers or causes the death of the person he doesn’t choose. We see little of his supposed tactical skills and gift for inspiration. This is entirely intentional. When the story begins, the revolution isn’t going very well, both because of practical needs (the Raiders doesn’t have much money) and emotional problems (Raynor is at times so understandably heartbroken over Kerrigan that he can’t even manage to use it as motivation to go against Mengsk). But as the story progresses, the old Raynor returns. The turning point is the bar fight, where he gives Tychus a long overdue beating, and manages to inspire his crew into agreeing that invading Char is the right thing. Once we reach Char, his battle skills shine (Card to Play), as does his will and oral skills (Fire and Fury). He trumps the experienced Warfield, successfully engages the main hive cluster and comes out on the other end victoriously.

Refreshingly, from a writing perspective, Raynor is not a smart tactician, but a very simple minded fellow. The cowboy annotations are not necessarily subtle, but in a strange way, they work (much in the same way as the ultra-serious The Wire could get away with its own occasional western influences). Part of that, I think, is because the story treats Raynor seriously, and tones down the stylistic ways that cowboys usually are portrayed. Raynor in a bar works. Raynor with a cowboy hat wouldn’t have worked. A revolver works. A horse would not have (a vulture, on the other hand, would). While not being the most intelligent guy, Raynor is surprisingly open and accepting. As Hanson notes, he knows more about the Protoss than most human scientists. He might not have ability to make complex theories, but he has plenty of empirical experience.


Ariel Hanson: Hanson is a doctor on the fringe world Agria, whose citizens are left to fend for themselves. Indirectly, her story will show us not the cruelty of Mengsk’s Dominion, but rather its passiveness and inefficiency when it comes to providing the safety of the worlds it rules over. Hanson represents the good in Raynor, and therefore acts as the antithesis to Tychus Findlay. However, while clearly intelligent, she is also somewhat naïve. Indeed, when the time comes to make the choice between her and Selendis, it is not so much good and evil we are choosing between, but idealism and realism. Selendis, the realist, would probably not incinerate Haven if there were a cure for the Zerg virus, but because there isn’t, she is willing to sacrifice the planet’s population. Hanson, on the other hand, is more idealistic, and puts her faith in hope, and thrusts this will be enough. This is why choosing to side with Hanson doesn’t end with her finding a cure as much as it ends with the possibility of her finding one (otherwise, the choice will be far too easy). If we are to apply ethical theory, Selendis’ primary concern is consequence, which makes her one who believes the end justifies the means. Hanson’s primary concern is action, and therefore believes in finding a cure for her people as opposed to burning them alive, despite the negative consequences.


Gabriel Tosh: A mysterious “pseudo-Rastafarian” who once was part of a secret ghost program of the Dominion, Gabriel Tosh is by far Raynor’s most mysterious ally during most of the game. Everything about him screams, “Are you sure want to have this guy on your ship?” Whereas Hanson was the antithesis to Tychus Findlay, Tosh is the antithesis to Matt Horner. Both want to turn the Dominion into a thing of the past, but the motivation and methods they use are radically different. Whereas Horner, who is somewhat of an optimist (though in a manner more realistic than Hanson), wants to create a better world, Tosh just wants to satisfy his own needs, using any method necessary. In other words, while Tosh might nod in agreement to the cruelty of Mengsk, he might not have been so quick to ally with you if didn’t have a personal connection with him (interestingly, the same thing could be said about Raynor).

Tosh’s egoism makes him a dangerous ally, as he can be expected to make poor choices that only pay out positive in the short-term future. Unlike Horner, he lacks the ability to see beyond his own desires. Part of that is because Tosh is much more pessimistic, and in his own view, more realistic, as seen specifically when he denounces the possibility of “a better tomorrow”, as a new Mengsk will follow the first one anyway. A point to be made is that, whichever ending you chose for Tosh, he ends up looking unfavorable anyway. If you decide to go against him, he tries to kill you (though, in his defense, Raynor tried to kill him first), and if you decide to help him, you get the feeling you have achieved a victory at a high cost. When you break open New Folsom, Tosh still comes off as a tad too dangerous to have as an ally.


Matt Horner: Horner is the captain on the Hyperion, and an idealistic realist who has an in-built desire to do good. He is a brilliant tactician, and though he is too clinically cold to be the leader of a rebel group, he might very well be Raynor’s most important ally. Unlike Tosh and Tychus, he performs each of his actions with long-term, and not short-term consequences in mind. He is not afraid to confront anyone when he feels he needs to, and is open about anyone he is suspicious of to Raynor, even when said person is Raynor himself.

While Horner is admirable, he is perhaps not as strong a character as the others in the game. The reason for that is that he is simply too good. He is not unrealistic, but I personally find characters more interesting when they have flaws. Sure, Horner can be quite condescending to Tychus (“Looks like the convict has his uses after all”), and he loses his anger with Raynor once Valerian appears, but for the most part, he is so wise and trustworthy that anytime he comes in conflict with someone, chances are high he’s in the right. This might explain his relationship with Mira Han, which I think was included to humanize him somehow. Of course, in his favor, dehumanization might be an asset, as Horner’s role is to be a calculating and forward-thinking military officer who must look behind matters that concern the likes of, say, Hanson and Raynor.


Tychus Findlay: In the opinion of yours truly, Tychus is the single greatest character in StarCraft 2, at least when you consider the characters on the basis of Wings of Liberty alone (some, like Raynor, has extra weight because they were a part of the original as well, so it’d be a tad unfair to take that into the consideration). It’s hard to believe he was once just the marine in the trailer. Yes, Blizzard didn’t originally plan for him to be as important as he was. He probably didn’t have a role at all. It’s amazing then, how much he fits into the game. Part of that, I think, is because much of the plot revolves around him. He essentially kick starts it, as his arrival bears the fruit of new finances for the Raiders, and when Valerian arrives, we realize that the plot is actually driven forward because of him too. He plays a pivotal role in the ending too, but more on that in a minute.

While I admire Tychus from a writer’s perspective, I have less love for him as a person, as he is an unsympathetic criminal who has little to no empathy for others. He is not very smart either. If he were in charge of the rebellion, he’d always choose the loudest alternative, as we clearly see in the Engine of Destruction mission, where he proclaims, “This ain’t no stealth mission anymore, ladies. Bring it loud and fast!” However, if I don’t necessarily admire Tychus, he is still a hell of a lot of fun to be around. He gets all the best lines, and although my preference for movies and television shows over games and radio means I’m probably not the best critic of voice acting, I still have to hand it to Neil Kaplan for giving what is easily the game’s best voice performance.

Tychus is such a great character from so many perspectives. He is humorous, vital to the plot, engaging, hard to make a clear opinion on and multi-faceted. While he might not be very unsympathetic to other human beings, his friendship with Raynor is nonetheless very real. Even though the game only hints at their common past, the writers still manage to convey the believability of Raynor choosing to trust Tychus even when reason says he would not. Strangely enough, Tychus comes out the other end as somewhat of a good guy to me. Yes, he betrayed Raynor on behalf of Mengsk, but as can be seen in the final cinematic, he did so very reluctantly. Imprisonment undoubtedly clouded his judgment, and I don’t think I’m wrong when I say that he hesitates quite a bit before shooting Kerrigan, and that is primarily because of his friendship with Raynor.

[Karass]

Agreed with almost every point, Elvind. Good job!

BTW, I hate how long Tychus pronounces vowels. "Digging up aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalien artifacts." Damn, I just want to kick him in the balls to shut him up sometimes! Overall, while I basically agree that he is generally a great character, his attitude and immoraluty are sometimes annoying. There is a word for people such as Tychus in Russian: gopnik. The term fits his character perferctly.

[mr. peasant]

Tychus Findlay: In the opinion of yours truly, Tychus is the single greatest character in StarCraft 2, at least when you consider the characters on the basis of Wings of Liberty alone (some, like Raynor, has extra weight because they were a part of the original as well, so it’d be a tad unfair to take that into the consideration). It’s hard to believe he was once just the marine in the trailer. Yes, Blizzard didn’t originally plan for him to be as important as he was. He probably didn’t have a role at all. It’s amazing then, how much he fits into the game. Part of that, I think, is because much of the plot revolves around him. He essentially kick starts it, as his arrival bears the fruit of new finances for the Raiders, and when Valerian arrives, we realize that the plot is actually driven forward because of him too. He plays a pivotal role in the ending too, but more on that in a minute.

While I admire Tychus from a writer’s perspective, I have less love for him as a person, as he is an unsympathetic criminal who has little to no empathy for others. He is not very smart either. If he were in charge of the rebellion, he’d always choose the loudest alternative, as we clearly see in the Engine of Destruction mission, where he proclaims, “This ain’t no stealth mission anymore, ladies. Bring it loud and fast!” However, if I don’t necessarily admire Tychus, he is still a hell of a lot of fun to be around. He gets all the best lines, and although my preference for movies and television shows over games and radio means I’m probably not the best critic of voice acting, I still have to hand it to Neil Kaplan for giving what is easily the game’s best voice performance.

Tychus is such a great character from so many perspectives. He is humorous, vital to the plot, engaging, hard to make a clear opinion on and multi-faceted. While he might not be very unsympathetic to other human beings, his friendship with Raynor is nonetheless very real. Even though the game only hints at their common past, the writers still manage to convey the believability of Raynor choosing to trust Tychus even when reason says he would not. Strangely enough, Tychus comes out the other end as somewhat of a good guy to me. Yes, he betrayed Raynor on behalf of Mengsk, but as can be seen in the final cinematic, he did so very reluctantly. Imprisonment undoubtedly clouded his judgment, and I don’t think I’m wrong when I say that he hesitates quite a bit before shooting Kerrigan, and that is primarily because of his friendship with Raynor.

I disagree with your assessment of Findlay. I personally find him quite a sympathetic character and it shows that his friendship with Raynor really means a lot to him. He is driven by loyalty to his friend almost as much as by his deal with Arcturus Mengsk. This is especially highlighted towards the end after Raynor allies with Valerian Mengsk, where Findlay repeatedly drops hints of his impending betrayal and his willingness to stick by his friend's side despite knowing who Raynor would likely choose (between him and Kerrigan).

[Eivind]

I thought I adressed that in the final paragraph?

His unsympathetic behavior is mostly is shortsightedness, his criminality, and lack of empathy.