Plothole resolution in the Starcraft universe

[Laurentian]

I was looking for the manual to see the actual quotes but I couldn't find it, so thanks phazonjunkie

[Turalyon]

A Last Minute Ass-Pull?

This may be true but you're misunderstanding my point. You originally asked that the Overmind's intent to find psionic potential to combat the Protoss be addressed. It was addressed: it was in the form of the Overmind inducting Kerrigan into the Swarm. Sure, it may not be what one would envision or be happy with (which is beside the point) but the facts remains that it was addressed.

But it actually DID need latent psionic ability in order to fully combat the Protoss, or at least it strongly believed it did

I think you've conflated the concept of "need" and "want" as the same thing.

That was taken from 'The determinant' in the original manual. Words might be slightly different, the general idea is the same. The Zerg actually needed the terran's psi potential.

I actually had this passage in mind when making my original statement. There is a very strong desire (and perhaps extreme anxiety as well) but not an absolute necessity to obtain psionic potential.

There is a difference. One is vital, the other is not. Wanting something to the extreme is not the same as needing something. I highly doubt that the Overmind would not (or be completely prevented as you seem to suggest by saying that it needs the psionic potential) have engaged the Protoss at all if it did not find its "psionic potential". The Zerg are capable of effectively engaging the Protoss without psionic potential (as is later shown when the Overmind takes Aiur without the assistance of his coveted 'psionic potential'), it just won't be on "even terms".

Post retcon, it simply states that the Overmind found 'useful but undeveloped psionic potential in humanity & doesn't elaborate further.

Huh? What retcon are you talking about? Are you saying that Kerrigan is this "useful but undeveloped psionic potential in humanity"? WoL clearly shows us that Kerrigan is nothing but the most ultimate and important being in the entire universe...

In either case there is still the matter of the OM believing it's acquisition of Kerrigan as being the answer to life, the universe and everything, which is just....inconsistent in any interpretation/plot justification.

This I can agree on. The Overminds original and only goal was the Protoss, not Kerrigan. I suppose this is one part that is truly a retcon.

[Visions of Khas]

The Zerg actually needed the terran's psi potential.

History proves otherwise. Taking everything together, it's apparent that the Overmind knew open combat with the Protoss would be extremely difficult and possibly fatal, but with both being children of the Xel'Naga there was always that chance it could win. Conveniently, the Protoss are in the midst of a civil war when the Overmind invades. Perhaps the Overmind knew this from Zeratul, leading it to believe the scales were already in the Swarm's favor.

Were both sides equal, I think they would mutually annihilate; with humanity's genome, however, as the "determinant", the Overmind would have ultimately won.

With Kerrigan's assimilation, I wonder why her genes haven't been incorporated into other Zerg breeds?



Now, I know this isn't a plot hole or anything but I wanted to run this by you guys. Do you think Tychus knew what would happen when he and Jim finally rescued Kerrigan? I'm pretty sure Tychus was resigned to his fate by the end of WoL and expected Raynor to kill him. He was caught in a catch 22; dead if he pulled the trigger, dead if he didn't (by Mengsk). Maybe he wanted to be killed at the hands of his best friend rather than bow down to Mengsk? That's just my take on it.

[Laurentian]

This may be true but you're misunderstanding my point. You originally asked that the Overmind's intent to find psionic potential to combat the Protoss be addressed. It was addressed: it was in the form of the Overmind inducting Kerrigan into the Swarm. Sure, it may not be what one would envision or be happy with (which is beside the point) but the facts remains that it was addressed

Okay, perhaps saying it was not addressed is not strictly accurate. I do think that Kerrigan's infestation being the sole extent of the Overmind need to assimilate humans is an example of the writers just changing the story willy nilly as they went along and created plot inconsistencies.

Conveniently, the Protoss are in the midst of a civil war when the Overmind invades

Didn't this civil war occur in the Protoss campaign? After the zerg invaded Aiur and the Overmind manifested itself on its surface?

[Visions of Khas]

Didn't this civil war occur in the Protoss campaign? After the zerg invaded Aiur and the Overmind manifested itself on its surface?

Even before the Overmind finds Kerrigan Tassadar and a substantial Templar force deviate from the dictates of the Conclave. For all intents and purposes they lose an entire fleet. The Conclave later waste time and energy in reigning him in as the Zerg invade. I'd call this a rebellion that results in civil war, yeah.

[Laurentian]

Even before the Overmind finds Kerrigan Tassadar and a substantial Templar force deviate from the dictates of the Conclave. For all intents and purposes they lose an entire fleet. The Conclave later waste time and energy in reigning him in as the Zerg invade. I'd call this a rebellion that results in civil war, yeah.

Didn't they only try to arrest Tassadar after the zerg invade? How can the protoss be "in the midst" of a civil war when no actual war has taken place yet?

[phazonjunkie]

History proves otherwise. Taking everything together, it's apparent that the Overmind knew open combat with the Protoss would be extremely difficult and possibly fatal, but with both being children of the Xel'Naga there was always that chance it could win. Conveniently, the Protoss are in the midst of a civil war when the Overmind invades. Perhaps the Overmind knew this from Zeratul, leading it to believe the scales were already in the Swarm's favor.

Fair enough

Were both sides equal, I think they would mutually annihilate; with humanity's genome, however, as the "determinant", the Overmind would have ultimately won.

Then the Overminds actions make sense as regards humanity as being 'the determinant, since it's directives basically steered it, along with the zerg on a collision course with the protoss rather than merging naturally in the long run. It may have been simply trying to ensure that the zerg would be able to survive the apocalyptic confrontation.

If this understanding is correct, then the hybrids are just the DV's cosmic contingency plan.

With Kerrigan's assimilation, I wonder why her genes haven't been incorporated into other Zerg breeds?

[Visions of Khas]

Didn't they only try to arrest Tassadar after the zerg invade? How can the protoss be "in the midst" of a civil war when no actual war has taken place yet?

My point is that the protoss were divided by the time the Overmind learned of Aiur's location.

[Turalyon]

With Kerrigan's assimilation, I wonder why her genes haven't been incorporated into other Zerg breeds?

There could be a lot of reasons. Maybe it's because she hasn't got the knowledge to do it. Afterall, the Overmind was too busy recovering from Zeratul's attack and then launching a surprise assault on Aiur for it to impart some of its expertise to her. Kerrigan probably had to learn it the long way and maybe that's why we still only see partial traits of her incorporated in those new Zerg queens even after several years of doing nothing but sitting on her ass.

Now, I know this isn't a plot hole or anything but I wanted to run this by you guys. Do you think Tychus knew what would happen when he and Jim finally rescued Kerrigan? I'm pretty sure Tychus was resigned to his fate by the end of WoL and expected Raynor to kill him. He was caught in a catch 22; dead if he pulled the trigger, dead if he didn't (by Mengsk). Maybe he wanted to be killed at the hands of his best friend rather than bow down to Mengsk? That's just my take on it.

I think you've answered your own question. The real question is if Tychus knew that he was dead either way, why didn't he just kill himself thereby robbing any satisfaction Mengsk would get from it and preventing him from potentially psychologically damaging his friend by forcing Raynor to shoot him? I guess Tychus was too much of a coward to do this to himself. Hm, some delicious irony there especially considering the whole situation could've been avoided had Raynor actually tried to help his friend out of his suit.

[Visions of Khas]

The real question is if Tychus knew that he was dead either way, why didn't he just kill himself thereby robbing any satisfaction Mengsk would get from it and preventing him from potentially psychologically damaging his friend by forcing Raynor to shoot him?

Maybe this is something Mengsk was banking on. Either way he's damaged Raynor; he'll either lose Kerrigan or his best friend.

I just hope Tychus isn't forgotten in HotS; Raynor needs to acknowledge the fact that he's just murdered his best friend with a bullet between the eyes. This needs to be an issue. But, of course, considering how little consequence seems to matter in StarCraft these days, well...

Kerrigan probably had to learn it the long way

Where's Abathur been this entire time? I know one excuse is, He wasn't conceived as a character until HotS was announced. But canon-wise, I mean. Has he been in hiding? I keep hoping he was somehow in cahoots with Duran.