Rewriting StarCraft II

[Visions of Khas]

When considering stories I always looked to Chronicles of Antioch as a source of inspiration. I like the idea of reserving the Xel'Naga and Hybrids as some sort of distant background piece, but there are far too many fan fics and campaigns where they serve as the central basis. This annoys me. The closest the Antioch Chronicles came to this was by introducing a new sect of Protoss in the third episode, the Grey Templar, who served as wardens of some sort for a Xel'Naga-borne monstrosity. Unfortunately this last episode never made it beyond the storyboard phases.

I suppose there are a lot of jumping-off points to make use of. Such as how Kerrigan first encounters the Dark Templar of Shakuras and enslaves the Matriarch. Following the stray pieces of the UED after the defeat over Char. Cerebrates attempting to stay alive. Aeon of Strife. Earth conflicts. Umojan Protectorate...

[Turalyon]

I like the idea of reserving the Xel'Naga and Hybrids as some sort of distant background piece, but there are far too many fan fics and campaigns where they serve as the central basis. This annoys me.

You and me both! As far as I'm concerned, all this Xel'Naga (read: Ancient Gods/Progenitors/Precursors/Higher Power etc.) stuff is really just an uninspired and overused plot device that all modern sci-fi always tends to gravitate towards to these days. I don't mind this stuff informing some of the actions and the context in the current universe as long as it remains relegated to it's proper time and place - the past! To have it eventually dominate everything, or rather, to attempt to represent it as being dominant to everything dilutes everything we currently see down to either being important or not important to that thing. I think that's where Sc2 suffers the most when it comes to seeing it as a whole trilogy because there is no real reason why the individual stories of Raynor in WoL and Kerrigan in HotS can't work on their own (disregarding their numerous issues with implementation and execution of story beats that is) - it's just that they're improperly framed against this all-too dominant "ancient omnipotent power thingamy" trope.

I suppose there are a lot of jumping-off points to make use of. Such as how Kerrigan first encounters the Dark Templar of Shakuras and enslaves the Matriarch. Following the stray pieces of the UED after the defeat over Char. Cerebrates attempting to stay alive. Aeon of Strife. Earth conflicts. Umojan Protectorate...

Keeping it as grounded as possible means you can't go too wrong. I wonder though, some of these launching points seems more like you want to make an interquel between Sc1 and BW or a prequel rather than a sequel following on from BW.

[FanaticTemplar]

You and me both! As far as I'm concerned, all this Xel'Naga (read: Ancient Gods/Progenitors/Precursors/Higher Power etc.) stuff is really just an uninspired and overused plot device that all modern sci-fi always tends to gravitate towards to these days. I don't mind this stuff informing some of the actions and the context in the current universe as long as it remains relegated to it's proper time and place - the past! To have it eventually dominate everything, or rather, to attempt to represent it as being dominant to everything dilutes everything we currently see down to either being important or not important to that thing. I think that's where Sc2 suffers the most when it comes to seeing it as a whole trilogy because there is no real reason why the individual stories of Raynor in WoL and Kerrigan in HotS can't work on their own (disregarding their numerous issues with implementation and execution of story beats that is) - it's just that they're improperly framed against this all-too dominant "ancient omnipotent power thingamy" trope.

It's a common problem in these Blizzard series. Far too often the big threats are retconned into always having been there. The UED in Brood War, Amon and his Tal'darim in StarCraft II, the whole Burning Crusade vs Night Elves thing from WarCraft III. Antagonists that actually get set up properly through the game itself have always been more memorable to me - Arcturus Mengsk, Infested Kerrigan, Aldaris, Samir Duran - compared to those who just appear one day as a big threat - The Directorate, the Tal'darim, the Primals, Amon - with the Overmind being something of an exception since he was part of the original whole-cloth creation of the setting. And you'll also notice that in that latter group we find those elements of inverted history where everything is building towards the past rather than the future you mentioned - the United Earth Directorate spawned from Humanity's historical birthplace Earth and the humans who remained behind, the Primals spawned from the Swarm's historical birthplace Zerus and the Zerg who remained behind, Amon and the Hybrids from the largely mythical Xel'Naga. And there's the Tal'darim. I have no idea how they can exist, you'd think the Conclave would have had a hissy fit about the treason of a such a large segment of the Protoss civilisation, especially considering how they reacted to the Dark Templar. So I guess they must be recent, yet how the hell did that happen?

[Visions of Khas]

It's a common problem in these Blizzard series. Far too often the big threats are retconned into always having been there. The UED in Brood War...

I still don't understand the problem so many people have with Brood War, it was always my favorite installment in the series. But I believe the UED always had a proper place in the canon, seeing as how they simply evolved from the UPL, which originated the Koprulu-branch of humanity to begin with. Again, like the Xel'Naga, I favor the idea of the UED being this existential, distant threat that could easily crush Koprulu if it so desired, but is kept at bay by politics and distance, having little interest in the little guppies in the sea. That said, I love the idea of surviving members of the expedition carving out a life for themselves on the fringes of terran society in the Koprulu sector. Maybe there is even a quiet exodus of people from Earth trying to do the same, to get away from the fascist rule of the Directorate.

And oddly enough, I don't have too much against the existence of the Primal Zerg, either. Some years ago I toyed with the idea of the Zerg Swarm having gone through an alchemical process of "purifying" themselves over the years as they travelled from Zerus, casting off sick remnants as the Overmind culled genetic junk and deviations from the gene pool. Survivors of this cull could have escaped and survived, evolving independently of the Swarm.

And I always thought the Xel'Naga took a small population of protoss with them as they headed core-ward, seeding them on several worlds to maintain outposts and fill the role of servants. These would have also evolved independently of the main protoss population, and would slowly be discovered (and perhaps disavowed as true Protoss) by the Conclave, instead being cast as heretics due to a simple difference in birth.

[Robear]

And oddly enough, I don't have too much against the existence of the Primal Zerg, either. Some years ago I toyed with the idea of the Zerg Swarm having gone through an alchemical process of "purifying" themselves over the years as they travelled from Zerus, casting off sick remnants as the Overmind culled genetic junk and deviations from the gene pool. Survivors of this cull could have escaped and survived, evolving independently of the Swarm.

What? Ahh, no, if the Overmind wants you culled, your body is just broken down and reabsorbed by the creep.
The only way imo for there to be any outlier/different Zerg are Zerg that were out deep on some space mission when their overlords/queens/whatever were killed by accident, leaving them cut off from the hive mind.

And I always thought the Xel'Naga took a small population of protoss with them as they headed core-ward, seeding them on several worlds to maintain outposts and fill the role of servants. These would have also evolved independently of the main protoss population, and would slowly be discovered (and perhaps disavowed as true Protoss) by the Conclave, instead being cast as heretics due to a simple difference in birth.

I don't know, they regarded the Protoss as a failed experiment, I doubt they would help/use them to colonize other worlds... Unless it was done before the Aeon of Strife, when they were still on good terms. And they wouldn't use Protoss, whose minds they were pushing further than ever, as servants, they could just use some prior bio-engineered things.

[FanaticTemplar]

I still don't understand the problem so many people have with Brood War, it was always my favorite installment in the series. But I believe the UED always had a proper place in the canon, seeing as how they simply evolved from the UPL, which originated the Koprulu-branch of humanity to begin with. Again, like the Xel'Naga, I favor the idea of the UED being this existential, distant threat that could easily crush Koprulu if it so desired, but is kept at bay by politics and distance, having little interest in the little guppies in the sea. That said, I love the idea of surviving members of the expedition carving out a life for themselves on the fringes of terran society in the Koprulu sector. Maybe there is even a quiet exodus of people from Earth trying to do the same, to get away from the fascist rule of the Directorate.

The Terrans being 'lost' and 'alone' with the aliens contributes to the atmosphere of the setting. Adding the UED dilutes from the sci-fi focus in exchange for what is basically an 'evil government' adversary. It devalues the Koprulu Terrans by decreasing their uniqueness. It diminishes the scope of the series by removing the vast, mysterious stretch of the unknown that lies between the Koprulu Sector and Earth in exchange for allowing the UED to just 'hop by' anytime they want to. I'd never really thought about what happened to Earth after the great exile, but I'm fine with the idea that the UPL collapsed after a few years, leading to a new dark age for most of Earth.

And oddly enough, I don't have too much against the existence of the Primal Zerg, either. Some years ago I toyed with the idea of the Zerg Swarm having gone through an alchemical process of "purifying" themselves over the years as they travelled from Zerus, casting off sick remnants as the Overmind culled genetic junk and deviations from the gene pool. Survivors of this cull could have escaped and survived, evolving independently of the Swarm.

Every previous indication has shown that the Overmind destroyed that which it could not use. The Fenris Brood, for example, would 'eradicate entirely' species that were not assimilated into the Swarm, and when the Garm Brood went berserk, focus shifted from the Protoss and Terrans to wiping out the broken Brood completely. It's also why Tassadar claims at the end of the game that the Overmind would consume all sentience and all life.

And I always thought the Xel'Naga took a small population of protoss with them as they headed core-ward, seeding them on several worlds to maintain outposts and fill the role of servants. These would have also evolved independently of the main protoss population, and would slowly be discovered (and perhaps disavowed as true Protoss) by the Conclave, instead being cast as heretics due to a simple difference in birth.

From what we know, the Xel'Naga weren't interested in servants. They were teachers to the early Protoss because they wanted to create perfection. When they couldn't have that, they left.

[Turalyon]

The Terrans being 'lost' and 'alone' with the aliens contributes to the atmosphere of the setting. Adding the UED dilutes from the sci-fi focus in exchange for what is basically an 'evil government' adversary. It devalues the Koprulu Terrans by decreasing their uniqueness. It diminishes the scope of the series by removing the vast, mysterious stretch of the unknown that lies between the Koprulu Sector and Earth in exchange for allowing the UED to just 'hop by' anytime they want to. I'd never really thought about what happened to Earth after the great exile, but I'm fine with the idea that the UPL collapsed after a few years, leading to a new dark age for most of Earth.

I don't think the inclusion of Earth Terrans (I won't call them UED for now since they're technically a specific take on the idea of original/Earth humans) necessarily devalues the Koprulu Terrans in any major way as long as they're handled properly and are made separate from the K sector humans like how the difference between the Nerazim and Khalai/Aiur Protoss were initially conceived. Unlike the Protoss example and due to the nature of Terrans in general, I think there's more scope and justification to keep these two different groups of humans separate.

The general UED concept from BW wasn't that potentially limiting either had it been tweaked more, namely the timing of their arrival (maybe later than when BW actually occurred - making them good candidates for a bonafide sequel villain whilst keeping-in with grounded nature of the universe) and their actual goal (why can't it be said that the UED was not actually aware of the situation in the K sector before arriving?). Sure, I can understand that the UED coincidentally showing up may seem implausible but it's no less plausible than how the K sector Terran showed up smack bang right into the beginnings of a war between two ancient and powerful alien species.

One could explain the UED arrival in the K sector as happenstance. Earth, wanting to expand, were doing so in the 250 or years since the 3 super-carriers, until they happened to find a region of space with habitable planets via "deep space scans" and sent out a force there to investigate the possibility... not knowing that this location happened to correspond to the K sector. Cue drama.

Besides, there aren't really that many sci fi stories where the "alien invaders" are actually humans. Not only that, making them sympathisable and not overtly villainous was one of their more memorable traits in BW. By keeping this quality about them, having humans as potentially benevolent "alien invaders" was quite unique indeed at the time.

Every previous indication has shown that the Overmind destroyed that which it could not use. The Fenris Brood, for example, would 'eradicate entirely' species that were not assimilated into the Swarm, and when the Garm Brood went berserk, focus shifted from the Protoss and Terrans to wiping out the broken Brood completely. It's also why Tassadar claims at the end of the game that the Overmind would consume all sentience and all life.

This and the presence of the Zerg Primals highlights just how ineffective the Overmind is as a character now. First, we are told the Overmind's actions were not it's own in Sc1 and that it's hidden actual plan only happened to play out through sheer luck and now, it's revealed it couldn't even eliminate the originating Zerg which also seem implied to be more powerful than it (what with the secret Primal magic pool giving a more powerful infestation for Kerrigan) as well. Talk about being thrown under the bus and then being reversed over...

If there was any original Zerg on Zerus, I would've thought it'd involve another Overmind forming (given the info in BW) since Cerebrates, being mutated original Zerg parasites afterall, would still originate there.

[FanaticTemplar]

The general UED concept from BW wasn't that potentially limiting either had it been tweaked a more, namely the timing of their arrival (maybe later than when BW actually occurred - making them good candidates for a bonafide sequel villain whilst keeping-in with grounded nature of the universe) and their actual goal (why can't it be said that the UED was not actually aware of the situation in the K sector before arriving?). Sure, I can understand that the UED coincidentally showing up may seem implausible but it's no less plausible than how the K sector Terran showed up smack bang right into the beginnings of a war between two ancient and powerful alien species.

One could explain the UED arrival in the K sector as happenstance. Earth, wanting to expand, were doing so in the 250 or years since the 3 super-carriers, until they happened to find a region of space with habitable planets via "deep space scans" and sent out a force there to investigate the possibility... not knowing that this location happened to correspond to the K sector. Cue drama.

That's certainly less diminishing than the 'the UPL was watching all along!' route that they chose to go with, since it keeps the Koprulu Terrans as the determinants of their own fates. But it does still subtract from StarCraft's theme for the Terrans about being alone on the fringe, isolated and surrounded by the unknown and incomprehensible, hostile beings. It's something that also shows up in the original game's cinematic - the Terrans are always all alone in some vast, abandoned setting and beset by overwhelming odds, whether it be the original cinematic's scraphunters in space, the patrol on Mar Sara, the crashing of Norad II, the Amerigo or the camp on Char. And unlike the Protoss who were specifically created with the duality of the High and Dark Templar in mind, adding Earth humans to StarCraft doesn't really contribute anything useful to the narrative. There are already other Terran factions in the Kel-Morian Combine and Umojan Protectorate that have never been explored, what story does Earth provide that cannot be provided with existing assets?

Besides, there aren't really that many sci fi stories where the "alien invaders" are actually humans. Not only that, making them sympathisable and not overtly villainous was one of their more memorable traits in BW. By keeping this quality about them, having humans as potentially benevolent "alien invaders" was quite unique indeed at the time.

I always thought they were pretty clearly Nazis.

This and the presence of the Zerg Primals highlights just how ineffective the Overmind is as a character now. First, we are told the Overmind's actions were not it's own in Sc1 and that it's hidden actual plan only happened to play out through sheer luck and now, it's revealed it couldn't even eliminate the originating Zerg which also seem implied to be more powerful than it (what with the secret Primal magic pool giving a more powerful infestation for Kerrigan) as well. Talk about being thrown under the bus and then being reversed over...

If there was any original Zerg on Zerus, I would've thought it'd involve another Overmind forming (given the info in BW) since Cerebrates, being mutated original Zerg parasites afterall, would still originate there.

If we're operating under Brood War's rule according to which Cerebrates can merge into an Overmind, which I'm not sure makes sense since the Xel'Naga fashioned the Overmind themselves.

[Turalyon]

But it does still subtract from StarCraft's theme for the Terrans about being alone on the fringe, isolated and surrounded by the unknown and incomprehensible, hostile beings. It's something that also shows up in the original game's cinematic - the Terrans are always all alone in some vast, abandoned setting and beset by overwhelming odds, whether it be the original cinematic's scraphunters in space, the patrol on Mar Sara, the crashing of Norad II, the Amerigo or the camp on Char.

Well, I guess you have to consider how this aspect of the Terrans would realistically justify their ongoing survival in the K sector and whether it's necessarily a static trait for the Terrans. If the Terrans were supposed to be that weak all the time, one could instead interpret The Inauguration as being nothing more than the fanciful and cynical propaganda it was and that, in reality, nothing will really improve for the Terran's lot especially considering the fact that they're worse off now than ever before having had a number of their worlds expunged of Terran life and infrastructure (one would have to consider that losing Tarsonis, being the seat of accumulated Terran power over 250 years, is not something to be taken lightly). Afterall, it's not as if the Terrans were the most populous of the three sides. One would expect them to have a harder time recovering than the other two, let alone consider equaling or even outstripping them.

Of course, this was not how it turned out. We are led to believe that Mengsk successfully turned the Terrans around into a powerhouse (somehow) because Rebel Yell ends with this implication which is furthered by the Zerg and Protoss exhausting themselves on Aiur. It's such that they can't really be seen as the wilting flowers they initially were. In that sense, the appearance of Earth humans shouldn't really upset that particular aspect of the Koprulu Terrans anymore because they've already moved beyond that "weak/innocence" stage.

And unlike the Protoss who were specifically created with the duality of the High and Dark Templar in mind, adding Earth humans to StarCraft doesn't really contribute anything useful to the narrative. There are already other Terran factions in the Kel-Morian Combine and Umojan Protectorate that have never been explored, what story does Earth provide that cannot be provided with existing assets?

If you're looking for ingrained duality consider that the K Sector humans were the supposed "lesser", criminal, freaks, highly independent cast-offs whilst the Earth humans were the supposed picture of a unified and monolithic humanity who work commonly for their own designated greater good. Sound like something familiar?

As you said before, the K sector humans all share the commonality of being "out of their league" and always being disparate from each other. Earth humans have the potential to show humanity in a more stronger, capable and perhaps scarier light amongst other things.

I always thought they were pretty clearly Nazis.

Sure, the UED are exported Nazis in archetype but the former's reprehensibility is downplayed quite a lot in BW and there actions seem to evoke more a "manifest destiny" theme then outright prejudice. Then again, it's unknown whether the UED would've proceeded to "cleanse" the Terran colonies if they managed to get rid of the Protoss and Zerg, like their UPL predecessors would've done...

If we're operating under Brood War's rule according to which Cerebrates can merge into an Overmind, which I'm not sure makes sense since the Xel'Naga fashioned the Overmind themselves.

I did say if. Even discounting BW's "Cerebrates can meld into a new Overmind" revelation, I'd still imagine that there'd be some Cerebrates of some kind, being something akin to the original Zerg parasite themselves, on Zerus.

[FanaticTemplar]

Well, I guess you have to consider how this aspect of the Terrans would realistically justify their ongoing survival in the K sector and whether it's necessarily a static trait for the Terrans. If the Terrans were supposed to be that weak all the time, one could instead interpret The Inauguration as being nothing more than the fanciful and cynical propaganda it was and that, in reality, nothing will really improve for the Terran's lot especially considering the fact that they're worse off now than ever before having had a number of their worlds expunged of Terran life and infrastructure (one would have to consider that losing Tarsonis, being the seat of accumulated Terran power over 250 years, is not something to be taken lightly). Afterall, it's not as if the Terrans were the most populous of the three sides. One would expect them to have a harder time recovering than the other two, let alone consider equaling or even outstripping them.

Of course, this was not how it turned out. We are led to believe that Mengsk successfully turned the Terrans around into a powerhouse (somehow) because Rebel Yell ends with this implication which is furthered by the Zerg and Protoss exhausting themselves on Aiur. It's such that they can't really be seen as the wilting flowers they initially were. In that sense, the appearance of Earth humans shouldn't really upset that particular aspect of the Koprulu Terrans anymore because they've already moved beyond that "weak/innocence" stage.

I wasn't talking about weakness so much as isolation and ignorance. Terran weakness may have been largely from their own devising, their inability to work together leaves them vulnerable.

If you're looking for ingrained duality consider that the K Sector humans were the supposed "lesser", criminal, freaks, highly independent cast-offs whilst the Earth humans were the supposed picture of a unified and monolithic humanity who work commonly for their own designated greater good. Sound like something familiar?

I think you may be stretching a bit by defining Earth that way . Still, you do make a valid point. So, what narrative would you suggest for Earth that would take advantage of this difference?

As you said before, the K sector humans all share the commonality of being "out of their league" and always being disparate from each other. Earth humans have the potential to show humanity in a more stronger, capable and perhaps scarier light amongst other things.

If you're contrasting them to the Koprulu Sector Terrans rather than the other alien invasions, then that's certainly plausible. But then they also render the Koprulu Sector Terrans largely irrelevant, since you are defining the difference between the two as the Earth humans being more competent in affecting the narrative.