So I think by now everyone knows I hated the story, but what about gameplay?

[TheEconomist]

Oh my ... so much I want to say ... but so many spoilers ...

[ragnarok]

Ew, that would be awful. Granted, I've always imagined that at least part of the Xel'naga approved of the Protoss. After all, Tassadar's words in SC1 were something like "continue the experiments" set in place by the Xel'naga. Of course, that was probably not so much the Xel'Naga wanting to put a cycle of some sort in place, but rather them being somewhat indifferent about their creations, more like "Eh, I wonder what happens when you mix these two things together?"

Of course, that's all speculation. We know nothing of any worth about the Xel'Naga from the real, original sources.

That's hard to say. The Xel'Naga felt the Protoss were a good candidate for their next generation upon arriving on Aiur. This seems to imply that the Xel'Naga would have had to uplift plenty of other species before, which ended in failure. Maybe even some of the merges they THOUGHT would work ended in failure in the past...

[Nissa]

It's going to be a tremendous spoiler for a series of books that will take some time to get through. Knowing this will ruin most of the surprise and enjoyment, you sure?

So long as it's not the DT Saga, go for it. Warn me if it is, though.

[FanaticTemplar]

Ew, that would be awful. Granted, I've always imagined that at least part of the Xel'naga approved of the Protoss. After all, Tassadar's words in SC1 were something like "continue the experiments" set in place by the Xel'naga. Of course, that was probably not so much the Xel'Naga wanting to put a cycle of some sort in place, but rather them being somewhat indifferent about their creations, more like "Eh, I wonder what happens when you mix these two things together?"

Of course, that's all speculation. We know nothing of any worth about the Xel'Naga from the real, original sources.

The way I understood the Xel'Naga back in the day, they were just amazing bio-engineers out to create the ultimate species because that would be the masterpiece of their craft. I kinda like the fact that they got their arses handed to them by both the Protoss and the Zerg, demonstrating that the Xel'Naga did their experiments without ever really giving any thought to what they would do if they ever did succeed in their ambitions. In other words, I imagined the Xel'Naga being very smart, but not very wise. I mean, they did create the Zerg, after all.

In the Protoss, they found the species that was closest to attaining perfection, and they believed that through their intervention, they could excise the flaws and finally triumph, but they were ultimately disappointed when the Protoss civilisation collapsed from within. Basically, they viewed the Protoss as being perfect in nearly all things, but marred by a 'flaw of essence'.

So with the Zerg they started there, by ensuring that above all else, the Zerg would have purity of essence. That's why they created the Overmind. The advantage of the Zerg is that they could endlessly adapt and evolve, and the Xel'Naga thought that trait would inevitably lead them to the desired perfection. In other words, the Zerg would succeed where the Protoss had failed, because even though they might not have 'purity of form' yet, they surely would eventually, by evolving to overcome all obstacles and assimilating every advantage that they yet lacked.

What the Overmind figured by invading Aiur was that since the Protoss were already perfect in every aspect except essence, and that the Zerg were defined by purity of essence, assimilating the Protoss would bypass ages of evolution and get them to perfection directly. In that way they would complete the Xel'Naga's experiments and become the perfect lifeform.

That was my understanding of it, anyway.

[Turalyon]

^ +1. This is exactly what I think, too. What's more, it's simple and makes sense! That's why it's so hard for me to fathom all this stuff that came later in the EU/books and then in Sc2.

[Nissa]

Yeah, that was more or less mine, as well. It was that idea that the Xel'Naga were super smart, but entirely irresponsible that made them so dangerous and interesting. That's why I never bought talk of a playable Xel'Naga race. They don't care enough about their experiments to get into a war over them -- if the Protoss and Zerg fight, well, that's just another stage to the experiments.

I always did add a bit of headcanon that the Xel'Naga were manipulated by Duran, and he was ultimately responsible for allowing the Zerg to destroy the Xel'Naga, but that's just my own speculation.

[ragnarok]

Yeah, that was more or less mine, as well. It was that idea that the Xel'Naga were super smart, but entirely irresponsible that made them so dangerous and interesting. That's why I never bought talk of a playable Xel'Naga race. They don't care enough about their experiments to get into a war over them -- if the Protoss and Zerg fight, well, that's just another stage to the experiments.

I always did add a bit of headcanon that the Xel'Naga were manipulated by Duran, and he was ultimately responsible for allowing the Zerg to destroy the Xel'Naga, but that's just my own speculation.

That's their problem. So far it's hard to see the Xel'Naga looked at the COST of matters. I'm more than willing to bet plenty of other experiments ended horribly.

That's why LotV better have a good explanation for WHY the Xel'Naga cycle has to continue, and not just "because it's necessary for their survival." That doesn't count.

[Turalyon]

That's why LotV better have a good explanation for WHY the Xel'Naga cycle has to continue, and not just "because it's necessary for their survival." That doesn't count.

Really, it's kinda pointless to ask why the Xel'Naga are trying to have sex and procreate. The cycle is there "just because". As to why they seem to be causing so much trouble when they do it, well you see, the secret ingredient they were missing all along was love. And because Raynor and Kerrigan have this unconditional love, they can teach it to the current cycle's Xel'Naga potentiates thereby defeating Amon ("Nooo! My secret weakness!!") and making the galaxy a nice place to be around. Cue rainbows.

[Gradius]

Really, it's kinda pointless to ask why the Xel'Naga are trying to have sex and procreate. The cycle is there "just because". As to why they seem to be causing so much trouble when they do it, well you see, the secret ingredient they were missing all along was love. And because Raynor and Kerrigan have this unconditional love, they can teach it to the current cycle's Xel'Naga potentiates thereby defeating Amon ("Nooo! My secret weakness!!") and making the galaxy a nice place to be around. Cue rainbows.

Love saves the day again. :')

[TheEconomist]

Let's all join hands and love away all unpleasantness.