Terran Influence of LotV?

[Visions of Khas]

In both Wings of Liberty and Heart of the Swarm there was strong focus and influence on the state of Terran affairs. While this was fitting for Wings, it was a somewhat off-putting feature in the story for Heart. Instead of assuming the role of Zagara or another agent of the Swarm, attempting to stabilize the Zerg with the Kerrigan missing from the hierarchy, we retread the creation and assenscion of the Queen of Blades, an individual whose terran past dominates her future. As she pursues her goals, the Swarm's evolution is a simple byproduct on her path to revenge.

This leaves us with a broad and clear view of Terran matters. This in and of itself is not a bad thing, mind you, but this focus undermines the importance of the other races -- especially the Protoss. To date we have only two plot lines to the next chapter: Zeratul himself, who has (I'm assuming) finished his Chess Mastering and must now focus on his people; and Narud, whose affiliation with the Xel'Naga and Tal'Darim makes for a second Protoss connection tangential at best. Aside from this, and setting up Niadra as a token Zerg villain, we have no idea how Legacy of the Void will connect the Terran and Zerg chapters, which were intimately interwoven, with the final installment.

On second thought, Valerian Mengsk's fascination with the Protoss and Xel'Naga may help serve as a bridge for a Protoss Protectorate/Terran Dominion alliance. But I can't be the only one who sees Legacy, at this point, as an island on its own. I am left especially concerned since there won't be any updates on LotV at BlizzCon this weekend.

[Robear]

Yeah, I have absolutely no idea who the main character of LotV will be. I mean, it could be Zeratul, since he's the only Protoss character they've bothered to feature at all, but, he's boring, old, slow-moving, slow acting... You need someone more impulsive to do the kinds of missions they've had in WoL/HotS. A couple years ago I would have said Selendis, as a character with potential for development, but then she wasn't in HotS at all...

Story-wise, I could see it picking up immediately after HotS' ending, on Korhal. Kerrigan and the Zerg have left for deep space. Valerian is about to start to reunify/take over the Dominion. A massive Protoss fleet appears, Artanis or Selendis and a group of high ranking Protoss descend, and are like, "hey, that powerful Xel Naga artifact in the middle of your capital? They hybrids are here, and they want it, so, we've got to defend it." And right off the bat you have missions of mistrustful terrans working together this occupying Protoss force, giving an opportunity for P&T versus Hybrid and PvT with rogue terran groups, and an opportunity to tell the player how Protoss stuff works.

Keeps Valerian, and the artifact, and the Terran space we've spent so much time in, at the forefront, at least at the start. Raynor can be there. But again, I have no idea who the main character is. It shouldn't be Valerian, because he should be doing political stuff, not leading groups of forces, and he shouldn't be controlling Protoss forces anyway.

[Visions of Khas]

It's confirmed that Old Man Zeratul is the main character in Legacy of the Void, for better or worse. So far, though, in Wings and Heart, the main character was impulsive and reckless. If we are to maintain that theme, perhaps Artanis would be the best bet. But maybe Blizzard's trying to make the other races look stupid in order to show how "wise" and intelligent the Protoss (namely, Zeratul) are by comparison.

And I really have to wonder why the Protoss aren't featured at all in the series, aside from Selendis' fleet engagement with Raynor. (And that may not even be canon!) Are they trying to make the Protoss seem as distant, mysterious and alien as possible? Are the Protoss so incredibly weak at this point that they simply can't have a presence? I can't see this last one being true, however, since Kaldir, a simple Protoss research and colony world, was perceived as a huge threat by Kerrigan.


I'm starting to wonder about the Kaldir specimens. Are the Protoss trying to preserve as much life as possible in the face of the coming "Armageddon?"

[Turalyon]

I've harped on about the dominating Terran themes/focus of the trilogy even before HotS was released. There are only two scenarios I can see moving forward and I'm conflicted for both.

One, is that LotV would focus only on the Protoss and the Hybrid/Xel'Naga stuff which is good because we finally get to what we were initially supposed to be sold on, but bad because it would be dissonant in many ways from what has come before. If the importance of the Protoss' plight is given too much import (as it was supposed to be initially), the problem will seem like they're squeezing too much into the last installment and will give credence to the argument that the first two chapters are superfluous.

Two, is that there will be a continuence of Terran themes/influence to keep it consistent with before but at the expense of undermining the focus on Protoss (like the Zerg, as a race, were generally in HotS) and making the whole Amon thing feel somewhat more redundant and gimmicky than what it should/could/supposed to have been. Although the Terrans do have a stake in the fight against Amon, it's only at the most rudimentary/base plot level - to not fight and/or lose will be the extinction of everything in the K sector. In contrast to the Protoss, where there is some history with all the Xel'Naga stuff to potentially lend some weight to their struggle, the Terran themes are not really relevant to this storyline, so their continued presence can only detract from the "Protoss" experience.

Seems like a case of "damned if they do and damned if they don't" to me.

[FanaticTemplar]

Huh. I thought way back in 200X when they announced they'd be splitting the campaign in three Artanis was supposed to be the face of the Protoss expansion.

Would probably have been a better choice, it's hard to maintain a 'mysterious' character when they're always talking.

[Turalyon]

it's hard to maintain a 'mysterious' character when they're always talking.

People still think of Z as "mysterious" now? Presently, I think "old fart" seems much more pertinent. Justifies the "always talking" part, too.

[Gradius]

Fine, let the protoss campaign be disjointed from the rest of the series, it's the least of SC2's problems. But for god's sake, I want a pure protoss campaign, with no terrans that don't belong there. Protoss do not need to be humanized. At this point they're space-elves, no different than humans raised in a different culture, and there is absolutely no need for it. I'm almost afraid they'll bring out Jake Ramsey to humanize the protoss campaign. God that would suck.

Zeratul is such a terrible choice for the protagonist. Like I said in my review: "Hunting crystals, chasing prophecies, and digging up artifacts as the main plot for Legacy of the Void would be a grave disappointment. Yes, there is potential interest in Zeratul “rallying the tribes” and engaging in diplomacy, but again, Artanis is better suited for this task."

[FanaticTemplar]

People still think of Z as "mysterious" now? Presently, I think "old fart" seems much more pertinent. Justifies the "always talking" part, too.

You're right of course. You'll have to pardon me, I was waxing nostalgic.

[Turalyon]

Fine, let the protoss campaign be disjointed from the rest of the series, it's the least of SC2's problems.

Given the writing so far and the paper-thin, uninteresting Amon plot, having the Protoss campaign be completely separate will probably highlight just how shallow Sc2's "main" story is.

I suppose it's just another nail in the coffin at the end of the day... a coffin with far too many nails already if you ask me.

But for god's sake, I want a pure protoss campaign, with no terrans that don't belong there.

Like Raynor and Kerrigan? The innumerable Starcraft shippers won't be happy. Besides, it's a foregone conclusion that Raynor and Kerrigan's love will be the last second deus ex machina that defeats Amon and saves Zeratul and the Protoss when even their combined martial powers prove to be no match.

Protoss do not need to be humanized. At this point they're space-elves, no different than humans raised in a different culture, and there is absolutely no need for it.

There's far worse things than humanising the Protoss and that's making them stupid. Unfortunately, Sc2 has done this numerous times already. I doubt that many people still have any sympathy or respect for Zeratul anymore.