Writing a New Starcraft 2 storyline

[Nissa]

It's the 2nd half of Nova's story. It explains the situation with Tosh and all that.

DT Saga Shadow Hunters was a good book, give some insight to Protoss history and all that.

Shadow Hunters...the second one, okay. Um, no. It basically restated what we already know about the Dark Templar, except for Adun's fate. It didn't explain why the Conclave exists, how the castes were formed, what makes Dark Templar powers different from the Khala, and why it was necessary for the DTs to go to the extreme of cutting off parts of their body. Basically, there was no new information at all.

That, and the non-flashback plot was boring and made no sense. Really, Zamara should have found a way to contact the Protoss for help before taking two barely armed humans with minimal supplies to Aiur.

[ragnarok]

Shadow Hunters...the second one, okay. Um, no. It basically restated what we already know about the Dark Templar, except for Adun's fate. It didn't explain why the Conclave exists, how the castes were formed, what makes Dark Templar powers different from the Khala, and why it was necessary for the DTs to go to the extreme of cutting off parts of their body. Basically, there was no new information at all.

That, and the non-flashback plot was boring and made no sense. Really, Zamara should have found a way to contact the Protoss for help before taking two barely armed humans with minimal supplies to Aiur.

Yeah but remember, according to Twilight (the 3rd one) there are those in the Hierarchy who didn't buy Zamara's story. Nahaan in particular felt she had gone insane or something.

The bottom line is that while Zamara told Jake that her people were largely rational, the problem is they're too stubborn.

THAT is why I'm not going to rule out the possibility is that Amon won at the end of LotV. Then at the following Blizzcon when this issue is raised, Metzen will say, "Because the Protoss are too damn stupid."

[Nissa]

You can say that the 'Toss are stubborn, but the fact is she didn't even try to ask for help before putting her humans in danger. Even if they didn't believe her, some of them would at least be generous enough to remove her from homeboy's brain.

[ragnarok]

You can say that the 'Toss are stubborn, but the fact is she didn't even try to ask for help before putting her humans in danger. Even if they didn't believe her, some of them would at least be generous enough to remove her from homeboy's brain.

Do you think Zamara felt she knew enough about terrans to know what they're like? I don't recall if she admitted to Jake she had less interactions with terrans than Zeratul or not....

[Nissa]

Do you think Zamara felt she knew enough about terrans to know what they're like? I don't recall if she admitted to Jake she had less interactions with terrans than Zeratul or not....

No, I mean the Protoss would be generous enough to remove her from his brain. I mean, why not? It's at least an interesting telepathic phenomenon.

But maybe this thread should get back on topic.

Uh, well, I was once a part of this mod called Sons of War. I think one or two people here were also involved with it. The trouble is, there's not a lot of motivation for us to do this, now that we're adults and we have jobs. Though I don't object to writing/plotting a mission or two.

My suggestion is that however this plot gets written, it should follow the SC-BW pattern. SC went Terran, Zerg, Protoss; BW went Protoss, Terran, Zerg. Therefore, the proper sequel should go Zerg, Protoss, Terran, as in we see what the Zerg are up to, the Protoss deal with their own mystical issues, and human beings finish up in the end, because it all started with us anyway.

[ragnarok]

No, I mean the Protoss would be generous enough to remove her from his brain. I mean, why not? It's at least an interesting telepathic phenomenon.

But maybe this thread should get back on topic.

Uh, well, I was once a part of this mod called Sons of War. I think one or two people here were also involved with it. The trouble is, there's not a lot of motivation for us to do this, now that we're adults and we have jobs. Though I don't object to writing/plotting a mission or two.

My suggestion is that however this plot gets written, it should follow the SC-BW pattern. SC went Terran, Zerg, Protoss; BW went Protoss, Terran, Zerg. Therefore, the proper sequel should go Zerg, Protoss, Terran, as in we see what the Zerg are up to, the Protoss deal with their own mystical issues, and human beings finish up in the end, because it all started with us anyway.

Possibly. I always DID wonder after the BW, if the prophecy and the threat about Amon never existed, what would have happened and how the hybrids would have played a role.

Because ultimately it WOULD have to go back to the Xel'Naga in some way. The hybrid was introduced in the BW secret mission, you can't pretend THAT never happened.

[GnaReffotsirk]

Here's my take on the Xel'Naga:

No prophecy.
No Amon.
That they were not completely destroyed.
That they have "watched" their children for eons.
That they have "withered" over the years.
That they now return to intervene with the current path the Sector is taking. Undo what their mistakes are leading these races into.
Two factions have formed within the Xel'Naga: One who wants to pursue their previous project; the other who wants to help the races move on without them.


Duran's Hybrids:

That these are actual vessels the Xel'naga would use. At least the ones who want to continue their projects.
Duran is a servant of this group of Xel'Naga. These are the ones he call masters.
These vessels would later prove unworthy, and be discarded by them.

When the hybrids fail, the Xel'Naga arrive themselves, with new units, buildings.
Their campaign goal is to activate a rift portal that would allow their fellow Xel'Naga to arrive.
What they call "The Harvest" will be the point of contention between the two Xel'Naga factions.

[Nissa]

I'm liking some of your ideas so far, but how do you address Duran's statement, "I am a servant of a far greater power. A power that has slept for countless ages"?

[Visions of Khas]

how do you address Duran's statement, "I am a servant of a far greater power. A power that has slept for countless ages"?

Clearly the Xel'Naga got a good nights' sleep with their melatonin sleep aids.

Hm, this Harvest sounds a lot like the Reapers.

[Telenil]

You're cute, Rag. Really cute.

Well, Queen of Blades isn't one I've read yet, but I have read:
Heaven's Devils -- badly written crap
Shadow of the Xel'Naga -- hideous characterization, paint by numbers plot, worst book I've ever read
SC Ghost Nova -- mostly good plot, horribly written, poorly used characters
Speed of Darkness -- good beginning, but quickly becomes tedious and spoils its own ending
Liberty's Crusade -- a non-interesting re-hash of the first terran missions with a shoved-in OC, essentially poorly written fanfiction.
Firstborn (DT Trilogy) -- while having some good ideas, the plot was not well thought through and the characters were shallow. And it showed humans entering the Khala, which shouldn't be possible. No Dark Templar.
Shadow Hunters (DT Trilogy) -- Leaves too much from the first book unexplained, boring, fewer good ideas than first book. No Dark Templar, other than in flashback.
Twilight (DT Trilogy) -- spends most of the book talking about things the reader already knows, doesn't tie up loose ends, shrinks the only interesting parts of the book. Only two Dark Templar.

In other words, the franchise would be better off if the novels didn't exist. Except for the Nova one. That didn't really affect anything.

I, for one, feel Liberty's Crusade was exactly what an extended universe novel should be. It managed to clarify what the Confederate did and knew about the Zerg, with only minor inconsistencies. Liberty himself manages to play a role in these events without stealing the show.
Heaven's Devil was also a good story. I read it a month after playing WoL and started with a strong prejudice against it, but in the end I would have liked it even if it hadn't been Starcraft. It was more believable than most Blizzard novels, and I feel it dramatically improved Tychus as a character.
These two novels definitely made the lore better.