Random Thoughts Thread

[Turalyon]

There ARE devices in other sci-fi games where it's not fully explained in the first of the series as to what the device really was, the fans didn't call out on it being Deus Ex Machina right after the 1st one in the series.

A DEM is a plot device used in a very specific way but not all plot devices are DEMs. Plot devices are needed for every fiction but are only bad if they are used seemingly arbitrarily and in a contrived manner. The artifact may not necessarily be a DEM but it is most definitely a poorly conceived and implemented plot device.

Now, regarding the whole BW matter and the emitters, it's likely that after Kerrigan's assimilation into the swarm (and this is assuming the Overmind never rescinded the matter of psionics searching), the Overmind could have ordered the swarm to ignore Kerrigan's signature.

This is just confirmation bias toward your fanon that the Overmind left programming in the Zerg before it died - which is just as equally likely to not have happened since you have no proof that the Overmind can even leave programming in its Zerg, whether such programming can hold long after/despite its death or that it even did so in the first place.

[sandwich_bird]

At the beginning of WoL, Kerrigan is supposedly under the influence of the Xel Naga right? When did this exactly happen? Why didn't Duran just took control of her right away instead of messing around?

[Gradius]

At the beginning of WoL, Kerrigan is supposedly under the influence of the Xel Naga right? When did this exactly happen? Why didn't Duran just took control of her right away instead of messing around?

There’s inconsistent info on that. In HoTS she says Amon never controlled her.

[ragnarok]

At the beginning of WoL, Kerrigan is supposedly under the influence of the Xel Naga right? When did this exactly happen? Why didn't Duran just took control of her right away instead of messing around?

It was Amon's influence, which according to what she told Zurvan, was more background noise. Therefore, it would mean she can't use the excuse of just being a puppet the whole time.

A DEM is a plot device used in a very specific way but not all plot devices are DEMs. Plot devices are needed for every fiction but are only bad if they are used seemingly arbitrarily and in a contrived manner. The artifact may not necessarily be a DEM but it is most definitely a poorly conceived and implemented plot device.

They just didn't explain it well, and that it could absorb just about everything seemed a bit too convenient. They should have at least put better limits on there or something....

This is just confirmation bias toward your fanon that the Overmind left programming in the Zerg before it died - which is just as equally likely to not have happened since you have no proof that the Overmind can even leave programming in its Zerg, whether such programming can hold long after/despite its death or that it even did so in the first place.

Well tell me this: did you think the Overmind really let the programming go? At the moment of Kerrigan's infestation, was he 100% sure she'd work out the way he wanted it to? New ideas aren't always met with success on the 1st try, you know....

[Turalyon]

They just didn't explain it well, and that it could absorb just about everything seemed a bit too convenient. They should have at least put better limits on there or something....

They can explain it well enough to the cows come home. It still won't change the fact that it's a bleedingly obvious plot device/conceit/contrivance.

Well tell me this: did you think the Overmind really let the programming go?

Don't see how it could do anything considering it's, you know, dead and all...

[ragnarok]

Don't see how it could do anything considering it's, you know, dead and all...

That programming can exist beyong its death

They can explain it well enough to the cows come home. It still won't change the fact that it's a bleedingly obvious plot device/conceit/contrivance.

Only because they've yet to explain enough about the Xel'Naga (well Blizzard attempted to, and they didn't know what they were doing)

[Turalyon]

That programming can exist beyong its death

There's so much wrong in this statement.

You have no proof beyond supposition and fanon that such programming even exists at all, let alone whether it can exist beyond its death....

Only because they've yet to explain enough about the Xel'Naga (well Blizzard attempted to, and they didn't know what they were doing)

Would still be a crappily used plot device considering WoLs narrative structure. Dressing it up in any way doesn't make it any less an obvious and mechanical prop to hold up and propel the narrative. The reason it sticks out like a sore thumb is because the narrative revolves around it. You take it away, what limited story WoL has collapses entirely.

[ragnarok]

You have no proof beyond supposition and fanon that such programming even exists at all, let alone whether it can exist beyond its death....

The Overmind couldn't have known Kerrigan would have worked out right away.

Would still be a crappily used plot device considering WoLs narrative structure. Dressing it up in any way doesn't make it any less an obvious and mechanical prop to hold up and propel the narrative. The reason it sticks out like a sore thumb is because the narrative revolves around it. You take it away, what limited story WoL has collapses entirely.

Only because the LotV epilogue made Kerrigan vital to defeating Amon. I disliked this, which to me was another reason for her arrogance in thinking that because of this vitality, she could do whatever the hell she wanted and everyone just had to let it go. It was why (before any LotV info was out) I had expected there to be serious problems in that the protoss people would have chosen their own extinction as long as she died first.

[sandwich_bird]

You have no proof beyond supposition and fanon that such programming even exists at all, let alone whether it can exist beyond its death....

Assuming the invasion of Shakuras was not led by Kerri or rogue cerebrates, this is the only possible indication we have of such programming. Obviously it's all fanon and speculation but to Rag's defense, there's at least this.


Random thought: what exactly is supposed to be the difference between a hybrid and a xel naga?

If the Tal'Darim use Amon's realm to make their weapons, shouldn't they all be useless after LotV?

[ragnarok]

Assuming the invasion of Shakuras was not led by Kerri or rogue cerebrates, this is the only possible indication we have of such programming. Obviously it's all fanon and speculation but to Rag's defense, there's at least this.

You have to remember what Kerrigan was telling Artanis and Zeratul in Protoss mission 3 of BW: that she'd help them with their goals, as this would weaken Daggoth's agenda. And from the zerg episode, it seemed she only had ONE cerebrate under her control, so the invasion shouldn't have been done by her as there were two other Cerebrates by the temple.

Random thought: what exactly is supposed to be the difference between a hybrid and a xel naga?

This is why I wished they hadn't put in the "no interference" crap in LotV. In the DT Saga Twilight, Zamara told Zeratul that the Xel'Naga wanted the protoss people as hosts (hence the uplifting), so they'd eventually merge with the zerg peacefully, and this would create the new generation of Xel'Naga. Thus from the book's lore, it'd imply that the Xel'Naga should have been two races merged peacefully and in harmony, whereas the hybrid was two races FORCIBLY mixed together to create a genetic mutant.