Random Thoughts Thread

[Mislagnissa]

The utility of Earth has changed over the course of Starcraft’s history.

1996 story: the terran civilizations are centered on Earth. Koprulu is a frontier/border region. It makes sense for them to share the same tech tree and values. (Source)

Starcraft 1: koprulu is founded by cyborg mutant criminals and completely isolated from Earth (who are nazis). This was done, presumably, to give a clean slate rather than involve Earth politics, I guess? Earth will probably never get involved except as an evil 4th race with a unique tech tree.

Brood War: Earth is retconned to have been spying on Koprulu for centuries. A fleet is sent to stop the alien menace and destroyed. Earth is, inexplicably and contradictory, not nazis and use the same tech tree as koprulu.

Brood War (cut content): Earth would have been invaded and destroyed by zerg. This was cancelled during the writing process. (Source)

Heroes of the Storm: Koprulu is retconned to a frontier/border region of terran territory. Earth sent a fleet to put down rebellion. It makes sense for them to share the same tech tree and values. (Source)

As you can see, the most recent utility of Earth is identical to its utility in ‘96 version of the story. In SC1 this was changed to isolate Koprulu, then retconned twice to ultimately match the ‘96 version of that plot point.

Honestly, only the ‘96 and SC1 versions of the plot point make any sense. Ignoring that BW made a retcon, it just does not make sense for Earth to secretly monitor Koprulu as opposed to openly claim it from the start. The other versions of this point have too many inconsistencies.

What do you think? Do you prefer Koprulu isolated or a border/frontier region of the Earth territories? Would you have preferred if Earth was eaten by the zerg to, IDK, pave the way for the Dominion?

[Turalyon]

Do you prefer Koprulu isolated or a border/frontier region of the Earth territories? Would you have preferred if Earth was eaten by the zerg to, IDK, pave the way for the Dominion?

It depends. The Terrans in Sc1 were utterly devastated during that time, setup as being far too weak on a technical level compared to the Protoss or Zerg and had no means to believably recover their losses (the Zerg had a conceit in their numbers and growth rate whilst Protoss were an ancient space-faring civilisation with tech bordering on magic). It required the arrival of the UED, Mengsk's ability to "impossibly recover" and retcons to their numbers and technological prowess to bolster and justify the Terrans continued presence in the sector. In that context, Koprulu would've been better as a border/frontier region of Earth territories because it alleviates some of those issues mentioned above, especially those revolving around their isolated nature. The Terrans could be made technologically advanced at a core level/home from the get go and be justified as being a bit more backward/weak in Koprulu because it is supposed to be a frontier region.

As to Earth being eaten by Zerg to pave the way for the Dominion... well, it wouldn't really be necessary if Koprulu was well and truly isolated from the get go. The Dominion is far more interesting as a concept if the K-sector Terrans are isolated. If the K-sector Terrans are not isolated, Earth being supposed to be stronger than the K-sector Terrans yet being capable of being destroyed by Zerg means that having the Dominion arise from that is moot because the Terrans would generally be considered too weak anyway for that to even matter.

[Mislagnissa]

It depends. The Terrans in Sc1 were utterly devastated during that time, setup as being far too weak on a technical level compared to the Protoss or Zerg and had no means to believably recover their losses (the Zerg had a conceit in their numbers and growth rate whilst Protoss were an ancient space-faring civilisation with tech bordering on magic). It required the arrival of the UED, Mengsk's ability to "impossibly recover" and retcons to their numbers and technological prowess to bolster and justify the Terrans continued presence in the sector. In that context, Koprulu would've been better as a border/frontier region of Earth territories because it alleviates some of those issues mentioned above, especially those revolving around their isolated nature. The Terrans could be made technologically advanced at a core level/home from the get go and be justified as being a bit more backward/weak in Koprulu because it is supposed to be a frontier region.

As to Earth being eaten by Zerg to pave the way for the Dominion... well, it wouldn't really be necessary if Koprulu was well and truly isolated from the get go. The Dominion is far more interesting as a concept if the K-sector Terrans are isolated. If the K-sector Terrans are not isolated, Earth being supposed to be stronger than the K-sector Terrans yet being capable of being destroyed by Zerg means that having the Dominion arise from that is moot because the Terrans would generally be considered too weak anyway for that to even matter.

Based on the ‘96 speech by a seemingly heroic Mengsk, it seems that the terrans declined from a united empire to fragmented nation states. I suspect that at some point he was intended to become the new president of all humanity or something. I think the three-way war of the first game’s premise could be continued indefinitely as a franchise if all three races have galactic empires.