SC3 Plot Ideas

[Visions of Khas]

I'd like a return to the atmosphere in StarCraft I, especially the focus on the cyberpunk undertones for the Terrans, and their general disregard for human life. It would be interesting to see Valerian Mengsk work not only against corruption within the Dominion, but against the deeply ingrained message of "every man for himself" in Terran society itself. How do you steer and moderate that kind of culture? This stress could realistically push him into extremes mirroring his father, but his own remorse and guilt would generate a terrible psychological toll on him.

[Nissa]

I'd like a return to the atmosphere in StarCraft I, especially the focus on the cyberpunk undertones for the Terrans, and their general disregard for human life. It would be interesting to see Valerian Mengsk work not only against corruption within the Dominion, but against the deeply ingrained message of "every man for himself" in Terran society itself. How do you steer and moderate that kind of culture? This stress could realistically push him into extremes mirroring his father, but his own remorse and guilt would generate a terrible psychological toll on him.

That's a good point. I'd also like to see a return on the Terran side of the cybernetic/genetic alteration stuff. While that risks being cliche, SC1 was always based on 90s sci-fi grunge, when things were more sinister and creepy. Having humans in the K Sector alter themselves (or, alternatively, the UED specifically goes further) could create a rift between the humans and the Protoss. After all, the only logical action after, well, both SCs is that these two races learn to work together better, but since this is a game, there needs to be a reason why the two oppose each other.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind if the game focused mostly on humans. I also wouldn't mind if they created a first person shooter like SC Ghost was going to be. Given the way the Zerg and Protoss are now, I'm not entirely sure what sort of story/game motivation potential either of them have.

[ragnarok]

I'd like a return to the atmosphere in StarCraft I, especially the focus on the cyberpunk undertones for the Terrans, and their general disregard for human life. It would be interesting to see Valerian Mengsk work not only against corruption within the Dominion, but against the deeply ingrained message of "every man for himself" in Terran society itself. How do you steer and moderate that kind of culture? This stress could realistically push him into extremes mirroring his father, but his own remorse and guilt would generate a terrible psychological toll on him.

Steering that kind of culture would require a period of peace. Certainly the actions from NCO and everything only make the public paranoid for the continue alien threat and everything, which easily drives the disregard for life, including human ones since "it's either you or me."

Honestly, I wouldn't mind if the game focused mostly on humans. I also wouldn't mind if they created a first person shooter like SC Ghost was going to be. Given the way the Zerg and Protoss are now, I'm not entirely sure what sort of story/game motivation potential either of them have.

You can still do that if they want to keep Nova's story going, since she is still on the Dominion's side, just not under Valerian's command. She can infiltrate the Tal'darim, we can then get to see how Alarak developed his people over the years.

[Turalyon]

Then what specifically happened at the end of Star Con 3?

The big bad empire was defeated (which was the majority of the actual opposition you faced while playing) and the existential threat (which was never really much of a threat) went away. Crisis was averted and much rejoicing (I imagine) took place.

The irony doesn't stop there because there's also some retconning (of the ending and certain alien race relations/outcomes in Star Con 2) and prophetic visions of doom for this existential threat (right at the start of the game in fact) as well.

In terms of appreciating the story within the game, I'd imagine that both Star Con 3 and Starcraft 2 would be far more enjoyable if one never plays their respective predecessor.

[ragnarok]

The big bad empire was defeated (which was the majority of the actual opposition you faced while playing) and the existential threat (which was never really much of a threat) went away. Crisis was averted and much rejoicing (I imagine) took place.

The irony doesn't stop there because there's also some retconning (of the ending and certain alien race relations/outcomes in Star Con 2) and prophetic visions of doom for this existential threat (right at the start of the game in fact) as well.

In terms of appreciating the story within the game, I'd imagine that both Star Con 3 and Starcraft 2 would be far more enjoyable if one never plays their respective predecessor.

*shrugs* It's just as I was telling Gna: I'm not as critical because I didn't dive deep into the SC lore until after WoL came out, therefore most of what I looked harder into was via SC2 lore.

[GnaReffotsirk]

From a story point of view, SC2 is told by too many heads. It wavers point to point, and doesn't really have a solid conflict at the core.

For example, rebel yell has these elements: As the Aliens continue to wage war in the Terran Sector, the Confederate government's corruption becomes more and more apparent, causing wide-spread rebellion to fester even further among the already discontented and disenfranchised Terran worlds....

There is a core dynamic occurring, driving characters and plot.

BTW, was Kerrigan ever portrayed a mass murderer in SC and or BW? Was there a time she killed civilians or was her victims military only?

[Nissa]

Let's see....she killed some civillians when she was first infested, and she wanted to figure out what the Confederates did to her mind. She killed some of Tassadar's and Zeratul's men, and Raynor's men when she was on Char. She manipulated the Protoss into fighting each other in BW, then fought the UED some and manipulated them into fighting each other, then the final Zerg missions....oh, she killed some scientists there.

In other words, Kerrigan probably didn't kill any other civilians other than scientists who were involved in projects she wanted to investigate/destroy. Probably this was more due to her needing to take control of the Zerg, rather than any mercy on her part. She probably would have killed civilians if she saw a need to. Oh, and she got Raynor and Fenix to kill people on Moria. Forgot about that for a sec.

[ragnarok]

From a story point of view, SC2 is told by too many heads. It wavers point to point, and doesn't really have a solid conflict at the core.

For example, rebel yell has these elements: As the Aliens continue to wage war in the Terran Sector, the Confederate government's corruption becomes more and more apparent, causing wide-spread rebellion to fester even further among the already discontented and disenfranchised Terran worlds....

There is a core dynamic occurring, driving characters and plot.

BTW, was Kerrigan ever portrayed a mass murderer in SC and or BW? Was there a time she killed civilians or was her victims military only?

In BW yes, but it was more due to the constant betrayals. Not so much so in SC1, her main purpose was staying on Char to hunt down Tassadar and Zeratul, so not really too much there.

[Gradius]

I'm down for a reboot of SC1. SC2 can't be made un-canon, and the original story has potential to be far more rich.

But then they'd get attacked for lack of originality and "repeating the same storylines".

[Turalyon]

For example, rebel yell has these elements: As the Aliens continue to wage war in the Terran Sector, the Confederate government's corruption becomes more and more apparent, causing wide-spread rebellion to fester even further among the already discontented and disenfranchised Terran worlds....

Not sure about "corruption" per se but rather "ineptitude". Duke is the poster-child for this. He's only "corrupt" when he's left no choice but to join Mengsk or left to die. Otherwise, he's a "by the book" loyal pawn to the Confeds.

BTW, was Kerrigan ever portrayed a mass murderer in SC and or BW? Was there a time she killed civilians or was her victims military only?

First, one has to consider whether assassins can also be called mass murderers. That she continued and chose to be an assassin in service of another person (after being freed by this person) would normally incite one to speak ill of her morality already. Second, is the differentiation between civilian and military targets sufficiently meaningful when technically she is part of a pirate/rebel/unsanctioned group that is committing crimes against the established government that everyone else recognises and adheres to as part of their normal lives (no matter how illegitimate or "evil" one may consider that government is)? If one is to exclude motivation and subjective feelings and focus on the act of killing and the number of people killed by direct action of a person, than Kerrigan is indeed a "mass-murderer" (or assassin if you think that is more politically correct/appeases your senses) even by the time Raynor first met her.