Protoss Stalkers, Organic or Machine?

[Pandonetho]

If you're talking about this one, it seems very metallic to me (meaning it is plated with a helmet at the very least).

No, I'm not talking about that one, I'm talking about the drawn one where it even shows his nerve cords.

Likewise, we all know that when Protoss make mechanical units (e.g. Dragoons and Immortals), they don't design them with their heads sticking out. Ergo, that's not a real head on the Stalker..

Also, I can say the exact same thing as you. We all know that when Protoss make mechanical units (e.g. Dragoons and Immortals), they don't design them with arbitrary fake heads sticking out. Ergo, that's a real head on the stalker...

[ArcherofAiur]

If you're talking about this one, it seems very metallic to me (meaning it is plated with a helmet at the very least).

The head piece is definatly metallic. But the glowing eyes are definatly biological. Plus the unit portrait shows much better what parts are skin and what parts are metal.

[mr. peasant]

No, I'm not talking about that one, I'm talking about the drawn one where it even shows his nerve cords.

After doing some searching, I think I finally figured out which one you were referring to. Was it this? If you're referring to the one on the right, we don't know for certain that it is related to the Stalker concept arts on its left since I'm pretty sure not all art on said wall we exclusively for the Stalker. Also, don't Dark Templar lack nerve cords?

Also, I can say the exact same thing as you. We all know that when Protoss make mechanical units (e.g. Dragoons and Immortals), they don't design them with arbitrary fake heads sticking out. Ergo, that's a real head on the stalker...

Actually, the Immortal does. Moreover, so do the Colossus and Reaver. And they're 100% robots with no living components.

The head piece is definatly metallic. But the glowing eyes are definatly biological. Plus the unit portrait shows much better what parts are skin and what parts are metal.

Based on concept art, the Immortal also has glowing eyes. Consequently, glowing eyes does not conclusively mean it is a real head. As for the unit portrait, I can't make out the details well enough. I can't find a HQ version of it. So, I can't really comment on it.

Edit: Just skimmed through BR4. Think I know what you're getting at. When you say the parts that look like skin, I'm assuming you mean the area behind the head piece where the neck connects to the main body? It sorts of looks like that but again, can't make it out fully. It's certainly very detailed though that could mean anything.

[ArcherofAiur]

Edit: Just skimmed through BR4. Think I know what you're getting at. When you say the parts that look like skin, I'm assuming you mean the area behind the head piece where the neck connects to the main body? It sorts of looks like that but again, can't make it out fully. It's certainly very detailed though that could mean anything.

There was a unit portrait video posted earlier in the thread.

And Im still curious how you explain the stalker scratching?

[Pandonetho]

Actually, the Immortal does. Moreover, so do the Colossus and Reaver. And they're 100% robots with no living components.

The Immortal doesn't have a "head" "sticking" out.
The Reaver and the Colossus are 100% robotic.

And again, what is the point of having it move and act JUST like a real head, scratching it, blinking the eyes and all that if it's not the real head? Why would the Protoss even be "moving the head" at all during battle? Would he not have other things to worry about, such as getting blown to pieces, while he's "manipulating" his fake head? Oh wait, even if it is a fake head, what if he's manipulating it purely because its his only means of vision? Then what? What if he head gets blown off? Does he suddenly become a blind stalker?

[mr. peasant]

There was a unit portrait video posted earlier in the thread.

And Im still curious how you explain the stalker scratching?

Same way I explain the goldfish in the Immortal tank; Blizzard humor.

[ArcherofAiur]

Same way I explain the goldfish in the Immortal tank; Blizzard humor.

But its not as funny unless its a real head.

[Kacaier]

The Reaver and the Colossus are 100% robotic.

[...]
Oh wait, even if it is a fake head, what if he's manipulating it purely because its his only means of vision? Then what? What if he head gets blown off? Does he suddenly become a blind stalker?

I quoted those two parts. Both Reavers and Colossi use a small head for vision as well. So, these two question are intricately related.

And what makes you assume that the Protoss expect to be shot at all? Again, with lore, shields are the Protoss main armor, so to speak. What is a Protoss anything without shields (excluding Zeratul)? If any Protoss unit gets hit, they don't have a medic, nor can they have a probe weld on some slabs of metal like the Terrans. Shields on the other hand, are much hardier and can regenerate. The moment those shields go down, any damage that'll hit, I doubt their 'thick' Protoss armor can take it like say a fatly plated battlecruiser or thor.

But its not as funny unless its a real head.

I'm sure you're aware, but that's an opinionated statement. A robot acting like a living being is considered humor. I wouldn't doubt a fake head acting real would be funny either. Er, hopefully I worded that correctly. I mean that a fake head acting real would be funny as well. Maybe I should have just typed that.

[Visions of Khas]

I quoted those two parts. Both Reavers and Colossi use a small head for vision as well. So, these two question are intricately related.

The head may be a dedicated targeting device in all three cases; it doesn't necessarily mean their field of awareness is just as limited.

Regarding the issue of the Dark Templar's "shadow essence", I like to think that the warrior exerts a variety of "mind control", diffusing his awareness and being across the form of the stalker. In this way, destroying the head might not necessarily mean instant death.

[newcomplex]

Because the head doesnt look mechanical. The rest of the stalkers shell is clearly mechanical but the head is obviously not.

Its not suppose to look mechanical. The entire point is to look real. Thats like saying "the mermaid on our ship bows look like real mermaids, hence, a real mermaid"

No, I'm not talking about that one, I'm talking about the drawn one where it even shows his nerve cords.

Also, I can say the exact same thing as you. We all know that when Protoss make mechanical units (e.g. Dragoons and Immortals), they don't design them with arbitrary fake heads sticking out. Ergo, that's a real head on the stalker...

First of all, thats concept art. Its not even inked, so that could be a super-early concept, that was just brainstorming.

Second, Having the stalker having a real head is completely dumb. Theirs no logical explanation why it would be real. First of all, it means that the real dark templar has a body. The stalker would be identical to a redesigned dragoon. It would need its head physically protruding out no more then a dragoon or immortal would. The reason why it would have a head is probably because it is more akin to a collosus, a purely robotic structure then a dragoon. Why are we ignoring what blizzard blatantly wrote on the unit page? The essence of a dark templar is infused with a machine. Why do people interpret this as "The dark templar was physically put inside the machine, and interfaces with it with their mind, hence the infusion part, but for some reason, DT's need their head physically protruded out of the unit, instead of protected like dragoons and immortals."

It says so blatantly on the unit page, theirs no reason to assume that theirs any actual physical process.

Also, due to the shape, its physically impossible the head is real unless they literally cut if off a dark templar. And mounted it.