Protoss Stalkers, Organic or Machine?

[Pandonetho]

Then refer to my post, talking through a mechanical head is pointless.

[Visions of Khas]

In related news: Spore Stalker.

I'm fond of the carved face hypothesis, but it would seem as though the head is that of the Protoss inside it. Notice the textured skin and blinking eyes.

[flabortast]

It could just be a very advanced robotic face that said DT who fused with the stalker made. Protoss are a stickler for details.

[ArcherofAiur]

In related news: Spore Stalker.

I'm fond of the carved face hypothesis, but it would seem as though the head is that of the Protoss inside it. Notice the textured skin and blinking eyes.

Yah its definatly protoss skin on the head and neck. You can see how similar it looks to the Lenassa head.



It appears the "Essence" of the Dark Templar is the psionic potential of the head and nerve cords. The Stalker is a cyborg like the immortal with a head (and maybe more) implanted into the front of the machine. You could argue that the Stalker has "fake skin" but if were going to head down that road we might as well start calling the guy in the immortal a synthetic robot. Maybe Herbie is too



On a side note has anyone else noticed that whenever a stalker is selected it scratches its head? I bet its a glitch like the goldfish.

[Norfindel]

We can assume it's mechanical since the lore states that the Stalker merely incorporates the essence of the Dark Templar and makes no mention of the physical body at any point. So, unless they then decapitate the Dark Templar (assuming the body isn't destroyed in the process) and then mounting it on the Stalker's body, it's a mechanical one.

But why would they scratch a mechanical head?

Also, the description could be interpreted differently:

The stalker is a machine controlled by the shadow-essence of a dark templar warrior fused into a metal body to protect his people.

Is only their shadow-essence fused into a metal body, or the dark templar warrior is?

Anyways, mechanical or not, the unit as a whole doesn't look good to me. I think i even preferred the old model. It doesn't looks aesthetical.

[Pandonetho]

By that quote, it sounds just like the Dark Templar himself who has been fused into the machine. And still, no one answers my question about why anyone would want to talk through a mechanical head.

[ArcherofAiur]

By that quote, it sounds just like the Dark Templar himself who has been fused into the machine. And still, no one answers my question about why anyone would want to talk through a mechanical head.

I think were all pretty much convinced its a real head.

[Pandonetho]

I think were all pretty much convinced its a real head.

I am too, the only person in here who thinks it's mechanical is Peasant, and I'm asking him why anyone would want to talk through an artificial head.

And thus, if it's a real head, it's a bad design and it's no wonder why the Protoss are a dying species.

[Visions of Khas]

I'm not concerned about what part of their body the Protoss speaks through, their head or otherwise. If they're completely encased in the exoskeleton, like a dragoon or immortal, they'll still speak with their head, which may or may not be amplified by the mech.

It might be more appropriate if Stalkers were presented as being warriors who hadn't necessarily sustained mortal wounding, but were crippled and received some cybernetic grafts, not a total overhaul. Which might be cool.

[mr. peasant]

I am too, the only person in here who thinks it's mechanical is Peasant, and I'm asking him why anyone would want to talk through an artificial head.

And thus, if it's a real head, it's a bad design and it's no wonder why the Protoss are a dying species.

The reason I think it's a mechanical head is because the rest of the body is mechanical, there is no lore/evidence explicitly indicating this and I can't see any reason why a head would be sticking out. In other words, instead of making a wild assumption and then complaining about it, I instead opt for a different assumption that I can accept. At least, until more evidence surfaces.

As for the texture of the Stalker's head seeming to match the Dark Templar's, I believe the latter is wearing a helmet of some kind. The reason I believe this is because as can be seen in the Immortal's portrait, Protoss don't have a protruding ridge over their brows. Also, the Dark Templar lacks the double crest at the back of his head (wich the Immortal has). Instead, the construction of his head somewhat resembles that of the Void Ray's portrait, which is clearly wearing a helmet.

These features are also present on the Stalker. So, one of two conclusions can be made; either the Dark Templar is wearing a helmet whilst the Stalker's head is artificial or that the Protoss on Shakuras have a different head anatomy than their brethren from Aiur and the Stalker's original head is poking out of a mechanical body for no apparent reason. Now, which of these two seem more likely to you?