posted
Check out the entire Protoss force righthere.
Here's the video presentation of the new units. It appears that with the loss of Aiur, the Protoss force is now dominated by Dark Templar influences, as portrayed in their units.
Personally, I think it all looks friggin' sweet. Posts: 292 | Registered: Jun 2006
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Blayne Bradley
unregistered
posted
indeed, I just hope that terrans dont keep getting shafted storywise. Also all the new units and abilities seem to really disfavour turtleing strategies in Starcraft 1, where even though a turtle could be cracked open turtling was at least moderately effective and could/can buy time. Especially in a 3v3 or 4v4.
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posted
The Protoss have always been my favorite and their story the most interesting of the three.
I am saddened that the loss of the Homeworld, Aiur, has so shattered their civilization...and though the Dark Templar stuff is cool I would like to see the Conclave remade and the return in glory to Aiur.
But I fear that the Protoss, like the Elves, are on their way out...
Posts: 4953 | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
The Protoss are laaaaame. Just like the Eldaaaar.
"We're elves! We're elves with guns! We walk on snow! We see real far! We're elves! We're elves with guns!"
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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1) There are "Dark Templar" which is sort of like their being "Dark Protoss". This is similar to how some fiction has "Dark Elves". This doesn't hold up very well under examination, however, since the "Dark Templar" are not evil, like most Dark Elves are portrayed.
2) They are "old" as a race.
3) Most Protoss live very long lives. Most elves live very long lives. (It is important to note, however, that 1000 years old is elderly for a Protoss, whereas elves are "immortal".)
I'd say that these similarities listed so far are largely trivial.
quote:We're elves! We're elves with guns! We walk on snow! We see real far! We're elves! We're elves with guns!"
No mention is ever made of them walking on snow, or seeing real far.
posted
I suppose not. But I believe this was released well before that particular issue of PC Gamer has been scheduled to be released.
Posts: 292 | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
Is a race too cool for school? Are there pointy things on the sides of their heads? Do they ramble on and on about "honor" and live for ages and clearly outshine, per unit, everybody else? Are they generally on the right side of any moral conflict, assuming they have all the data?
They do live up to 1000 years. I addressed this above.
quote:and clearly outshine, per unit, everybody else?
Wait a minute, now we are mixing lore with gameplay. I also have no idea how having powerful units relates to being an elf. You seem to be saying that the Protoss and sort of like the Eldar (gameplay wise), and the Eldar are clearly elves, so therefor the Protoss are elves. Sort of an odd chain of reasoning, and one which I'm sure you can see the flaws of.
quote:Are they generally on the right side of any moral conflict, assuming they have all the data?
This appears to be another stretch. The introduction to the Protoss is them obliterating a human planet. They are doing this to stop the zerg from spreading, but the Protoss are in no way high and lofty with their morals.
In fact, the campaigns of Starcraft reveal a civil war amongst the Protoss race (one which the player takes part in).
I've gotta ask, Tom, did you even play Starcraft?
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Nah, Tom's right. The Protoss are elves. They've got the "we're so old, we're waaaaaay wiser than YOU" attitude, the refusal to use contractions, and the control of mystical space energy/ magic that nobody else does. Just look at those particle effects!
Also, Praetor Fenix is clearly Legolas reincarnated. With just a hint of Worf.
Also, also, Xavier- you seem to be taking this awfully personally. Take a deep breath, man. Posts: 1321 | Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
Xavier: While I agree the protoss are not simply elves in space, they DO share some similarities worth mentioning.
Are they too cool for school means they are stand offish in an elitist sort of way. The Protoss think of themselves as the guardian nurture race of all the "lesser" species. So that is pretty elvaan. But yes they did revolt against their own creators and try to kill them all so not very elvaan.
"Are there pointy things on the sides of their heads?" No, definately no pointy ears. But then again almost EVERY race in WOW has pointy ears.
"Do they ramble on and on about "honor." I'm going to have to give this one to Tom. Every protoss unit says stuff like, "For Honor!" "My Life for Aeir!"
"and live for ages" they do live MUCH longer then your typical organism. Maybe not so much as elves but its along the same lines.
"and clearly outshine, per unit, everybody else?" The elvan units in just about any game are always super polished and VERY efficient. Protoss units are far and away the most COOL looking. Terran units are extremely industrial looking, and Zerg units look like organic vomit. This has nothing to do with how well they perform in actual combat, but the Protoss are certainly portrayed as far more powerful then the other two races.
"Are they generally on the right side of any moral conflict, assuming they have all the data?" Your points about this were good, but remember the protoss are still in large part the "benevolent protectors of the universe." Yes there is desent and changes in policy but as a race this is a traditional role they have played.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote: Also, also, Xavier- you seem to be taking this awfully personally. Take a deep breath, man. [Smile]
Trust me, this isn't even a blip on my radar . Arguing about a ridiculous topic on the internet is fun, and it doesn't actually upset me in any real way (as I hope it doesn't for others).
I think the participants in these types of debates take it as a given that nobody actually cares about the topic in any deep way.
Edit:
Now that that is out of the way, and we can go back to our silly argument...
I think Tom's list for elvish classification fits the Klingons more than it fits the Protoss.
1) Think they are better than everyone. Winner: Tied
2) Pointy things on side of head. Winner: Klingons (they have ears!)
3) Ramble about honor Winner: Klingons
4) Live for ages Winner: Protoss
5) More powerful than other races Winner: Tied
6) On moral high ground Winner: Protoss? Could be tied.
(of course, if you made this list for the Vulcans, they'd win every category, cause they actually are elves in space )
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
Sorry Xavier, I have to agree with Tom. The Protoss are Elves. But I consider that a compliment as no one is as awesome as the Elves!
Protoss, Zerg, and Terran are curiously similar to the Warhammer (which was an old role playing game and now PC game too) races: the Protoss being the same as the Eldar from Warhammer, and the Eldar are just like the Elves...and hell even use the Quenya name of the Elves!
Ways in which the Protoss are like the Elves:
-An ancient race, the Firstborn of the Gods. -Rebelled against the Gods. -Created their own nations, civil war, and finally peace under a central government. -Fought with the ultimate Evil and nearly perished in the process. -A dying civilization, but still light years ahead of any other race.
-Everything Tom said before.
Anyway, StarCraft is way better than Warhammer imho. Long live the Protoss! For Aiur!
Posts: 4953 | Registered: Jan 2004
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As for the Elf/Protoss debate: It is interesting to note that the voice of Artanis is probably played by the same guy who did the Elven Archer voice in Warcraft II. I say probably, as I haven't played Warcraft II in a long time.
Posts: 292 | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
The key distinction is this, to put it crudely: the "elves" are whatever race the primary authors masturbate to. In any setting, the "elves" are the race that get the "kewl powerz" whenever it's convenient, the ones that spontaneously manifest the inner eyelids and psychic bonds and mystic links to nature (tm) and whatever else is officially "nifty." This race tends to be ancient, stuffy, dying out, and full of angst.
They are the Supreme Emo Kidz, the ones who get to make the sparklies.
Sometimes, as happened with Star Trek, the official "elf baton" may change hands. For a little while following some truly exceptional Next Generation episodes, Klingons were the new Vulcans (who were the "elves.") You could tell because Worf got a fully functional backup spine that no one had ever known about before.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
But the Klingons are characterized primarily by their savagery and strong emotions. That's fundamentally opposed to the worldview of the elves/Vulcans/Protoss, which all value stoicism. As Tom notes, the only emotions any of them are allowed to express is condescension toward the "lesser beings" and a general sense of universe-ennui. Very different from the snarling passion of the Klingons.
I mean, would Q ever ask a Protoss, "Eaten any good books lately?" Posts: 1321 | Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
I wasn't saying that the Klingons are elves. I was saying that they fit the classification criteria Tom listed nearly as well as the Protoss do.
Edit:
By the way, I was a Terran player who felt that the Protoss were boring .
posted
No, but you were saying that the Klingons are the Protoss, and I was responding to that.
If the Klingons align to any Tolkienesque fantasy race, they're clearly the dwarves, down to the stocky beardedness and obsession with bulky bladed weapons.
Posts: 1321 | Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
The ultimate test of whether or not the Protoss are the elves? Whether or not a principle character in the next game is half-protoss/half-human. That'll cinch it.
And you may ask why. It ties in with Tom's point about the, ahem, Onanistic properties of the elven character set. The author of the game gets to envision either 1) getting to be the nifty bastard child all angsty at being an outcast among the Protoss and Humans but still having all the neato powers (and tossing in some stuff about being better because Humans are better at adaptation or something) or 2) getting to fantasize about boinking some hottie protoss female and being the father of the bastard child.
Posts: 4753 | Registered: May 2002
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quote:The ultimate test of whether or not the Protoss are the elves? Whether or not a principle character in the next game is half-protoss/half-human. That'll cinch it.
And you may ask why. It ties in with Tom's point about the, ahem, Onanistic properties of the elven character set. The author of the game gets to envision either 1) getting to be the nifty bastard child all angsty at being an outcast among the Protoss and Humans but still having all the neato powers (and tossing in some stuff about being better because Humans are better at adaptation or something) or 2) getting to fantasize about boinking some hottie protoss female and being the father of the bastard child.
I seriously doubt there will be. The very idea of a Protoss "hottie" is kind of odd to me.
In fact, there is only ONE Protoss female in the entire games, and she is 1000 years old, and quite unattractive.
I think that alone should clinch that they are not elves.
Elves, almost by definition, have to be attractive. You can't get much uglier than the Protoss:
quote:Protoss are about three meters tall and have two luminous eyes, digitigrade legs, four digits on each of their hands (of which two are opposable) and toes, broad chests and shoulders, and narrow waists with slim midsections. Their skin is smooth and becomes rough and cracked with age. Extending back from the crown of the head, Protoss have a bony crest. Otherwise the head of a Protoss may be subtly different varying on which tribe they are descended from. Their eyes are typically blue, yellow, orange or red, with the latter two colors more common (but not exclusive) for Dark Templar. As only one female Protoss is seen, and not in detail, the physical differences (if any) between males and females are unknown, as are the Protoss reproductive systems.
Protoss do not have any visible noses, ears, or mouths.
From the wikipedia article.
Of course, with what the current Blizzard folks did to the Draenei (making their females attractive), I suppose I shouldn't put it past them .
As for the Elf/Protoss debate: It is interesting to note that the voice of Artanis is probably played by the same guy who did the Elven Archer voice in Warcraft II. I say probably, as I haven't played Warcraft II in a long time.
I think that alone should clinch that they are not elves.
Elves, almost by definition, have to be attractive. You can't get much uglier than the Protoss:
Oh sure, they're ugly now, but I wouldn't put it past the writers to suddenly make the Protoss the fathers of mankind or something who just happen to choose to wear some kind of semi-organic body armor and really be a bunch of elven hotties underneath.
Seriously. You think it's stupid, but look at video game stories. They're rife with this kind of stupid crap and none of it would surprise me.
Posts: 4753 | Registered: May 2002
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quote:Blizzard released the story that the Draeni have a couple of some splinter groups that have devolved.
Which is because they didn't want the alliance to have an "ugly race".
Posts: 5656 | Registered: Oct 1999
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Blayne Bradley
unregistered
posted
which is why I only play a blood elf on hoard, i like pretty races. I would play elf on alliance but they lack any elf wizards on it.
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quote:Originally posted by Telperion the Silver: Considering that Artanis is the High Elven name of Galadriel...
Not a very flattering name for the Protoss Artanis, considering what it means in High Elven.
My only complaint is that thus far, all the goodies are going to the Protoss. No love for the Terrans and Zerg? Much as I love the Protoss, I'd love to see the expansion spread to ALL the races, hell, maybe even create a fourth race, that'd be cool and new, rather than just updating everything for the second go around. I hope the new story is good.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
I wouldn't be surprized if we find ourselves battling on Earth too... I'm sure the UED will come back in the picture.
As for the Protoss rebuilding it would be very difficult, as Aiur was the heart of not only their resourses but the core of their Psionic Matrix from which they powered all their technology and shields. I imagine they set up a new Psionic Matrix on Shakuras of course, but with their population so low now...who knows?
But at the same time, the two sides of their race are reunited, Dark and High Templar. And now that the mainstream of the Protoss, due to the war, are probably the same number as the Dark Templar the Protoss energies are balanced...and it was only that balancing of energies that allowed the destruction of the Overmind. So the Protoss that remain are probably a more powerful sort.
So in a way the Protoss were able to achieve what the Zerg were trying...and what the Xel'Naga before them as well...the combination of the Purity of Form and the Purity of Essance. Except the Protoss did it in the Mind, not the body.
But as we discovered in Brood War not all the Xel'Naga are dead, and they were attempting a Protoss/Zerg hybrid, similar to what the Overmind was attempting. This is of course the Overmind had within it the desires of the Xel'Naga in some form.
Posts: 4953 | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Personally, I think trolls (male and female) are the sexiest horde race by far. Draenei males win on the alliance side. Face tentacles are hot.
And on topic...
I do agree with Tom to a certain extent. But as much as I loathe Elves, I have always liked Protoss. I think it's because, as has been mentioned, they aren't as "pretty" as elves. They have a bit of Klingon too them. And their sworn enemies, the Zerg, are not nearly as lovable as orcs and goblins.
In fact, it's almost impossible for me to actually enjoy playing as the zerg. They have no redeeming qualities. At the end of Brood War, when Kerrigan was faced with a ragtag alliance, the remnants of all the groups she had betrayed and slaughtered, a chill ran down my spine. It took me a month before I could actually stand to play that level... I too desperately wanted to be on the other side. I wanted to help Mengsk and Artanis and the UED wipe that horrible, obnoxious, loathesome bitch off the face of the galaxy.
Instead, Blizzard handed her the win.
Posts: 3580 | Registered: Aug 2005
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quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: The key distinction is this, to put it crudely: the "elves" are whatever race the primary authors masturbate to.
While I more or less agree with your point, the only obvious fap material in SC is Kerrigan, which I guess would make both the Terrans and the Zerg "elves."
Infested Kerrigan attracts and repulses me simultaneously. Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
Well, that's the dark genius of Starcraft: the Zerg are completely repulsive, but they gave them teh boobs. That's why the "story" really boils down to Zerg vs. Protoss, with the Earthlings as occasional wrenches in various best-laid-plans: no Terran boobs. It also explains the Korean market: you get to play not only as the babe, but ALSO as the tentacles!
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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