Scared Zerg?

At the end of brood war, Kerrigan's zerg were completely dominant. They fought off the protoss, the dominion, and the UED at once.

I expected that at the beginning of SC2, the other races would be holding on for dear survival against a nigh-invincible swarm. I figured the terran would be constantly holding back zerg forces and the protoss would only be surviving due to bringing back their old technology like motherships and colossi.

But when SC2 starts, it turns out the zerg retreated for 4 years between the two games.

(Spoilers ahead)

And then during the campaign, even an all-out fight against the zerg shows that they weren't really all that tough. What happened? I don't know if there wasn't an explanation or if I just missed it... Why did Kerrigan pull back after brood war, and why were her forces only moderately powerful?

 

umm All i know is when they attacked charterran were getting slaughtered, and barely held out for the xelnaga artifact. Why she retreated is unknown to me i nthe brood warthing, though the zerg did attack alot through the campaign, not too overwhelming pressure but there were attacks.

 

I assume the zerg are spread quite a bit beyond the galaxy(they came accross a lot of planets on their way to Koprulu). If they found anything more important than conquering a portion of the galaxy in those four years(obviously, they aren't gonna put it off forever), the zerg could focus fully on that, because they have colonies way beyond the knowledge of any terran or protoss, and if they get destroyed because of focusing on the more important thing, they can just rebuild.

 

Kerrigan probally also knew what the overmind saw and focused on researching the Xel'naga etc.

Her actions look very staged and half assed though so...hopefully we find out in the expansion.

 

**spoiler**

well when kerrigan started a massive onslaught on all the outer rim planet she left all her planet a less defended and it's the 1/2 if the entire dominion army who attacked char at once. The proof that the zerg were less is that terran were able to take ground and move to kerrigan so she pulled her army back to defend her world and ultimately destroy the terran army.

psssit: last time i got banned for spoilering does it mean each time i say something about the campaign i have to say **spoiler**?

 

i think that they will tell us why they retreated in heart of the swarm. and you have to consider that the swarm was pretty messed up at the end of brood war.

 

Also if you read the mini stories on the Blizz SC2 website it talks how they went across the worlds looking for new ways to create new creatures (Banelings, and Changelings) so she drew back to repair her swarm and refine it as well. That is what I think and it makes sense to be honest considering how broken up the swarm was and the battle against the Protoss, UED, and Dominion must of done.

 

The answer is very simple.

Blizzard + activision + new writers = a very bad story. They must have confused it with world of warcraft - an "expending" universe with magical artifacts where defeated mobs keep respawning from the dead, deceased spirits apper to guide the living from the "world beyond" and possesed, sorry "infested", people can be "purified" of their "demonic tante".

Who cares that kerrigan won control of the entire sector against the most powerful forces at the time combined togather against her. Nope that's not a good starting point. Apperantly kerrigan decided to convert from a mass murdurer to a science geek; a very bad one that is since she can't even handle a small group of rebels, not to talk about the mighty dominion.

But everything is ok folks. Jim Raynor is doing it for the sake of humanity. What a touchy speach. I almost shed a tear.

 

Well, I think you are confusing lack of explanation with lack of story. The fact of the matter is that the Zerg beat the combined forces of zerg and protoss at the end of sc1 bw, and sent the ued fleet running to their deaths. Then 4 years later they attack again ushering in the events of WOL. The ONLY information we have of what occurred during that time are character recollections, and the prophecy missions.

As of now we are working in the dark so neither you, nor I, nor anyone outside of blizzard/activision are in a position to decide whether it made sense for the swarm to bide their time.

Personally I think its one of several possibilities.

(Spoilers ahead)

A. Kerrigan also accessed the prophecy in some way, and learned she was the key to the defeat of the darkness. She then (being the most powerful psychic currently living) found the most optimum route to get her into a position to be turned by the xel naga weapon, if she was unable to access it herself. (I find this one to be rather remote)

B. Kerrigan withdrew to bide her time because of the fact that time is on the zergs side. The zerg from what I can read of lore have a tendency to multiply exponentially. What that means, is that the more zerg there are, the more they make. As such, chilling for 4 years makes perfect sense. If after bw there were 1 trillion zerg, and the protoss were in disarray as were the humans, she was in a good position. If after 4 years the protoss and the humans are back on their feet and rebuilding but there are 100 trillion zerg shes in a better position. (I consider this to be more likely)

C. Kerrigan withdrew to marshall her forces, harvest more strains, and consolidate her power over all remaining wild broods in the sector. She then set about learning more about who/what she was, and happened upon Dr Narub (duran spelled backwards) and his plot to seize the artifacts. She knew that whatever Duran was, he was NOT on her side, so she attempted to stop the accumulation of the artifacts. The Zerg are not incredibly great at intel gathering however, which is why the only place Kerrigan shows up is the moebius foundation itself. All the other zerg attacks were a blanket approach to the problem. (I consider this one the most likely)

Anyway, my point is that anytime there is unaccounted for time in a story its easy to call it into question. However just because something doesent make sense without all the pieces does NOT mean it doesn't actually make sense.

 

Please don't quote the post above your own. Read the forum rules before posting!

I am not confusing anything. Lack of explanation IS lack of story. Since the only explanations possible are very lacking and unsatisfying explanations like the ones you've brought.

A. Kerrigan found a way and wanted to be turned by the artifact, so she's not really trying to kill everybody she's only playing hard to get. Women.

Of course. Logical.

See this is definitely lack of story or in other words a very very very very very bad story. I can seriously find you 3rd grade children that wrote better plots.

B. I have no problem with Kerrigan biding her time "chilling". It's infect very likely since it was said in the end of BW that she stayed in char and looked into the void or something - and it is also logical since Kerrigan is not "evil" she's just her and her actions aren't necessarily involved in plotting the mass murder of everybody (She might be sitting pondering about life now that everybody are dead and she is the only self aware creature that is not controlled by her in the entire Zerg swarm. People could go crazy that way you know).

I have a problem with the fact that even though her forces are "100 trillion zerg" as you say and are the strongest in the sector, her invasion into Terran space is ridicules and unnoticeable and as villiers said an all-out fight against the Zerg shows that they weren't really all that tough. That's not realistic even if you can find millions of explanations to it.

C. Again: Kerrigan vs. Mobius = should mean a very big death to Mobius. And that includes Raynor and his small group of rebels AND the Terran dominion if involved. And ALSO the Protoss.

The phrase: "..The Zerg are not incredibly great at intel gathering..." is unacceptable mostly because you contradict yourself: as you've said: "being the most powerful psychic currently living" is someone that can gather intel about all the artifacts and their whereabouts and take them long before Mobius even thinks about gathering them.

So when we conclude A + B + C = we get a very bad and unsatisfiable plot = which equals lack of story.

Now of course Blizzard is the owner and writer of this, so nothing is not "unexplainable" - since they can practically write anything they want. That still doesn't mean that what they write and how they explain it is "good" and is not lacking something.

P.S.

who said Narud is Duran? just because it's implied by his name? These are very big speculations.

 

First off there was no point in quoting my entire post when you were the next poster

Next, obviously A. was a bit far fetched, it was a possibility no more (granted a rather poor one) Next, nowhere in the entire lore of sc1, or 2 does it show just how MANY planets the terrans have colonized, or indeed how many exist is the sector. As such, just because the zerg invasion is barely noticed in game, if the terrans have 1000 or even 100 planets, and only HALF are being invaded then thats a pretty damn big attack. Furthermore the entire outer rim is virtually overrun within only a few months in game, I would say the zerg are winning pretty handily.

In so far as the attack on char the vast majority of the terran fleet that attacked was wiped out within the first few minutes. The base that you have at the beginning of "all in" is ALL thats left of HALF the terran fleet. And without the artifact the terrans had no chance WHATSOEVER. Also, considering that that fleet was half of the ENTIRE terran fleet I would say the zerg were just a smidge stronger.

In so far as Kerrigan being the most powerful telepath in existance, yes she is.... HOWEVER shes not god, nor is she A god, nor does she have omniscience. She may be able to read the thoughts of anyone in the universe whos does not have psionic powers, but she cant read every one of them at the same time, not to mention that I doubt she can read individual people from across stellar distances.

(SPOILERS AHEAD) (SPOILERS AHEAD)

Continuing, it is logical that narub is duran. He has the same facial hair, his name is the same spelled backwards, and kerrigan said she could "see through petty disguise" Also, the Moebius foundation was the one that engineered tychus's whole crusade to kill kerrigan after she was mortal again. Logically it makes sense that Narub is Duran, however there is no proof so far so it is still supposition.

Lastly, I never said A+B+C = anything, I said A, B, or C, were possibilities. All of them combined or with parts of each are also possibilities. Not to mention that your definition of a good story is kind of odd. Suspense, and lack of knowledge are 2 MAJOR components of any interesting saga. Yes, if by the end of the sage we dont know any of that relevant info then obviously the story would be lacking. However, its only the first third of book 2.... I personally am fine with speculating until the interesting details are revealed. If we knew EVERYTHING it would be incredibly boring.

 

First off I quote cause that way it's easy to see what you wrote and then to comment about it.

Next; actually, it HAS been stated that the Terran core worlds are numbered 13 (that was before the great war and Brood war which wiped more then half of the entire Terran population). Now I remind you that it has been only 4 years after the end of brood war, in which the Terrans had suffered more then anybody else - especially the dominion itself which was destroyed TWICE (!) Once by the UED and then by Kerrigan (in which point it wasn't even the dominion itself but scraps of a mercenary fleet gathered by Mengsk)

So after all this, you go and tell me that it was a big attack? are you joking me? YOU yourself said that the Zerg are trillion times stronger now, and they SHOULD be cause 4 years is not enough time to rebuilt a strong human empire - Mengsk's Dominion is a shadow of it former self - Kerrigan should be able to wipe it down in a matter of days!!!! But instead she looses the fight against barely half of the dominion fleet with a group of rebels that sit down in a base on char (HER PRIMARY PLANET!!) drinking coffee while they shoot zergs for fun AND are able to destroy the ENTIRE Zerg air / Nydus worms defenses AND kill Kerrigan. Of course. Logical.

AND the stupid artifact, which only helped them in the last mission not in the first 2 missions on Char (nor on the Mobius planet where the magical group of rebels defeated kerrigan on their own), only makes it WORSE!

Stupid story.

That it is not suspense nor lack of knowledge - that is pure stupidity and unreality.

(and I haven't even talked about the magical ghosts appearing from the "world beyond" that reveal the Mama Tereza nature of the angelical Overmind. Oh how cute.. that pinky delicious eye bubbles honey pudding.. oh how could Tassadar had killed him.. mean mean Tassadar)

I am going to puke.

And no, nothing can save the story from this point.

 

I disagree.

Please don't quote the post above your own. Don't quote more than you post, and don't respond in less than three words = SPAM!

 

Please don't quote the post above your own. Don't quote more than you post, and don't respond in less than three words = SPAM!

Likewise.

 

likewise

 

I guess for some people taking a game, making it look just a bit better, adding some new units and writing a lame story = a good game just because it has a title of a real legendary game and plot.

oh well. I respect your opinion but starcraft 2 is a disappointment in almost every level.

 

Muaddib, You are correct in stating that the "core" worlds number only 13. However, there are an unspecified number of "Fringe" Worlds. Furthermore, the Fringe Worlds are in many cases close to as civilized as the Core Worlds. Also, the Fringe Worlds, are unnumbered... As in anywhere from 40 to 100's. Either way there's nothing but speculation on just how many there are. AS SUCH making an assumption about it and then basing whether you like the story on that assumption is illogical.

Now, you talk about its "only been 4 years since" Granted.... However you are sadly lacking in your military history.

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/usarmy/introduction.aspx

On 30 June 1939 the total American armed forces numbered less then 400,000. By the end of 1944 which is, I will grant you five and a half years later, they numbered almost 8.3 MILLION

Furthermore, that was only ONE country. Thats not counting Germany's EXPLOSION of manpower preceeding the war (and during for that matter), its not counting Japan, Russia, Great britain, its counting only ONE major player in the war.

My point is this, during and after a war humanity is so unbelievably productive that its stupefying. Especially when you consider that the entire population of the EARTH at that time was less then a single heavily populated planet in the Koprulu sector (I am basing that on the fact that as technology increases so too does the size and density of cities)



Next point, The attack on char almost failed, the point is that through your ( the players) heroic actions as a commander you salvaged the day with the remains of the fleet. The point is the forces you salvaged cobbled together a defensive position and held off the overwhelming numbers long enough for the artifact to be assembled to be used. Perfectly plausible, A defensive position backed by heavy enough automatic weapons, and on the high ground, and protected from air assault is generally considered to be unassailable no matter the number of attackers you bring to bear. The zerg do not have snipers, the zerg do not have nukes, they have numbers. Eventually the terrans would run out of ammo and the zerg would win. You won first, again perfectly plausible.

Last, the prophecy never said the overmind was all sugar and honey, it was a creature that was bent to an others will, and did what it could to strike back I would do the same, not because I wanted peace and joy, but because I wanted to **** up the plans of my captor. Oh yeah, and if you think that because the overmind LOOKS ugly it has to be evil then theres not much I can say other then thats an incredibly closed minded view.

Last... agian... I dont think anyone ever had a problem with tassadar killing the overmind, it was trying to kill everything. Whether it had a choice in doing so or not is irrelevant, if a guys being mind controlled to kill me you better believe I'll shoot him in the face and have no regrets... i might feel bad afterwards, and leave flowers on his grave, I might even go after the guy who mind controlled him (hey... we are) but I highly doubt anyone would give me **** for defending myself. Its a crappy situation, but thats life.

 

If I recall correctly I swear there was something stating the zerg were trying to improve their DNA strands or something for the upcoming wars over the four years. Perhaps that's why they were MIA for awhile.

 

It may be a disappointment to you, as is why I disagree when people state something in such an absolute fashion.

I know alot of people complain about Kerrigans draw back to Char for 4 years and evolve, but I have a different take on that at least:

While she did indeed 'evolve' the swarm, I feel her draw back was more a way to solidify her own power over the thrown; you may say thats bull, she was already in full control, and that may be, but in this case something needs to be taken into account.

The personality of Kerrigan (to me, note I'm not familiar with the expanded universe stuff) seems a highly paranoid and erratic one. Some say she won the Brood War, and that is true to an extent, but it is useful to remember that it was you (as the cerebrate) who won the battles ad saved the swarm.

At Char, what does she do? Kill the remaining Cerebrates (inncluding your past character I assume) so that she is fully in control; now, take this into account, she just purged her cabinet of her most brillant generals and leaders, she pulled a Stalin and the result (SCII) is her Winter War. The character of Infested Kerrigan comes off as overwhelmed yet assured of her dominance, she is pulling all the strings and this shows in the inefficency of her swarm.

When assualting the Moebius Foundation she personally goes through the buildings... why? Is no other Zerg, capable of cunning tactics and strategy, read through files? Did she not bring along an infested terran who could do it for her? No, Infested Kerrigan has done everything to solidate her strength over the swarm, her paranoia hurting the swarm, no matter how efficent the design is.

It is fair to note the Swarm is spread across the worlds of the sector, yet she intends to give the commands and play general of every front, she is overextended.

In this respect I find the Zerg failures of SCII understandable, I've factored in the character of Kerrigan, her paranoia and her arrogance and in the end feel her failure so far is just that:

Her Failure.

I for one, find this an interesting detail and aspect of the story.

I anticipated in HotS, with Kerrignas mind freed from the maddness of Infestation and thinking straight, becoming more efficent in her actions, starting anew as she works to reclaim her swarm.

Course, its all just my opinion and theory.

You're free to disagree if you shall, but dont think I only disagree because I have a shiney new game lain before me, sir.

 

you also have to take in account that not all of the zerg army was present since they still left something to hold the planets which they had in possesion. Also, after broodwar it is not like everyone was destroyed and the swarm didnt take any hits, the swarm was really messed up as well.

i also agree with what the other guy said, the strenght of the swarm is in numbers, without the artifact, it was only a matter of time until the minerals for the terran end and the swarm just raze with everything, the only reason that they won was because the artifact wiped everything out.

and dont say that the artifact comes out of the blue because i've heard that a lot and i dont like it. the reason the artifact is there is thanks to valerian. Because he wanted to earn the respect of the people he found a way in which he could re-form the worst universe-class murderer. So through the mobeious foundation he controlled raynor into finding this artifact and use it. The main reason that the swarm loses is thanks to valerian