The Exquisite Beast

That's a link to a tumblr I follow of some webcomic artists I Love.

They started with a simple creature (at the bottom of the archive) and they take turns transforming it into other things, presumably through biological pressures. A neat tumblr to check out if you're looking for more things to think about in terms of fantasy/sci-fi creatures. (They update every few days, too.)

akatama

Romania982 Posts

September 28 2012 16:10 GMT

#284

Regarding the overlords you could say the spikes/huge teeth are there for discouraging any potential unintelligent predators from harming them. Should make sense, seeing how they can be used to scout out new worlds which might have dangerous wildlife, or since a single overlord carrying some drones could sneak past a defended perimeter and establish a hidden base or something. The last thing you would want to have is your only surviving scout killed by a flying shark

Setev

Malaysia390 Posts

September 28 2012 16:25 GMT

#285

On September 07 2012 21:07 OptimusYale wrote:

Show nested quote +

Even if it's not for mating for Zerg units, it may be a trait which is inherited from the original host creature, that the transformation didn't get rid of

Let's be clear here: Zerg don't mate. All Zerg are one, and the Zerg are many. Get it? =D

It means that the entire species is one organism, with the Overmind being the brain, and overlords and cerebrates, and queens being synapse creatures. The zerglings and ultras are merely organs without sentience, and can only be grown, but will not breed with each other.

So no more talk about sexual mating between zerg organisms. That is simply not acceptable as lore.

Setev

Malaysia390 Posts

September 28 2012 16:36 GMT

#286

Well as for the Fungal Growth acid thing which can chew through neosteel and Protoss armour, I tend not to think of them doing damage via their acidity, but I imagine there are countless intelligent microbes in glaive wurm juice and FG slime physically chewing their way through the structures.

If you watch the first Alien movie, one scientist comments that the Aliens have "some sort of molecular acid as blood", that burns through several decks of Ripley's spaceship. Maybe anyone can explain what is "molecular acid"? Or do you guys think the intelligent microbes make more sense?

Minahga

United States15 Posts

September 28 2012 20:00 GMT

#287

On September 29 2012 01:10 akatama wrote:
Regarding the overlords you could say the spikes/huge teeth are there for discouraging any potential unintelligent predators from harming them. Should make sense, seeing how they can be used to scout out new worlds which might have dangerous wildlife, or since a single overlord carrying some drones could sneak past a defended perimeter and establish a hidden base or something. The last thing you would want to have is your only surviving scout killed by a flying shark

Yeah that sounds good. Make a lot of sense!

Ponera

Canada596 Posts

September 28 2012 22:28 GMT

#288

This is straight from Az:

Confirmation: fungal appressoria DO generate massive amounts of pressure. But it is over an incredibly small area, and the function of the appressorium is to penetrate host PLANT cell walls. Animal cells are a lot easier to penetrate, b/c they don't have cell walls, only cell membranes. If you want to attack animal cells, as a fungus, it makes a lot more sense to produce mycotoxins, kill the cell, then 'eat' it. Fungi that produce appressoria are generally root endophytes, and after entering their host plants (us. Orchidaceae, but also some ericoids), they live as commensal mutualists or weak pathogens.

Torpedo.Vegas

United States1890 Posts

September 29 2012 10:26 GMT

#289

With regards to the "wings" and the tendency for zerg units to have lots of growths with spikes or webbing, could these be used for temperature regulation? The spikes could be a kind of passive deterrents for predators seeking to harm the growth more so then the body in general.

Zerg are based out of Char (fiery lava planet), they seem to have upgrades consistent with increasing and already high metabolic output, and some of them also potentially carry mass quantities of heated acidic goop.

Using the Zergling as an example, could the "wings" be an appendage designed to increase the surface area of Zergling, with each "wing" being loaded with blood vessels. Wing movement could be designed to improve air flow and cooling of the blood during periods of high metabolic activity (running/attacking). At high speeds they could double as some kind of rudder that improves movement stability or perhaps supports turning at high speeds.

It could also explain why Fire from Firebats or Hellions can be so effective against Zerg units. Temperature control might the draw back of being so metabolically hyperactive. This also supports the notions people talking about with the cancers and short life spans from rapid mutations from such highly active cells. Rapid generational turnover from this plus environemntal factors would lead to the primary trait of evolving new adaptations relatively quickly.

If this was suggested already, sorry, I must have missed it.

Ponera

Canada596 Posts

September 29 2012 21:38 GMT

#290

Wings are often used as a secondary way of heat regulation. A great example of this is dragonflies!

Ponera

Canada596 Posts

September 29 2012 22:19 GMT

#291

New video is live, this one is on the overseer!

Night Eyes

433 Posts

September 29 2012 22:36 GMT

#292

I love the idea that morphing zerg air units will have a sort of an "anchor" to the ground that can be hit ground to ground only units like tanks. as you said it makes sense plus from a gameplay point of view it will also mean a lot more where you morph your units.

As for the changling being made out of creep, well that is just mind blowing to me. the units and abilities that blizz can make off that are so much more then "your units can move faster"...

Great vid and great content all around, tnx.