On the Locust and Swarm Host, and potentially the Zerg in general, why not chimeric organisms? It doesn't make sense to burden the different Zerg forms with DNA encoding the resources of the full Swarm, the larvae could be an organism made up of a large amount of different cells like a chimeric organism, and when it is given the appropriate cues, it forms a cocoon so it can rapidly grow the cells belonging to the desired Zerg strain, while killing off all of the cells that belong to strains that are no longer required. I think this would make the whole "even Zerg cells fight each other as a show of 'survival of the fittest' as the larvae grows" (paraphrased) make at least some amount of sense.
For the purpose of the Swarm Host, it could keep the cells that will eventually turn into Locusts on its back (perhaps frozen at an early stage of development, i.e. embryonic diapause), and then it just gives them the cue to grow when in a favorable environment (rooted into the ground).
I think it's been established by lore that larvae have the DNA for all the strains and just need the right stimulus. Yep, diapause seems like the proper course for the swarm host at least!
Only thing I would like to add Ponera is I saw a fairly recent expirement done by neurologists in the US where they used an electromagnetic field to alter brain function in volunteers. This magnetic field often caused hallucinations or certain emotions to be felt depending on the strength of the field. So the psionics might be bio-magnetism rather than electronic as I first thought. Anyway, I agree that protoss biology is boring and the only interesting part is trying to work out the psionics without resorting to "hurr durr magic".
Good video, i'm looking forward to the write up and sorry for the hard to pronounce name!
The electromagnetic signals works to explain the telepathy, but it doesn't really take care of the more outlandish stuff like merging consciousness and converting 2 bodies into energy without external help, or creating lightning that fries people's brains (unless the "storm" actually isn't literal and just represents what someone feels like they're experiencing as the templar messes with their brain)
On October 24 2012 07:50 Ponera wrote: Yeah bio magnetism could work, EM fields are known to mess with people pretty hard. So Bio electrical magnetism?
I am going to have to do a separate thing about psionics. Damn.
I am currently looking for people who are into this that want to ask some questions about their favourite zerg or netural units based on their own observations, recorded on the spot, live, on skype or if you cuties want I can do it in writing, but I plan on being blindsided by all of them. I'll even take questions about protoss and psionics, or *gasp* Kerrigan's bio-heels or why she needs to look so damn good despite being a non-reproductive!
Let me know if you are interested and we can plan from there. Feel free to PM me or just post here and let me know; I will make arrangements with you guys.
Excellent! PM me with skype info. It will go down sometime between this weekend and next weekend, in the evening. I am going to talk to Az (the fungal growth video guest) just so there is someone to call me out if I am full of shit, which I am not, but just so you can all observe!
Think of the best way to shiv me with a question, and I do mean shiv, as I will be giving all written questions to river without reading them so she can censor them (and subsequently shiv me) and the episode will be done in all one take, with me and az or just me. We will take live callers, recorded of course, to ask it and give follow-up if they want. Looking for at least 3 thoughtful viewers with 2 questions each, but we may cut it to 1 question if we get 6 viewers interested, so far we have 2!!!
Asking any pro, mod, game dev, keener, nerd...well any noun, really, anyone that reads this and enjoys it (see: everyone) is welcome!
Why do you not like the protoss anatomy so much? As you know, on Earth there's the concept of convergent evolution, which basically is the idea that completely unrelated and non-interacting species can end up looking essentially the same. Early hominids evolved our morphology in order to better walk and run upright, so maybe it's possible that on Aiur the early protoss fulfilled a similar function as scavengers/runners? We know certainly they were tribal like early humans, and that their planet is jungled in a similar way to Earth. According to lore, it was only after the Xel'Naga intervened that the protoss lost their mouths and got their psionic powers activated, so we don't have to deal with that in the same way you have to accept that zerg are going to have spikes(the Xel'Naga are, at this point, unable to be explained in any suitable manner as far as comparison to biology as we know it)
thanks! Saw the wall of text, not going to read it so I can get sucker punched by it's lovely contents. If you don't want to ask me on skype while I record, I am more than happy to read it out.
Upon reflection, I think that a lot of aspects of the protoss would make a lot of sense if were to consider the possibility that their psionic communications are actually some form of electrical communication. This would give a very logical and simple explanation for how their shield generator implants could be powered (simply with electricity, rather than through some inexplicable magic or any unnecessarily complicated method of converting another form of energy into something that could power electronics), and might actually explain psi storm. While this is clearly very much unfeasible, were we to allow a certain leniency in what's practical (as only seems to make sense given many of the other elements of starcraft), might it be at least possible that psi storm is actually just a more powerful use of the same organs used to generate the small electric fields for communication? Clearly, this would seem to involve impossible amounts of energy, but a potential explanation might come in the form of the Khaydarin amulet. Were we to assume that the Khaydarin amulet was made of some extremely energy dense substance with a structure such that the contained energy could be harnessed easily, or comprised of some substance that allowed the protoss to very easily fission or fuse it through some hidden piece of technology somehow incorporated either into their suits of armor, or into the amulet itself, this might provide an explanation for the incredible energies released during a psionic storm, that, if not practical, might at least be possible. This clearly causes issues when one considers the difficulties in directing the incredible energies involved, but might be a step in the right direction.
EPT
