OneGoal: A better SC2 [Project Hub] - Page 39

The queen is really a unique Zerg unit, one that shows the new frontiers they are starting with gene incorporation into the swarm itself. Other than that volatile infested terrans and Kerrigan, the most intelligent creatures incorporated into the swarm are the Gargantis proximae which became the Overlord, so this is a rather significant step forward in the intelligence department. The queen seems to set a dangerous precedent of a tiered hierarchy within the hive with specific roles to play.

Anatomically speaking, we see the controversial "hydralisk effect" again, but these seemingly useless jaws have been expanded with a nasty looking set of caniniform teeth. They seem to only move laterally, making them useless for any kind of prey capture. Their function is rather mysterious and in my opinion, useless yet again.

You can clearly see that there is some hominiform (human/protoss) genetics incorporated. The face looks really protoss-like, with two small eyes and that elongation in the lower part of the face where the mouth would be in a human, but isn't. Makes nutrient intake a mystery, perhaps there is a semi permeable membrane somewhere for ingestion. Yes, I know that zerg are supported by creep, but exactly how is rather ambiguous so nutrient intake consideration is important. You can see the brow ridge and up features some armoured plates, to help protect that large brainlike structure the queen has heading out the back of the skull. The spikes on each plate seem like simple design yet again with not form/function. Nobody can say it's vestigial, as this queen is a direct descendant of the brood war queen but with hominiform DNA tossed in. I have no idea what the purpose of the large posterior extension from the head; it surely can't all be brain! I would suggest that perhaps this structure houses hormonal/pherimonal assembly structures, which are then somehow injected into the hive to stimulate larvae production. How this is transferred is a mystery, perhaps there is some kind of semi permeable membrane on the face. No wonder there is protection in the form of armour for this structure. This structure also almost certainly contains the anti-air attack, working like a biological spike thrower. How this works is probably with muscle contractions and this structure likely stores and produces the spikes. How they leave the head is a mystery as I don't see any openings.

Hanging off the posterior head are a few interesting aspects. Firstly we can see structures that look similar to Kerrigans zerg dreadlocks. Looks kerratinous to me, which suggests mammalian origins, or at least vertebrate. Probably from the human. Doesn't seem to have purpose, but it is a clue into the origins of the modern queen. The armoured plates on the head expand laterally, making a shield-like structure to protect the claws below, as well as the abdomen.

Continuing on with the hominiform appearance, there is a graceful neck heading down from that large posterior head. The femininity continues with a female-like pectoral girdle (the collarbone area isn't very broad, nor are the shoulders.) Coming off from the shoulders are unnecessary spike things. This would add a weight burden to the slender upper arm and would perhaps hinder the 2 fingered hand from tending to larvae and creep. The fingers are like little pincers but they move more like fingers. So what these do is a little bit baffling, as there is no ability to grasp. Perhaps they are used for scooping larvae and eggs. They are really delicate and remind me of the fingers from the aye-aye.

The long, skinny finger of the aye-aye is used to tap trees and find hollows where larvae can be found. Perhaps there is a similar purpose for the queens long fingers, tapping eggs to check for viability/readiness to get a sense of when things will hatch? Would be a useful tool to have in order to manage larvae and egg production.

Coming from the shoulder girdle is a wicked set of claws used in close combat attacking. These claws really don't seem that effective to me, as their location is awkward and their form is rather fragile with several mechanical weak spots, like the peak at the top. One half decent shot from a marine would end this claws usefulness. Since marines are decidedly more accurate that stormtroopers, this would potentially be an issue with queens seeing their close combat spayed mid-battle. Not sure how the musculature would work here, again we see the design of this creature trying to do too much with a single limb girdle. While the location is actually lower on the back for the attachment, it would absolutely affect the shoulder girdle as that is likely the platform that supports the upper muscles for the claws.

See for yourself: http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/game/unit/queen

The hominid pelvis has been completely re-purposed in this case and is apparently the platform for the frontal claws to attach to. These are likely powered by some very tensile and thick tendons which allow for them to smack a marine vertically, piercing their suit and ruining their day.

The queens lower body is clearly a manufacturing facility for creep tumors, which exit from her celebrated anal sphincter. The zerg really do love to use spinctors and support them with clawlike structures. Unarmoured and expansive, this re-purposed gut allows the queen to function further in he defensive support role. This is good, because the queen can't walk for shit off the creep. How the creep speeds up her locomotion is really a mystery to me. She has six insect-like limbs that end as a spike. They are joined together by some sort of membrane which likely limits the stride length of the queen. Perhaps they had issues with the likely intelligent (and perhaps independently minded) queens exploring and moving off from their duties, so needed to find a way to keep them on the creep. Silly rebellious queens, filled with angst.

I am not sure how the transfuse ability would work. Don't even get me started on how lame the animation is for it. Perhaps she somehow transmits creep to the zerg/building in question?

Overall, I really don't like the queens design. I find more flaw with it than I do with many others, as it really seems to be trying to do too much. I know it's getting a change in HotS (at least it might be, it's not present in the beta.)

Perhaps your genius minds can help explain some of the mysteries of the queen!