StarCraft® II

This may be old news for some of you (I saw it mentioned on the StarCraft Wiki), but there is some cut dialogue from WoL still available in the game's files and viewable through the map editor. You can read it on the Conversations tab of the Data window. One such bit of cut dialogue is from Echoes of the Future. Originally, as Zeratul visited each of the Overmind's tendrils, we would see a short scene from the Overmind's past. Here is the script (the text in italics are Blizzard's working descriptions of the scenes):

*FIRST TENDRIL*

Zeratul: "The first tendril node! Gods willing, some trace of the Overmind remains..."

The camera cuts away to a pre-built zerg creep-out area. We are in heavy shadow. In the HEAVY RED LIGHT we see a few zerg larvae creeping around in the muck.

Overmind: "Zerg. This is the first expression of all that I am. "

We see the larva enter its egg state.

Overmind: "The perfect design..."

We see the egg explode as a zerglings crawls out. It sniffs the air (or emotes somehow).

Overmind: "Bred to assimilate the strongest species..."

A wave of additional zerglings race up behind the first one and charge across the screen.

Overmind: "A perfect genetic ferocity..."

The first zerglings emotes and then starts running with them as the camera pans up and around the swarming creatures.

Overmind: "Driven by a perfect, single-minded will..."

The visions ends... we cut back to Zeratul standing near the tendril node.

Zeratul: "I have glimpsed the Overmind's origins... but there must be more! I must keep moving."

*SECOND TENDRIL*

Zeratul: "The second tendril node! I must make contact quickly!"

The camera cuts away to a view of SPACE. Through HEAVY RED LIGHT we see a swarm of zerg flyers moving slowly across a star field. The camera pans around them - showing their alien grace and majesty as a swarm.

Overmind: "Long did the Swarm wander the void...Assimilating the lesser species it encountered."

Camera swings around to show the space BEHIND this swarm... there we see DEAD WORLDS behind them... Could be 2D - gray/lifeless - or aflame (whatever)... we want to show the swarm as hugely destructive.

Overmind: "I was driven by the deepest manipulations of the Xel'Naga - to find and assimilate their first born...their failed children...the protoss."

The camera cuts to show a worm-hole SLOWLY open up before the swarm (similar to the Zerg victory flic <n/>in Star1 - this will use the 'black hole' Mothership spell art). The zerg 'get pulled in' to the black hole as if <n/>using it as a wormhole for travel...

Overmind: "I was nothing more than an instrument to the Xel'Naga...The Swarm was the raging fire that would consume the evidence of their sins."

All the zerg 'teleport' through the wormhole - leaving only silent stars before us. The scene starts to go black.

Overmind: "But what of my children? Would they have no future of their own?"

Camera cuts back to Zeratul as he stands before the tendril node.

Zeratul: "The Overmind seemed almost... selfless. I must press on."

*THIRD TENDRIL*

Zeratul: "The third node at last!"

The camera cuts away to a zerg 'room' - a dark chamber covered with CREEP. HEAVY RED LIGHT and shadow... the camera slowly pans around the room... A strong heartbeat is heard echoing throughout the chamber.

Overmind: "The Xel'Naga had created me to eradicate their failed children - the protoss - in a battle neither species would survive."

Camera stops tracking at the center of the room - as we see a CHRYSALIS (similar to Star1).

Overmind: "I could do nothing...but obey."

Camera starts zooming in towards the chrysalis.

Overmind: "Yet I deemed the purity of the Swarm was greater than my function - greater even than the Creators' Pyrrhic vision. I would birth...an inheritor."

The chrysalis begins to warp and flex - something is tearing its way out. The heartbeat is faster - thundering now.

Overmind: "One who would give the Swarm its freedom."

We see KERRIGAN arise from the Chrysalis. The camera slowly pans around her form - revealing her majesty.

Overmind: "And help it to...evolve."

We see tons of zerg rushing at her - swarming around her as their new queen. Camera cuts back to Zeratul.

Zeratul: "Kerrigan. (beat) Could the Overmind have created her... to stop the Xel'Naga's return?"

*FOURTH TENDRIL*

Zeratul: "The final tendril node... Gods, grant me the answers I seek."

The camera pans down to the scenes as the combat gets nasty. We see GANTRITHOR flying on-screen as in the BRIEFING.

Overmind: "I made my war against the first born as I was destined to."
Overmind: "Before I could assimilate the protoss - I was undone."

As the camera spirals to the ground (tracking Gantrithor), there is a FLASH of white light. The camera slowly fades back in to show Kerrigan standing on the battlefield as zerg swarm around her. Camera pans down toward her as she unleashes her powers against the protoss forces.

Overmind: "Yet my...daughter...remained. She alone would break the cycle. She alone would forge a future devoid of the hated Xel'Naga."

The whole scene starts fading to black.

Overmind: "She alone would lead the Swarm ...into tomorrow."

Cut back to Zeratul.

Zeratul: "I can scarcely believe what I have seen. What terrible irony - that the wretched Queen of Blades... is the key to saving all who live."

*THE CORTEX*

Zeratul: "Overmind! Trace impulses of the foul creature do linger!"
Zeratul: "Who did this?"
Zeratul: "I care nothing for your hopes. Tell me of the prophecy, damn you!"
Zeratul: "The Queen of Blades? Madness!"

Zeratul takes a step back.

Zeratul: "No! This vision! I cannot bear it, stop!"

FADE TO WHITE

So what's your opinion on all this? A lot of this is essentially the same story as in the final version, but many more things are explained and in my opinion there are not as many things that make no sense. One extremely important difference here is that the Overmind did not intentionally commit suicide in this version, though the question still remains why the Overmind wanted to get rid of the Xel'Naga's influence if they programmed it to do what it always wanted to do - assimilate new species into the Swarm and achieve perfection.

For the suicide question. Not in ANY part of the campaign that is now it sais that the Overmind comitted suicide. The version that is now sais excactly the same thing as this version. It may say it a little bit more dull and mysterious but it is the same. I dont really understand your question. one important thing to note is that in this version the Whole xel,naga race is responsible and not just the Fallen one. I guess he wanted to be free thats why he wanted to get ridd of em. And as we have seen, the overmind has an own conciousnes and will.... Wich brings up the question why the xel,naga would even program it so if he Only was a tool to assimilate the protoss.... and ending the cycle.

Not in ANY part of the campaign that is now it sais that the Overmind comitted suicide.

Its speech directly implies it. As long as he controls Kerrigan, she can't act independently, so if Kerrigan is to rule the zerg, then he has to die. There are no ways around it.

To answer to the OP, I wouldn't have "liked" that version, but I find it more tolerable than the current one.

The main difference is that although the Overmind is aware that the zerg are being manipulated, he still likes what he is doing. Directive or not, he is not a helpless victim - he has free will despite the directive, as shown by the fact he destroyed the Xel'Naga ships around Zerus. In that version, he really is their creation, not their slave.
He wants to assimilate the Protoss, just like in Brood War. The fight against the Xel'Naga is an *other* reason for Kerrigan's existence, but what we've seen in Brood War is still valid to an extent. The Overmind didn't want to die and didn't have to, it just happened for unrelated reasons.

This version isn't particularly great either, as it still retcons some of the things that were written in the SC1 manual, but it is vastly better than the infamous rewrite we were given in WoL.

28/05/2012 16:43Posted by Telenil

Its speech directly implies it. As long as he controls Kerrigan, she can't act independently, so if Kerrigan is to rule the zerg, then he has to die. There are no ways around it.

yes its true but he didnt invade Aiur screaming 'KILL ME!!!'. He died but i just dont think the whole invasion was just made to get him killed.. if it was his intention all along then... well i dunno what to think.

This version is more acceptable compared to the official one, because it doesn't bring Tassadar back. It's still not very good though, because Overmind is still presented as a slave, so my conclusion is as follows:

WoL story: beating yourself with a nail bat

This version: beating yourself with a bat that has the nails removed

They can a hundred different versions of this, but the poit remains: Overmind as a slave to xel'naga is contrived and stupid. It flies in face of everything we have done and witnessed in SC1/BW and turns this rather complex and morally grey story into simple exposition followed by more exposition that leaves us hollow.

I have my own theories to the whole enslavement of the Overmind and creation of the Queen of Blades.

I think the Overmind was originally as it is stated, just geneticly predisposed/programmed to assimilate other species and find perfection.
Somewhere along the way the Dark One, most likely one of the Xel'Naga..or maybe a complete cell/faction/sect/whatever...mannages to "plant a seed of his will" into one of the Cerebrates and waits for that Cerebrate to merge with others to form a new Overmind (as we are told in the Protos campaign of Brood Wars it happens when an Overmind dies).
As the corrupted Overmind is formed, the foul programming takes efect. The Overmind is not able to disobey that programming, yet, being made of the consciousness of several Cerebrates (of which only one is carrying the corruption, it can defy the programming by creating a non-corrutive successor (Queen of Blades).
Of course all the new Cerebrates that are created since the corrupted Overmind are corrupted as well, carrying that manipulated programming along to ensure that every subsequent Overmind incarnation would still follow the will of the Dark One.
Using Kerigan, a human, is vital to the creation of the Queen of Blades. A creature that has its own will and is not dependent on the Overmind or a Cerebrate to function, a creature, in fact, that can not be manipulated by the Dark One and can lead the Zerg back to their original purpose, finding perfection.

The concept that the Overmind is composed of several Cerebrates is the key apsect to the creation of the Queen of Blades.
If the Overmind was only a single consciousness, it would not be able to create a loophole to free the Zerg from the dark influence, it would not even lament it.
The consciousness of the other, unmanipulated, cerebrate that form the Overmind are what brought up the Kerigan plan.

That at least is my theory to it. Otherwise the whole enslavement and prophecy story would not make any sense to me.....
The original idea of Queen of Blades only being a weapon until the Overmind dies and she is no longer controled, is much less complicated.

There was only one Overmind made/engineered by the Xel'Naga. The two remaining Cerebrates did not have the chance to grow into one. The Overmind created/modified Kerrigan to turn the Zerg free. It makes sense but it depends on how you comprehend it.

19/06/2012 21:54Posted by AlexOdhin

There was only one Overmind made/engineered by the Xel'Naga. The two remaining Cerebrates did not have the chance to grow into one. The Overmind created/modified Kerrigan to turn the Zerg free. It makes sense but it depends on how you comprehend it.

but i think there is another overmind how created by the cerebrates and the ued take control of him on there last mission on brood war

19/06/2012 22:11Posted by MOHWORDLIFE

but i think there is another overmind how created by the cerebrates and the ued take control of him on there last mission on brood war

That's what I said only in a shorter sense...

There is only one Overmind - the eternal will of the Swarm (as said in the SC1 Zerg campaign). The Overmind body was only a manifestation of its will.

If the Overmind body was only a manifestatiuon of the will and the will is always there, then why did the Zerg fall into disarray when the body died?

Death of the Overmind was a big loss for the Swarm, but after the initial confusion the cerebrates restored order. If you are asking yourself why did the Overmind manifest himself and thus allowed to be specifically targeted the explanation depends on the lore:

Old lore (before the retcon):

Overmind's goal was to obtain "perfect" status of the Swarm by integrating the Protoss into the Swarm. This couldn't be done the same way as the lesser species (such as wild animals), so he needed to manifest himself on Protoss homeworld of Aiur on the Temple grounds.

New lore (after the retcon):

Overmind's goal was to kill himself and thus leaving Kerrigan in charge of the Swarm so she could prevent the apocalypse orchestrated by the Dark voice.

21/06/2012 19:39Posted by Mojko

Old lore (before the retcon):

21/06/2012 19:39Posted by Mojko

New lore (after the retcon):

They could both mix and work.

They could both mix and work.

Well, a mix of the old and new lore would result in just the cut dialogue PRH showed in the OP: an Overmind that does exactly what the Xel'Naga want for his own purpose (improving the Swarm) while creating Kerrigan to screw their plan.
But the actual retcon is further from the original lore than that.

If the Overmind body was only a manifestatiuon of the will and the will is always there, then why did the Zerg fall into disarray when the body died?

Because it was killed with Dark Templar energy.
If the Overmind or a Cerebrate is destroyed, it just reincarnates. But the Dark Templar use the same energy as the Overmind, so their attacks can block the "transfer" of the conscience, which then dies as the body is destroyed.
As Mojko said, the Cerebrates didn't die with him, possibly because they had their own body to "store" their part of the collective conscience, and they still commanded their own Brood (well, a Cerebrate doesn't "command" the zerg any more than you "command" your arms and legs, but you get the idea). Some of them merged to recreate a new Overmind "superstructure", but the Dark Templar killed them all in the end.

Well, looks like it was supposed to be final mission, but “In Utter Darkness” renders these scenes useless. However, it corresponds greatly with Tassadar sayings and the leaked video. Interesting, have Blizzard changed the plot while developing HotS. I'm sure they reworked something, but how big are the changes?

18/09/2012 12:57Posted by GreLI

Interesting, have Blizzard changed the plot while developing HotS. I'm sure they reworked something, but how big are the changes?

Here is an idea of a cool plot twist which could be introduced in HotS (quoted from TL forums):

Regarding the story, here's some ideas thath I think that could, at least partly, save the story:

What if it turned out that Jim Raynor is actually crazy. The man lost it. He istruly becoming a terrorist and fighting for nothing but his pride and distorted sense of reality. He attacked and killed the Protoss to steal resources and artifacts. He invaded a prison and released dangerous criminals into the sector. He almost killed all his crew in Supernova due to his ambition. He showsno respect for the Hyperion crew. He sacrificed thousands of mans in Char for his ego. He killed his best friend to save the most hated creature in the universe, responsible for the death of millions. He's insane.

Matt Horner will finally realize this and he will have to put an end to Raynor's madness.

Moreover, Zeratul was never on the Hyperion; there is no prophecy; the Queen of Blades in not the key for anything. Raynor invented this distorted reality in his mind to substantiate the importance of Kerrigan and to justify/deal with the fact that he still loves this monstrosity. He lost all touch with reality. He's no different than Mengsk.

There could be several reasons for Raynor's madness, for example:

- He can not deal with all that is going on. The war, He simlpy lost his mind.
- He is infested.
- Tosh is messing with his head

Well, this makes sense.
But I can't help but feel a lack of enthusiasm on Overminds part. Wasn't he all MWAHAHA in SC Vanilla?

Anyway, the premise makes sense. The Overmind is a being of immense sapience, but utterly conditioned to obey its directive. I don't know how the destruction of the Xel'Naga falls into this, but it is suggested Mr Dark Voice had corrupted the Overmind to turn on the Xel'Naga and to eventually consume the protoss.

In the old lore, the reason the Overmind began the consumption of Humanity, what essentially defined him as the villian, it was to acquire the human psi genome to counter the Protoss advanced psionics. Essentially, such was the reason of Kerrigans creation.

In the new lore, this is tweaked. Now she is somehow a part of his Grand Design to grant freedom to the zerg by infestation and his eventual destruction on Aiur. But for all his plans, this one did not work. After acquiring her free will, she had somehow lost her sanity, or something, because in WoL we see clearly she doesn't care about the return of the Dark Voice.

As a result, it's imperative that Raynor de-infests her so that she starts caring again. Or something to that extent.

The problem we're facing with is the classic problem of what happens when you get a new evil. The Zerg have to be at least a tad de-villainified, so that the scope of the new villain, the Hybrid, can be comprehended. But while the Overmind would talk to us in his booming rhetoric after each mission, with that gigantic eye... The Dark Voice hardly makes that kind of positive feedback. Many say even Maar was cooler as a villain. We'll just have to wait and see if they develop the character.

20/09/2012 16:20Posted by Mojko

Interesting, have Blizzard changed the plot while developing HotS. I'm sure they reworked something, but how big are the changes?

Here is an idea of a cool plot twist which could be introduced in HotS (quoted from TL forums):

Regarding the story, here's some ideas thath I think that could, at least partly, save the story:

What if it turned out that Jim Raynor is actually crazy. The man lost it. He istruly becoming a terrorist and fighting for nothing but his pride and distorted sense of reality. He attacked and killed the Protoss to steal resources and artifacts. He invaded a prison and released dangerous criminals into the sector. He almost killed all his crew in Supernova due to his ambition. He showsno respect for the Hyperion crew. He sacrificed thousands of mans in Char for his ego. He killed his best friend to save the most hated creature in the universe, responsible for the death of millions. He's insane.

Matt Horner will finally realize this and he will have to put an end to Raynor's madness.

Moreover, Zeratul was never on the Hyperion; there is no prophecy; the Queen of Blades in not the key for anything. Raynor invented this distorted reality in his mind to substantiate the importance of Kerrigan and to justify/deal with the fact that he still loves this monstrosity. He lost all touch with reality. He's no different than Mengsk.

There could be several reasons for Raynor's madness, for example:

- He can not deal with all that is going on. The war, He simlpy lost his mind.
- He is infested.
- Tosh is messing with his head

Mojko, that's just Indoctrination Theory all over again.
No writer would ever do that kind of sudden, jarring cut of their chief Protagonist. Jim Raynor is not Arthas, the Anakin Skywalker of Blizzard. Jim Raynor is a pimp (and pimps don't commit suicide), he's a Hero, everyone loves him.

What is this Indoctrination Theory you are talking about?