Monday, August 30, 2010

Terran Medivac, Viking & Banshee



Detail descriptions of Terran Medivac, Viking & Banshee. Switch to full screen & pause the video to read them. The Medivac can be very useful when grouped with ground infantry units such as Marines, Firebats & Marauders. It'll continuously heal infantry units while they engage enemy units.

I'm kinda lost on how best to use the Viking. In Fighter mode, it has powerful Lanzer torpedoes against air targets while in Assault mode, it has twin Gatling cannons against ground units & structures. However, micromanaging them can be a real hassle. You don't want your whole squadron to be wiped out by Zerg Hydralisks just because they are in Fighter mode & you were too busy focusing on some battle elsewhere to change them into Assault mode.

Banshee are cool. When escort by Wraiths to protect against enemy air units, they are perfect gunship for ground bombardment & harassment. Nothing shock the enemy more than few squadrons of Banshee & Wraiths de-cloaking & attacking them by surprise!

Terran Spider Mine & Crucio Seige Tank



Detail descriptions of Terran Spider Mine & Crucio Siege Tank. Switch to full screen & pause the video to read them. I found no use for Spider Mines aside from those missions where speed is not important. Terran Vultures are too weak for any offensive or defensive purpose so the best they can do is to lay Spider Mines to delay or weaken enemy rush attacks.

Crucio Seige Tanks are great for base defense. Put a few in seige mode around your base & they'll rain down hell on your attackers. Their armor is kinda weak when these tanks are mobile. They are totally defenseless against enemies air units so you need to get some Goliaths to cover them when enroute to assault the enemy. Best put them in a massive Hercules & land them right down in the enemy base morphing straight into seige mode. They'll rain havoc & destruction on the enemy structures.

Terran Firebat, Marauder & Spectre



Detail descriptions of Terran Firebat, Marauder & Spectre. Switch to full screen & pause the video to read them. I find if funny that they recruited resocialized criminals & psychotic pyromaniacs to don the Firebat suit. Somehow crime & fiery destruction must go hand-in-hand.

Marauders are exact opposite of Firebat, with regular folks joining to serve as soldiers & security professionals. Spectres are awesome with their mind blast, psionic lash & Nuke launch ability.

Starcraft 2 Mercenaries for Hire



After few lengthy wars in the Koprulu Sector, there are plenty of mercenaries for hire in Starcraft 2. These include:

1. War Pigs: hardened criminals recruited as Marines.
2. Devil Dogs: ex-Confederate Firebats with more hit points & enhance firepower. **
3. Hammer Securities: Kel-Morian Combine Marauders.
4. Spartan Company: former UED Expeditionary Force with large Goliaths. ***
5. Siege Breakers: ex-Confederate siege tank pilots with powerful Crucio Seige Tanks. **
6. Hel's Angel: pirates that roam the Fringe Worlds with Vikings, preying on Dominion shipping lanes. **
7. Dusk Wings: deserters from the first Dominion's Banshee squadron that operates as mercenaries now.
8. Duke's Revenge: a very large & powerful Battlecruiser with twin rotating cannons. ****

** Good buy
*** Great buy
**** The best money can buy

It's best to use mercenaries for assault since they have higher hit points & more powerful weapons. Keep your regular troops in the bunkers or for base defense. Combine groups of mercenaries dropped off from few Hercules transporters can storm & destroy any Zerg nest.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Starcraft 2 Wings of Liberty ending scene



After destroying either the Nydus Worm network or Zerg base for flyer units, the remaining Terran force assault the Zerg primary hive cluster on Char. The Queen of Blades inflicts heavy casualties on the Terran force as they defend their base while waiting for the Xel'Naga artifact to charge up. Finally the charged up Xel'Naga artifact destroyed the Zerg swarm & de-infested Sarah Kerrigan.

The Terran marines wondered into the primary hive & found the de-infested Sarah Kerrigan inside (her hair is still Zergish though). Tychus Findlay pointed his C14 gauss rifle at Kerrigan & confessed he had made a deal with Arcturus Mengsk to kill her in exchange for his life. But Raynor managed to stop his dastardly act & killed Tychus with a single shot from his pistol (most likely a headshot, shooting elsewhere on a Terran marine armor suit would be useless).

Raynor carried Kerrigan outside towards the sunset, as Kerrigan regained her memory, she laid snugly into his arms, knowing very well the worse is over for her.

~~~ THE END ~~~

Rally for the Final Battle on Char



Both sides suffered heavy casualties as the battle progressed in Char. Raynor's men & Dominion marines lied dead & exhausted from fending off countless waves of attacks by Zerg swarm from the primary hive in Char. As Raynor picked up a dog tag from dead Raider M.Koiter, General Horace Warfield arrived in the battlefield, his injured right arm replaced by a robotic claw & chain gun.

General Horace brought the now fully assembled Xel'Naga artifact to be deployed to de-infest Sarah Kerrigan. Raynor reassured Tychus Findlay who balked at the prospect of depending the whole war in Char on an alien artifact. Raynor's inspiring speech to everyone to get ready for the final battle is the pinnacle of this scene.

First Battle on Char



As the Queen of Blades launched waves of pre-emptive strikes against Prince Valerian fleet hovering about Char, Raynor's Raiders set up base on Char to rescue Dominion troops who escaped in drop pods from destroyed ships in orbit. Due to limited time & large presence of zerg swarm everywhere, it's best to rescue only the strong units such as Thor or Battlecruiser. It's sad to see Terran Battlecruisers crashing down due to attack from Zerg spore cannons on Char surface. This is first battle where you can deploy Nuclear warhead, and also the first time Raynor's Raiders combined forces with Dominion marines.

While defending the Dominion base from the Zerg swarm, General Horace was seriously wounded. Fortunately Jim Raynor & Tychus FInlay came to his rescue & called in Banshee gunships to destroy the Zerg counterattack. Jim Raynor won General Horace gratitude & admiration in this battle.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Prince Valerian plan to invade Char



Valerian Mengsk managed to convince Jim Raynor to invade Char, a fiery volcanic planet. Assisted by General Horace Warfield, a veteran leader of 5 invasions against the Zerg swarm, he took half the Dominion fleet with him. As his father Arcturus told Valerian he's way over his head with his dangerous plan, Zerg Mutalisk attacked his fleet. They mobilised for ground invasion immediately. The excitement is peaking in Starcraft 2 Wings of Liberty.

Assault on Valerian Mengsk flagship Bucephalus



Valerian Mengsk revealed himself to Raynor as the owner of Möebius Foundation, when the rebel leader confronted him on his father's flagship, the Bucephalus. While holding a revolver to Valerian's head, loaded with one bullet meant for his father, Raynor demanded to him why he shouldn't kill him where he stands. The heir apparent answers that he can give Raynor his greatest desire: a chance to rescue Kerrigan.

Valerian theorized that the artifacts the Raiders were collecting could de-infest Kerrigan. Valerian's motivation in allying with Raynor is to prove to the people that he would be a worthy successor if he reformed the most dangerous mass murderer in history. This is one of the few episodes where we see Raynor's Raiders fighting against Dominion marines.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Nova killed Tosh



If you're a ladies man & decide to side with Nova to destroy the Spectre base, you'll gain access to Ghost operatives after the mission. I still haven't found a good use for the Ghost sniping function. After Raynor destroyed the Spectre's training facility, Nova will kill Gabriel Tosh in this video. Talk bout betraying a friend & comrade for a lady assassin who's cold & calculative - what a bummer!

Victory for Gabriel Tosh



Interesting choice again: whether to side with Nova or Tosh? If you side with Gabriel Tosh to break prisoners out of New Folsom & destroy the prison, you’ll gain access to Spectre operatives after the mission. I find Spectre way more powerful than Ghost with their Mind Blast & Psionic Lash upgrade, in addition to their standard Nuke launch ability. They can take out groups of enemies or kill a powerful one. Dunno bout you guys, but I’m the “stand by my comrade” kinda guy, so this is an easy choice for me. Nova? She’s just a pretty face in a tight armor suit who can charm your gold tooth away!

Dr Ariel Hanson goodbye



If you choose to side with Dr Ariel Hanson to stop the Protoss from purging & destroying the entire colony in Haven, Dr Ariel Hanson will depart to join her fellow colonists. She asked Raynor to join her, showing personal interest to develop a deeper relationship with him, but Raynor declined. Despite all that tough talk, I think Raynor is still deeply in love with Sarah Kerrigan.

Dr Ariel Hanson infected



If you choose to side with the Protoss Executor Selendis during Starcraft 2 Haven Fall mission to destroy the zergs before they infect everyone, Jim Raynor will return to find Dr Ariel Hanson infected in the lab. Raynor will have no choice but to kill Dr Ariel Hanson, a regretful ending to such a beautiful & kind lady.

Betrayal of Sarah Kerrigan



Background on how Sarah Kerrigan was betrayed by Arcturus Mengsk, power-hungry leader of the Sons of Korhal. Kerrigan is sent with a detachment of troops to stop the Protoss from interfering with the Zerg rampage in Tarsonis, but her position is overrun by the Zerg and she is abandoned by Mengsk. As Raynor deserts Mengsk in disgust, Kerrigan is presumed dead.

Instead she is captured by the Zerg swarm & infested with a unique Zerg virus, turning her into a frightening & very powerful human/Zerg hybrid completely under the control of the Zerg Overmind.

The Sarah Kerrigan in Starcraft 2 is neatly potrayed as a beautiful, strong & determined Ghost operative. It's ironical & sad she was betrayed by the very man she trusted to be a just & fair leader of mankind to replace the corrupt Confederate government in the Koprulu sector. Very beautiful voiceover, perfect fit for this very attractive character.

Zeratul vs Queen of Blades



Awesome fight footage between Dark Templar Zeratul vs The Queen of Blades aka Sarah Kerrigan. See Protoss Dark Templar blink & powerful psionic blade in action. The Queen of Blades have powerful force field & regenerative ability. One of the best cinematic in Starcraft 2.

Zeratul's Warning



Protoss Dark Templar Zeratul warning Jim Raynor about dangers in the future & the hope lies in Sarah Kerrigan. The fate of creation hangs in the balance. Zaratul passed Raynor an ihan crystal from the Nerazim, one that contained Zeratul's memories. Prelude to prophecy missions in Starcraft 2.