The Marine Shield

[Singuris]

So Marine shield thumbs up or down

i say thumbs down they got enough armor I would like to see them have grenades. Come on even with the powered suit firing a semi-automatic gun and holding that is to cumbersome not to mention impractical there not even in the cinematics they have showed had so far.

[Immortalrulez]

they should have it becuase in starcraft 1 they were the most killed out of all the basic units (zealots,zerglings)

[Bumbaloe]

I say thumbs down if they get grenades. If not, thumbs up.

[Singuris]

they should have it becuase in starcraft 1 they were the most killed out of all the basic units (zealots,zerglings)


They were the only starting unit to attack ground and air out of all the races so they were balanced mabey one on one they were weak but they were cheap and with stim pack they became very deadly

[Fenix]

I say thumbs down because Blizz is just beefing up the Medic armor

>:(

[vemynal]

Dude...Marines were pimp if you rushed with them...I say no to grenades and to shields.

But they better as hell keep the stim packs.

[Singuris]

Dude...Marines were pimp if you rushed with them...I say no to grenades and to shields.

But they better as hell keep the stim packs.

keep i mind all the other starting units so far have special effects but i agree with what you said. i think grenades or fully automatic fire would be a good abitlity

[Bumbaloe]

I say thumbs down because Blizz is just beefing up the Medic armor

>:(


How do you know this? :O

[Fenix]

I say thumbs down because Blizz is just beefing up the Medic armor

>:(


How do you know this? :O


Look closely at the char models of the SCII Marine and the Brood War Medic. Even though they fiddled a bit and have a new engine, you can tell that it's the same base. Now, see, I think it looks cool, but I don't like recycled models.

[mc2]

NO shield for any terran units/structure, it should be exclusive to the protoss

grenades could be a good idea, it'll be a splash damage that can wipe out masses of zerglings easily. but it probably won't be as powerful as infested terrans :P

[skoh-fley]

How about a choice? You can research either shields or grenades. One, but not the other.

[Fenix]

I think y'all are a tad mixed up. I don't think the OP meant Plasma Shields.

Look closely at the Marines in the lower left....

http://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/article/790/790131/starcraft-2-20070519000506716.jpg

They have actual physical shields.

EDIT: Sorry, big pic. You have to scroll.

[reject_666_6]

How about a choice? You can research either shields or grenades. One, but not the other.

If they did that, SC2 would transform into Diablo 2: "OMG look at my gosu terran build! I like maxed Stim Packs and Nuclear Mastery! Those 'Toss n00bs with their stupid PvM builds r gonna bite my excrements!!!"

My point is that if they did give you different reaserch branches you could pursue, it would make a more dynamic or mixed strategy impossible. And I hate ow the shields look anyway, so bad idea imo. ;)

[vemynal]

^To the person who linked the pic above.

Wow...guess we kinda got it wrong XD. I fully support terrans getting physical shields^^.

[10-Neon]

Yeah, I always wondered why medics got shields(and an armor upgrade) and Marines didn't. I mean, It is a big cheap chunk of metal that improves your chances in combat, how could that be bad? It is not like it would even slow them down, since they run on those exosuits.

Oh, since we have the screenshot, notice that Marines also have bayonets. I don't see them being as useful as the shields, but it looks like they can be upgraded to have a close-combat attack, instead of being totally owned when melee units close the gap. Maybe the Hydralisk will see a similar change.

[PainKiller]

Awsome! Melee and range attack for Marines and Hydralsiks!

Thumbs up ;)

[markus]

The shield look kinda crap. Can't they make them look cooler?

Melee attacks for marines would be very nice ;D

[Fenix]

XD

It's just the teaser bro. It's gonna get a lot better!

[vemynal]

i was thinking, what if the removed Vultures for Reapers. But gave Reapoers the spider mines & stim packs O.o! (i hope they have stim packs at least^^)

[TheDarkTemplar]

It's an idea, definitely, I personally never used Vultures!

[Singuris]

wtf does vuluters and reapers have to do with anything

[mc2]

vultures are most likely to be replaced by a new unit....

i suppose a vulture's ability is just overshadowed by the might of a seige tank

[reject_666_6]

Vultures are overshadowed by every other Tank, Goliath, Lurker, Ultralisk, Reaver, Dark Templar, Archon, Dragoon and Infested Terran in the game. It's just that Korea has a fetish for them...

[10-Neon]

Spider mines. They keep Vultures relevant late-game.

[earwhen]

Vultures have a very good use also..very good early game harasser!go and watch "THE EMPEROR's" game..an see the vultures uses..

[evolvtyon]

The marine is huge, as a huge cybernetic armor a gun that looks like a cannon and a super cool look of a "damn I'm a cool guy"; somehow I find the idea of him whealding a shield really really bad.. I mean the medic was defenseless; the shield was the only thing between them and the enemy (besides the armor of course);

I think the last thing a marine needs is a shield if they learned from the protoss technology and got new cool energy shields that's fine but not those knight shields; please =x

[MyWifeforauir]

One thing that confuses me is that in the cinematic the marine holds the gun with 2 hands so how can they hold the shield ??? or is it that i'm missing something out or something....

[gr3ykn1ght]

i think the shields are mounted on their left shoulder... so when you shoot... you know... pretend you're holding on the a gauss rifle, when you aim the gun, your left shoulder's actually in front of you, beside your gun... so put a shield there, you're actually covered from attack... plus if you look carefully, there's a hole for looking through in the shield... that's my theory, that's how they do it for gunner zaku's in gundam seed destiny.

as for melee attacks, i've no comments.

[PeterPetreli]

One thing that confuses me is that in the cinematic the marine holds the gun with 2 hands so how can they hold the shield ??? or is it that i'm missing something out or something....


The marine you saw in the cinematic is special. Maybe he has an extra big gun and doesn't need a shield. That marine will be one of the main characters in the game I think, like raynor.

[Gold]

I think its to give marnies a boost later in the game.
think about it,
zealots get a charge
zerglings can become banelings that destroy things like the colossus
and what does the marine get, a sheild he will probably also get some cool grenades, or a bayonet or something
or maybe you upgrade marines into reapers or elite marines with sheilds, who knows.

[MyWifeforauir]

k thx PeterPetreli for clearing that up.

[PeterPetreli]

You're welcome ;D !
I'm trying to get to be moderator :P

Your name is like mylifeforauir, she is a member here, I wonder if she will mind lol.

[Singuris]

even if they did they will have formations and they will be capable of making a shield wall to boost the grooups armor still i'm apposed to the shield.

[reject_666_6]

Or maybe shields make him completely invulnerable to every projectile and melee weapon in the game. :P

Or they'll have that annoying Defend ability that Footmen have...

[Singuris]

Ya i thought that right away wtf there just made thhem into footmen

[reject_666_6]

Well, the entire Warcraft franchise as a whole is more popular than the one Starcraft game, so I guess they have to please the masses... Damn those masses!!!

[Gold]

i think its an upgrade for your standard marine, in the demo on youtube you dont even see them.

[Meloku]

Hi everyone, first post =D

It appears that the shield is mounted on the arm, (technically a buckler.) since they are still using 2 hands on their gun in the screenshots.

It is probably an upgrade, seeing as in some screenshots, the marines dont have the shields. The shield probably gives a chance to block attacks, I figure this by watching the gameplay trailer, and the amount of hits it takes a zealot to kill the marines w/ shields is always inconsistant.
anyways, I like it!

Oh, and if you were wondering why the marine in the cinematic doesnt have a shield, it is because he will be one of the main charachters in the game. maybee his suit is special or something. We will also learn why he was in cuffs =]

[Singuris]

:'( man im just so sad of somever nice units getting "kicked out" and some being change so they look like a dung beatle.
i dont like the shield that much...WHY DONT THEY KEEP THE CLASSIC MARINE!!! I mean, it's like the archeotypal terran unit. Granades sound a bit better, but why grenades, what about, like on M16, a mounted rpg launcher on the barrel, like in the video "battle on the amerigo"... thats cooler. never used vultures, blizz is welcome to kick them for my part...
still, people, none of us know how the game will look like, we only seen the demo.

actually that is were a grenade launcher would go and thats what i ment

[Singuris]

Any one wanna tell me how to make a poll and do you think blizzard knows that we dislike the shield

[Singuris]

For all your information there were other marines with out shield not just Findlay. Also most marines are convicts and if you have the sc1 booklet it explains that the terrans were criminals rounded up by the UED and sent into space most died some made it. I know some of you will say well they made babies and still some marines are criminals and have aggression abhibiters same goes for most terrrans.

[Gold]

i like it, but i think they should make it look more like a riot sheild.
and i think theres still alot there going to change, did anyone see warcraft 3 pre alpha stages?
its on the back of the box lol

[reject_666_6]

It's all going to be NO, NO, sucks... If it serves no strategic function then it does suck, and I won't settle for a Footman style Defend. I want bayonet *whack* then shield *smite*, and blood all over the place!!!

[reject_666_6]

Don't tripple-post, Singuris. The "Modify" button is your friend. Marines with shields aren't!

[10-Neon]

When the Medic got a shield, it seemed odd to me that they wouldn't give the marine a shield. Compared to the rest of the suit, it would be cheap to build, it's just a hunk of metal, and it would be good for blocking both melee and ranged attacks.

[10-Neon]

I think most people are voting on looks. They think the shield makes the Marine less sexually attractive.

[Singuris]

lol

[10-Neon]

Didn't Rambo run around without a shirt? Surely a Marine's full body armor takes away from it's Rambo-like reputation as well? A shield is a drop in the bucket.

[mc2]

The old marine's armor looks just find, the new shield sort of over-exaggerate their body....

[starcraft2iscoming]

what shield? i didnt see one exept on medics!

[starcraft2iscoming]

what shield?

[Lithuania]

http://eu.starcraft2.com/screenshot.xml?5

On right side marines u can see it best

[Fallrider]

I don't like it, it looks too Warcrafty, and plus... Marines are supposed to last only a few minutes (without a Medic), it seems giving them a shield would be a waste of money for the UED.


Also, they look dumb wit the bayonet and a shield with a symbol that looks oddly like a Chaos Undivided symbol in Warhammer 40k. (pic (http://pcmedia.gamespy.com/pc/image/article/747/747222/iwarhammer-age-of-reckoningi-the-hordes-of-chaos-20061121045649316.jpg))

[starcraft2iscoming]

On warcraft 3 or Starcraft 2? starcraft 1? ??? ???

[reject_666_6]

My friend, you are obviously confused, so I'll explain. ;D

In Starcraft 1 the Marine had only his machine gun. In the Warcraft games the Footman had a shield. Now, as it seems in the gameplay video, Blizzard have added a Footman-like shield to the Marines, which they carry on their left hand as some kind of buckler.

Now, many of us don't fancy it that much because we feel that it won't serve any strategic purpose except the Defend ability of the Footmen in Warcraft 3. Many of us also think that Blizzard will only be including it to attract Warcraft players to Starcraft 2 so that they could sell more copies of the game. However, some of us like the shield, but we won't surely know if it's really planned to be included in the finished game yet, so all we can do is debate.

Hope that helped. ;)

[starcraft2iscoming]

Ahhhh. Thanks. I like it alot!

[PsiGlaive]

It doesn't look like it helps the unit out at all, he still falls over dead pretty quick...

[Gold]

i think the marines sheild should be like the protoss one, unlike the protoss one it only protects them for a short amount of time. and to use it the have to stay still. and there hsould be a cool animation where they get down on one knee

maybe instead of the sheild they should have a more accurate firing mode, where they cant move but there damage or range goes up.

[starcraft2iscoming]

It be cool if a gun was equiped to the sheild. Then they'd be alsome

[Remy]

I think having shields make the marines look even more like toys, Lego soldiers or something. And the shield itself look somewhat medieval, reminds me of a crusader for some reason, might be the crest in red.

I think marines looked fine without shields, but if they must, at least something more than a big piece of flat material. A small round transparent-yellow(or any color really) energy shield or something. But all in all, I still prefer shield-less.

[reject_666_6]

They should make all Marines like Tychus, that way we know they'll all be badass.

Imagine Marines with the Zealots' charge ability, Hydras with the shield, and Zealots with borrow. ;D

EDIT: Oh, and Remy, what's that unit in your avatar? I just can't put my finger on it at the moment.

[WHAT!]

i think they should make it slimmer and take the crest off and put your teams color their.i think remy's avater is the defiler.

[reject_666_6]

Hmm, I really can't remember... The only defilers I come in contact with are enemy ones (and boy, some enemies can sure wipe the floor with me with Defilers...)

[Remy]

Hint: can kill an ultralisk in a single move.

Oh wait, ugh someone already gave it away. >_<''

[Ych9]

Blizzard just made a post on battlenet and confirmed that with an upgrade, Marines could be carrying a shield for defensive purpose.

http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=sc-general&t=186087&p=1&#post186087

He also stated that this is a work in progress.
Sounds like a good idea. I wonder how this new defensive thing would help the Marine.

[coalescence]

Blizzard just made a post on battlenet and confirmed that with an upgrade, Marines could be carrying a shield for defensive purpose.

http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?fn=sc-general&t=186087&p=1&#post186087

He also stated that this is a work in progress.
Sounds like a good idea. I wonder how this new defensive thing would help the Marine.


Nice!

Battle.net ally one: Man! Your marines keep on dying HARD, upgrade them with the shield because we won't win this way.
Battle.net ally two: Nah, they look whack.

[reject_666_6]

I can't believe they actually made a petition this early in the development stage! ;D Well, at least now we have confirmation of what the shields are from. I just hope they're not a vital upgrade, because I hate them just like the next guy...

[l2k]

What is the function of the shield? Increase the overall defence? Chance to block attack?

[reject_666_6]

It probably just makes the Marine invulnerable to all attacks. Or, it makes them more resistant to "piercing" damage ( >:( damn Warcraft and it's stupid footmen!).

[l2k]

I think the shield feature in the year of 2400+ is kinda lame anyway... They should have come out with a more sophisticated thing.. :P Yea, you are right reject, I think they just copy the idea of the footman shield...

[10-Neon]

I think the shield adds to the realism and grittiness. It is more believable when soldiers from the year 2400+ are willing to go any length to gain an advantage in battle, and even more believable when the steps they take are economically efficient compared to alternatives.

Plus, you can rest assured that any masculinity lost by the inclusion of the girly shields will be more than made up for by their wonderfully phallic bayonet upgrade. -_-

[l2k]

Plus, you can rest assured that any masculinity lost by the inclusion of the girly shields will be more than made up for by their wonderfully phallic bayonet upgrade. -_-


ROFL ! 8)

[Remy]

Nice find. 1UP Ych9.

[WHAT!]

i hope u can form a shield wall to counter large zergling attacks,but then again a baneling will make one spectacular explosion if it touches the shield wall ;D

[TheDarkTemplar]

I don't like the idea of building walls unless you're defending a town or city.

[mc2]

There could be a shield generator thing that can cast an energy shield over a large area and it resist enemy attacks. It would be good to place in the middle of a cluster of photon cannons....

[capthavic]

I hope they get other offensive/defensive upgrades too that aren't just general increases in power and armor.

I would love to be able to give my marines a variety of weapon; shotgun for close range, grenade launcher for crowd control, etc.

[coalescence]

grenade launcher for crowd control


Planning to face rioting civilians? ;D

[capthavic]

grenade launcher for crowd control


Planning to face rioting civilians? ;D




Actually I was thinking of zerglings...

[coalescence]

Actually I was thinking of zerglings...


Dude... 1 word: joke

[capthavic]

Actually I was thinking of zerglings...


Dude... 1 word: joke


Dude... 2 words: no **** ;D

[Singuris]

Thanks for making the poll

[EdwardLuke]

I HATE it. Sorry, i'm sure it may have alot potential strategic value... BUT MARINES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HARDCORE. Real Men. Thats like asking a marine to wear a cycling helmet! Or something... Not that i'm saying real men don't wear cycling helmets. Just... .... you get the idea.
At the same time i can see why it could look kinda cool.
I dunno, it just doesn't seem to suit the whole image of the marine.

[Nikzad]

I agree

I think it looks retarded

Marines are supposed to be standing there, emptying clips upon clips of depleted uranium bullets into the hardened carapaces of zerglings and hydralisks, fighting until the last round, then grabbing a missile from a dead goliath and jumping into a group of zerg while hammering the top of the missile in mid-air...


...not cowering behind some dinky shield

[Gold]

he needs a big slab of metal, not a hand crafted sheild,

[Ghost]

Hmm, if it has something to do with a new skill they get yes, if its just for looks hell no.

[overmind]

:bad:
the whole game is looking too warcraft
what the hells up with the tank in seige mode treads!
no to sheilds yes to bayonets yes to some new unit that uses sheilds(but not an upgrade for marine)

[Associate]

I think they should instead give the marine improved range and fire power to compensate for their armor weakness, destroying their targets much quicker is better than surviving for a few more seconds because of increased protection, this should also make them more effective in dealing with enemy units when inside a bunker

Also, a terran unit with a shield doesn't really fit the setting, I mean the technology originally belong to the protoss, its just not innovative

[Gold]

i think the sheild is a good idea, maybe the current graphic is to warcrafty i agree with that,
it would be made very much cooler if it had a bash attack where the marine charges forward smacks his sheild into the enemy

gritty and marine like

[10-Neon]

Also, a terran unit with a shield doesn't really fit the setting, I mean the technology originally belong to the protoss, its just not innovative


They're not plasma shields, they're knight-shields.

Blizzard doesn't do innovation (in an internal game mechanics sense,) they do perfection.

[gr3ykn1ght]

I agree

I think it looks retarded

Marines are supposed to be standing there, emptying clips upon clips of depleted uranium bullets into the hardened carapaces of zerglings and hydralisks, fighting until the last round, then grabbing a missile from a dead goliath and jumping into a group of zerg while hammering the top of the missile in mid-air...


...not cowering behind some dinky shield


i don't really think the shield really looks THAT bad... maybe if blizzard made it LOOK better... as in much smaller than that big bulky thing... either that or they could create some sort of frontline thingy, like WC3 (you know, like footman's defend skill?), so that marines shoot at the back, whereas marines at the front kinda of take shields and use bayonets. the idea seems quite ok to me if in that sense.

but as of currently, the idea of a shilde isn't too bad, just that now it LOOKS bad.

[EdwardLuke]

stop it! NO! i don't WANT them to do it anything LIKE WC3.
I love starcraft for it's originality...
Whether it looks bad or not, I just feel it's not starcrafty enough!

Besides a thin shield wouldn't do much against psi blades or the clawing of zerglings.

They just wouldn't be practical in a modern battlefield, all that weight to carry around for not that much gain.

[Gold]

hey, we dont kno w ANYHTHING about it, there are things we can only ASSUME so none of you can complain, becuase you ahve no idea of how its all going to work, jsut chill until we get some proper info.

[PowerkickasS]

BIG FAT GUN --> BOTH HANDS --> BOOMÂ* :good:

simple!Â* ;)Â* 8)

[Singuris]

The marines have like foot thick armor if stuff gets through that what do they think a shield will help them from

[Erich]

I'm indifferent about the shield on the model. Infact, unless they explain it or give a special ability with it, I'm thoroughly against it.

Possible reasons:
• When in melee range, marines are forced into melee combat. They will gain a 30% defensive bonus from their shield, but their damage will be reduced 50%. It would kind of promote making a "front line" for you troops to tank while others sit back and shoot.
• Special ability? "Shield Wall" enemy melee units will not be able to pass by "shield walled" unit and will be forced to attack. Marine will gain a 50% defence bonus but will be unable to attack for the duration..... to better explain this... think of the marine having a radius of say 5-10 meters, and any friendly receiving melee damage in that radius is "protected" or "intercepted" by this marine who takes agro and tanks the unit until death or the ability is removed.

Both are just ideas, would add to the battle-micro-management and would effectively counter the zealot charge ability, and increase survivability when getting zerged.

[Fenix]

The marines have like foot thick armor if stuff gets through that what do they think a shield will help them from


Explosives. An explosion on the suit could seriously mess them up. In a real world situation, hitting the suit could knock HUD wires loose, frag the suit, heck, even something as little as sooting up the visor could mean brutal death. With a shield, they have a mechanically strengthened shock absorber to prevent that.

[Erich]

• Special ability? "Shield Wall" enemy melee units will not be able to pass by "shield walled" unit and will be forced to attack. Marine will gain a 50% defence bonus but will be unable to attack for the duration..... to better explain this... think of the marine having a radius of say 5-10 meters, and any friendly receiving melee damage in that radius is "protected" or "intercepted" by this marine who takes agro and tanks the unit until death or the ability is removed.


Can't the enemy just walk "around them"?
I'm with you though, unless it serves some purpose, giving it to them is stupid and looks stupid. I hope they do make it useful somehow.


Ya, but the idea of the ability is to protect your other units in the vicinity. Essentially attacking any units in the vicinity of a shield walled marine would force the attack on that marine. EG - Give a siege tank time to get outta siege mode when zerglings get inside, make 30% of ur marines go into this mode when a swarm of zealots come charging in and force them to take 4 or 5 swings at a marine instead of 2-3 while the other marines pound on the zealots unimpeded.

Just an idea anyways.

[Associate]

I think it has more to do with their passive defense capability, like reducing damage taken from melee attacks or energy projectiles. But this shield thing really made them look like footmens from warcraft, I just hope no attribute reductions are applied to them

[GuiMontag]

The marines have like foot thick armor if stuff gets through that what do they think a shield will help them from


Explosives. An explosion on the suit could seriously mess them up. In a real world situation, hitting the suit could knock HUD wires loose, frag the suit, heck, even something as little as sooting up the visor could mean brutal death. With a shield, they have a mechanically strengthened shock absorber to prevent that.


i agree completely lol

[LoserInLosing]

The shield make em look *R - Word*. No offense, they really look like medival soldiers carrying guns which is quite wierd

[capthavic]

• Special ability? "Shield Wall" enemy melee units will not be able to pass by "shield walled" unit and will be forced to attack. Marine will gain a 50% defence bonus but will be unable to attack for the duration..... to better explain this... think of the marine having a radius of say 5-10 meters, and any friendly receiving melee damage in that radius is "protected" or "intercepted" by this marine who takes agro and tanks the unit until death or the ability is removed.


Can't the enemy just walk "around them"?
I'm with you though, unless it serves some purpose, giving it to them is stupid and looks stupid. I hope they do make it useful somehow.


Ya, but the idea of the ability is to protect your other units in the vicinity. Essentially attacking any units in the vicinity of a shield walled marine would force the attack on that marine. EG - Give a siege tank time to get outta siege mode when zerglings get inside, make 30% of ur marines go into this mode when a swarm of zealots come charging in and force them to take 4 or 5 swings at a marine instead of 2-3 while the other marines pound on the zealots unimpeded.

Just an idea anyways.


I was thinking that just having it would give them an armor bonus against ranged attacks and the shield wall ability would reduce all damage by half and they can still fire but they would be unable to move and vulnerable from behind. And it would be cool if you could make them use line formation or surround a friendly unit (like a tank in seige mode), what do you think?

[mc2]

The marine is suppose to be the most basic unit, so it probably shouldn't have too much special abilities. What they really need is a short ranged weapon similar to firebat's which are effective against zealot rushes.

Their shields are OK I think, capthavic's idea is pretty good. except from the part where it's vulerable from behind, it probably should work for all around the marines. Probably taking HP off the marine for shield boost is a better way since there's medics. If the marine is unable to move for a period of time, it could be disasterous with things like psionic storms or guradians

[PowerkickasS]

the only thing in the world that deserves shields are assault terminators =)

[FlyingTiger]

gaaah i feel like this is turning into warcraft.

marines are a basic unit. all this defense abilities bs is not needed. too much micro!

[FlyingTiger]

The marine is suppose to be the most basic unit, so it probably shouldn't have too much special abilities. What they really need is a short ranged weapon similar to firebat's which are effective against zealot rushes.

Their shields are OK I think, capthavic's idea is pretty good. except from the part where it's vulerable from behind, it probably should work for all around the marines. Probably taking HP off the marine for shield boost is a better way since there's medics. If the marine is unable to move for a period of time, it could be disasterous with things like psionic storms or guradians


oh i definetly do not read previous posts :D

[Heretic666)GC(]

It could prtect them from ranged attacks, but slow them down and make them vulnerable to melee. Or it could just increase thier armor but reduce speed. Or maybe it's just a new look that doesn't effect the marine at all.

[[LightMare]]

i prefer the marine with out the shield. their guns are supposed to be 2 handed. besides, i don't see much of a point except boosting armor, reducing accuracy and speed, and making it super vulnerable to melee attacks. it probably also reduces the fire time. so they shoot less. therefore, alot or stimpack is required, making them weaker to everything, especially splash damage

[Erich]

i prefer the marine with out the shield. their guns are supposed to be 2 handed. besides, i don't see much of a point except boosting armor, reducing accuracy and speed, and making it super vulnerable to melee attacks. it probably also reduces the fire time. so they shoot less. therefore, alot or stimpack is required, making them weaker to everything, especially splash damage


I agree with this. Every cinematic with a marine had the marine wielding a bigass gun. Like, if he were to stand his gun up, the gun would be as tall as him and it fires like 500 rounds per second. No 1handed marine carrying a shield is going to be able to tame a monster gun like that.

[Bullet101]

I thought the shield was angled on the Left arm so a Marine could use both hands to hold, aim, and fire the gun, and still provide a bit of protection.

[Itsmyship]

Huh...I thought the shield was just some type of accesory thing or something. Well you know what that means....Terran version of "300"!!!

[Bullet101]

Huh...I thought the shield was just some type of accesory thing or something. Well you know what that means....Terran version of "300"!!!


300 Marines, 1,000,000 Zerglings.

[Itsmyship]

Yep...and Tychus is their version Leonidas :)

[capthavic]

Huh...I thought the shield was just some type of accesory thing or something. Well you know what that means....Terran version of "300"!!!


300 Marines, 1,000,000 Zerglings.


That would be so awesome! Quick someone write that down and remember to make a mod of that once the game comes out :D

[bazzwano]

Terran shields are just to resemble the armour upgrade i think. BUT I SAY THUMBS DOWN. Shields are old school, like the time of knights and kings. THEY ARE PRIMITIVE, SC IS THE FUTURE, they have massive armor suits and armour upgrade does not need this silly shield... BLIZZARD, do what dawn of war dark crusade did to show the armour upgrade, put a symbol of the unit armour or something.

[Bullet101]

Terran shields are just to resemble the armour upgrade i think. BUT I SAY THUMBS DOWN. Shields are old school, like the time of knights and kings. THEY ARE PRIMITIVE, SC IS THE FUTURE, they have massive armor suits and armour upgrade does not need this silly shield... BLIZZARD, do what dawn of war dark crusade did to show the armour upgrade, put a symbol of the unit armour or something.


You know early gunners in Helicopters sat on a piece of armor. The concept for Marines now isn't much different. "Hey, this can protect me a bit more, let me just put it somewhere where it won't bother me, and still help."

[LoserInLosing]

Hmm maybe blizzard is jus going too far with giving marines a new look?? i mean come on, the marine was perfect in sc1.

[[LightMare]]

You know early gunners in Helicopters sat on a piece of armor. The concept for Marines now isn't much different. "Hey, this can protect me a bit more, let me just put it somewhere where it won't bother me, and still help."

sorry, but a shield, anywhere bothers you... on your back, you can't bend down right or roll, in one hand. that arm is useless. in the other hand, vise versa, nailed to your chest: limited movement everywhere, SHIELDS ARE IMPRACTICAL! we ain't in the primitave middle ages, we're in 24[something something] maybe the 2400s'. they shouldn't need a shield. it's heave, blockes your vision, you're fine without it

[mc2]

I agree that the marine doesn't need all that many protection as long as the medics are present ;) the overpowering shield gives their body an awkward look and as ElemenTT said, it'll limit their mobility carrying large chucks of armor around.

[Itsmyship]

I personally like the new look of the marines, it gives them a sense of being soldiers of an empire. The shield concept isn't new either, if you look at the medics in SC1 they wear shields. I'm sure the shield won't make them slower or anything, it'll probably end up being something that just gives them protection from ranged or something

[PrivateJoker]

Too be perfectly honest I think the Marines will use their shields like gnarly surfboards, rolling down cliffs and sliding over Zerglings, crushing them. The hip new "stylish shield" moves with the Terran marine will be plenty cool, allowing the Marines too jump off of drop ships, while drop kicking and bouncing off of mutas, doing cool flips on their surf shields, which interestingly will also shield them from ground fire while they drop. However if the shield gets hit way to frequently it will over-heat and get bright red, burning the marines gloved hands. The marine will then yell "Damnit that was hot as hell, and now you have burned my hands you damn *insert name of unit that over-heated their shield*)



:good: ;D :good:

[capthavic]

sorry, but a shield, anywhere bothers you... on your back, you can't bend down right or roll, in one hand. that arm is useless. in the other hand, vise versa, nailed to your chest: limited movement everywhere, SHIELDS ARE IMPRACTICAL! we ain't in the primitave middle ages, we're in 24[something something] maybe the 2400s'. they shouldn't need a shield. it's heave, blockes your vision, you're fine without it


Your limiting mobility argument might be valid for units like ghosts that rely on speed and stealth but thats not how the marines work. They don't roll or flip around; they take the enemy head on. And if the shield is attached to the forearm then they still have use of their hand. Their power suits augment their strength so it shouldn't weigh them down either.

I don't know about you but the more metal between me and a rampaging zerg the better :D

[Heretic666)GC(]

I don't know about you but the more metal between me and a rampaging zerg the better :D


I agree entirly with this. The more between me and an ultralisk or zealot, the heppier i will be. And shields aren't all that premitive. SWAT teams use bullet proof shield and riot control units use them too.

[PrivateJoker]

For all we know the Terran use a weightless high powered metal alloy. It works in a sci-fi sense.

[Light]

lol, thats most likely. ;D it is not that primitive, i mean, with all these hydralisk spines and high firepower rifles and plasma what-nut, u gotta have something to backup ur armor...i dont think i will affect efficiency of attack...well, its look crap ;D



btw, IM BACK BABY!

[Lord David]

I agree entirly with this. The more between me and an ultralisk or zealot, the heppier i will be. And shields aren't all that premitive. SWAT teams use bullet proof shield and riot control units use them too.


Well I personally don't like the shield, as for use of them in SWAT teams and riot police, it's logical, they wear limited forms of physical body protection, such as bullet proof vests and helmets, but that's mostly it, a shield that covers most of their body seems to bee somewhat effective, especially for riot police as they usually use both batons and shields to "push" rioters backwards.

As for Terran Marines? I think it's useless for them, especially considering the bulkiness of the shield, (and the corny "footman" shield graphic), plus their body armor is supposedly supposed to cover most of their body, why would they need a shield hmm? Like most have pointed out here, it would probably only be limited to ranged damage (though ideally it would be better for melee attacks or maybe a mix of both) Hmmm...

[Light]

i hate how warcraft messed up blizzards mind...now there's footmen in sc2...and bayonets! just like swords.... jeeez, what century is that...its footmen vs grunts!

[PowerkickasS]

great isnt it

[capthavic]

I agree entirly with this. The more between me and an ultralisk or zealot, the heppier i will be. And shields aren't all that premitive. SWAT teams use bullet proof shield and riot control units use them too.


Well I personally don't like the shield, as for use of them in SWAT teams and riot police, it's logical, they wear limited forms of physical body protection, such as bullet proof vests and helmets, but that's mostly it, a shield that covers most of their body seems to bee somewhat effective, especially for riot police as they usually use both batons and shields to "push" rioters backwards.

As for Terran Marines? I think it's useless for them, especially considering the bulkiness of the shield, (and the corny "footman" shield graphic), plus their body armor is supposedly supposed to cover most of their body, why would they need a shield hmm? Like most have pointed out here, it would probably only be limited to ranged damage (though ideally it would be better for melee attacks or maybe a mix of both) Hmmm...


Well if hydralisks were firing their spines I'd rather have a shield to absorb some of the impact instead of just standing there and hoping they don't puncture my power suit. Similarly if they also get a bayonet (or other close up weapon) upgrade a shield would help deflect some melee attacks against them. Their power suits do cover all their body but they aren't invincible, and like I said before the more metal between me and the enemy the better.

[Code X Red]

The shield changes a classic character from starcraft that should stay the same :bad:

[Itsmyship]

*shrug* Zealots used swords...psionic swords, but swords nonetheless; I don't see why a marine can't have a shield. The shield feels very imperial to me :)

[overmind]

SWAT teams use shields but they use them in hallways etc. not out in the open
riot control is to have no losses warfare if i'm under full protection i wo'nt have to kill the rioters etc. it is impratical and stupid for a feild marine to have a shield.

[qOcOp]

I think they recycled the footmen model in warcraft 3. if u look at the footmen it looks very similar to the marine, the placement of the shield and everything. even the death animation, its very similar. but whatever its probably gonna get changed in the future.

[gr3ykn1ght]

seriously, i'm not against the shield... the marine looks good with or without it ;D but one thing blizzard could do is to make the shield look BETTER... it looks damn bulky and everything, maybe they could like, make it some sort of a skill or something? the shields deployable only when you activate the skill?

[Nikzad]

for all of you making the argument for the utility of a shield, think about this:
If a shield's benefits outweigh the downsides so much, why aren't they used in real life?
Today's marines don't even have bullet-proof body suits that are strength augmented and provide life support, just cloth and kevlar on their torso

[wuffle]

That's because we can't afford to buy every marine a bullet proff body suit that is strength augmented and provides life support. We would rather just give them the cloth and kevlar. We like to spend money on things like planes.

[[LightMare]]

SWAT teams use shields but they use them in hallways etc. not out in the open
riot control is to have no losses warfare if i'm under full protection i wo'nt have to kill the rioters etc. it is impratical and stupid for a feild marine to have a shield.

swat teams won't have shields in 400 years will they?

[Nikzad]

first of all, the point of my post was that the marines in SC have shields, and they already have the big body suits, whereas real marines have much less and do not use shields because those types of personal shields are impractical and too antiquated for modern combat

secondly, you are supporting my point...it would be much more useful to spend our money (in real life, AND in SC) on a wraith or BC or something else that is more useful than some dinky shield

[Light]

and dont forget, its looks gay...

[Nikzad]

i didn't want to offend...

[Light]

me neither but its looks sooooo baaaaad...

[madaaa1]

medic wall is enough to heal marine already.. we dont need more armor to beef up teh shooters

[capthavic]

for all of you making the argument for the utility of a shield, think about this:
If a shield's benefits outweigh the downsides so much, why aren't they used in real life?
Today's marines don't even have bullet-proof body suits that are strength augmented and provide life support, just cloth and kevlar on their torso


Well A) it's sci-fi not realistic modern combat and B) our military apparently can't get our boys any decent armor let alone shields ;)

[Nikzad]

oh yeah well I can't argue with the fact that it's sci-fi, obviously, but I feel like if you want to take the reasoning of realism in that the additional armor will help protect against claws, spines, psionic blades, plasma beams, etc, and won't way him down because of the suit, then it should apply to everything

in other words, if we dissect the fact that the suit will help carry something that big and bulky, and use that sort of logic, then we should also take into account the logic that it would be more useful to spend it on something that would be more useful (ie saving the metal from X number of marines shields and making a BC, hypothetically, because I know marines are better in some instances)

[CrisisDarkerXIV]

Do the shields actually do anything except make the Marine look totally badass?

[capthavic]

Well if its an upgrade then you don't have to get it and can use those resources for something else. The marine was one of my favorite units both tactically and personally and I upgraded their guns/armor whenever possible. I think that the shield is fine and support anything that helps keep my guys alive :D

[Singuris]

All of you using the swat agrument you do realize that when a roit or swat officer is using a shield they are never carrying a submachine gun the either have a baton a pistol and when indoors usually one officer is carrying the shield while others shoot.

now if it was an upgrade I don't see why they don't make it a marine only upgrade for added armor like the increaseed range but for armor or hitpoints

[[LightMare]]

*shrug* Zealots used swords...psionic swords, but swords nonetheless; I don't see why a marine can't have a shield. The shield feels very imperial to me :)

WRONG WRONG WRONG! psionic BLADES! not swords. sheesh! and the gun used by a marine is like the most beastly thing i've seen. i can't believe tychus can hold it with one hand.

[Light]

its a lightweight alloy...whatever.

[Nikzad]

and before 20 people jump on it, let me point out that marines wear body suits that augment their strength and give them armor and blah blah blah...

hooray for splitting hairs!

[Ghost]

The way they put that marines armor on that video... Itseems that hes not going to get out of it soon lol, he was sealed in it with freakin blow torches.

[Nikzad]

I just thought of something...
If any of you have played Age of Empires 2, you know that as your progress through the ages, your buildings and units change. They become more pretty to some extent (going from thatched roofs to shingles, wood to stone, rough-cut stone to smooth, etc.) and the visible changes correspond to physical changes.

Each race had a unique unit, which could be upgraded to "Elite" status (i.e. an "huskarl" would be upgraded to an "elite huskarl") Now, when you upgraded your unit, it kept the same basic characteristics (like buildings), but it would look a bit different (i.e. maybe a slighlty bigger sword, or a different shield design, or a new stripe on their clothes)

So I was thinking...if reactions to shields are so mixed, maybe this could be an alternative - slight tweaks on unit looks to signify an increase in armor or defensive stat. Maybe make the upgraded marines a bit taller, or give them a band on each arm, or a giant X on their chests - some sort of visual cue that shows the difference between a regular and improved marine which doesn't mess with the tried-and-true old school marine.

[[LightMare]]

but the shield just isn't like marinish

[PrivateJoker]

It doesn't make sense that anyone would care about their shields. If anything it will improve the marines abilities.

[Nikzad]

@ElemenTT - exactly, that's why I'm proposing a marine with improved armor and no shield

@PrivateJoker - it's the look of the new shield that people don't like, not the idea of an upgrade to marine armor

[gr3ykn1ght]

come to think of it, marines with shields doesn't really look good... as in, they're hardcore soldiers, i'd think they'd just do away with the shields, and give those zerglings a haymaker with their free hand, you get what i mean? but if they con't have shields, the terran is kinda lacking of a frontline unit. maybe it's the firebats who should get the shields... something like two miniature shields (which look more like arm plates) on both of their arms, and their two flamethrowers... maybe... hmm.

[Nikzad]

yeah maybe they could plant the two shields down into the ground when they get in firing range and have a little slot out of which they shoot their flamethrowers, because they are the ones who already need the extra protection (for their flammable gas tanks) and are melee attackers anyway

It could be a shield that extends from their wrist or fist when they need to plant it but retracts and folds back up when they don't use it - kinda like how buildings are built/sold and put together/taken apart in Red Alert 2

[capthavic]

come to think of it, marines with shields doesn't really look good... as in, they're hardcore soldiers, i'd think they'd just do away with the shields, and give those zerglings a haymaker with their free hand, you get what i mean? but if they con't have shields, the terran is kinda lacking of a frontline unit. maybe it's the firebats who should get the shields... something like two miniature shields (which look more like arm plates) on both of their arms, and their two flamethrowers... maybe... hmm.


Firebats can't have shields for a bunch of reasons. First they are already carrying huge fuel tanks on their backs and sprayers on their forearms. Even with augmented strength the added weight would be too heavy/bulky and just no room for it. Same would go for any deplyable shields, etc. it would be just too much stuff for one person to carry.

Now if one was working with marine(s) with shields then they could protect the firebat while it kills the ones that get too close.

[Nikzad]

hmmm well wouldn't that defeat the purpose of a ranged weapon if he was up close protecting the firebat? and if you mean the firebats would walk in front and marines hang back with deployed shields, it would be pretty freaking hard to make sure you hit the zergling/hydralisk masses while being careful not to hit their fellow men in the leg or head or arm, let alone the giant gas tanks on their backs

[capthavic]

Well of course the firebat wouldn't that far in front of them (even if accuracy is a non issue in-game) beacuse not only would the shields not be protecting it but it would be a sitting duck anyway. The Marines would stand beside the firebat firing at the enemy and when one gets too close they take out their shields (and maybe keep firing depending on shield size/position) and guard the firebats sides.

[10-Neon]

Or maybe the Firebat would get a shield of it's own when the upgrade is researched?

[capthavic]

As I said earlier I doubt it since they have fuel tanks on their backs and the sprayers on their forearms taking up space where a shield might go. They just wouldn't have anywhere to put it other than in their hands but that would interfere with their flamethrowers.

[Singuris]

like i said before if what your fighting has weapons that can already get through foot thick armor a few extra inches ain't going to do anything

[Bullet101]

Or the few inch's can make all the differance.

[ZiiDriX]

Or might decrease melee dmg taken?

[Nikzad]

Well of course the firebat wouldn't that far in front of them (even if accuracy is a non issue in-game) beacuse not only would the shields not be protecting it but it would be a sitting duck anyway. The Marines would stand beside the firebat firing at the enemy and when one gets too close they take out their shields (and maybe keep firing depending on shield size/position) and guard the firebats sides.

well if they are standing next to each other in either situation one of them is not being used to their full potential.

if the zerg are up close, then the marines aren't making use of their guns. if they are farther away, the firebats are going to be sitting there waiting for a spine to puncture their helmet

[brc9210]

I don't see what all the fuss is about cus the shields look fine to me. I mean if I was a marine in sc1 and noticed that the guy on my right just got stabbed in the chest with a psiconic blade, the guy on my left just got tackled and clawed by a huge zergling and the guy in front of me just got pumped full of spines by a hydralisk I'd probably b**** slap the medic next to me and take her shield for myself.After all a lot of the combat that marines saw in the early stages of any sc battle was hand to hand so a bayonet and a shield is just a classic example of humans adapting to the battlefield Who cares about looks when you're fighting for your life.

[Light]

oo jeezuz, what is this...
he got enough armor! yes, the shield may have some advantages, but its not marinish. they should just make it be as it was. which terran government cares enuff about their marines to give them shields.

[[LightMare]]

Or maybe the Firebat would get a shield of it's own when the upgrade is researched?

firebats are no more. reapers are taking it's palce

[Nikzad]

CASE MOTHERF***KING CLOSED

THANK YOU ELEMENTT

[Singuris]

If you want more armor instead of a shield why not add it directly to the suit.

[capthavic]

I think we should just agree to disagree and let this topic end. We'll just have to wait and see what Blizz decides.

[Nikzad]

sounds deliciously awesome, good idea

[Singuris]

wow I'm surprised my topic reached this many posts. I think it has the most posts at this point.

[Light]

poll made by me! ok, this topic shud be closed. we had good enuff hyphotises (spelling O_o )

[Singuris]

:thumbup: Thanks again I'm closing it tomorrow. Thank you all again. :thumbup:

[Becka1988]

who is marine? i think shields help them defend, right?

[overmind]

please don't close it its an opinion poll.
to clear some stuff up i'm using SWAT as an arguement to not have sheilds not for them.
the marines are ex-cons why would the Dominion give them sheilds?

[TEDurden]

Even if they are ex-cons, the Dominion recruited them into the army, so they would try to make sure their soldiers aren't going to get killed right off the bat. I like the idea of giving the marines a shield: they're giving boosts to the other races basic units, i think shields and bayonets make sense for the terran as far as the story goes. I mean, the Dominion are pretty much a bunch of bastards, they aren't going to do anything fancy, just give the marines shields and bayonets for cheap so they don't get killed as fast. They could do some cool attack animations with theses too. Who wouldn't want to see a marine bash a zergling with his shield and then stab him? But yeah, i think if they changed the graphic to a riot shield instead of these knight ones everyone would be a little happier.

[Itsmyship]

Omg...didn't we lock this topic a while back? :P

[LimaBeanMage]

I think the shield doesn't really belong. Beyond breaking the classic image of just a marine in a suit with a really big rifle, as it has been for a while now, a better idea could be made to stop melee attackers. I would think a more futuristic idea would be to have special spots all over the marine's suit that, when a melee unit gets too close, protrudes two foot metallic spikes. And when they aren't necessary the spikes retract.

Not that is the best replacement but the point being that there are much better ideas than a hand-held riot shields that we currently have.

[Light]

i agree the shield duznt match...but spikes? i would rather have the shield! spikes? thank goodness blizzard didnt add those.

[paragon]

If you hate the shield so much, never upgrade it and you won't see it on your guys.

[LimaBeanMage]

If you hate the shield so much, never upgrade it and you won't see it on your guys.


Capital idea! I think I'll forget the upgrade exists.... unless it turns out to be extremely useful, in which case I'll scoff a lot and use it to win.

[Light]

yay, topic over

[L0ck and L04d]

YA well to any extent the shield dosent do **** because if you whatch closely during the tutorial video you can see marines being sliced in half strait down the middle and having their heads cut right off buy the zealot! :o

[overmind]

If you hate the shield so much, never upgrade it and you won't see it on your guys.
but the enemy would still use them and it would break the look.

[[LightMare]]

If you hate the shield so much, never upgrade it and you won't see it on your guys.
but the enemy would still use them and it would break the look.

i'm sure we can live with that

[Light]

yea, its the enemys choice to look like crap. i prefer to die in style!

[Major Willy]

But now the Marines can use their Gauss Rifles in one hand.
Badamn.

[DontHate]

seriously. this sheild is pwnage. how can u not love it?

[paragon]

seriously. this sheild is pwnage. how can u not love it?

There is too much team color on it.

[SirBaron]

Out of a story-based point of view, could it not be possible that the Marines were equipped with shields to cope with Zerglings/Zealots? (Although the latter would seem just as likely to just cut through the shields anyways...) I mean, the 'lings are small and it's easier to kill them while not getting wounded by having a barrier between you and it. Or something like that.

[paragon]

Yeah the anti-zergling thing makes the most sense.

[PowerkickasS]

whats with 14 pages of this topic O_O

[generalrievous]

I think it be kool if they made it where you can have your marines get into a defensive formation like the one shown on project revolution

[paragon]

I think it be kool if they made it where you can have your marines get into a defensive formation like the one shown on project revolution

I think they just lined up and faced the zerglings that were running towards them. Nothing really special about it.

[burkid]

seriously. this sheild is pwnage. how can u not love it?

There is too much team color on it.

yeah they need to change the color scheme

[[LightMare]]

how can a marine hold a gauss rifle with one hand?

[burkid]

how can a marine hold a gauss rifle with one hand?

they probably have been shrunken down for convienence, or they might not even have gauss rifles anymore.

[SirBaron]

Barret Wallace-arm from FF7, anyone?

[burkid]

Barret Wallace-arm from FF7, anyone?

that is my other favorite PC game. (i have FF7 on comp)
Barret's gun-arm owns

[paragon]

how can a marine hold a gauss rifle with one hand?

Their hands are big robotic things that they control with their real hands. Didn't you see the marine being made?

[burkid]

Their hands are big robotic things that they control with their real hands. Didn't you see the marine being made?

yeah thats pretty sweet that their hands are in thier wrists.

[SirBaron]

Barret Wallace-arm from FF7, anyone?

that is my other favorite PC game. (i have FF7 on comp)

Gief. I've been looking for a PC version of FF7 for like... ages.

[paragon]

Kinda weird though. You'd think there would be a learning curve to controlling it cause it looked like it was just a bar with buttons on it. But, maybe its intuitive.


Gief. I've been looking for a PC version of FF7 for like... ages.


FF7 at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00000DMAA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_olp_2/102-3319705-5164914?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1183309931&sr=1-2)

[SirBaron]

Maybe it is.

[LimaBeanMage]

Hm, on a side note, their bayonets are gone. I'm sort of glad about this. Practicality aside, I don't think any new look beats the classic image of a space marine in a thick power suit holding a rifle half his size. It is just a timeless and simplistic image that can work.

[burkid]

Hm, on a side note, their bayonets are gone. I'm sort of glad about this. Practicality aside, I don't think any new look beats the classic image of a space marine in a thick power suit holding a rifle half his size. It is just a timeless and simplistic image that can work.

bayonetts are gonna be an upgrade like the shields....

[[LightMare]]

not bayonettes, what would you use them for? i don't like the image of shield, but it's a useful upgrade, to make the already versatile marine even more!

[burkid]

zerglings. bayonetts are for zerglings in melee

[Light]

how can bayonets and shields it be an ''upgrade'' ,its like 29 century there.

[[LightMare]]

zerglings. bayonetts are for zerglings in melee

marines aren't for melee though.
how can bayonets and shields it be an ''upgrade'' ,its like 29 century there.

24th century ;) unless Tychus Findlay is 500 years old :o

[LimaBeanMage]

Hand held shields and bayonets are just silly. Terran are much more advanced than we are so why would they be using ancient technology to fight for their survival? Imagine a soldier today running into battle with a bronze shield and a sickle sword. It just doesn't make sense and seems impractical compared to all of the other technologies that they have.

I think the shield is a good idea, but a good idea in the sense that marines need melee defense. A riot shield is technically a form of defense but it just doesn't fit on a mass scale in the SC universe. At this point I would expect Terran to have worked on energy based technologies and would have made a very primitive form of the Protoss shield.

And as for the bayonets, I don't think they fit in either practicality or image conveyance. The marines are clad in thick metal from head to toe and have a rifle almost as tall as they are that has bullet shells just the size of coke cans. In the wake of a thousand zerglings bearing down upon you what is a six inch piece of metal on the end of your rifle going to do?

[Light]

great summary mage.

elementt- umm...in the UED victory report video is says the year is 2874 or something, look at it.

[silky2007]

it looks ... SUCKY ... the NEW marines in the COLOSSUS pics ... now ... those are marines :X:X

[paragon]

elementt- umm...in the UED victory report video is says the year is 2874 or something, look at it.

And StarCraft began in 2499 with most of the stuff you do in the original campaign occuring in 2500.

[GuiMontag]

Hand held shields and bayonets are just silly. Terran are much more advanced than we are so why would they be using ancient technology to fight for their survival? Imagine a soldier today running into battle with a bronze shield and a sickle sword. It just doesn't make sense and seems impractical compared to all of the other technologies that they have.

I think the shield is a good idea, but a good idea in the sense that marines need melee defense. A riot shield is technically a form of defense but it just doesn't fit on a mass scale in the SC universe. At this point I would expect Terran to have worked on energy based technologies and would have made a very primitive form of the Protoss shield.

And as for the bayonets, I don't think they fit in either practicality or image conveyance. The marines are clad in thick metal from head to toe and have a rifle almost as tall as they are that has bullet shells just the size of coke cans. In the wake of a thousand zerglings bearing down upon you what is a six inch piece of metal on the end of your rifle going to do?


the 'they are so advanced argument' doesn't mean anything when talking about hand held sheilds, before the events of sc1 all the marines were fighting against was other humans in gun battles, then suddenly they are facing off against 2 races with staple units that are mellee fighters.
If you look at our military today there is absolutely no need for sheilds in gun battles, but as soon as armed forces find themselves in mellee situations the first thing they are equiped with is a sheild. There isnt a crowd controll force on the planet that doesnt have riot sheilds.
As for bayonets, why not be able to smash a zergling in the face with your bayonet, while constantly firing!

[Itsmyship]

And also, for your arguement that a bayonet is ancient technololgy...a knife is ancient technology as well, yet soldiers are still armed with a knife in battle, hell, soldiers are starting to be armed with bayonets as well....hell, having a bayonet just means another way to kill someone when you're out of bullets instead of being boned on the spot.

[burkid]

marines aren't for melee though.

i realize that, but read what Gui said. why not put blades on your gun so when something tries to eat you you can stab them AND shoot them? Marines arent melee units, and get tore up when something gets in melee with them, so a bit of defence to that is a very good idea.

[paragon]

Well, in reality bayonets make your gun less accurate

[burkid]

do you mean at point blank or overall? because at point blank, accuracy doesnt matter too much.

[paragon]

overall, it makes the end of the barrel too heavy.

[burkid]

couldnt that be countered by extra weight on the back end?

[paragon]

yes but the idea is to have the gun as light as possible

[LimaBeanMage]

the 'they are so advanced argument' doesn't mean anything when talking about hand held sheilds, before the events of sc1 all the marines were fighting against was other humans in gun battles, then suddenly they are facing off against 2 races with staple units that are mellee fighters.
If you look at our military today there is absolutely no need for sheilds in gun battles, but as soon as armed forces find themselves in mellee situations the first thing they are equiped with is a sheild. There isnt a crowd controll force on the planet that doesnt have riot sheilds.
As for bayonets, why not be able to smash a zergling in the face with your bayonet, while constantly firing!

It is true that we still use shields in modern combat, but there is a huge difference between general combat and war. A soldier would not be caught dead in a war running around with a giant metal shield. We use riot shields when we are maintaining a sector that we have general control over or trying to fend off minor attacks while still providing soldiers/police the ability to make less hostile decisions against people. In an actual war between highly armed factions a shield is of absolutely no use. In fact, a shield in close quarter combat within a war can become a liability. You would probably want a knife, small fire-arms, and mobility <-- one of the most important factors.

And also, for your arguement that a bayonet is ancient technololgy...a knife is ancient technology as well, yet soldiers are still armed with a knife in battle, hell, soldiers are starting to be armed with bayonets as well....hell, having a bayonet just means another way to kill someone when you're out of bullets instead of being boned on the spot.

Yes, it is a useful ancient technology. I still have a survival knife and it can probably double for a weapon as well. However, a knife is only useful as a weapon against certain enemies. It just so happens that humans can be killed rather easily with a knife. Secondly, they are utilitarian, you can use a knife for a plethora of different tasks that could save your life.

Neither of these points apply in the starcraft universe. The marines don't need knives for utility, as a matter of fact they don't need utility period. Beyond the game play mechanics of infinite ammo, marines are essentially shock troops. They don't have a high life-expectancy and are easily replaced. They are there to shoot and die; well, except for maybe Raynor, but then again he is a hero. The next point would be that knives are useless against starcraft enemies. We still use knives as weapons because they can kill people, our primary enemy. A knife is completely and utterly useless against a Protoss Zealot; they are far too tough and have much more prowess at melee combat. Now, it is true that you could probably kill a single zergling with a knife if you get lucky. But what you have to remember is that they make up for their lack of strength in numbers; a knife against one zergling "may" be useful, but a knife against two or more zerglings if of no use.

[Ghost]

yes but the idea is to have the gun as light as possible


Yea but isnt the marine combat suit a strenght augmenter aswell?

Anyway, you'd think that they have developed a lighter material, now a days cars are being made bullet proof with metal fibre which is as effective and weight less than one third its volume.

[paragon]

yes and they are developing nanotechnology metals that are even lighter and even more dense.

[Ghost]

yes and they are developing nanotechnology metals that are even lighter and even more dense.


please pm me with that source, im really interested in these kind of things and youve been mentioning it alot lately.

[paragon]

Here is nano armor by IsraCast http://www.isracast.com/Articles/Article.aspx?ID=28
You can also read about it here http://www.answers.com/topic/apnano

[Ghost]

Here is nano armor by IsraCast http://www.isracast.com/Articles/Article.aspx?ID=28
You can also read about it here http://www.answers.com/topic/apnano


YAY thanks =D

[Remy]

I always got the impression that things like standard knives would have no use against a zergling, even a single lone one all by itself.

I mean, with extremely thick hide, raw predatory instincts, mutant reflexes, is bred to kill and good at nothing else, and a voice in its head constantly saying "rip his head off," would you take a stab at it even if you had the slightest chance of inflicting mortal wound? Not only would I'd be too busy pissing my power suit, I think a Zergling would just continue to charge me and eat my face even if I stabbed it good. But anyway, a bayonet just look silly on a SC marine doesn't it?

The shield looks stupid as hell and totally medieval in design, but they put that in for gameplay reasons so I'm letting that one go. If it was a new Terran unit it would be stupid no matter what, but if it's because they found a way to spice up Terran basic infantry, then I for one would give Blizzard at least a chance on that one.

Someone mentioned marines shooting one hand with shields, but aren't the shields shoulder mounted?

[Major Willy]

Knives on guns fail.
Now a bullet in between the eyes...

[Nikzad]

yeah Remy, I was wondering about that as well

I mean, granted they have super suits, but the recoil from a gun that size would be too much even for one super-powered arm. Is it really logical to sacrifice basically all of your offensive abilities just to survive a few extra minutes? It defies the philosophy of marines; deploy, shoot, die

[paragon]

Someone mentioned marines shooting one hand with shields, but aren't the shields shoulder mounted?

Nope, the shields are held in one hand like the medic's shield.

They probably added the shield to the marine because people were saying "wait why does the medic get a shield and the marine doesn't?"

[Ghost]

Maybe they wanted to raise the life expectance from 6 t o12 seconds, that wa, if they have medics the life expectancy will to to 20.

That when they can: deploy, shoot, heal, shoot, heal, shoot, die.

[paragon]

well thats two shots more than they usually get.

[LimaBeanMage]

Here is nano armor by IsraCast http://www.isracast.com/Articles/Article.aspx?ID=28
You can also read about it here http://www.answers.com/topic/apnano


That is really interesting stuff! I've always wondered what would happen if we took our most advanced metallurgy/materials technology and applied it to the classic full suit body armor. I wouldn't mind seeing a full suit of plate mail made out of that stuff. ^_^

[Major Willy]

I want to see a Marine in SC2 running through trenches and when a Zergling jumps down on him he just slams the living crap out if it with his shield.
That'd be a fun 30 second cinematic.

[Ghost]

I want to see a Marine in SC2 running through trenches and when a Zergling jumps down on him he just slams the living crap out if it with his shield.
That'd be a fun 30 second cinematic.


He'd be like: EAT SHIELD! *bang*

[Nikzad]

If I could have a shield, made any way that I wanted and to any specification, I'd make it circular and bladed edges, around 5 feet in diameter or so. Maybe a motor in the center so that I could make it spin at a really high rpm when the zerglings got close. Blunt force trauma would not work that well in my opinion, unless you smacked it in the face, threw the shield on it, and stomped a few times...then you could pick umpteen hydralisk spines out of your face from exposing yourself so blatantly when you could have shot your gun

[capthavic]

Well shields are not supposed to be weapons, they're shields. They would best be used to knock back a zergling that gets too close and stun it for a few seconds and shoot it.

[burkid]

shield bash!!
wait... thats in too many games already.

[Remy]

To be perfectly honest, if I was in a marine's shoes and I had a shield, I would throw it at the zergling hoping that it would stall it for a fraction of a second while I run the other way.

I don't want to go up against an alien creature, ever. Getting attacked by a bear or mountain lion in the woods would already be a nightmare. If SC became reality, I just hope lings would kill me quickly so I can't feel a damn thing.

[[LightMare]]

http://www.starcraft2.com/images/screenshots/ss2-hires.jpg
i changed my mind. i think the shield looks great

[Itsmyship]

To be perfectly honest, if I was in a marine's shoes and I had a shield, I would throw it at the zergling hoping that it would stall it for a fraction of a second while I run the other way.

I don't want to go up against an alien creature, ever. Getting attacked by a bear or mountain lion in the woods would already be a nightmare. If SC became reality, I just hope lings would kill me quickly so I can't feel a damn thing.


Well you could always hope that you have psionic abilities and volunteer to be a ghost. :P

[Nikzad]

yo what the hell I want to ****ing play starcraft ghost now

[burkid]

i think you just want to look at nova

[Nikzad]

<_<

>_>

So ?

No but seriously, I really want to be able to "interact" with zerglings up close and personal like that

[ImaGiNe.]

I think the shield would be a mighty fine addition to the already venerable Marine unit. Look at it this way, In WC3, The Footman has that Defend ability to protect itself from ranged attacks. Maybe the mechanic will be similar for the Marine, defending it from long range attack while slowing it's rate of movement significantly. It also looks like it would make a pretty decent wall too!