Starcraft: Three Species At War [The True PD Savage]

If you already know the story behind StarCraft, skip ahead to the "**************" marks.

The story, in case you have never taken the time to enjoy StarCraft, is something like this (this is the short version):

An alien race (the Xel Naga) was doing experiments with speeding up evolution using powerful crystals. They tried it on 1 species on a distant planet, but they developed to be far too independent to be controllable. They were amazingly powerful, intelligent, and organized (they even communicated perfectly with telepathy!). While this was originally what the experimenters wanted, they did not predict that the creatures would become unruly about being watched over by others. So, the experimenters went elsewhere, after a short skirmish with their confused creation. The creatures they left behind came to be known as the Protoss.

On another distant planet, they found an amazingly efficient parasite. It was just a small worm, but it would infect a creature, then use its body for its own benefit to manipulate things in the outside world. So, after some experimenting, this creature was even MORE efficient. It lived to serve its colony, then it died. It had no ego. In fact, Overlords were necessary to tell them how to operate (they communicated with a form of instinct/telepathy). Imagine HUGE, violent ant colonies, that live and breed in giant organs that mutate from the ground. These are the Zerg.

Back on Earth, things were falling apart. Human implants had been going on for some time now, which allowed faster, stronger, psychic, and downright inhuman genes to be mixed into the pool. A large United Nations type organization performed "The Purification," in which they eliminated all human beings that possessed psychic powers, implants, or the technical knowledge needed to perform such operations. This was done after some top people in the organization convinced the rest that these so called "improvements" would destroy human life as we know it. A scientist who was studying deep space colonization needed some "lab rats" to experiment with, so some of the prisoners were put in his possession.

He put them all in cryo sleep, and sent them off in some huge spaceships. The navigation systems malfunctioned, and instead of flying away from earth for 1 year, they did not stop for 30 years. The ships crash-landed on several planets in a distant galaxy. Eventually, all of these hackers, doctors, and elite human beings were forced to bring up their own society. When they were able to reinvent engines that could operate in space, the humans found one another and kept contact. Things were going ok, but skirmishes arose between planets from time to time (Civil War type things). These humans became known as the Terrans.

Anyway, one thing led to another, and the Xel Naga were killed by the Zerg.

Eventually, after all races evolved even farther, the Zerg and Protoss came to be in conflict. Worst of all - the Terrans (that would be US, the humans!) were stuck in the middle. All 3 species hate and don't fully understand the others, and they all lack the will or language to communicate to negotiate peace. This is all out war at its finest.

[By the way, if you like the story - it is the summarized story behind StarCraft, the computer/N64 real time strategy game. So if you want more of it, and you like RTS games, GO BUY STARCRAFT :)). This is sort of an advertising plug, so hopefully no meanie head lawyers come at me for "stealing their story." I am only trying to give some background for people who have not enjoyed the fine game of StarCraft!!!]

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Anyway, that was the background story. Now the scenario story (don't worry, it is not long).

Terran Storyline/Briefing (you are Terran in Single Player)
This is just another day as a Terran soldier. You are fighting on your own land, which humans first touched not more than 60 years ago (but now are heavily depenant on). The balance of power for the area has shifted constantly over the past few weeks. The Zerg now have a small nest and mutating area on the upper floor. The Protoss are constantly teleporting in. You and your fellow soldiers would have abandoned this area long ago, but unfortunately, the Zerg and Protoss are having a full-scale war all around this region, so there is no where to run. A small group of humans has a better chance of survival in a small military building where their native weaponry and ammo is aboundant than they do in the middle of a giant war between two alien races. You are tired of this struggle - kill off every Zerg and Protoss warrior in the base, and you may have enough time to actually sleep for once before the next wave arrives.

Zerg Storyline/Briefing
The Humans and Protoss are both very capable organisms. You are to infect and force "cooperation" from every form of life you meet. All that is needed is the genetic code - living bodies are not necessary. Never enter a fight with someone unless you can make them walk away injured and blind - if they manage to walk away at all. Our infestation of this building is small, but adequate for the job. Remember to always work together, and attack from every angle.

Protoss Storyline/Briefing
Both of these species appear to lack the mental ability to communicate or benefit our species. Failure to communicate with these inferior forms of life will without a doubt result in confusion. Confusion is a dangerous thing - eliminate the confusion along with both species from the base. Serve your kind with honor.

Scenario: Combat
Options: No Auto-Aim, Fast Movement, No Radar, No Auto-Aim, No Highlights
Limits: 25 minutes
Players: 1-3 Humans
[If other people want to play, they replace either the Hard ShieldSim on the Protoss team, or one of the Zerg]
Arena: Complex
Weapons:
1. AR34 [8mm C-14 "Impaler" Gauss Rifle]
2. K7 Avenger [5mm "Sound Banger" modified CH/A-17G Burst Laser]
3. Shotgun [12mm C-8 "Sting Spread" Scatter Canister Rifle]
4. Timed Mine [M73 "Anti-Flesh" C4 Stick and Go Package]
5. Combat Knife [Zerg Spines, Claws, and Teeth]
6. Combat Boost [Terran "StimPack P2" (Fast Acting Adrenaline Pills)]
Sims: [1 player set up as a Terran is shown:]
1: NormalSim - dress like human marines (CI Infantry works well)
2: NormalSim - dress like human marines (CI Infantry works well)
3: Normal ShieldSim - Alaskan Guard body, white mask
4: Normal ShieldSim - Mr. Blonde body, white mask
5: Dark FistSim - Joanna trench coat (not FBI or CIA), brown helmet
6: Dark FistSim - Joanna trench coat (not FBI or CIA), brown helmet
7: Dark FistSim - Joanna trench coat (not FBI or CIA), brown helmet
8: Dark FistSim - Joanna trench coat (not FBI or CIA), brown helmet
Teams:
Terrans: 1 human (100% health) with 2 NormalSims (Sims 1-2)
Protoss: 2 Normal ShieldSims (or replace 1 Sim with a human - 200% health for that player)
Zerg: 4 Dark FistSims (or replace 1 Sim with a human - 75% health for that player)
I.E. Here are the number of players each team should have:
Terrans: 3 normal characters
Protoss: 2 characters with Shields (Sim) or 200% health (Human)
Zerg: 4 characters (Dark FistSims or a human with 75% health)

Personal Settings:
Zerg player: No Weapon Sight, Highlight teams off
Protoss player: No Weapon Sight, Highlight teams ON
Terran player: Weapon Sight ON, Highlight teams off

Note on Playing 1 Player:
If playing a 1 player game, turn on Player 2 as well and put him on the Zerg or Protoss team. When the game starts, play as usual with Player 1 (utterly ignore Player 2's controller). It will not be long until P2 dies - and when he does, do not hit start. It must be played this way because if you have 1 human only, then Combat Knives will not poison/blind the player, which makes the Zerg somewhat worthless.

The rules:
-Terrans and Protoss can use any weapons. However, only the Terrans are allowed to use the Combat Boost (found in the columns room). The Zerg (human included!) is only allowed to Punch, Disarm, and use Knives (throw or slash).
-Protoss are NOT allowed to camp. This is hard to enforce, but it keeps things fun. If you are a Protoss player, stay moving at all times. Also, the Protoss player should never throw a mine unless he can see the person he is throwing it at, and he should never stick knives into a dead body (basically, don't do anything a Sim cannot do). Protoss fight with honor.
-Terrans can do anything it takes to get ahead. In the real world, humans use cheap tactics to try to win battles. Camp, snipe, gun down, and lay Timed Mine traps. The Combat Boost is only for the Terrans to use (it is a pill; it should not react the same in an alien body). The only thing a Terran cannot do: Throw knives into a dead body.
-Zerg are allowed to disarm, punch, and use throwing/slashing Knives. They CAN stick knives into dead bodies - to represent the pain of being eaten alive by them.
-Only Zerg are allowed to go on the roof area (where the Combat Knives are). No human players (unless Zerg) should ever climb the vent to get up there.

Quick explanation:
Just like in StarCraft, the humans have to stick together (use Sim commands!) if they want to live. The Protoss are exceptionally strong, shielded, and intelligent, but they are outnumbered. The Zerg outnumber the rest, but their weapons are highly ineffective, especially against the Shielded Protoss. The Zerg should only attack in packs (use the Protect command, and meet up by the Combat Knives on the roof). In a one on one battle, a Protoss warrior will kill a Terran, or a Terran will kill in Zerg warrior. Sheer numbers, team work, and cheap tactics are needed to win it for the Zerg or Terrans, while the Protoss should NOT stick together. When a pack of Zerg warriors ambush you, you will be happy that your Sim is safely on the other side of the level.

The Zerg throwing knives are like the poison spines some of them (Hydralisks) can project towards their enemies to blind and injure them. Also, note that ALL KNIVES are on top of that roof thing you have to climb to get to. This way, there is a "Nest" where they all swarm to get regenerated and rearmed before moving out for attack. To get double knives, they must feed off of a dead person or teammate (i.e. pick up someone else's dropped knife). If you want trouble (if you are Protoss or Terran), enter this room - sometimes all 4 Zerg will jump down from the roof, ramp, and catwalk from every angle and slaughter you! Also, the Terran team may want to try to camp up by the vent to kill any Zerg that try to get knives. However, this leaves them highly susceptible to the Protoss throwing mines at them or just running up and gunning them down.