Couple of story questions

[Mutley]

1) What are the "Benefactors" Dr. Breen keeps talking about, is it that slug thing? Who's the slug (advisor)?

2) The 10 hour war, how do we know about it, I can't see it explained in HL2? I thought the Combine were mutated humans so who "invaded" Earth and destroyed all Military power? So much seems unexplained, like why the Vortigonts our friends now?

3) How did Gordon and Black Mesa crew get to City 17, which I guess is in eastern-Europe?

Probably dumbass questions and I expect "OMFG use S34rch!" but it's a discussion forum right?

I'm completing HL2 and EP1 again so I understand the story better before Ep2 (woo!) Thanks.

 

[Asknoone]

1. The benefactors are the Combine. The true Combine are the Advisors (slugs), but as a whole they are a massive alien empire made up of countless, annexed races.

2. The 7 hour war is seen on a paper clipping somewhere in HL2. The Overwatch are upgraded humans; not the Combine. The Overwatch are the human branch of the Combine.

3. Who knows? It's been 15-20 years. It's not important. Gordon is placed their by the Gman.

This explains a few things:
http://www.halflife2.net/wiki/index.php/Wallace_Breen

 

[Mutley]

Thanks Samon, where does this information of the 7-year war come from and Breen? Is it all in this paper clipping?

Are Combines the things we see in the trains in Episode 1 or are those mutated humans?

 

[MJ12]

you've been on here since 2004 and don't know these questions? This is where I learned everything clearly.

 

[Ennui]

The Breen stuff is sort of an amalgamation of canon facts from different sources, but iirc the only place that the 7 Hour War is mentioned or referred to is in the newspaper clipping seen on the bulletin board in Kleiner's lab (but the same bulletin board texture shows up elsewhere in HL2).

 

[Asknoone]

The things in the train are Stalkers...immortal human slaves; that bit is explained in Nova Prospekt. The Combine are the slugs, and that's all we've seen of them. The 7-hour war info is from the paper clipping. I don't get you when you say "and Breen."

 

[Mutley]

Thanks guys, (I miss typed "and Breen" so ignore).

So if Gordon was placed there by Gman (when you accept in Xen in HL1), I guess Gman must dislike the Combine/Breen if he has sent you to disrupt them and known about it years before it was happening, which would lead me to believe he has some connection with another alien empire. In the Coast you also see him talking to the Rebels - another force opposing Breen. I don't expect you to answer that though, lol.

you've been on here since 2004 and don't know these questions? This is where I learned everything clearly.

The last time I completed HL2 was when it came out on the very first day, like 3 years ago. I'm rather forgetful. There is a lot of things to ponder about in HL so I thought before Ep2 comes out I'll run through it again.

 

[delusional]

3) How did Gordon and Black Mesa crew get to City 17, which I guess is in eastern-Europe?

The Universal Union probably moved the entire population of Earth after they invaded. So if you lived in North America, they would move you to Eastern Europe or whatever. This was done so the humans couldn't plan a rebellion as easily since they don't know the area. The ancient Babylonians did the same thing to whatever area they conquered.

 

[MJ12]

lol, it's all good OP

 

[Asknoone]

Thanks guys, (I miss typed "and Breen" so ignore).

So if Gordon was placed there by Gman (when you accept in Xen in HL1), I guess Gman must dislike the Combine/Breen if he has sent you to disrupt them and known about it years before it was happening, which would lead me to believe he has some connection with another alien empire. In the Coast you also see him talking to the Rebels - another force opposing Breen. I don't expect you to answer that though, lol.

The Gman uses Gordon as something of a mercenary; if you take note throughout the game (and EP1), and apparently you have because you've spotted Gman with Cubbage, you'll gradually be clued into the idea that your friends know more about your employer than they let on.

 

[Planetary]

The Universal Union

Why do people keep calling them the "Universal Union"? It's a pet peeve of mine; the only time we ever hear that is from Breen, the subtitles show its not even capitalized. It's a description, not a name.

It makes about as much sense to call them that as to call them "The Good Authority" because Breen says that in his reproduction speech "I have it on good authority that that day is close at hand" etcetera.

Actually yeah, lets just call them the Good Authority from now on, okay? :rolling:

Breen was actually right, the suppression field was disabled shortly after, wasn't it? Not in the way he expected, though.

 

[Darkside55]

Mutley, if you want to hear more about the 7 Hour War, the newspaper article is posted in Black Mesa East. When Eli tells you to "go ahead and have a look around," stare at the newspaper clip. He'll walk over to you and tell you about the war, the Combine, and about Dr. Breen's rise to power.

Delusional, they didn't just move everyone en masse to different continents. They are constantly shifting people around, all the time. It's not just the area you're in, because you could still plan a resistance; it's who you're with, your connections, how long you've been operating in one area. That's why "the trains are always leaving."

And Planetary, I'm down for calling them The Good Authority. Matter of fact, I think I will. ALL HAIL THE GOOD AUTHORITY!

 

[Asknoone]

The Good Authority is awesome.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

Mutley, if you want to hear more about the 7 Hour War, the newspaper article is posted in Black Mesa East. When Eli tells you to "go ahead and have a look around," stare at the newspaper clip. He'll walk over to you and tell you about the war, the Combine, and about Dr. Breen's rise to power.

Indeed, this is the best way to learn about it. I missed it first time round. But if you go back he explains it quite nicely. Interesting before TF2 (as know it) was around, the original version was based on the 7 hour war. It wasn't very good though.

Oh and the vortigaunts love you now because you freed them from their enslavement of the Giant HL1 baby that is the Nihilanth. Which is why they had chains around them before, and now they don't...or something.

 

[Darkside55]

Indeed, this is the best way to learn about it. I missed it first time round. But if you go back he explains it quite nicely. Interesting before TF2 (as know it) was around, the original version was based on the 7 hour war. It wasn't very good though.

Yeah, Invasion.

You know what else people miss in Black Mesa East? The little room Mossman goes into with all the security monitors. You can go talk to her instead of talking to Eli, but then she locks you out.

 

[Mutley]

That's HL2 done now for Episode 1.

I forgot how amazing the Citadel is, it is unbelievable, the scale and atmosphere couldn't of been any more stunning. I'm sooooooo pumped for Ep2 but got much more to play before then and going to take a break off the forum until I get them both finished, must avoid tip-off topic titles and spoilers! YARR!

 

[akatosh]

Episode 1 is very nic because is speaking about things that in hl2 was mystery

 

[Druckles]

Edit: Removed for unecessary reasons

 

[Nitre]

Was it really necessary to revive this thread?

 

[Druckles]

Aaargh! I posted in here without even looking at the dates! I can't believe I just posted in here . God, that's embarassing.

 

[LandStander]

"Good authority" is not meant to be a noun. He says "I have it on good authority" meaning "I have reliable information."

Shit. I shouldn't have posted...

 

[Aldenhelm]

whats the map were he mentions universal union?

 

[Acepilotf14]

The Universal Union is another name for The Combine. It's like the Nazi's or the Communist's calling themselves better names that sound nicer.
btw, Druckles, you didn't revive the thread.

 

[jerkasaur]

Aaargh! I posted in here without even looking at the dates! I can't believe I just posted in here . God, that's embarassing.

No it's not, you didn't revive the thread, and even if you did, big deal. if a thread has nothing to say anymore it'll either be locked or ignored.