The future o' the Resistance

[mastapenguin]

I was playin through Episode 2, when I had a thought.

You know that part of the game where you enter a Resistance safehouse, and see KleinerTV on a small set? And then, if you explore, you can find a room where you can listen to Distressed Couple (TM) complain about life, the Resistance, and Everything. And boy, do they bitch about Kleiner and Cubbage.

It could be simply easter-egg humor, but it could also have major ramifications. So far, the leaders consist of Eli, Kleiner, Barney, Alyx, Mossman, and maybe Cubbage. Hayever, almost all of these people are not well like by the Resistance!

Now, EVERYONE (including us) thinks neither Kleiner nor Cubbage could find their backsides with a map. News of Mossman's betrayal prolly got out sometime during the Lost Week, so shes not going to be welcomed easily. Alyx has some respect with the Resistance, but I get the feeling that this is because of her father. She's not as much "Alyx Vance" as she is "Eli Vance's Daughter", at least to most of the resistance. In any case, I believe she takes more behind the scene roles of item "aquirement" and repair.

Now, this leaves Eli and Barney being the ones holding the Resistance together. But what if they bite it? Barney's in the middle of the worst combat all around, and Eli is going to be a big target of the Combine. If any of the others are left in charge, will the Resistance listen?


The conversation that got me thinking like this probably has SOME meaning for later. Major point of writing stories: You don't introduce a "public opinion" if it is not, in fact, public. I doubt the Distressed Couple (tm) are the only ones that feel this way. Will Gordon have to deal with a split in the Resistance as time goes on? Will HE, in fact, be dealt the responsibility of leadership? Are there going to be essential decisions that will change the course or ending of the game?

And does this mean we can expect an RTS by the fourth episode?

 

[Cuthbert]

Yeah, I thought pretty much same when I heard them say "I don't trust Vortigaunts". That's probably foreshadowing about Vortigaunt's motives.

And my heart beat so fast when I read you played Episode 2!

 

[Asknoone]

Cubbage is an idiot. He has no control over the resistance, and isn't seen as a leader or figurehead. He's just a joke.
I don't think people are that worried, this is obviously a move for the better, but after 20 years of the same old thing, change is going to scare some of them. I don't think any of it was foreshadowing, it's simply adding an extra layer to the conflict. Alot of the stuff that couple talk about is seen as more of a joke.

 

[Zephos]

Now, this leaves Eli and Barney being the ones holding the Resistance together.

Really, the one holding the resistance together (though not directly) is Gordon Freeman.

 

[Shift]

RTS? lol, I highy doubt that

I didn't actually take much notice of the of resistance members chatting, I just thought it was two people in a bad mood and felt like slagging everything off. However, what you said about Eli and Barney is exactly true. If Eli was killed, the blow to the resistance would be catasprophic, it would be a big blow too to lose Barney as he is someone the resistance fighters will follow into battle and he has shown his large military and combat capabililties. Alyx like you said is in her position because of her farther but is still a great ally for Gordon and the resistance, just that not many people know who she is.

Gordon is now the biggest player for the resistance after what he achieved in City 17 and for single handedly turning the tide against the oppression. If Barney was killed, they have Gordon, if Eli was killed, Gordon would most likely take over as the leader, and no one will argue with that, as every resistance fighter would die for Freeman by the looks of things at the moment. Thats the way I see it but we will have to wait and see

 

[AJ Rimmer]

RTS? lol, I highy doubt that

I didn't actually take much notice of the of resistance members chatting, I just thought it was two people in a bad mood and felt like slagging everything off. However, what you said about Eli and Barney is exactly true. If Eli was killed, the blow to the resistance would be catasprophic, it would be a big blow too to lose Barney as he is someone the resistance fighters will follow into battle and he has shown his large military and combat capabililties. Alyx like you said is in her position because of her farther but is still a great ally for Gordon and the resistance, just that not many people know who she is.

Gordon is now the biggest player for the resistance after what he achieved in City 17 and for single handedly turning the tide against the oppression. If Barney was killed, they have Gordon, if Eli was killed, Gordon would most likely take over as the leader, and no one will argue with that, as every resistance fighter would die for Freeman by the looks of things at the moment. Thats the way I see it but we will have to wait and see

But Gordon is in the G-man's preverbial pocket, so how effective could he be. He could be snatched away without a moment's notice, providing the G-man can escape from the vortigaunts, which he will eventually.

 

[Shift]

Yeha but valve said that the episodes are all about the G-Man losing control of Freeman and that the future Half-Life games are how Gordon copes as a free agent (maybe with the G-Man constantly popping up with new ways have trying to regain control of him). So obviously in the next two episodes G-Man somehow loses complete control of Gordon somehow.

 

[Asknoone]

Yeah, Gabe basically described the Episodes as Gman's loss of Gordon. Based on what he said, it would appear Gordon's escape from stasis is only the beginning of the Gman's loss of control.

 

[ríomhaire]

Cubbage is an idiot. He has no control over the resistance, and isn't seen as a leader or figurehead. He's just a joke.
I don't think people are that worried, this is obviously a move for the better, but after 20 years of the same old thing, change is going to scare some of them. I don't think any of it was foreshadowing, it's simply adding an extra layer to the conflict. Alot of the stuff that couple talk about is seen as more of a joke.

Cubbage may be a fool and a coward but it was people see, not what is true. IIRC a resistance member says something about how it must have been great to fight allongside Cubbage (or maybe my memory is playing tricks on me again *shakes fist at memory*). Many rebels probably see him as much a hero as Gordon if not moreso. Stories get around, get exaggerated and so forth until instead of shooting a single metrocop he took down a squadren and a gunship, with naught but a pistol. He probably also regales them with stories of when he served in her majesties armed forces. That's the impression I get of Cubbage.

 

[mastapenguin]

Yeah, sorry 'bout the "EP2" slip. I keep thinking of Ep1 as the sequel, and sometimes I accidentally call "Ep2" Episode 3.


Back on topic, can you imagine what it would be like with a leadership role? Like, say, making decisions? Most of Half-Life is about being limited to a single choice, what with the train metaphor and G-man always being there. Suddenly being able to MAKE decisions, let alone decisions that could affect the human race, is something that we haven't experienced.

To my literary senses, ending the series with Gordon finally being able to make a choice is the best way to end it. Overdone perhaps, but still meaningful. And that's something you don't often see in video games in general, let alone FPS games.

However it goes, it'll certainly be better than: You killed the guy in charge of the opposing force! Party in the streets!

 

[Max35]

Well, I'm pretty sure Gade did confirm that the main character from Portal will be making a crossover to one of the upcoming episodes (Ep3, more likely). So, perhaps this one will become a mild leader in the resistance. Or not.

 

[Gordon-Shepherd]

hmmm... interessssting thoughtss indeed, mr penguin... *takes asthma inhaler and stops sounding like gman* maybe one of the reasons the leaders were so welcoming to gordon was that they needed a messiah figure that everyone would love.

 

[SpotEnemyBoats]

Yeah, Gabe basically described the Episodes as Gman's loss of Gordon. Based on what he said, it would appear Gordon's escape from stasis is only the beginning of the Gman's loss of control.

Yup, & the guys in charge at the Combine homeworld are pretty pissed by Gordon's actions & they are keeping a close eye on him...then they say to themselves "How could one man cause so much trouble for us, He is just an ordinary human!"

 

[ranmafan]

He is one man... one HEV suit... one CROWBAR!

Well, I just had to say it. >>

Still, heroes rise and fall. Maybe we'll see some new figures in Ep2?

 

[AJ Rimmer]

Yeah, Gabe basically described the Episodes as Gman's loss of Gordon. Based on what he said, it would appear Gordon's escape from stasis is only the beginning of the Gman's loss of control.

But he will regain control.

 

[Asknoone]

I doubt it.

 

[Max35]

But he will regain control.

One of the main points of the Episodic trilogy is that the Gman is losing control, and dealing with the consequences of that. To put him back under the Gman's wing involuntarily, seems a little repetitious where the story is concerned.

Perhaps later, there will be a part in the story where Gordon has to incapacitate the Gman's powers, to prevent him regaining control over Gordon, or something....