Why do the combine have headcrabs?

[morgs]

I was just wondering why the combie have headcrabs, to launch to other locations in those little pod thingies.

It's a bit ironic actually, that they were using them, I mean, it's just another enemy for them to fight right? and, they obviously didn't realize they would make them selves into combine zombies

discuss.

 

[Darkside55]

Headcrabs are readily available ammunition. The Combine figure that as long as these parasites are going to be around, they might as well put them to use as biological weapons.

As for creating another enemy, zombies are a lot less dangerous than rebels, normally. At least the standard, slow-moving zombies are, which is why those are used in places like City 17, where the Combine will eventually have to clean up. For places like Ravenholm, they can drop the more dangerous types of headcrabs because they'll never go back there to fight the zombies, and the crabs and zombies will never make it into the city.

Also, there was originally a creature the Combine used called a sacktick that was launched in shells in a similar manner, and did pretty much the same thing as the headcrabs (except sackticks would kill the people they landed on). Valve cut that out of the game and opted to use headcrabs, a much more recognizable enemy that would perform the same role.

 

[Trodler]

on a lighter note, when i first saw the topic title i thought it was like a joke..
"why do the combine have headcrabs?"
"so they can ......"
*all laughs*

but im guessing they have them to be nasty to the rebels, tho more zombies doesnt really help anyone

 

[Sheepo]

Zombines were never intended to exist. It seems they only exist when combine lose control and they have to shell the crap out of their own city. By then thet're at the "eh, it does kill rebels" mindset.

 

[morgs]

Hehe lol, this pretty much answers my question.

 

[Ridge]

I thought the Zombines occured because the fields that protected the city from the Xen wildlife went down, thus the Antlion infestation...

Headcrabs are like mustard gas. They fire them into heavily defended rebel bases to wipe out the resistance, then they can go in and mop up the slow moving zombies...

 

[Planetary]

But what about in Anticitizen one, where some of the headcrab shells that fall have fast headcrabs in them? Just unwise thinking.

Why any armed forces, fictional or real, have biological weapons is beyond me. The potential to backfire horribly is just too high.

Of course, it wouldn't be a fun game if the Combine just sprayed nerve gas over the whole city.

 

[Narvi]

Why any armed forces, fictional or real, have biological weapons is beyond me. The potential to backfire horribly is just too high.

Ever heard of NBC equipment? What effects your enemy might not effect you as badly.

But what about in Anticitizen one, where some of the headcrab shells that fall have fast headcrabs in them? Just unwise thinking.

The only zombies which have any endurance against being shot are poison zombies. The Combine have armour fire support within the city. The rebels don't. Simple. It's not like a horde of fast zombies are going to take down a strider, after all.

 

[ríomhaire]

Headcrabs are more efficient than bombs because they can (and, it seems, instinctivly do) route out people from every dark crevice and tunnel than may escape bombing. They also keep an area practically uninhabitable without having to spend a large invasional and occupational force.

They really arn't a huge liability. They seem to just shut down when there's no food around and any ones that wander out can be swept up quite easily.

The shelling of the smaller rebel stations along the canals and coast disabled them with a minimum of effort.

Shelling within the city does seem a bit odd though. I suppose that they were just desperate.

 

[Xendance]

on a lighter note, when i first saw the topic title i thought it was like a joke..
"why do the combine have headcrabs?"
"so they can ......"
*all laughs*

but im guessing they have them to be nasty to the rebels, tho more zombies doesnt really help anyone

Nar, he meant..
"why do the combine have crabs?"

 

[Asknoone]

I think they felt they could simply isolate the worst spots. You know, shell a certain area then shut it down with those energy shields they use. Don't think they really expected to lose...

 

[cheesepie]

If you were an evil dictator, would you use headcrabs? Logically, I would too. Not only are they effective at tracking down enemies and keeping an area free from people, but they also are a big moral hit. I mean, when your oppressive government turns people into stalkers and zombies, wouldn't you be downbeaten?

 

[Trodler]

a lil i guess, but give me a crowbar and im good xD
surley there must be more HEV suits lying about? (referring to gordons '200 bullets to kill' status) but that wud take the icon away from him.. hmmm

gman in a HEV suit, lol. sorry, i went off topic

 

[victor]

it's not a HEV suit. it's orange-coloured suspension of disbelief

 

[morgs]

Um..yeah I'm pretty sure it's a HEV suit.

 

[Planetary]

It's both!

 

[Reginald]

An early concept had you entering an area with a Gonarch testicle in Combine supports, showing how they kept up such a supply. It's still in the SDK somewhere - wouldn't be surprised if Valve found a use for it somewhere in the future.

 

[Ridge]

You can see it here:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRBs12xlVj4[/YOUTUBE]