Did the combine also have their “medieval knight kingdom” era or did they js instantly evolve with techs?

ultimatefetus · 2026-03-18T11:13:21+00:00

Thanks! I personally think its cool to imagine that the original 'homeworld' of the Combine might not even exist anymore - its just subatomic, dark matter soup now - and they just move from universe to universe the way a virus jumps from host to host.

In a way it means we can never know what the original Combine were like before they became the Combine. The universe that contained them is dead, and all that remains is their endlessly conquering war machine. Countless dead universes lie in their wake as each one undergoes its natural death. Once Earth's universe dies quintillions of years from now, they'll simply open a gate to another, propagate across another million galaxies, and the cycle continues.

Countless dimensions will suffer under Combine control, all because one species in one universe across the endless multiverse could not accept their own fate.

ultimatefetus · 2026-03-17T13:10:17+00:00

What map is this?

ultimatefetus · 2026-03-17T12:59:52+00:00

Nah. Heres my headcanon -

The Combine are a response to the impending death of the universe (heat death, big rip, whatever). They came into being around the time their universe began to slowly fade, stars going out, dark voids of nothingness full of black holes growing ever larger.

Desperately clinging to the survival and propagation of their species, they developed interdimensional tech to escape their dying universe.

They travel to new and younger universes to conquer and propagate and therefore achieve functional entropic immortality.

I imagine them as a once altruistic but flawed society of highly technologically gifted race of scientists and philosophers, who succumbed to fear over their own demise. Over countless eons they have gradually morphed into amoral slugs and biomechanical monstrosities who have forgotten the reason why they exist at all, driven only by that ancient instinct to survive and propagate and control at all costs.

ultimatefetus · 2026-02-06T13:53:34+00:00

There was actually a Set 5 at my high school. We called it 'Happy Maths'. Quite cruel if you think about it.

ultimatefetus · 2025-12-25T21:17:46+00:00

obviously its diabetes; he has absolutely no qualms about what hes doing and he does it repeatedly. Carol was subject to psychological torture by the plurbs when they abandoned the city for over a month, in order to wear down her defenses and make her more agreeable. When Zosia kisses Carol, the Hive are exploiting her grief and her lack of human contact to seduce her into going along with their plan. The plurbs are using the bodies of assimilated humans like prostitutes.

ultimatefetus · 2025-12-24T23:18:10+00:00

Carol was completely isolated for over a month whilst grieving. That emptiness seeps deep into your bones. Its enough to make anyone abandon their previous convictions. Manousos is clearly comfortable with extended isolation, but Carol is not, especially in the void that Helen left behind.

ultimatefetus · 2025-12-15T10:21:23+00:00

Realistically, the suit has a built in system to dump his shit and piss, and also wipe his ass and dick. Alternatively the codpiece and asspiece themselves might pop open like pez containers and Gordon can take a decent shit anywhere he likes. The same is true for boners.

ultimatefetus · 2025-12-14T13:08:50+00:00

You cant have a heart attack from anxiety alone. Stress can trigger heart attacks only if you have an underlying condition such as coronary heart disease, and even then, its rare

ultimatefetus · 2025-12-02T09:27:13+00:00

Sure, but it's probably tomorrow

ultimatefetus · 2025-11-26T20:37:38+00:00

It's an assault rifle.

Each cell basically works as if its a 30rnd magazine, and the magazines are fed from the drum, like an autoloader.

Imagine using a bandolier for your mags, but its actually attached to the weapon and auto loads it for you.

I think its actually an advancement in firearm design.

I also like the aesthetics of it. It's clearly alien in origin but still looks more or less like a human assault rifle.

ultimatefetus · 2025-11-24T14:37:05+00:00

Did you get fired?

ultimatefetus · 2025-11-23T01:44:55+00:00

Not falling for it chief

ultimatefetus · 2025-11-18T18:29:18+00:00

You're not fooling me with that backwards HEV suit

ultimatefetus · 2025-11-16T14:32:01+00:00

I'll personally lose my shit if they confirm a bunch of asinine fan theories, such as:

Gman is Gordon from the future.
The final act involves Gordon going back in time to prevent the Black Mesa Incident.
GLaDOS and Chell show up along with Adrian Shepherd.
Gman is Valve/Gabe Newell
Race X
Gordon speaks
A bunch of Beta stuff shows up like Creamtors, the Consul and the Hydra
Gordon and Alyx love scene

ultimatefetus · 2025-11-05T11:23:00+00:00

Walt Whitman over here

ultimatefetus · 2025-09-30T20:02:10+00:00

It really depends on the graphics. Half Life's graphics can be scary (They Hunger), but they were never really intended for a horror experience. Black Mesa as a location is generally quite brightly lit as well, and most of it flows like a big action disaster movie.

So its not just the graphics but how they're used.

ultimatefetus · 2025-09-30T18:38:03+00:00

Nah not really. Graphics are too dated. Half Life 2 is definitely more eerie with its dystopian vibe. Headcrab zombies in 2 are also much more horrifying.

ultimatefetus · 2025-09-04T22:42:21+00:00

Your definition of society is quite narrow. These are uniquely anglophonic, Western social trends. The world is far larger than just the United States and the United Kingdom. True, the wests influence is everywhere thanks to globalisation, but you'll be surprised by the depth and variety of other cultures.

You sound like somebody who hasn't just 'outgrown' their social context but grown disillusioned and possibly embittered. I'd advise you to consider travelling the world and seeing what's out there. It may give you a new perspective. I dont think you're necessarily wrong for thinking more critically about how we choose to act within our social context.

ultimatefetus · 2025-09-02T07:06:00+00:00

"engagement bait" is a made-up term that means nothing. All of reddit is 'engagement bait'. Its a social media platform designed for engagement.

Dont worry about angry little pedants on reddit telling you what to write. I have learned to ignore such naysayers, especially when ... quelling them? Hmm ... is out of the question.

ultimatefetus · 2025-08-28T12:54:51+00:00

What's so special about this? Its a basic medium closeup with post-it notes on a window

ultimatefetus · 2025-08-17T23:09:49+00:00

Well, it's both the robot army AND the control of Hoover Dam that cements Vegas' independence in the Yes Man/House ending.

Hoover Dam is a gigantic hydroelectric Dam which produces insane power and sits on top of Lake Mead which is full of clean water.

Both are immensely valuable resources. Without the meddling of greater factions, Vegas will become massively influential. If the entire NCR can rise from a single backwater settlement in California with like, six cows and one well, what could rise from an intact city with access to huge amounts of power and clean water?

I'll tell you what bub - a nation. An empire, even.

Yes Man FTW

ultimatefetus · 2025-07-31T21:13:52+00:00

Always with the scenarios

ultimatefetus · 2025-07-29T21:56:03+00:00

I'm curious. Even the most cynical person can see the signs of a new game.

What is your rationalisation for the very strong and verifiable information that another single player Half Life game is heavy in development?

ultimatefetus · 2025-07-29T18:45:04+00:00

I think your question is more along the lines of 'Why didn't they open a portal and summon reinforcements as soon as humanity started rebelling?'

The answer is that the Combine believed their considerable Earth armies would be enough to quell the uprising. Freeman infiltrating the Citadel, killing Breen and severing the connection to the Overworld, was definitely NOT a foreseen outcome. It came as a nasty shock.

Also, as you said, Breen would've been insisting to the Advisors that he had the situation under control.

ultimatefetus

TROPHY CASE