Blizzard Entertainment's military science fiction media franchise StarCraft revolves around interstellar affairs in the Koprulu Sector, a distant sector of the galaxy, with multiple species and multiple factions all vying for supremacy. The real-time strategy video game series is centered on three playable races: the Terrans, humans descended principally from exiles from Earth; the Zerg, a collective of assimilated alien species organized into a biological swarm; and the Protoss, a technologically advanced humanoid species with powerful psionic abilities. Each has distinct units, structures, technologies and methods of production, as well as its own societies and narrative campaigns. Other species important to the setting include the ancient Xel'Naga, whose actions are connected to the development of both the Protoss and Zerg, and Protoss–Zerg hybrids artificially created as part of the plans of the rogue Xel'Naga Amon. The three playable races of StarCraft were first introduced in the 1998 title StarCraft and continued in its expansion StarCraft: Brood War and the StarCraft II trilogy. Their broad gameplay identities have remained consistent across the series: Terran forces emphasize flexibility and conventional military technology, Zerg forces rely on biological production and numbers, and Protoss armies consist primarily of technologically advanced and comparatively costly units. The races differ substantially in how they construct bases, produce armies and develop technology, while being designed to remain competitively balanced against one another.
Concept and design
Development of StarCraft began after Blizzard Entertainment's Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness. Early versions retained much of the visual appearance and technology of Warcraft II, and a version shown publicly at E3 1996 was criticized for appearing too similar to Blizzard's fantasy series. The project subsequently underwent extensive technical and visual changes. Programmer Bob Fitch rewrote much of the engine, while the artwork was redesigned using three-dimensional models that were rendered into two-dimensional sprites. The races also changed considerably during development. Early versions of the Zerg emphasized bright blue and purple colors and more heavily insectoid designs. Protoss concept art similarly changed from an earlier blue-and-green visual scheme, while Terran units were progressively developed into the industrial forms used in the released game. Blizzard sought to make the three sides identifiable both visually and mechanically. Artist Samwise Didier described Terran structures as predominantly square and mechanical, Protoss architecture as rounded and refined, and Zerg structures as organic and spiked. The Terrans were given a worn frontier appearance, the Protoss a more elaborate technological aesthetic, and the Zerg a biological appearance based around flesh, carapaces and other organic forms. Technical limitations also influenced the designs: units were given exaggerated proportions and silhouettes so that they could be distinguished at the small scale used during play. The different appearances accompanied separate production systems and technology trees. Blizzard spent much of development balancing the three sides while retaining abilities such as Zerg burrowing, Protoss cloaking and distinctive methods of construction. Several units and mechanics continued to change late in development; the Terran Valkyrie, for example, appeared during development, was removed before release, and returned in Brood War.
Protoss The Protoss are a humanoid species originating on the jungle world Aiur. They possess strong natural psionic abilities and technology designed in part to complement those abilities. Their history and religion are closely connected with the Xel'Naga, who encountered the early Protoss while attempting to cultivate advanced forms of life.
Society and factions Early Protoss society consisted of numerous tribes whose rivalries eventually developed into prolonged sectarian conflict. The mystic Khas discovered the psionic bond shared by the species and formulated the teachings known as the Khala. Most Protoss accepted the Khala and reorganized themselves into a caste-based civilization. The Judicator caste governed through the Conclave, the Templar served as its warrior caste, and the Khalai comprised the artisans, workers and other members of society. Tribal identities nevertheless continued within the wider Protoss civilization. A minority of Protoss rejected the Khala because they feared the loss of individual identity within the communal psionic link. These Protoss severed their neural connection and were exiled from Aiur, eventually becoming known as the Nerazim. Their warriors are commonly called Dark Templar. After a period of migration, the Nerazim established themselves on Shakuras, where they encountered Xel'Naga ruins and developed a culture distinct from that of the Aiur Protoss. Although the two societies remained separated for generations, the Zerg invasion of Aiur forced its survivors to seek refuge on Shakuras, beginning their eventual reconciliation. StarCraft II further expands upon the diversity of Protoss civilization. The Tal'darim are a militaristic Protoss faction historically devoted to the rogue Xel'Naga Amon and governed through the chain of ascension, a hierarchy in which individuals advance by defeating those above them. During Legacy of the Void, Alarak supplants the Tal'darim highlord Ma'lash and turns much of the faction against Amon. The Purifiers are synthetic beings created by the Protoss, incorporating artificial personalities and preserved memories modeled on living Protoss warriors. They had been constructed as weapons but rebelled after being denied treatment as equals and were subsequently deactivated. Artanis reactivates the Purifiers during Legacy of the Void, and they later join his forces. The coalition assembled by Artanis from the surviving Aiur Protoss, Nerazim, Purifiers and those Tal'darim who choose to remain with them is known as the Daelaam. The different Protoss traditions are incorporated directly into the Legacy of the Void campaign. Many army roles can be filled by units belonging to different Protoss groups, allowing the player to combine military traditions originating with the Aiur Protoss, Nerazim, Purifiers and Tal'darim.
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