Talk:Combine (Half-Life)/Archive 1

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Combat tech

Who is it that has deleted the article on Combine Combat tech? Is it the same one who has deleteed the HL2 weapons article? Why was this done. Now the respective sections in the combine article is missing. what is the logic behind this?Preda 17:29, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

Yeah I don't understand either. The article seemed all right to me, I don't see why a page full of legit information should be glassed. 71.86.223.70 01:39, 9 November 2007 (UTC)
I apologize for the (very) late reply, but I had forgotten all about replying to this message after I saw it. Anyway, the Combine combat technology article was nominated for deletion a while back. Just FYI, the user who listed it has a known vendetta against most video game-related topics. Anyway, as is somewhat obvious, the article didn't survive the vote. You can still find a mirror of the old article located at answers.com. MarphyBlack 03:25, 9 November 2007 (UTC)
Wonderful. So we have an article on the Combine, Combine non combat tech, and Combine Synths and soldiers. But we don't have Combat Tech because of its "low quality." Does this not make sense to anyone else here?71.137.6.36 04:09, 13 November 2007 (UTC)
Can we have the article back please? Without it, the non-combat tech article just looks silly by itself.204.14.12.35 16:12, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
This is really a big shame, the users of wikipedia put alot of work into that article, and this guy just comes over and deletes it. Is there any way to get the article back? Now the whole Combine series of articles has a huge hole in it due to this moron who deleted it. I am utterly outraged at this masterful display of stupidity and ignorance on the part of a idiot. I may be just going on a ramble, but this idiotic moron just perfectly explifies everything this website does not need. Black Mercy (talk) 10:24, 1 January 2008 (UTC)
Well, it was re-made, and re-deleted... It seems somebody really hates that article. Perhaps we should re-make the articles (combat tech / non-combat tech) into one article (List of Combine technology in Half-Life 2). What do you think? Should I start making this? 204.14.12.35 (talk) 14:57, 21 April 2008 (UTC)

RPGs and Hit Points

Started a general overhaul, but needs alot more work. Expansion on certain parts. Possible re-write of the introduction. Images. - User:Qjuad

Seconded. For instance, what exactly does the "health" refer to? You only mention RPGs once, but I don't think it takes 26 hits from an RPG to kill a metro cop. Yar Kramer
Health should be rewritten as Hit Points to avoid confusion. The ones that can only be damaged by a certain number of hits from certain weapons could be renamed as, oh I don't know, durability? CABAL 18:55, 22 May 2005 (UTC)

Out-of-game info

I don't remember the game revealing most of the detail listed here. Is this mostly speculation, or is there some reliable source for this data? -DynSkeet (talk) 15:13, May 11, 2005 (UTC)

What parts do you mean? Thunderbrand 20:43, May 15, 2005 (UTC)
Specifically:
  • the history of the Combine conquering other planets, absorbing their resources
  • similarly, the repeated history of manipulating DNA and cybernetic implants to use a world's own species against it (both of these are obviously in use during their invasion of Earth, but when is their past discussed?)
  • Stalkers consuming a saline solution to survive
  • how do we know that the "grub-like creatures with mechanical arms" are the "original master-race behind the Combine"?
I also don't particularly like the health and damage totals attached to each enemy, but that's just a matter of taste. -DynSkeet (talk) 13:34, May 16, 2005 (UTC)
I think in the Half-life 2: Raising the Bar book, they mention a lot of that. When I get home I'll look over it. I do know that the original Combine are the grub-like creatures. Thunderbrand 15:16, May 16, 2005 (UTC)
It may be difficult to work in, but I think it would be very helpful to mention the book as the source of some of the information. Personally, I was left with a feeling of "How the **** did I miss THAT?" -DynSkeet (talk) 15:33, May 16, 2005 (UTC)
It says specifically in the book that the Stalkers run on saline (medicine) solution. There is one down! Thunderbrand 01:40, May 17, 2005 (UTC)
It seems like the Combine must have made some extensive modifications to humans... I'd think a glucose solution would be more likely to sustain a person than a saline one. But then, I'm no sci-fi author... -DynSkeet (talk) 12:33, May 24, 2005 (UTC)
If you read the Wikilink on saline solution just up there, you'll find that they add dextrose to saline solutions. What irked me the most in the game was how the fast zombies could maintain movement despite the fact that some of their limbs have absolutely no muscle attachments whatsoever, making the headcrabs supernatural in their ability to maintain a body's cohesiveness. Not to mention the lack of any nerves to whatever skeletal muscle it has on its extremities. CABAL 16:03, 24 May 2005 (UTC)
In the book, the train is known internally as the "Razor Train", although the game never mentions this. Just thought I would mention it. Thunderbrand 19:06, May 27, 2005 (UTC)
Added. CABAL 07:29, 28 May 2005 (UTC)
Where are the Combine soldiers who are being modified found? Nova Prospect?
You can see one on a monitor in Nova Prospekt. CABAL 18:14, 10 July 2005 (UTC)
The model can be accessed in either Garry's Mod or the Source SDK Model Viewer. This stripped soldier shows that the Combine soldiers receive some sort of lobotomy, as the scars are deep enough to indicate removal of brain matter, as well as the "colostomy bag" bulge, the tracheal implant, some sort of spinal implant, and an implant into the lower ribcage on the right hand side of the body. I think there's also an audio or radio implant, as his left ear looks removed, and perhaps a pair of ocular implants, as the model's eyes are featureless and give off an unnatural pearlscent sheen (of course, this could be explained that the soldiers eyes' are rolled up, but even then it looks...different).
I do wonder if the article could be improved by adding a picture of this model, either in HL2, Garry's Mod, or straight from the model viewer. --YoungFreud 06:08, 25 July 2005 (UTC)
I haven't downloaded Garry's Mod; the things you can find through it sound fascinating, but in my opinion such things don't belong in any of the existing HL2 articles. Perhaps if the mod is notable enough, it could support its own article; but I feel that the bulk of articles for a game should only address things that you can see or experience in the off-the-shelf version. (Exceptions, of course, for mods that make national news like "hot coffee".) -DynSkeet (talk) 12:29, July 25, 2005 (UTC)
I only mentioned Garry's Mod because it's one of the places you can get a clear view of the model. As others have said, the model appears in-game, but the Source model viewer and Garry's Mod just get you a better look at it. I believe the second screenshot of the Combine Advisor actually comes from the Source model viewer, so I do think it sets precedent. --YoungFreud 20:00, 25 July 2005 (UTC)
Truth. I supplied the second shot of the Combine Advisor, because its impossible to see anything other than the thing's face within the game. Of particular note are its mechanical claw arms, symbol-studded collar, what appears to be a camera assembly to the left of its mask, and the fact that its mask is connected to some sort of unit with air-holes. Also note that the Combine itself is mounted in some sort of harness. If you rotate the model and look at its back, you can see a little tail poking out. CABAL 03:13, 26 July 2005 (UTC)
Again, no argument that it's interesting. But I still question whether information and images no player can obtain in-game has a place in these articles. It looks like I'm in the minority, so c'est la vie. -DynSkeet (talk) 12:09, July 26, 2005 (UTC)
Y'know what, I have to agree with DynSkeet on that one. If no player can get it, why're we presenting it as relevant to Wikipedia? --Yar Kramer 18:31, 26 July 2005 (UTC)
They are TECHNICALLY possible to view in-game. If what I've read is right, remote monitor views are done using engine camera entities, meaning that the Combine Advisor model is SOMEWHERE on the maps which it appears on a monitor moving about. Of course this would probably mean using Noclip and searching. CABAL 04:40, 27 July 2005 (UTC)
Yeah, they use something called rendered cameras or render target cameras (as used in Garry's Mod) that allow for the in-game video output. --YoungFreud 02:52, 31 July 2005 (UTC)

A lot of the information that you don't believe is relevant is (I think) gleamed through simple logic. If you hear about what a horrible place Nova Prospekt is and all the inhumane s*** they do there, and you see that one piece of graffiti that shows an Overwatch soldier, a human, and a monkey, and then you see a fuzzy image of a man on an operating table with a clearly unhealthy shade of white skin (granted, you can't see all of the details described above), then clearly the Combine (possibly genetically) modify what used to be normal human beings and turn them into, "The Transhuman Arm of the Sector 17 Overwatch".

Tech stuff goes here

Under the Combine Tech, it doesn't list those "mine" things...I don't know the name...i included a pic here. Should probably mention it. Thunderbrand 21:25, May 19, 2005 (UTC)

File:MineHL2.jpg
Yes, it seems like this bit was overlooked. But I do suggest cropping the image, or retake the shot without the game's interface in the way of that "mine" thingy. 25 15:54, 20 May 2005 (UTC)
I don't think it needs cropped or retaken. The thing I love about the HL2 interface is that it doesn't get in the way. Thunderbrand 16:01, May 20, 2005 (UTC)
Well, in that case, this screenshot should be more than sufficient for this article. Speaking of mines, we also missed the "hopper mines" seen in the battle at City 17. I'll get to work on the text bit about both the "roller mines" and hoppers. 25 18:30, 21 May 2005 (UTC)
Done; added mobile turrets along the way. The Health Total and Weapon Damage areas still need data, though, and I won't be providing screenshots for some of these items at the moment. 25 20:26, 21 May 2005 (UTC)
Should we start a section about static or non-combat Combine tech? Eg their shield generators, automated trains etc etc? CABAL 18:42, 22 May 2005 (UTC)
They should be mentioned, but screenshots probably don't need to be added for those. Thunderbrand 19:42, May 22, 2005 (UTC)

Another concept

Here's an interesting notion: maybe the creators of Half-Life 2 named the Combine after the system of oppression in Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or something like that. Yar Kramer 19:57, 26 May 2005 (UTC)

I always thought it came from combining their DNA with other life-forms DNA. Thunderbrand 21:59, May 26, 2005 (UTC)
The 'Combine' is the name given to the aliens by the common folk. Note that if you do a little searching around, the aliens never actually told anyone on Earth what they called themselves. Personally, I think the name comes from the fact that they're working in tandem with a small slice of the populace, namely the transhuman arm of their armed forces and Dr. Breen. CABAL 10:33, 27 May 2005 (UTC)
I actually believe that the name "Combine" may also be derived from the alien symbols used on certain propaganda banners throughout the game, which appears to resemble the English letters "CMB" (see the lower left area of this Mark II Scanner), sounding like the word "Combine" even if pronounced with the letters alone. --25 09:28, 28 May 2005 (UTC)
Anyone want to scour Raising The Bar for any clues? I'm going to have a playthrough again to look for the symbols... CABAL 10:20, 28 May 2005 (UTC)
i second the use of combine as homage to Ken Kesey. The usage in this game compared to that in OFOTCN makes for a clear correlation. any suggestion otherwise seems absurd, though not to say interesting. Cheif's description of the combine mimics almost exactly that in this book. take a read, it's a good book... and the usage of combine does not appear in the movie, so actual reading is required. Dreamer.redeemer 01:58, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
I think CABAL is right for the in-game explaination of the name, but I'm positive the creators got the name from Kesey. The Combine in Half-Life 2 does literally what Cheif Bromden's imaginary Combine does; it demasculinates people and robs them of all love of life. Citizen Premier 08:01, 13 July 2006 (UTC)
I really like the Ken Kesey idea: like you said, it meshes perfectly. However, as mentioned in the article, "Combine" is pronounced with an emphasis on the first syllable (COM-bine). According to dictionary.com, this pronunciation is indicative of the combine harvester, a machine used to strip a field of its resources ... sounds extremely close to the HL2 "combine" to me. Both explanations appeal to me. This is one of the more positive explorations of sci-fi mythology, and it's pleasing to me that there is no official explanation. I hope this remains unresolved. -Eli Brody (talk) 13:48, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

Hopper mines

"Hopper mines are designed to explode on only opposing forces, making it possible to use the mines against the Combine, as demonstrated by the use of the Gravity Gun."

So ... if it's only opposing forces ... is it possible to use them against the Combine, or impossible? Yar Kramer 22:57, 4 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Hopper mines will explode on anything moving nearby, be it Combine or Resistance or stupid headcrab zombie. CABAL 06:26, 5 Jun 2005 (UTC)
Then I think it'd be better to say that instead of "opposing forces." Yar Kramer 04:27, 6 Jun 2005 (UTC)

'3km or more' height for Citadel determined from one of the 16:1 scale skybox models in the game - the model is several thousand units high, and each unit corresponds to approximately one inch. I'd show my working, but I'm not at my PC right now... ! --194.247.44.210 16:03, 13 July 2005 (UTC)

Unknown vehicles

As you go through the Citadel you see another vehicle which looks kind of like a mechanical beetle. Perhaps someone could grab a screenshot and briefly mention it.

We already got that covered. Its a combat synth. CABAL 10:06, 7 August 2005 (UTC)

Combine Doublespeak

I was wondering if the article should touch on the Combine's doublespeak, at least amongst the humanoid forces and the central Overwatch intelligence. One of the ones that caught me, and I mentioned it in the base Half-Life 2, before it was rewritten, was that Overwatch uses a lot of medical jargon in regards to the containment of "anticitizens", like cauterize, sterilize, etc. Another one that got me was playing the Nova Prospekt levels is that the panic phrase for the Combine soldiers is "Outbreak, Outbreak, Outbreak", regardless if you have Antlions (or "exogens") in tow or not.

As I was browsing a HL2 forum, someone mentioned something about the Metrocops having a similar theme, but based more around judicial jargon. A couple of the more interesting ones they use is "Issuing non compliance citation" (usually said when they start opening fire) and "Running low on verdicts; taking cover.".--YoungFreud 06:36, 8 August 2005 (UTC)

I had thought that one of the HL2 articles did go into some detail about Orwellian language used by Combine forces; now I can't find it, though. Did someone cut it? -DynSkeet (talk) 12:28, August 8, 2005 (UTC)
Its in the main Half-Life 2 article, I think. If not, you can find it by perusing the archived versions under History. Its also been discussed in that article's Talk section, namely instead of a nice, short section, we ended up with a general treatise of dystopic totalitarian dictatorships. In any case, the stuff definitely reminds me of Newspeak. Tripleplus good. CABAL 12:38, 8 August 2005 (UTC)

New images

I've just found a number of really good screencaps of Half-Life 2 models here. Should we have them replace some of the current ones in this article? ╫ 25 ring-a-ding 17:23, 8 August 2005 (UTC) ╫

That might be a good idea, considering that the screenshots I uploaded for the Crab and Mortar Synths are appearing to be too dark as thumbnails. Nufy8 00:27, 9 August 2005 (UTC)

Chapters

The Half-Life 2 Strategy Guide lists chapter 13 as "Benefactory," yet the game itself calls it "Our Benefactors" from the chapter selection screen. Interesting to note, however, is that both "Nova Prospekt" and "Entanglement" are listed as chapter 9 on the selection screen. Comments? Nufy8 00:29, 12 August 2005 (UTC)

Having not actually played more than the demo, I cannot comment except to regard this as "just plain weird." So, uh ... "selection screen"? --Yar Kramer 01:31, 12 August 2005 (UTC)
Chapter selection after you press "New game." Might not come with the demo. Nufy8 01:36, 12 August 2005 (UTC)
It is, actually, it's just that it only has Point Insertion and We Don't Go To Ravenholm, so I sort of assumed ... Fascinating. So, you can just start a new game halfway through? --Yar Kramer 05:04, 12 August 2005 (UTC)
They unlock as you beat them your first time through, so you'd have to beat it first in order to start halfway. Unless you use "map whatever" in the console. Or there's probably some config file you can edit. Nufy8 05:06, 12 August 2005 (UTC)
Yeah, I meant after you'd unlocked 'em. Now, if only someone would throw $60 at me so I could examine this further ... ;) --Yar Kramer 05:34, 12 August 2005 (UTC)
More like $30 now if you are in the United States.
Just throw out $50 for the Orange Box. Then you can help with other articles too ;) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.102.253.212 (talk) 12:53, 20 June 2008 (UTC)

Real Combine

I understand that the Combine you encounter are assimilated humans that are now following the Combines orders. I also understand that the only true combine you encouter is that large oversized monster in the citadel. If this is true what Combine forces actually fought in the 7 hours war? -- Psi edit

The Combine most likely has assimilated other life forms from different worlds prior to invading Earth. Nufy8 22:46, 16 August 2005 (UTC)
The non-Human Combine forces. Striders, Dropships, Gunships, Roller Mines etc. Probably the Combat and Mortar Synths too. CABAL 13:18, 17 August 2005 (UTC)
I think you can see what appears to be something similar to the Gunship in The Times newspaper flying in front of the burning husk of the United Nations HQ. I just looked in the screenshots and VTF explorer, but the resolution isn't too good, but it definitely has the shape of the Gunship.--YoungFreud 18:19, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

Yeah but is it revealed which combine actually started human assimilation?

I am not 100% sure what you mean by "which combine" but the advisors (slug things that breen talked to and that attacks you) probably issued orders to attack Earth and used the synths and then Breen helps save Earth, and Breen or the PA lady, who str representatived since a giant slug talking to people on television screens would scare them, told them that if they would join the Overwatch and become metrocops (after premotions they become real soldiers) they would get more privileges. I might be off on a couple things and I may not have answered your question but that's the general idea.

Article index

Just a style point, but would it be an idea to de-subsection the individual Combine entries so that the index isn't so long? It stretches more than a screen's length at the moment. I did this already for external links on the HL2 page. Anyway, I'd be happy to do it here too, but wanted to check first. --Plumbago 10:57, 31 August 2005 (UTC)

Elites can't be spawned?

This is news to me, but it looks like whoever amend my edit is right. It's possible to spawn them in Garry's Mod with that command "npc_create npc_combine_e" (of course, you can also do it from the Q menu), but not in the main game. I just tried it right now in the main game and got that error. Strange. --YoungFreud 18:14, 14 September 2005 (UTC)

Without a mod of some kind, it appears unlikely that one can indeed spawn an Elite. However, as with my recent edit, they still are entities. They can be spawned in the game through Hammer (for a custom map) when selecting the models for the entity - I've noted it as such. Nufy8 18:43, 14 September 2005 (UTC)

Combine Teleportation

I'd just like to point out that it should be reworded. Keep in mind that while the Combine Teleporter needs a significant amount of juice to run, it also has to move an entire skyscraper that's more than a mile high. CABAL 10:22, 11 October 2005 (UTC)

I don't think that the Dark Energy teleporter in the Citadel moved the Citadel onto Earth, that's like trying to pull a wagon as you stand in it. 24.196.115.179 22:50, 22 June 2007 (UTC)

Ration dispenser

A Combine ration dispenser

I seen one of these Combine ration dispensers in the train station, handing out food to citizens. Should we mention this device in the article as well? ╫ 25 ring-a-ding 19:00, 16 November 2005 (UTC) ╫

Sure. Nufy8 19:07, 16 November 2005 (UTC)

Roller mines...

"Upon landing, the mines will remain inert or, if they land on softer terrain like soil or asphalt, they will burrow themselves into the ground, remaining almost invisible."

Now, is asphalt considered "soft"? Jetro 16:16, 2 December 2005 (UTC)


CP "sex simulations" ...?

It was mentioned in that article that :"Certain radio transmissions heard over the Civil Protection's radios suggest that they get rewarded with sex simulations..."

Where exactly did you hear these radio transmissions? Looks like a bluff to me.

Sound/npc/overwatch/radiovoice/reminder100credits.wav in "source sounds.gcf." Nufy8 15:55, 8 December 2005 (UTC)
Wss that sound EVER used? VALVe might forgot to delete it.
Valve has no reason to delete it, it certainly fits in with the atmosphere and story; Metrocops would definitely want to have "Non-mechanical reproductive simulation" since the urge/desire (no kid results) to normally do that is surpressed.
What's confusing there is that the humans who join CP listen to Breen, right? In the very first Breencast, he mentions that those feelings were best removed. Also, why would they WANT to have the want to have sex again if they don't have the utrge to start?--68.81.129.46 (talk) 21:31, 6 April 2008 (UTC)Guest
Actually, the desire is still there, as evidenced by the lines spoken by the citizens: "Once this is over, I'm gonna mate!" It was revealed in Episode One during a Klinercast that some compound necessary to reproduction was blocked. This means that they could mate, but it would be completely pointless. However, the combine can't tell if they are mating behind closed doors simply for pleasure. So remind me: How is "non-mechanical reproductive simulation" a great plus? Unless metrocops are not allowed mating, so they need permission to mate. Or, Valve missed something. First for everything! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.102.253.212 (talk) 23:16, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Article too long

Does anyone else think that the article's getting a bit too long, and we need to either trim it down or give some of these Combine devices their own articles? --Yar Kramer 20:02, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

I agree, many of these subsections are poorly written, are bloated with needless observations, and would be more than adequate by encompassing only a paragraph or two. I started trying to pare them down until my efforts were rev'ed by User:Nufy8. So be it.---Jackel 19:17, 14 December 2005 (UTC)
I have to agree too, this page getting way too long for its own good. But certain parts of the the article are too comprehensive to be cut down without jeapordising the integrity of the information. Based on how the Halo articles on vehicles and factions are sorted, consider splitting the page to accomodate future expansion:
  • Keep the main article and provide main article links to the separated sections
  • Start new pages dedicated to the:
    • Humanoid Combine
    • Combine synth
    • Combine tech
    • Static and non-combat Combine property
  • Recategorize core and branched articles into a category dedicated to the Combine.
The only problem now is the matter of how we should name each of the separated articles based on their contents. ╫ 25 ring-a-ding 19:36, 14 December 2005 (UTC) ╫
The humanoid Combine section is a little short, so I would consider merging that with the synths to form one article. Tech and non-combat property can have their own, but tech would have to be renamed, as the static and non-combat property can also be considered Combine technology. How about this for article names:
  • List of humanoid and synthetic Combine in Half-Life 2
  • List of Combine combat technology in Half-Life 2
  • List of Combine non-combat technology in Half-Life 2
-- Nufy8 22:44, 26 December 2005 (UTC)
Sounds good. Aside the need for introductions on each child article, the article split can go ahead, as far I'm concerned. ╫ 25 ring-a-ding 16:04, 27 December 2005 (UTC) ╫
Done. I just kept the introductions for each Combine property on this article, but each section could probably stand to be summed up more (or in a different way, since the lists use the same introduction). Nufy8 18:50, 27 December 2005 (UTC)

Depletion of natural resources

I removed the section about the Combine Citadel depleting Earth's natural resources both due to the fact that it seemed an insufficient description of how exactly the Citadel was doing this, and also that the true purpose of the Citadel's ground-pounding mechanisms is far more likely to be the generation of seismic disruptions strong enough to ward off Antlion forces. It's seen elsewhere in the game that a relatively small device (say 2 times the height of a man) can barely keep the antlions five metres from it, while the larger ones near Nova Prospect's perimeter (requiring a ladder to climb) can only keep the antlions at a distance of roughly fifteen metres. It's far more likely that the mechanisms at the bottom of the citadel (each the size of skyscrapers and each requiring a significant ammount of power to operate) are intended to create vibrations in the ground that keep the antlions away from the city (or, at least, the parts nearest the Citadel). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 62.49.128.77 (talk • contribs) 13:47, 14 January 2006 (UTC).

Combine invasion of Xen

In the paragraph with the following line, "After Gordon Freeman killed the Nihilanth, the portal opened, allowing the Combine to teleport its forces into Xen." I've been keeping a close eye on the thread when it started and had extensive private conversation with some of the people involved. The conclusion that the Combine entered Xen is pure speculation. I never noticed it before, but it's being mentioned here as if it were something confirmed from Valve. I plan on modifying that paragraph unless someone can show me an actual message from Valve, not speculation from fans, indicating that the Combine did indeed enter Xen. SavannahLion 02:58, 28 March 2006 (UTC)

(My apologies if I come off sounding harsh. Long day at the office. :-\)

I'm pretty sure we have it from Marc Laidlaw or someone else from Valve that the Combine discovered Earth after they conquered Xen, which was only possible after Gordon killed the Nihilanth. I could be wrong, but it does make sense if you consider the Vortigaunt that you see at the beginning of the game. It suggests that the Combine have many more such slaves in their service, which would make sense if the Combine conquered their main world of residence.

I'd like to see that particular source SavannahLion 21:23, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
The source is actually Doug Lombardi in the September 2005 issue of PCZone magazine. He states that the combine moved directly onwards to Earth after invading Nihilanth's original unnamed home planet (not Xen). The home planet referenced in the quote is often misinterpreted as Xen, but it isn't. As such, I'm going to remove the speculation. 72.57.42.230 21:51, 28 May 2006 (UTC)
I have contacted Marc Laidlaw and posted the email reply in the article. --2ltben 19:05, 27 June 2006 (UTC)
Interesting addition, but it doesn't fulfill the "verifiability, not truth" guideline very well. You may like to have this posted in a reliable HL website, or have Laidlaw directly publish this claim at said website. Hope that helps. ╫ ２５ ◀RingADing▶ 19:39, 27 June 2006 (UTC) ╫
Hrm, slipped my mind that its not verifiable. I'll send it to PHL and see if they release it.--2ltben 18:19, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Combine were not on Xen

The current introduction contains original research, and some inaccuracies to boot. The link does not actually lead to a source, and the quote in question was misinterpreted in a way that isn't grammatically correct. It's a common misinterpretation but, unless someone made a mistake in the transcription, Lombardi would be refering to the Homeworld and not Xen as the world that was invaded.

Since this is a common mistake, I have replaced the speculation with the full quote and added a parenthetical note to clarify the meaning. 72.57.42.230 01:39, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

--- Also, what is with this: "Concept art from the game states the citadels assume semi-specialized roles suited to their particular sites. City 17 focused on population processing, while City 16 became a huge military/industrial complex. It also showed a Citadel on Xen, and a vast factory creating Citadels in a production line." Where is this mythical concept? This needs citation. It is not in Raising the Bar and I've certainly never stumbled across anything of this nature. What makes it especially dubious is the assertion that there was a Citadel on Xen at any-time, something keenly contested in the community and surely contrary to what we've learned from Laidlaw etc. about the Combine relationship with Xen?

Removed screen

I removed this screenshot Image:Hl2.ru-aftermath-117.jpg. Since there is already a screenshot of the Advisor on screens, we don't really need another one. Plus, it is watermarked. Thunderbrand 01:32, 3 June 2006 (UTC)

  • Why is watermarking wrong? - Sikon 02:55, 3 June 2006 (UTC)
Well, watermarked images are generally looked down upon, as they look unprofessional with a giant logo in the corner. There has been some discussion about it: here Thunderbrand 16:32, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Advisors and mental attacks

The article claims that Advisors are capable of attacking beings mentally, saying it was the Advisor who disoriented Gordon and Alyx. Although they may be capable of telepathy and telekinesis, Ted Backman and Keith Huggins in Episode One's commentary both make very clear that it is the pods who are the ones using the "mind blast" attacks, not the Advisors. The relevant portion of their quotes are as follows:

"#commentary\podrising.wav" "[Ted Backman] We revealed the pod here to let players see it up close. [...] The current scene gives us a much more dramatic reveal of the pod and an opportunity to introduce the mind blast it's capable of emitting."
"#commentary\whatwasthatthing.wav" "[Keith Huggins] It's important that the player has some empathy for Alyx, rather than just seeing her as a bullet-spitting robot. The brief recovery scene after the pod mind attack reminds the player that Alyx is affected by events in the world."

I'm leaving the parts about Advisors being highly evolved mentally, but removing the sentences saying that they can use mental attacks, since as far this has not proven true. MarphyBlack 06:49, 13 June 2006 (UTC)

Indeed it has, In Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Gordon happens upon a crashed advisor pod, and inside finds an Advisor incubating in some sort of device. After disabling the device in an attempt to kill the Advisor, Gordon is almost killed himself by it. During this scene, the Advisor uses a "mind blast" on Gordon, and while nearing the house where the Advisor is located several lesser mind-nudges(?) are experienced. not only that, but at the time of the commentary concerning the fleeing Advisors, the developers refer to them as the player sees them, AKA as pods.--Techercizer (talk) 14:45, 20 May 2008 (UTC)

Combine Energy Balls

Ok, we've all seen 'em. Transperant balls. Filled with something. Maxed with energy. The question remains to be anwsered, what is it? I do belive the balls is some kind of fusion reaction. If you look like it, the stuff inside the ball looks like some hyper-temperated plasma. If I'm not wrong the plasma is circling around the center, and if im not wrong again, this is how you do in a fusion reactor. Though it might be dumb to relate combine hi-tech to human tech. But I'm not pro at this, put some thouth to it, please. And, if you can, please update the page! (I'm not familiar with eiting). thx! Cybesystem 22:47, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Tardy response, but still. I have theorised, along with some other people, that that "energy" is actually a form of dark energy, i.e. negative energy. So if the ball's plasma actually had negative energy properties, it would make it exotic matter. This would certainly explain why it does not fall apart (negative pressure would hold plasma together, while normal pressure would cause it to expand), why it bounces around (it is repelled by impacts and gravity, again because it has negative properties) and why it disintegrates things (dark energy gets transferred into the object, cancelling all atomic , nuclear and molecular forces). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Preda (talk • contribs) 17:16, August 23, 2007 (UTC).
I have to agree with Preda here (although also late) that the Combine energy spheres definatly seem to be made of some kind of contained anti-matter. But is the alternate fire on the pulse rifle the same? it looks differant but has the same effects (allthough I have never attempted to power something with it...)--Techercizer (talk) 19:26, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

Human Genocide

Well, the main article postulates that all the kids have been killed. What if they just "grew up"? I mean, if the suppression field had been active for "nearly two decades" (from HL2: EP1 website) as the time span between HL1 and HL2, it is possible the combine invaded very recently after Gordon disappeared and started the suppression field when they arrived. Should this be added as a possibility?

Your version of what happened is what I'd always assumed, fwiw; I think it deserves a mention. Chris 18:44, 27 July 2006 (UTC)

Mind control and memory replacement

in the mid control part of this artical the last sentince seems irrelivant (to me unless im missing soemthing) and like it isnt soposed to be ther... there is the last 2 lines

"The process of erasing memories, combine propaganda, and eventually, memory replacement results in a soldier incapable of rebelling against the Combine influence, as well as enabling transhumans with no military background training to become part of the Overwatch forces. then they fart"

i beleave the "then they fart" is just a joke.Chardrc

--- Not that I encourage that but that was sorta...funny. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.196.115.179 (talk • contribs) 00:11, 23 March 2007 (UTC).

Combine Symbol

Replaced the the previous image with a higher quality version, I think it gives a clearer idea of the form of the symbol.

For comparison:

File:Combinesymbol.JPG

mode_seven 16:03, 1 August 2006 (UTC)


Speculation

I've moved this paragraph off the main page:

I think that the wording is really a bit too vague to go in the article; perhaps some citations could be found to support it first.
—Chris (blather • contribs) 23:33, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

Anybody notice there's a white dove above that logo at the end of episode 1. The Great White Hunter 16:42, 16 January 2007 (UTC)Mike_Winters

Communists?

Is it me, or do the Combine seem very reminiscent of the soviet union?What me worry? - Xachna 18:24, 15 October 2006 (UTC)

No. I find it to be of a collaborate inspiration. The Covenant from Halo, The Combine in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Empire from Star Wars, a little similarity to the Nazi Germans, and TlhIngan.
You are right, though. The Combine wear Soviet gas masks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.112.146.149 (talk) 08:48, 22 July 2008 (UTC)

Combine Capable of Transfering Human Minds?

During the conversations before the fight to the dark energy generator.. Breen and the Advisor were talking about a way of getting him off of earth, and something was mentioned to the affect of a "Host Body" Discuss. (208.42.63.201 18:57, 16 January 2007 (UTC))

In Episode 1 Freeman and Alyx are attacked unprovoked by an advisor who could have been Breen, so Breen could have been put into the Advisor for safety/transportation, and it's not like Valve to kill an important player after three minutes of fighting on the top of a tower.
I'm pretty sure we've seen the last of Breen (by the way he was killed off in that spectacularly fantastic explosion), but I at least got kind of the idea of teleporting a mind through the portal, but not the body (or at least digitizing a conciousness and uploading it) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Techercizer (talk • contribs) 19:31, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

Made-up stuff.

"Concept art from the game states the citadels assume semi-specialized roles suited to their particular sites. City 17 focused on population processing, while City 16 became a huge military/industrial complex. It also showed a Citadel on Xen, and a vast factory creating Citadels in a production line."

No such concepts actually exist. This is either fanfiction or someone was confused by a mod team's work. Either way, it doesn't belong in the article. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 74.98.22.176 (talk) 07:34, 3 February 2007 (UTC).

Isn't the concept art from the book, Raising the Bar? I'll change the text to make that clear.--Planetary 07:53, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
I removed it; see the discussion on my talk page. --Planetary 03:18, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

The Universal Union

I'm posting this here because you could argue it's Original Research, but here's why I think that the claims on this article that "Universal Union" is merely a description of the Combine should be removed - I believe it is the Combine's correct title, and here is why:

  • On the 'back' of Striders and Gunships can be seen a red icon , which when viewed with the creature's head 'up' contains what appear to be the letters "U U". Of course, one might ask why the Combine would use English/Roman lettering, but I suspect that's one of those things you just have to let go. (Like the fact that all the warning signs etc. in the abandoned areas are in English, despite the Eastern European setting.) (Alternatively it could be that the 'logo' is one localised for Earth.)
  • The 'female' combine announcer/dispatcher uses the term "Union", as can be seen by examining the game's sound files - like 'union.wav'!

Also, I think this talk page is being used as a forum for discussion, contrary to the guidelines above.

3DS Mike 01:28, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

Combine Mind Replacement device location

"Information about forced memory replacement can be found in the games data files, in this specific model named "soldier bed", seen later inside the Citadel during Episode One."

I never saw one in game or even in Model Viewer, is this a dropped idea that someone posted anyway? I searched all over and used noclip several times and never saw a stalker hooked up to a computer with screens on it.

Did anyone else find it? It's kind of annoying me here. It's also on the Combine humanoids/syncth page or whatever it's called —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.196.115.179 (talk • contribs) 01:08, 13 April 2007 (UTC).

It wasn't a stalker hooked up to a machine, it was a "naked" Combine soldier (calm down, all you ladies out there, they still have pants on...). I have seen them in the model viewer, but not in the Citadel. Should the mentioning of it being seen in the Citadel be removed? Unless somebody presents a screenshot of one in-game, there's no proof of it being seen in the Citadel. I have heard the noises, but I don't know where to find the sound files for it, though.

`XANA 01:49, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

They are located in the first chapter, "Undue Alarm", near the end but before taking the elevator to the Core. They are dfficult to spot, but they can be seen in the distance. Qjuad 23:33, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

Origin of the Name

"Cheif" Bromden, the schizophrenic narrator in "one flew over the cuckoo's nest", refers to the surroundings of the asylum as if they are mechanical or machine-like, calling them 'the combine'. Can someone with more time follow up on this? I've often wondered why they are called the combine; it's a strange way to use the term, otherwise. Jaz Mcdougall 02:49, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

Sounds a bit laughable but the farm machinery combines cut down and harvest corn, wheat, oats, and other grain, and the Combine empire "Harvests" people and presumably other plantets and universes for their vast armies and natural resources like water.
I Believe that's where Keasey got the name from his book on, I strongly believe that the Combine in Half Life 2 is the same Combine that Keasey wrote about. Chief Bromden thought the Combine were all the forces controlling him, as the Combine is in HL2. Themandotcom (talk) 13:38, 12 April 2008 (UTC)
I think the in game explination is the "combine harvester" derivation, but that the writers recieved the idea from that book.--Techercizer (talk) 19:34, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Ep1 citadel 010002.png

Image:Ep1 citadel 010002.png is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in Wikipedia articles constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 04:23, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

Done. --Planetary 21:29, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

What are these?

Look up "Unseen Beta models" on youtube because does anyone know what the guys at 6:12 and 7:30 are? The first one looks like a surgeon for converting humans into Combine soldiers but I might be way off, I don't know about the second one. I assume they work for the Combine because they have the Combine logo on the back of their outfits. 24.196.115.179 17:48, 29 June 2007 (UTC)

At 6:12, the model is for the Borealis Worker, I believe, people who worked on the Borealis, a ship that was cut after the beta. Same with 7:30. --97.84.204.207 20:32, 29 August 2007 (UTC)
You know, I came to exactly the same conclusion looking at those two. I figured these were the Nova Prospekt scientists. What really convinced me was what had happened to the first guy. Like either the rebels were attacking and he was running himself through his own machine to make a Combine soldier out of himself to have a better chance in combat, or a bunch of rebels found out what they were doing, considered the soldier-making process some kind of atrocity (as opposed to the stalker-making process for whatever strange reason, maybe they didn't even know) and ran him through. Either way, the process was only partially done before he was executed. At least that's what looks to have happened - because he has the same kind of blank eyes as the Combine soldier. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Chris Mathers 3501 (talk • contribs) 04:49, 4 July 2008 (UTC)

They are human.

The Police units to the elite guards (white suited) are humans, the rest are aliens, right? --RobertLeBlais 05:19, 21 October 2007 (UTC)

Technically, the soldiers and Elites are transhuman, as Dr. Breen calls them that in a speech. They have various implants and such, so they're cyborgs, but the Civil Protection guys are fully human volunteers. But they're all certainly humanoid--Planetary 06:30, 21 October 2007 (UTC)


Universal Union

We all know that the Combine invaded Earth, but thinking about it, the Universal Union almost always sends their soldier-slaves to do their dirtywork. And, taking a look at the Combine, their combat-tech isn't much higher than ours aside from the strider and pulse rifle, making it unlikely that they would conquer the entire Universe, or a lot of it. Disregarding the Combine Advisors, would this mean that the Combine weren't the original power of Universal Union? P.S.: Sorry for using Universal Union so much, but I can't think of a prefix.--68.81.129.46 (talk) 21:42, 6 April 2008 (UTC)Guest

Fair use rationale for Image:Half-Life 2 Combine mcdevise.png

Image:Half-Life 2 Combine mcdevise.png is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to ensure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 23:20, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Possible combine-Aperture Science link?

I noticed what I think to be the Aperture Science logo on the side of some of the Combine tech, like the Thumpers and the wall-mounted gun carriers (Sorry, don't know the technical name). Anybody agree? Until Ep.3/Portal 2, we won't be able to put the possible link in the article for speculation, but we may be able to work it in some other way. 68.102.253.212 (talk) 23:31, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Both often use Dark Energy Plasma as well. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.112.146.149 (talk) 19:32, 11 July 2008 (UTC)

Question

For that picture of the combine soldier, which rank is he? Civil Protection? I think it would also help to give a small description of the ranks to. 75.72.221.194 (talk) 08:46, 15 July 2008 (UTC)


Poor quality

This article used to be so epic, detailing every combine enemy. Now it's in ruins. What happened? 68.43.196.134 (talk) 05:45, 30 July 2008 (UTC)

What if the Advisors are....

Like a storage brain. It make sense that Breen Storage his brain in a advisor. And maybe thats the imortallity that Breen says. The Combine created a way to storage their thoughts in a host body that in a way its like a pure brain. Its also makes me think that maybe other humans (apart of Breen) made that. That will explain so many advisors. Another theory is that the advisors can transfer their mind from advisor to an empty advisor, that could explain the advisors number in earth too.

Combine "Escape pods"

I'm just completed Half Life episode one, and think we sure add something like this to the article:

In the combine citadel, several of the combine were inside strange pods, and when the player got close to them, a "mind blast" attack occured. And at the end of Episode One, these pods are seen fleeing from the exploding citadel.

Questions for this should be added:

  • Were they definely combine inside the pods?
  • Why were their so many of them?
  • Why were they on Earth?

How many of these 'escape pods' do we actually see? The one of consequence occurs immediately after we see the recording of Breen from Half-Life 2 discussing the 'host body.' Is it possible that this escape pod sequence is actually Breen successfully teleporting away?

Edit: Changed "psi" to "mind blast", as it is refered to in the Episode 1 commentary.

Combine Advisors

Quote:Using Garry's Mod it is possible to find the Advisor and "do battle" with it. if this is so, then what code or level do you use to find this?

edit: nevermind, i found out how. I'm going to post it on the article; do what you will with it.

Combine Code

There are references to the Combine's code - the use of medicine names as euphemisms to events - in the articles, like "parasitics" for headcrabs, "necrotics" for headcrab zombies and "sterilisers" for turrets, just to name a few. But I think that there should be a list of all the terms they used. Like, someone could listen to the audio clips in the game's files and extract them to the article - and find out what the Combine mean with them.

Humanoid task forces?

Where did this name come from? Also is Civil Protection actually a part of the Overwatch?

I also removed the Doctor Breen "transhuman reference from the Overwatch soldier seeing as it already appeared.

I, myself, have never heard such thing as "the Humanoid Task Force" mentioned during the game. I have heard "transhuman arm" though, which is what Dr. Breen refers to the Combine Soldiers by.
I beleive "The Overwatch" is a term for the Combine's forces on Earth, so yes, that would make Civil Protection a part of the Overwatch. Other worlds the Combine conquers would have their own Overwatch forces in that case, which might not be called "Overwatch", of course. Overwatch could be a term exclusive for the Combine's forces on Earth. The term itself is interesting. If you reverse it, you get "watch over". Makes the Combine sound all nice and friendly, watching over the Earth, while it's actually quite the opposite. Also, the graffiti of the Civil Protection officer holding a crying baby with the words "CASTE" written above it might be a reference to this "watch over" anagram. Just a related note.
CPs are indeed Overwatch, but I have to admit I've never heard the title "Humanoid Task Forces" before. I'm going to remove it until we have confirmation. Nufy8 14:32, 27 October 2005 (UTC)

I heard that CASTE was a group of Combine that actually helped humans at one point. Could be just rumor though. -- Psi edit

Maybe CASTE was/is some sort of rearing programme for those on Earth that are still children (how long has the Combine been in charge anyways?).--TEAKAY-C II R (talk) 01:46, 1 September 2008 (UTC)

Discussion on redirect

Redirect page provides almost none of the information listed here. Either rewrite the article, or migrate content of this page according to the policies. Until that happens due to the usefulness of this page I think it should be kept. Another possibility is to provide external reference to content with similar details. 91.83.3.75 (talk) 23:36, 29 August 2008 (UTC)

Tom Cruise Scientology Interview, Combine Style

  • Paul, Ure (September 3, 2008). "Tom Cruise Scientology Interview, Combine Style". Actiontrip News. ActionTrip.com. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
Could be something to think about incorporating into the article as a form of parody/popular culture influence. Cheers, Cirt (talk) 15:27, 3 September 2008 (UTC)
I found a home for it, as it provides a nice contrast to the "other media" references of the Combine being incompetant, instead provoking more serious thoughts on scientology. I think ActionTrip qualifies as a reliable source, at least in this instance. -- Sabre (talk) 18:49, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

No Images

I don't see any images related to Combine in many of the HL2-related articles. Have these been deleted? --130.225.243.84 (talk) 21:35, 7 September 2008 (UTC)

Cleanup of article

I've undertaken a complete rewrite of this article to bring it into line with Wikipedia policies. The previous version of the article exists in transwikied form over at Combine Overwiki, where that level of in-universe stuff is accepted and encouraged. I've linked to it in the external links, so no actual information has been lost, its simply been moved around. What we have now focuses on the real-world elements of the Combine: design, reception, merchandising, referncing and the removal of original research, and an out-of-universe view on the fictional elements of the Combine. This rewrite should also deal with any issues of notability with the article with the presence of reliable, secondary sources. Unfortunately, I don't have access to much in the way of design information, so that section is rather lacking and needs expansion. Anyone with access to Raising the Bar might be able to expand the section into a paragraph or two. Expansion regarding cut content relating to the Combine wouldn't be amiss here. I haven't sorted out all the images yet, I'll do that within the next few minutes. -- Sabre (talk) 17:03, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

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