Marksman Gaming Forum

i wouldn't tweak the Warcraft graphics, it's WAY too cartoony, if they made Starcraft 2 (which they probably won't) it would be awsome if Blizzard made it more gritty and realistic.

here's a long-awaited update: the first Factional descriptions, in this case the Terrans of Koprulu (the original SC Terrans)

THE TERRANS OF THE KOPRULU SECTOR:
    Perhaps the single most unfortunate race in galactic history, the Terrans who dwell in the Koprulu Sector have been forced by circumstance to live in an almost constant state of war.  Factional infighting, incursions from the UED Expeditionary Force, and constant conflict with alien races have forced the Koprulu Sector’s human inhabitants to develop a very unique approach to warfare.  The cornerstone of this doctrine is flexibility.  With a varied pool of units and fully mobile base structures, the Terrans of the Koprulu Sector are a determined, tenacious people who have survived what they believe to be the worst anybody can throw at them.

UNITS:

FACTIONS & UNIQUE UNITS:

RAYNOR’S RAIDERS
Commander: Marshal James Raynor
Approximate Population: 1.5 billion
Base of Operations: Umoja
    The survivors of Mar Sara Colony have had one of the most unfortunate recent histories in Terran space.  Under the dynamic, but increasingly weary, command of Marshal James Raynor, they have been forced to flip-flop from one allegiance to another in the hopes of staying alive.  First aligning themselves with the Sons of Korhal, then the Protoss, and finally the Zerg, Raynor has desperately sought to preserve his people’s survival.  After the betrayal of Raynor’s friend Fenix at Kerrigan’s hands, the unit fled Zerg space, eventually finding rest on Umoja.  There, they have combined with the forces of the Umojan Protectorate in order to defend themselves from the UED, the Zerg, and the Dominion.

MAULER TANK
Role: Main Battle Tank
Armament: Twin 90mm High-Velocity Cannons
    Never satisfied with the Arclite’s performance against armoured targets, the engineers working for Raynor have just managed to complete the first prototypes of a highly adaptable main battle tank that they are calling the MSAT-1X – or Mauler, for short.  This vehicle combines a (relatively) high-speed, armoured chassis with devastating guns, an autoloading system, and a modified cloaking device, as well as special-purpose systems.  Although the system has had little combat experience, lab results point to a stellar service with the Raiders.

Cloak
    The MSAT-1X, as part of its standard-issue equipment, has been equipped with a cloaking device     originally intended for the Wraith fighter.  When activated, the Mauler can completely disappear to normal detection methods.  However, this system consumes a fair bit of power, and cannot be used when the “emplacement” setting has been activated.
Emplacement
    Like the Arclite before it, the Mauler can turn itself into a stationary weapon; however, this vehicle’s advanced systems increase both the rotation speed of the turret and the elevation of the guns, allowing a     thus “emplaced” Mauler to act as both anti-ground and anti-air defence for a base or artillery site.

SHARK FIGHTER
Role: Space Superiority Fighter
Armament: 25mm Burst Laser
         Neutron Flare Launcher
    The MSX-1 Shark is the result of collaboration between Raider and Protoss design teams.  The distinctive rotating wing structure and bubble cockpit of the MSX-1 have become instantly recognizable by friend and foe throughout the Sector, as the Shark has proven a superior space and air combatant.  Utilizing both Terran and Protoss weapons, the Shark is just as fast and much more heavily armoured than the Wraith it was intended to replace in Raider service; it even possesses a limited shield generator, but no cloaking device.

EMP Burst
    An adaptation of the Disruption Web employed by Protoss Corsairs, this weapon allows the Shark to temporarily disable the engines and air-to-ground targeting of enemy ships.  Although the target will still be able to move (on thrusters only), their combat capabilities will be significantly diminished.

THE TERRAN CONFEDERACY
Commander: Carlos Guevara
Approximate Population: less than 1 million
Base of Operations: Chau Sara
    A government in name only, what is called the Terran Confederacy is actually a loosely-organized group of terrorist cells, paramilitary forces, and the few civilians who have disagreed with Arcturus and lived to tell about it.  The vast majority of the Confederacy’s military come from the now-defunct Koprulu Liberation Front.  Based on the burned world of Chau Sara, the Confederacy has lately gotten far bolder in its attacks on the Terran Dominion; this is attributed to the recent mass defection of the Dominion’s Nova Squadron.  Carlos Guevara, an ex-member of Samir Duran’s anti-Dominion terrorist cell, is considered the primary military leader, but some allege that the real power in the organization is the newly-incorporated Colonel Jackson Hauler.

BLACKOPS AGENT
Role: Special Forces Operative
Armament: Hostile Environment Suit
         SR-1LR 12mm Sniper Rifle
         Demolition Charges
         Personal Cloaking Device (Special Issue)
    The BlackOps Agents are the few remaining members of Samir Duran’s anti-Dominion terrorist group.  Their physical regimen is superior to any other Terran in the Sector; many BlackOps Agents also possess psionic abilities, although they are not as well-trained as Ghosts in this respect.  Their high-powered sniper rifle can pick off enemy infantry at incredible ranges, while the demolition charges each soldier carries can easily destroy a vehicle or damage buildings.  Even after the incorporation of Nova Squadron, BlackOps Agents are the Confederacy’s most highly-regarded military arm.

CLOAK
    Like the infamous Ghost agents, the Hostile Environment Suit worn by BlackOps personnel can be fitted     with a personal cloaking device that renders the BlackOps Agent invisible to normal detection methods.  The main problem is that BlackOps cloaking devices are often kept running with haphazard, jury-rigged repairs, and any small energy disruption is often enough to shut off the device.
DEMOLITION CHARGES
    The favoured weapon of BlackOps agents, these computerized packs of plastic explosive (coupled with     a tiny micro-nuclear detonator) can level any vehicle and many structures with one well-placed charge.  Their main drawback – besides the fact that the Agent has to get close enough to place them – is the fact that even the simple jolt of energy needed to start their timers can often shut off BlackOps personal cloaking devices.
MICRO-ROCKET
    With a quick swap of magazines, the SR-1LR rifle carried by BlackOps Agents can fire special, 12mm mini-rockets.  These weapons possess less hitting power than the standard 12mm round; however, they give the Agent much greater anti-vehicle punch – despite having a shorter range than the standard round.

THE TERRAN DOMINION
Commander: Emperor Arcturus I
Approximate Population: 16 billion
Base of Operations: Korhal
    The Dominion is the single greatest Terran entity outside of the UED.  It encompasses almost a dozen worlds throughout the Koprulu Sector.  Only three human worlds (Braxis, Chau Sara, and Umoja) do not fall under the Dominion’s sway; a fourth world, the former Confederate capital of Tarsonis, is the scene of constant battle between the Dominion’s troops and the Zerg broods.  The Dominion’s hold on Koprulu was almost completely unchallenged within the sector until the arrival of the UED; even after the momentous arrival of the armies of Earth, the Dominion remains the primary human power broker in the sector.

ARCTURUS MISSILE TANK
Role: Mobile Support Weapon
Armament: 152mm Hellfire-AT missile launcher
    The Arcturus Mk. 1 is the Dominion’s newest land assault vehicle.  Not designed to replace the Arclite siege tank, the Arcturus is intended for use as an infantry support weapon, pummelling enemy forces with long-range anti-vehicle missiles.  Although the weapons do not possess significant explosive force, the sheer size of the warhead makes them effective against infantry as well; the Dominion’s weapon scientists are currently working overtime on a way to allow the Hellfire-AT missile to retake its original role as an air-defence weapon.

Anti-Aircraft Targeting
    Once researched, this upgrade gives the Arcturus the ability to launch its missiles at aerial targets.  Although the special anti-tank version of the Hellfire does less damage to aircraft than the dedicated anti-aircraft version, two or three Arcturus vehicles can make short work of most aerial threats.
Dual Loading
    This upgrade, once researched, gives the Arcturus the ability to temporarily increase its firepower by     launching two missiles instead of one.  The downside is the strain such use puts on the loading system, necessitating a temporary deactivation of the vehicle’s weapon once a certain “critical limit” is reached.

IMPERIAL GUARD
Role: Elite Infantry Trooper
Armament: CMC-400-X Powered Combat Suit
         8/25mm DR-1 Gauss/Canister Rifle
    The Imperial Guard is Arcturus’ “ace in the hole”.  These formidable soldiers, all that remains of the original Sons of Korhal, are feared throughout the Koprulu Sector as fearless and almost suicidal warriors.  Wearing substantially upgraded versions of the basic Marine armour and carrying a prototype rifle originally developed for the reborn Ghost Program, the Imperial Guard strike fear in the hearts of all who would oppose Arcturus Mengsk.  Their tactical training is rumoured to be complemented by wide-reaching cybernetic enhancements.

Gauss/Canister Switch
    Thanks to the integrated nature of the DR-1 rifle, any soldier carrying the weapon can instantly and easily switch between firing Gauss and Canister rounds.  There is a slight trade-off between the increased firing speed and penetration of the Gauss rounds and the sheer blast power and range of the canister rounds.
Lockdown Round
    In addition to being able to switch instantly between kinetic- and chemical-energy rounds, the DR-1 rifle allows Imperial Guardsmen to fire the Lockdown round originally meant for the C-10 canister rifle; this round disables any vehicle caught in the blast radius.  Due to the nature of the firing system, the rifle must be set to Canister Mode before firing a Lockdown round.
StimPack
    The CMC-400 worn by Imperial Guardsmen features the fabled StimPack upgrade originally developed in the Confederacy.  When activated, this upgrade greatly increases the reflexes and speed of the user (although some tissue damage inevitably results); thanks to their cybernetic implants, these effects last longer in Imperial Guardsmen than in other units.

As is usual, another great proposal from our good friend scharfschutze,
Amateur Revolutionary.
I'll be waiting to hear the rest of the Factional descriptions!
In the meantime perhaps some early concept art would be very interesting, if you don't have any get in touch and I'd be happy to draw something up, scan it, and post it.
...Well done Comrade!