Halo: Cryptum

[TVTyrant]

Ew why are we still talking about Cryptum.

This.

[Krakhed]

I found it quite enjoyable actually, and to all of those refusing to read it based on how some have summarized it...

Well vague descriptions of the plot from people who didn't like tend to leave out the important parts.

I find it strange that some believe that the subtlety that the Flood are capable of in establishing a foothold somehow detracts from them. It just turns out that they're a more adaptable Parasite then we knew, and capable of more then one strategy. They actually got other species to grant them a foothold across a multitude of worlds without raising suspicion.

Yet somehow some see their ability to do so makes them less frightening?

As for other plot points that have been mentioned as somehow breaking established canon...

Well the canon was somewhat iffy on those matters and not clear at all. Some things were somewhat suggested but not really clarified.

Some have asked how Humans could be the reclaimers of the Mantle if they were in fact the Forerunners ancient enemies and not their creations or descendants.

Those same people are likely

[Krakhed]

I would suggest people give it a read actually. It seems some people have been missing important points that will likely be explored further.

So what if the Flood are capable of subtlety? All that does is make them more of a threat, not less. They did establish a solid foothold across multiple star systems without arousing suspicion after all, and the manner in which it did so shows the adaptability and complexity it is capable of, given how specific and intricate its strategy was.

And as to why the Forerunner would make their Human enemies their heirs to the Mantle, and some had argued correctly that one couldn't reclaim what one never had...

Well some of the Forerunner liked them, and those that liked them were heavily involved with the Ark and the Halos. That and the Humans had originally believed that they were the true inheritors of the Mantle in the first place, an idea that if true means that the Forerunner effectively stole that role from them. And since the Forerunner eventually messed everything up it's quite likely they rethought everything and came to realize that the Humans might've actually been right and so set everything up so that the Humans could reclaim the Mantle, with the word "reclaim" still being fully appropriate as they were bearers of their own concept of the "Mantle" at one point. And seeing as how Humans actually had the biological engineering skill to defeat the Flood I would say that they had more going for being the true bearers of the Mantle then the Forerunner.

Essentially nothing truly breaks anything established previously, it merely subverts our expectations. Since the next point is from a Human perspective I expect some more information on that. And hopefully that Human perspective will result in us getting a real description of Forerunner appearance.

Anyhow rather then denying the events as existing in-universe I suggest you look past your biases and actually examine the details for things you might've missed that would help make sense of everything.

[Krakhed]

I would suggest people give it a read actually. It seems some people have been missing important points that will likely be explored further.

So what if the Flood are capable of subtlety? All that does is make them more of a threat, not less. They did establish a solid foothold across multiple star systems without arousing suspicion after all, and the manner in which it did so shows the adaptability and complexity it is capable of, given how specific and intricate its strategy was.

And as to why the Forerunner would make their Human enemies their heirs to the Mantle, and some had argued correctly that one couldn't reclaim what one never had...

Well some of the Forerunner liked them, and those that liked them were heavily involved with the Ark and the Halos. That and the Humans had originally believed that they were the true inheritors of the Mantle in the first place, an idea that if true means that the Forerunner effectively stole that role from them. And since the Forerunner eventually messed everything up it's quite likely they rethought everything and came to realize that the Humans might've actually been right and so set everything up so that the Humans could reclaim the Mantle, with the word "reclaim" still being fully appropriate as they were bearers of their own concept of the "Mantle" at one point. And seeing as how Humans actually had the biological engineering skill to defeat the Flood I would say that they had more going for being the true bearers of the Mantle then the Forerunner.

Essentially nothing truly breaks anything established previously, it merely subverts our expectations. Since the next point is from a Human perspective I expect some more information on that. And hopefully that Human perspective will result in us getting a real description of Forerunner appearance.

Anyhow rather then denying the events as existing in-universe I suggest you look past your biases and actually examine the details for things you might've missed that would help make sense of everything.

[TeeKup]

Sorry. Book is still a mess.

The biggest issues I have with the book is the presentation of the last Precursor and the behavior of the Forerunners. While the idea you have is interesting and all, it won't make up for a sour first impression. In the end, this story is going to be centered around a "revenge-trip" that's present in every single fucking Sci-fi out there. I don't see the problem with Greg Bear giving us the innocent concept of 2 hyper advanced civilizations who worked to created and preserve the miracle of life only to be threatened by some extra-galactic horror.

It's a choice of two predictable concepts. I prefer the naive and happy origin to the "oh look, someone got pissed and is now threatening the entire galaxy, oh joy."

This book is well written, I will give Bear that. That does not however, excuse him for everything else. Forerunner tech is all around vaguely descriped, their behavior is TOO human for my taste. Corrupt and arrogant, they don't come off as the benevolent force we've always been hinted at and even told (see Halo Encyclopedia.) Also how do the forerunners De-evolve humanity? The bestiarium stated that Tier-0 species (precursors) could control evolution, then again maybe the bestiarium isn't the best source.

None the less. The book is dry and lack luster, some of the smaller details I found interesting such as the "Domain" and the body suits they wore....oh and the battle stations, the 50km long ships I found interesting enough. One last thing though, I didn't like Mendicant Bias. Yes he was the most advanced and powerful AI at that time, but he wasn't an ethereal god. I get that he had the ability to manipulate and enter all technological terminal around him (their armor and the council planet itself), but that doesn't change the fact he didn't seem like an AI, he seemed like a god. That was probably Bears intention though, either way I don't like it.

Oh and the concept of the flood starting out as some kind of powder is just stupid through and through.

EDIT: I forgot to specify why I didn't like the precursor. Tier-0 species I would expect to be completely near godlike status, as such I never saw them as arthropod scorpion headed creatures. I more or less saw them like this:


Ethereal and all knowing would work for them. The biggest complaint I did say, the whole revenge against the forerunner for the Precursor-Forerunner war. I would expect a race of hyper-beings to be above such petty and horrible motivations as to set in motion the extinction and destruction of an entire galaxy.

[Sanctus]

Not to mention the fact that, in Halo 3, humans weren't known by the Forerunner until their DISCOVERY during the construction of the Halo array

[Arteen]

Oh and the concept of the flood starting out as some kind of powder is just stupid through and through.

Moral of the Forerunner trilogy


This is a puppy


This is a flood infection form

DO NOT MIX

[Warsaw]

Looking at that picture reminds me that infection forms from Combat Evolved were so much cooler looking...

[Kornman00]

It's like Gremlins, don't feed after midnight and don't get them wet!

I wonder if 343i gave Greg free reign in deciding his book, and thus the Forerunner/Precursor lore (why the hell would they be called Precursors if they even existed during the Forerunner *sigh*). That would mean someone totally alien to the game's universe decided all of this bullshit shitty shit crap poop turd junk. At least we'll have one single person to blame for the next 10 years or earlier when the franchise just becomes flat like soda.

[=sw=warlord]