Combine letters?

[Rapstah]

I checked the combine advisor model and discovered these markings on the "neck" of the slug, a combine written language? They really don't look like anything i've ever seen, but i dunno.

If they have letters there, then why? I'm getting excited by this.

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/766/combinelettersrv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Gordon-Shepherd]

hmm.. I dont think that is combine writing.. it looks different to the kind you usually see.

[Adabiviak]

Yuck. Is it the written language of the Advisors (not necessarily their Combine war machine?)

[Mikael Grizzly]

I believe that's the Combine Overlord race script, and the collar itself denotes their rank in society or possibly is their full title.

Eg.: "First Most Revered Glorious Warrior, Venerable Leader, Visionary Entity, Controller and Great Stabilizator Abakazhnievinivonur VIII, Offspring of Abakazhnievinivenes LX"

[Adabiviak]

"My friends conquered earth in 7-hours and all I got was this lousy choker."

[kupocake]

Actually, some of those letters look remarkably like Japanese kana to me. Not exactly the same, but like the designer dressed up some Japanese writing with extra squiggles to make it look alien.

[Darkside55]

That's neat. They have sort of a runic writing system as opposed to the more mechanical looking script you see on their propaganda posters (the "CMB"). I think Grizz might be right in that it'd be some mark of name or title, especially around the neck like a collar. The writing could also be a mantra or creed of some kind, I could see it being something like that. Good find.

Actually, some of those letters look remarkably like Japanese kana to me. Not exactly the same, but like the designer dressed up some Japanese writing with extra squiggles to make it look alien.
I think I see what you're looking at. I can kinda see a hi, shi and a chi in hiragana and a katakana ki...

[AJ Rimmer]

I believe that's the Combine Overlord race script, and the collar itself denotes their rank in society or possibly is their full title.

Eg.: "First Most Revered Glorious Warrior, Venerable Leader, Visionary Entity, Controller and Great Stabilizator Abakazhnievinivonur VIII, Offspring of Abakazhnievinivenes LX"

"Hello!
I'm Combine Overlord!
Ask me about our occupation no-sex policies and specials"

[Mikael Grizzly]

Wait, this hasnt been found before?

[Rapstah]

Wait, this hasnt been found before?

Not by me, that's the point.

[Ophiguris]

I think I see what you're looking at. I can kinda see a hi, shi and a chi in hiragana and a katakana ki...

What's with you people and Japanese? I mean, I'm not racist, but that looks more Tribal than jap, like this stuff looks more carved than written by ink and brush. Poor advisor is wearing his grandmother's 'Hand me Down' scarf.

[Citadel]

Well if there is a written language by the combine it means that they either have extremely strong telekinetic powers if they are able to carve into rock or whatever materual the "collar" is formed from or of course it means there is another sub species of combine other than the advisors who have prosthetic or organic armaments. I don't know what language it is but perhaps it proves that the letters scattered throughout the human urban centers are not combine lettering but humans or civil protections doing. Maybe the lettering designates ranks or perhaps are tags to give the combine overlords more individuality. They are one consciousness after all and have conquered dozens planets that do not have single-consciousness organisms and to communicate a bit better with certain individuals (such as Breen) more effectively they designate their names.

There are of course thousands of reasons or speculative ideas for how or what the "combine lettering" came into being and what it is. :)

@ Ophiguris- The combine have grandmothers. Well if the combine we have seen are young, robust men, I really would hate to see what the grandmothers look like. Geez Louise.. :D

[kupocake]

What's with you people and Japanese? I mean, I'm not racist, but that looks more Tribal than jap, like this stuff looks more carved than written by ink and brush.
I can't really see what you're on about here. When I think 'carved', I think of runes, which are basically as simple as lettering gets because carving is an arduous and frustrating buisness. The letters on that collar couldn't be more intricate, and if you believe them the product of a writing system that grew out from Carving, I have no idea what you're basing that on. Similarly, I have next to no idea what you could possibly mean by 'Tribal', and how any writing system coming forth from a tribe would include such complex letters.

I'm particularly feeling the Japanese influence in the letters from the middle to the right. Compare:

1. も (mo)
2. き (ki) / ま (ma)
3. な (na) / ち(chi)
4. よ (yo) / な (na)

If you take Japanese as a model for "Combinese", it is perhaps a syllabic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllabary) language that grew out of a roughly logographic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logographic) language (Hiragana and Katakana took Chinese Characters and simplified them for syllabic use). Or perhaps it IS a logographic language. That's quite possible, because the "3." is a bit too complex. Or perhaps like Japanese, it actually uses a combination of Logographic and Syllabic symbols. Or perhaps - just perhaps - i'm writing a whole load of bollocks and you've had the misfortune to read it.

[Mikael Grizzly]

Look closely, the collar is made of leather, and the letters are made of gold pressed into the collar. Ergo, the letters are in themselves rather intricate and aren't similiar to runic alphabet.

[kupocake]

Look closely, the collar is made of leather, and the letters are made of gold pressed into the collar. Ergo, the letters are in themselves rather intricate and aren't similiar to runic alphabet.
And... ?

[Mikael Grizzly]

I was referring to how you said carving runes is an ardous process and provided basis for you pointing otu the similarity between the Japanese letters and Combinese.

[kupocake]

I was referring to how you said carving runes is an ardous process and provided basis for you pointing otu the similarity between the Japanese letters and Combinese.
Goooddd :P

[Mikael Grizzly]

I'm delighted I could have been of help.

[Ophiguris]

BUT, Gold has to be CARVED, right? And, Lot's of money, as I expect advisors have, can by arduously made jewelry. ESPECIALLY if it's religious. Who's to say the combine have no religion? Maybe their synthisization (SHut up, I can't spell) is part of a galactic mission, set out in their religion. "Conquer all, and use your enemy as your greatest weapon."

[Mikael Grizzly]

I think gold is not carved, it's rather melted and then molded into shape. Also, while you point is valid, I belive that given the absence of symbolism within the Citadel and it's utilitarian appearance, there is no indication that the Combine are ultimately based on religion.

I belive they're closer to the Inner Party of 1984 - they long for power. Absolute power. A drug.

[kupocake]

Keep religion out of the combine. If I want to play against Halo's Rainbow Hoarde, I'll play Halo.

[Darkside55]

Gold is molded, not carved. Gold itself is a very malleable substance and can be shaped like clay, therefore other metals like copper or silver are introduced to keep its form. That's why you have the measurement of karats; karats indicate the percentage of gold to other alloys. 24 karat gold is pure gold, for example, while 14 karat gold is 14 parts gold to 10 parts alloy.

Anyway I'm not sure that's gold at all. Or leather, for that matter. The collar looks more metallic than leather, and furthermore even if the collar was leather-like, it technically wouldn't be leather. :p Also while the letters are gold they might not be specifically done in gold leaf (which is sprinkling gold flakes onto an area, such as the grooves carved in their collar). As in, although the letters might be colored gold, doesn't mean they're the element gold.

I also must say that the Combine definately aren't going to be promoting any religious agenda. I can say that with almost absolute certainty for a few reasons, both in and out of game. Here are two of them:

In-game: they're scientific. This almost automatically rules out any religion involved (I say almost because I am already anticipating someone to come out and say that you can have technology and also have a religious agenda, but please wait for point #2).

Out-of-game: Bungie did it. Valve therefore WON'T do it.

[Mikael Grizzly]

Darkside, you're nitpicking. For a slug this large and fat, a metallic collar would be very, very uncomfortable and dangerous (what if their a/g generators short circuit?) so a leather (tanned hide) collar would be proper. As for the letters... it shines like gold, looks like gold, resembles gold, so it's rather propable it's gold, unless the Combine have used minerals unknown to man that look just like gold...

Anyways, it's a minor issue what it is made of, more important is, what it IS?

[Darkside55]

Nitpicking's what I do. :p TBH when I looked at the picture it didn't seem like the letters were done in gold anyway, so...anyway it doesn't matter, like you said.

You know what I wanna know is why they bothered having a written language anyway, being telepathic beings. What would they need to write down? So if anything maybe it's just self-indulgence (going back to your idea that it could be a title/social status brand).

[Citadel]

It is unlikely to be a material found on earth anyway. We could compare the materials but if they are relics as some people have assumed they were probably crafted on the combine home planet or it is a valuable material on another galaxy the combine have conquered. I very much doubt the material is from earth as it seems to be one of the combines lesser planets. They have left Breen in charge and as a human it means their full attentions must be focused elsewhere. So earth is probably of little importance of their empire. They merely used it to bather more materials for synths.

As darkside said it is probably of no religious value now that I have studied the situation properly. As the combine "conquer" planets it is probably for more a "military" rank which would be understandable as the prefer brutal force and not diplomacy. That's all you can expect from a giant slug-like entity of course. :)

[Rim-Fire]

It is unlikely to be a material found on earth anyway.
If their universe's laws of physics are the same as ours then you would assume that the same elements would form. And since gold is a very unreative element then it would not be unsupprising for them to have gold. Though it probably wouldn't be as valuable to them as it is to us, it really isn't a very useful metal.

[Mikael Grizzly]

Gold is actually very useful, it could be used to form a devastating fallout nuclear bomb.

And Darkside, I think that give that the master Combine race is so unified in it's appearance, such collars would serve as identification tags, so that one can identify the other without having to estabilish telepathical contact. The script on it may be their native written language, used because of sentiment or (more propably) respect towards their history, which allowed them to prosper, flourish and eventually create the Universal Union.

[Darkside55]

Could be.

It could also be they're just ostentatious and vain and like wearing ze goldz.

[Mikael Grizzly]

I sense gangsta advisors comments incoming.

[kupocake]

Word.

[Darkside55]

I sense gangsta advisors comments incoming.
Word.

BLING BLING
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/1425/motivator9125952or3.jpg

[Citadel]

If their universe's laws of physics are the same as ours then you would assume that the same elements would form. And since gold is a very unreative element then it would not be unsupprising for them to have gold. Though it probably wouldn't be as valuable to them as it is to us, it really isn't a very useful metal.

Yes this is true and a possibility however just a slight change in environment would change the end product (this material) and would prevent it from being gold. :)

[Ophiguris]

Keep religion out of the combine. If I want to play against Halo's Rainbow Hoarde, I'll play Halo.

BUT Ha-- Helow-- that game (sorry, I hate it so much I can't speak its name) Is not based upon politics, famine, citzens, and huge Resonance Cascades causing rifts in time and space. BUT it IS based on a bunch of ugly looking characters who have 'Awesome' catch phases and 'cool' weapons.

Religion helps civilizations, especially in advancement and the strive to survive... It would be interesting to see and advanced civilization without some monolithic being to look up to.

[kupocake]

Religion helps civilizations, especially in advancement and the strive to survive... It would be interesting to see and advanced civilization without some monolithic being to look up to.
The Combine work best as the alien race that have exceeded the needs of religion. If anything, the Combine are gods. They're responsible for the creation of entirely new lifeforms, and they guide other races to whatever their sinister purpose is by altering them selectively, controlling evolution. The Citadel is like their tower of babel. I can almost imagine combine advisors broadcasting to the newly conquered earth the words 'WHERE IS YOUR GOD NOW' :p

[Atomic_Piggy]

I can almost imagine combine advisors broadcasting to the newly conquered earth the words 'WHERE ARE YOUR GOD(S) NOW' :p

Fixed :thumbs:

[Rapstah]

But that message would be in Combinese, and not humanish, so we wouldn't understand it. :)

[Ophiguris]

I never said the combine had a/many gods, just that their mission must have some purpose, you don't go around killing things and taking them over for fun, and I doubt it's for resources, Cause when an Army takes over a place after they've run out of resources, the force tends to be much smaller. Play Star Craft, and you'll see what I mean.

[Jintor]

BLING BLING
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/1425/motivator9125952or3.jpg

OLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!

[Mikael Grizzly]

Ophiguris, did you read 1984? If not, I'll explain to you why the Combine keeps on conquering.

The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power. Not wealth or luxury or long life or happiness: only power, pure power. What pure power means you will understand presently. We are different from all the oligarchies of the past, in that we know what we are doing. All the others, even those who resembled ourselves, were cowards and hypocrites. The German Nazis and the Russian Communists came very close to us in their methods, but they never had the courage to recognize their own motives.

Now, you see?

[riomhaire]

BLING BLING
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/1425/motivator9125952or3.jpg
I hate that song, so much.

[Jintor]

White and Nerdy wins games though.

[Atomic_Piggy]

Racist :p

[Ophiguris]

Ophiguris, did you read 1984? If not, I'll explain to you why the Combine keeps on conquering.

Where do you get this stuff, like honestly, I was very confused when you mentioned 1984, it seems to make sense now.

[Mikael Grizzly]

I read books, stuff ont he Internet and indulge my intellect.

</shameless self promotion>

[WacK]

But that message would be in Combinese, and not humanish, so we wouldn't understand it. :)

Did you just say Combinese ?.. oh..yes you did..
That was funny dude

[Rapstah]

I found an audio clip of the Combine spoken language too, and i'll upload it to somewhere.

http://www.badongo.com/file/2003127

[Ophiguris]

I try to read books, mostly Wikipedia though, I don't read many philosophical books, so I don't get many good quotes.

[Roman Legion]

Japanese lectors or symbols? (for got the proper name for that righting) Nope did not look like them… I collect armor and swords and I have a Japanese sword and the symbols dos not look nothing like what’s on the alien belt…



The Combine work best as the alien race that have exceeded the needs of religion. If anything, the Combine are gods. They're responsible for the creation of entirely new lifeforms, and they guide other races to whatever their sinister purpose is by altering them selectively, controlling evolution. The Citadel is like their tower of babel. I can almost imagine combine advisors broadcasting to the newly conquered earth the words 'WHERE IS YOUR GOD NOW' :p

Oh rely, that’s why they are losing to Earth now… Religion gives valor and bravery in war. I nervier or herd or know a atheist in a heat of battle because you will prey to some thing… “There are no atheist in war…” It can also give hope to people…

They are far from gods…


Yea say that, that will give evermore the reason to fight agent them… And again that’s why they are losing to Earth now…

Well his up their…





Originally Posted by O'Brien, Inner Party
“The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power. Not wealth or luxury or long life or happiness: only power, pure power. What pure power means you will understand presently. We are different from all the oligarchies of the past, in that we know what we are doing. All the others, even those who resembled ourselves, were cowards and hypocrites. The German Nazis and the Russian Communists came very close to us in their methods, but they never had the courage to recognize their own motives.”


Different from all the oligarchies of the past???

Power = wealth. And the Nazis were just overwhelmed they were fighting toooo many people… And they were trying to build their Empire by molding the Roman Empire. But they failed to do so because they excluded people…. The Romans did not do this…

As for Imperial Germany in WW1 was fighting too many people as well…

As for the Soviet, well the economy was not working…

[Jintor]

Actually those heiroglyphs are very similar to kanji or chinese characters.

[kupocake]

Oh rely, that?s why they are losing to Earth now? Religion gives valor and bravery in war. I nervier or herd or know a atheist in a heat of battle because you will prey to some thing? ?There are no atheist in war?? It can also give hope to people?
Sorry, but what a load of bull :)

[achilles_d]

hmm very interesting stuff,

yet another mystery lol

[Ophiguris]

Religion DOES give bravery in war, to LIVING BEINGS! The combine ARE living, but are also more... prohrammed to dismiss casualties and continue instead of 'Praying' for god, or allah, or George Lucas to dave his life. Religion, though inspirational, can also be a down fall in efficiency. I think I just realised where I went wrong earlier on...

By the way, that was a whole lot of spelling errors earlier.

[Roman Legion]

Sorry, but what a load of bull :)

LOL sorry I like to see you in a big ugly battle and not prey or think of God or at least a heir force.

[kupocake]

LOL sorry I like to see you in a big ugly battle and not prey or think of God or at least a heir force.
Sorry, i'd rather use my precious thinking time to remember the people who've effected my life, rather than use it to ponder the question of a being I outright rejected years ago. Or perhaps people in these situations think first of staying alive? Either way, saying you believe you alone know the truth of the psychology of warfare is VERY grating.

[Roman Legion]

Religion DOES give bravery in war, to LIVING BEINGS! The combine ARE living, but are also more... prohrammed to dismiss casualties and continue instead of 'Praying' for god, or allah, or George Lucas to dave his life. Religion, though inspirational, can also be a downfall in efficiency. I think I just realised where I went wrong earlier on...

By the way, that was a whole lot of spelling errors earlier.

Hey almost any thing can be a downfall in efficiency, War can be a downfall look at Europe, they had mighty empires up to the twentieth sentry but WW1 and WW2 F#%* it up, and just now they are making a comeback?

You can say too much of any thing is bad. Them being more programmed can be bad. I say this because being just Human can be bettor. Look if we were more like robots that looses the need for hope or valor and such. Look at Iraq, the USA took the capital and when that happens you loose the war (in rules of war). But sense we Humans think for are self they keep on fighting.

If your more like a robot you loose the extra mile or hope. Like thats not impossible we can do that if we try. Or being able to believe that something we do not see or fell like God.

Its are willingness to do things, just look at the Egyptian pyramids, Roman roads and Roman Coliseum, the Gate Wall of China, and what the Aztecs did and the European explorers, and the Rite brothers, the 300 Spartans, and so on. We Humans did this thing with out being programmed like ants.

If we just lessoned to people that say "Oh LOL Its impossible to build..." Or "Its impossible to fly" OR "We can not go into space in are studies..." This is what the Combine fear the need to believe. Look just why do the Combine build up so much stuff to mess with are head…

[kupocake]

Its are willingness to do things, just look at the Egyptian pyramids, Roman roads and Roman Coliseum, the Gate Wall of China, and what the Aztecs did and the European explorers, and the Rite brothers, the 300 Spartans, and so on. We Humans did this thing with out being programmed like ants?
Slave Drivers with Big ****-Off Whips can achieve anything.

[Roman Legion]

Sorry, i'd rather use my precious thinking time to remember the people who've effected my life, rather than use it to ponder the question of a being I outright rejected years ago. Or perhaps people in these situations think first of staying alive? Either way, saying you believe you alone know the truth of the psychology of warfare is VERY grating.

I have some family members that known some atheists, and when they went to war with them they quickly became Christens… “There are no atheist in war…” That’s a quote from the guy in Mail-call.

Look when the pagan Romans were killing Christen Romans at the coliseum, the Christens were singing wile walking to the coliseum and praying as well. When the time came they still were praying and singing. The Romans were shocked of haw brave they were… This started to covert the Roman Empire to Christianity… The same when for the Japanese Christens when they too were being killed buy other Japanese, more or less did the same thing their fellow Roman Christens did before them… They burned the books and the churches but they still believed and they kept it alive thou word, that’s way theirs still over their and when the Europeans came back they were VERY shocked of how Christianity was still in that island…

Look my point is that no mater how logical things get or advances in science we Human will never know what truly happens when we die. What is after death? We do not know much about the universe only what we have seen so far. And only the things in are plaint. And even then we still do not know every thing about are own plaint. My point is when the time comes I would not have to worry much when I die because I simply believe in God. But much more worry how I die LOL. Do I truly know if their a heaven nope I do not know, but I do believe. So if I die and that’s it oh well but if there is truly a HEAVEN then well I’m saved…

[Roman Legion]

Slave Drivers with Big ****-Off Whips can achieve anything.

True got me their. But my point still stands look at the Rite brothers they were not slaves, or the 300 Spartans and many others.

The Roman roads and Roman Coliseum manly built by Roman engineers and soldiers not many slaves. The Roman Empire had a shortage of slaves in the ADs. The Roman aqueduct was also built by Roman engineers and soldiers, slaves were manly to get the resources not much for building….

[Jintor]

Wtf is with you and the Romans!

[votka]

"My friends conquered earth in 7-hours and all I got was this lousy choker."

I tend to prefer this interpretation.

The only sure way to find out what it's made of will be when we hit it with the crowbar, if we get the chance to kill one. I'm guessing a metallic sound, although as with the striders and gunships I would prefer a squishy sound.

[Ophiguris]

Yeah, I like that interpretation better too.

Dude (Roman Legion), If you haven't noticed, it's 2007! Rome has long perished. Know why? Christanity, what's Christanity... a Religion. If you haven't noticed also, NO ONE fights with honor anymore. I don't call crashing into a couple towers then running away and bombing Spain's subway is dishonorable. And then running over sheep in tanks, funa as it may seem, but not honorable. FYI, Rome is long gone.

[gunnerboi989]

Interesting.... need to find out more :D[i do]

[Roman Legion]

Yeah, I like that interpretation better too.

Dude (Roman Legion), If you haven't noticed, it's 2007! Rome has long perished. Know why? Christanity, what's Christanity... a Religion. If you haven't noticed also, NO ONE fights with honor anymore. I don't call crashing into a couple towers then running away and bombing Spain's subway is dishonorable. And then running over sheep in tanks, funa as it may seem, but not honorable. FYI, Rome is long gone.

I never said crashing into a couple towers and all the other things were honorable! MY FATHER IS FROM NEW YORK and he was soooooo sad when that stuff happened! SO I DO KNOW it was not honorable what they did. And by the way, there is nothing civil about war...

Christianity has nothing to do with the fall of the Empire.

Rome has long perished?

Their 2 of many Roman legacies that fell not to long ago, the Byzantine Empire and the Holy Roman Empire.

The Holy Roman Empire fell in the 19th century! The Byzantine Empire fell in the 15th century!

Rome has long perished? Humm the city is still their dude, and so are most of the other towns and cities they built! (Paris, London, Cologne, and may others were built by the Romans) They left a very good mark in are world to day buddy. Hears a quote you should read that I heard and read be for you. "Rome was ones a town, Rome was a state, Rome was a Republic, Rome was an Empire, Rome was and is the Church of God." Its also the capital of Italy!

And FYI, Russian Czar and the German Kaiser means Caesar!! It’s the same title buddy. I think the Byzantines had the same thing going but I do not remember what it was called. And Rome still this day continues to influence the world…

So you're wrong by saying their long gone.


Wtf is with you and the Romans!

And buddy I did not just talked about the Romans. I munched the Egyptians, the Gate Wall of China, Aztecs, Rite brothers.

But yea can you tell by my name, the Romans are one of my favorite as well as Knights and the Spanish explorers! I just love History. But only if you knew what people back then truly did. And the Romans did aaaaaaa lot! And so did others. And if I start talking about it then it would go way of topic so...

Back on topic

Well I looked at the Combine letters and too another look on the Japans sword I got, and in fact kupoartist it dos look somewhat similar! You rite. But way is that? Dos it mean it has to do some thing about a Citadel in Japan or what?

[Jintor]

Can I just go ahead and call you crazy now?

[Mesz]

Keep religion out of the combine. If I want to play against Halo's Rainbow Hoarde, I'll play Halo.

Rainbow Hoarde? Don't you mean The Covenant? Or am i just talking bollocks here.....? /offtopic

It would be cool if the Combine did have a religion. They are after all an intelligent species. We looked at religion when we started life and it has still carried on today. Whos to say its a different story for the Combine Advisors when they started out life? Maybe the Combine Empire IS the religion, which would explain why we dont see any evidence of some sort of God. Or maybe its their single conciousness which they follow piously. If there is a Combine God wouldn't it be linked to the single conciousness? It's a possibility...

They may not have a language because of their telekinesis and they may not need one. But then again one or two Combine may have brain damage which prevents them from recieving telekinetic messages and they need to feel the language (which would explain carving the runes) or read it with their eyes, (if they have them)

[Sman]

I checked the combine advisor model and discovered these markings on the "neck" of the slug, a combine written language? They really don't look like anything i've ever seen, but i dunno.

If they have letters there, then why? I'm getting excited by this.

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/766/combinelettersrv9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I've actually noticed that and was puzzled by it too. Those look coool... but I was too lazy to try and make anything of them:rolleyes: