Start Of Episode 3

[jkav1993]

Hi im new to the forum and i dont know if his has been posted before anywhere if it has im sorry. So anyway this is what how i think the next episode will begin. Im open to all ideas and i like to hear others so please dont slate me if this is terrible. But anyway here goes.
It will fade into a room where you have no weapons (still in the base in white forest) where Eli is on a table surrounded by Vortigaunts trying to save him like they did Alyx. This time i dont think we will have to go back underground to get that stuff again(forgot what its called) because that would be fairly boring. But anyway they will be trying to save him and then the combine attack again and then you get some weapons and the game begins.
I know its Pretty terrible compared to others but this is just MY opinion wondered what everyone else thought it would start like.

[Shift]

Eli's head was ripped apart so I really doubt the Vort's will be trying to save him. The attack on White Forest was the last ditch effort of the Combine in the area in stopping them from closing the Super Portal, they will be in complete disarray and scattered and therefore will not have the capabilities of launching another effective attack.

[jkav1993]

oh yeah forgot about that lol. No seriously as i said im open to all ideas and that was just a thought so to you it may sound stupid but im not a HUGE fan of half life and even though i understand most of the story there are bits that i dont i think that super portal thing is one of those that i dont understand. So anyway how do you think it will begin?

[LackingSaint]

I think you'll be awakened from the floor you were left on where Eli died, and, after severla Resistance members get you, Eli's body and Alyx out of there, you're briefed on your 'final' mission (which will involve the Borealis, I assume). You're given a few of your weapons (there's not enough supplies for them to give you a whole armory), and sent via helicopter to the Borealis.

[Rizzo89]

the copter then crash and you lose whatever inventory you have. You stumble away from the crash and then you recover your crowbar just before your first enemy. Who is the Yeti.

[f_combineftw]

a yeti hu? ithink it might me some xen creature, like a furry headcrab or something!

[David.Seth2]

I think you'll be awakened from the floor you were left on where Eli died, and, after severla Resistance members get you, Eli's body and Alyx out of there, you're briefed on your 'final' mission (which will involve the Borealis, I assume). You're given a few of your weapons (there's not enough supplies for them to give you a whole armory), and sent via helicopter to the Borealis.

This makes the most sense. I could also see valve starting the game with Gordon waking up on the helicopter as its in flight to the Borealis. The only thing that gets me is that why would Gordon be passing out to begin with? I guess you could argue it would be due to stress from the strider battle and witnessing Eli's death. But really? After everything hes gone through hes gonna pass out from Eli's death? To bad there isn't a amphetamine drip in that HEV suit.

So if we do indeed start the game before the heli ride, how long will the heli ride be? I mean, is it gonna be in real time to get to the borealis, or will there be a lot of exposition of Alyx during the heli ride then 5 minutes later we are magically there? Even if we do get shot down/crash (which is highly likely) how far would we have to travel on foot? unless we had one of these of course :E http://www.break.com/index/sweet-subaru-with-snow-tracks.html

[Returned3]

One thing's garunteed (Sp), the Helicopter's flight will not be perfect and will be disrupted in a way.

[Shift]

Gartunteed? Unless you work with Valve you cant garuntee anything with their games. And Gordon didn't pass out, it was simply a fade to black of that episodes. Most likely we will begin where we left off in Episode 2, with Eli still dead on the floor.

[Returned3]

What I'm trying to say is that nothing ever goes perfectly right in the world of Half Life.
Be it drive a scout car, or escaping a doomed citadel in time.
Its never, "Oh I'll peacefully drive to Nova Prospekt and defeat the combine" or "This train will go far enough for us not to be affected by the explosion". At almost every time, something is sure to go wrong with your plans.

Plus, Im saying its a good thing. The problems that occur make Half Life fun.

[The Monkey]

One thing; you had lost your weapons in the beginning of every game so far. Do you think you will be in the same situation the next episode? They're probably gonna have a hard time motivating it, judging from the way the last episode ended.

[Samon]

It would be nice if they did something a little different with that.

[riomhaire]

I hope you start with all/most of your weapons but little ammo. I really hope there isn't a helicopter crash where you lose everything. That would be so cheap.

[Justincase3]

Lets get this straight. If we start back at White Forest, we'll have to take an entire helicopter ride down to the arctic, that would take quite a while. A shorter trip would be if it was in the North Pole, but who knows. And I doubt we would take an entire helicopter ride in real time to somewhere quite reasonably far. I mean, we could get shot down on the way there, but that would mean spending a majority of the episode getting to Borealis, which is stupid and I'm sure Valve wouldn't do something like that.

If we start on the helicopter and then crash near the Borealis, that would be fine. The point is that if we start at White Forest, we would have to take the trip out to the Borealis in real-time, which would take too long. Players are very likely to want to get to the Borealis quickly in this episode, but quite possibly have a build-up to going in like in the end of Half-Life 2.

[Ubik]

Here it goes:

game begins EXACTLY where you were left off. Alyx is crying over Eli's dead body with D0g sitting there. Kleiner and Magnusson shortly run into the hanger, investigating on all the ruckus. They are both devastated by what they see (especially Kleiner) and then Uriah run in with a couple other Vorts and attempt to heal Eli. While they are occupied, time freezes and a familar man in a blue suit appears and talks to you about.... something (probably talking about Eli's death). Time restores and the Vorts give up on attempting to heal Eli since he's long gone. Then some sort of ceremony takes place (involving the Vorts?) for Eli.

After the ceremony Alyx, in her frantic state, almost leaves in the helicopter on her own. She doesn't want anyone to come with her and she wants to avenge her father's death on her own. Kleiner eventually convinces her to take Gordon with her. Then you get in the helicopter (Alyx piloting, Gordon operating weapons) and take off for north.

The first level is you fighting Combine gunships, helicopters, and maybe mortar synths (since they fly) in your helicopter. You make occasional landings to make repairs or fill up gas and on these landings you encounter enemies like zombies and antlions. In one landing a bunch of Combine ambush you and you fight them off, but they manage to knock Gordon out... somehow. You're partly conscious as Alyx tries to drag you to the copter and says something like "God, you're heavy Gordon. Sorry, we gotta lose some of these weapons."

Then everything goes black (maybe a very very brief Gman siting) and you wake up in the copter with Alyx saying you've been out for hours and gas is almost out so you're landing. You've lost most of your weapons, but still have the pistol, crowbar, smg, (maybe AR2?). The copter lands and that's the end of the first level. You're close enough to the arctic base Mossman was at to continue on foot.

[f_combineftw]

This makes the most sense. I could also see valve starting the game with Gordon waking up on the helicopter as its in flight to the Borealis. The only thing that gets me is that why would Gordon be passing out to begin with? I guess you could argue it would be due to stress from the strider battle and witnessing Eli's death. But really? After everything hes gone through hes gonna pass out from Eli's death? To bad there isn't a amphetamine drip in that HEV suit.

So if we do indeed start the game before the heli ride, how long will the heli ride be? I mean, is it gonna be in real time to get to the borealis, or will there be a lot of exposition of Alyx during the heli ride then 5 minutes later we are magically there? Even if we do get shot down/crash (which is highly likely) how far would we have to travel on foot? unless we had one of these of course :E http://www.break.com/index/sweet-subaru-with-snow-tracks.html

i think this time everything went black so then the credits could show!!! no not perhaps it will start out o wait i already put my idea on some kinda thread, i dont feel like doing it again ill come back when i got something new.

[Kouler]

Here it goes:

game begins EXACTLY where you were left off. Alyx is crying over Eli's dead body with D0g sitting there. Kleiner and Magnusson shortly run into the hanger, investigating on all the ruckus. They are both devastated by what they see (especially Kleiner) and then Uriah run in with a couple other Vorts and attempt to heal Eli. While they are occupied, time freezes and a familar man in a blue suit appears and talks to you about.... something (probably talking about Eli's death). Time restores and the Vorts give up on attempting to heal Eli since he's long gone. Then some sort of ceremony takes place (involving the Vorts?) for Eli.

After the ceremony Alyx, in her frantic state, almost leaves in the helicopter on her own. She doesn't want anyone to come with her and she wants to avenge her father's death on her own. Kleiner eventually convinces her to take Gordon with her. Then you get in the helicopter (Alyx piloting, Gordon operating weapons) and take off for north.

The first level is you fighting Combine gunships, helicopters, and maybe mortar synths (since they fly) in your helicopter. You make occasional landings to make repairs or fill up gas and on these landings you encounter enemies like zombies and antlions. In one landing a bunch of Combine ambush you and you fight them off, but they manage to knock Gordon out... somehow. You're partly conscious as Alyx tries to drag you to the copter and says something like "God, you're heavy Gordon. Sorry, we gotta lose some of these weapons."

Then everything goes black (maybe a very very brief Gman siting) and you wake up in the copter with Alyx saying you've been out for hours and gas is almost out so you're landing. You've lost most of your weapons, but still have the pistol, crowbar, smg, (maybe AR2?). The copter lands and that's the end of the first level. You're close enough to the arctic base Mossman was at to continue on foot.

Something like is actually quite possible

[Shift]

Here it goes:

game begins EXACTLY where you were left off. Alyx is crying over Eli's dead body with D0g sitting there. Kleiner and Magnusson shortly run into the hanger, investigating on all the ruckus. They are both devastated by what they see (especially Kleiner) and then Uriah run in with a couple other Vorts and attempt to heal Eli. While they are occupied, time freezes and a familar man in a blue suit appears and talks to you about.... something (probably talking about Eli's death). Time restores and the Vorts give up on attempting to heal Eli since he's long gone. Then some sort of ceremony takes place (involving the Vorts?) for Eli.

After the ceremony Alyx, in her frantic state, almost leaves in the helicopter on her own. She doesn't want anyone to come with her and she wants to avenge her father's death on her own. Kleiner eventually convinces her to take Gordon with her. Then you get in the helicopter (Alyx piloting, Gordon operating weapons) and take off for north.

The first level is you fighting Combine gunships, helicopters, and maybe mortar synths (since they fly) in your helicopter. You make occasional landings to make repairs or fill up gas and on these landings you encounter enemies like zombies and antlions. In one landing a bunch of Combine ambush you and you fight them off, but they manage to knock Gordon out... somehow. You're partly conscious as Alyx tries to drag you to the copter and says something like "God, you're heavy Gordon. Sorry, we gotta lose some of these weapons."

Then everything goes black (maybe a very very brief Gman siting) and you wake up in the copter with Alyx saying you've been out for hours and gas is almost out so you're landing. You've lost most of your weapons, but still have the pistol, crowbar, smg, (maybe AR2?). The copter lands and that's the end of the first level. You're close enough to the arctic base Mossman was at to continue on foot.

The chopper looked a wreck when first seen, Alyx even had to repair it before it could used, it wouldnt last 5 seconds against waves of Combine gunships, not to mention the idea of a on-rail, shoot everything scenerio makes me twinge. Also not to mention, like I said before, the Combine have been crushed in City 17 and the area surrounding it, I seriously doubt they can coordinate more attacks considering the scale of the assualt of White Forest and the scale of the defeat that they suffered, the Combine in the area will be in disarray, scattered and cut-off.

[lord_raken]

Here it goes:

game begins EXACTLY where you were left off. Alyx is crying over Eli's dead body with D0g sitting there. Kleiner and Magnusson shortly run into the hanger, investigating on all the ruckus. They are both devastated by what they see (especially Kleiner) and then Uriah run in with a couple other Vorts and attempt to heal Eli. While they are occupied, time freezes and a familar man in a blue suit appears and talks to you about.... something (probably talking about Eli's death). Time restores and the Vorts give up on attempting to heal Eli since he's long gone. Then some sort of ceremony takes place (involving the Vorts?) for Eli.

After the ceremony Alyx, in her frantic state, almost leaves in the helicopter on her own. She doesn't want anyone to come with her and she wants to avenge her father's death on her own. Kleiner eventually convinces her to take Gordon with her. Then you get in the helicopter (Alyx piloting, Gordon operating weapons) and take off for north.

The first level is you fighting Combine gunships, helicopters, and maybe mortar synths (since they fly) in your helicopter. You make occasional landings to make repairs or fill up gas and on these landings you encounter enemies like zombies and antlions. In one landing a bunch of Combine ambush you and you fight them off, but they manage to knock Gordon out... somehow. You're partly conscious as Alyx tries to drag you to the copter and says something like "God, you're heavy Gordon. Sorry, we gotta lose some of these weapons."

Then everything goes black (maybe a very very brief Gman siting) and you wake up in the copter with Alyx saying you've been out for hours and gas is almost out so you're landing. You've lost most of your weapons, but still have the pistol, crowbar, smg, (maybe AR2?). The copter lands and that's the end of the first level. You're close enough to the arctic base Mossman was at to continue on foot.

I like this. the part about being dragged to safety by Alyx is very interesting. though i am not sure about the way you lose your weapons. up until this point carrying a whole armory around with you has never been an issue or even mentioned. so it becoming an factor in the story now makes little sense. maybe they could be through about by an explosion and in your retreat Alyx doesn't have time to pick them back up and drag you to the copter. except for the gav-gun and crowbar :) . I still don't know how they would make the copter air battle work.

[Ubik]

The chopper looked a wreck when first seen, Alyx even had to repair it before it could used, it wouldnt last 5 seconds against waves of Combine gunships, not to mention the idea of a on-rail, shoot everything scenerio makes me twinge. Also not to mention, like I said before, the Combine have been crushed in City 17 and the area surrounding it, I seriously doubt they can coordinate more attacks considering the scale of the assualt of White Forest and the scale of the defeat that they suffered, the Combine in the area will be in disarray, scattered and cut-off.

there doesn't have to be a massive amount of enemies. maybe just one chopper and a couple dropships and a bunch of those little mortar synths (not all at one time). It doesn't need to feel like an organized attack.

[f_combineftw]

thats why the advisor's are trying to unit so they can gather up all the reaming combine forces and make a counter-attack. Remember, the combine may have lost their strider and alot of their hunters at whiteforest, but they also have crab and motor synths for support.

[MFL]

I'm gonna have to say that's not necessarily true, since the last of those synth's we saw were at the top of the citadel... and that got blasted by a dark-matter reactor meltdown.

[f_combineftw]

o yeah i forgot about that, and they cant get ofworld help anymore either, well considering the amount of advisors, they could probably kill the remanding rebels themselves :D

[Ubik]

I'm gonna have to say that's not necessarily true, since the last of those synth's we saw were at the top of the citadel... and that got blasted by a dark-matter reactor meltdown.

but there's more citidels

[Nicky 0123]

True, but we don't know how far away there are.

All the striders won't have been defeated at White Forest, that would only have been a strike team.

[Shift]

Not to mention with all coms down, I doubt the other Citadels even know of the situation in City 17.

[el Chi]

I think Justincase3's got the closest idea. Seeing as all the games are supposed to be continuous and a sort of real-time (that is to say, were you to play from the start of HL1 to the end of Ep2, you would've experienced everything Gordon has in that time - you haven't missed out on anything) the idea of a ceremony or some such thing for Eli's death would drag and drag. Besides which, there's no time for all that - they have to get to the Borealis.

My guess would be that you either wake up in the choppah after having been unconscious for some time for whatever reason... Given a sedative by a medic maybe? The only sleep the poor chap's had since the beginning of the series is a suspended animation something-or-other that lasted 20ish years for everybody else, but a couple of minutes for Gordon.
It might seem a bit trite, but that way we don't have to be bothered by hours cooped up in a helicopter where either very little happens or a lot of very contrived on-a-rail stuff happens.
Alyx will either be piloting the thing or in a corner, crying or something. Wah wah wah.

Either that or the G-Man will whisk us away again, but I suppose that depends on whether he's still obligated to abide by those "restrictions" he mentioned...

[The Monkey]

but there's more citidels
Yes, but the Citadel in City 17 was the only one that acted as a portal to the combine world.

[Shift]

How do you know that?

[Ubik]

I'm sure the other citidels all are at least somewhat aware of what happened in C17. They were surely aware that City 17 was going through a rebellion for a while and then all of a sudden they stopped hearing from City 17 and Breen. Some cities probably felt the shockwave of the citidel's massive explosion. I wouldn't be surprised if many nearby cities sent out some re-enforcements for C17.

And the C17 citidel probably wasn't the only one that could open a portal to the Combine's own world. How else could each city have constant shipments of synths and other things that could only come from the Combine's homeworld (or other planets the Combine invaded). Most likely the complete destruction of one (probably very vital) link of the Combine portal technology shut down all the remaining links to the Combine world from Earth.

[Shift]

No they Citadels made their own synths, the bottom is constantly digging downwards devouring resources so the Citadels can make an unlimited supply. They would only teleport more things in if they need a boost which is what they probably were doing during the street war.

[f_combineftw]

what are synths made out of anyway, i think i have come to the conclusion that synths are BASED of of creatures from different worlds, like combine scientists took the blueprints of certain animals and used thoughs blueprints to create their own, modified version of thoseanimals, making them out of metal and giving them a greater intelligence.

[ChiliFan]

I think they're animals that have had any unnecessary organs removed (like Stalkers) and then had their limbs sort of 're-configured' and armoured. So they're built like robots but with organic muscle and organs.

[Ubik]

synths are part biological and part machine. They were creatures from planets the combine have taken over and felt they would be useful for war. The combine changed them from inside and out (remember the Strider's brain?). Maybe they are produced in Combine labs in every citidel (like in Brave New World) and while they are developing, the Combine modifies them.

[f_combineftw]

Kinda like the Zerg form starcraft, they take the animals from the planets they conjured and "ingest" them into the swarm for war.

[Nibwoddle]

I'd just like to point out that the helicopter ride won't be a very long one. There is one part in Episode Two, Alyx exclaims:

"I know that peak! You can see it from White Forest!"

This "peak" was a huge snowy mountain which didn't appear to be very far away. And it was among other huse snowy mountains.

Possibly the only reason we need a helicopter is that mountains would be too difficult to traverse on foot.

[Ubik]

I'd just like to point out that the helicopter ride won't be a very long one. There is one part in Episode Two, Alyx exclaims:

"I know that peak! You can see it from White Forest!"

This "peak" was a huge snowy mountain which didn't appear to be very far away. And it was among other huse snowy mountains.

Possibly the only reason we need a helicopter is that mountains would be too difficult to traverse on foot.

yeah, except the base is probably in the arctic. If it was as nearby as that peak, Eli would send out more men to get there, even on foot.

[David.Seth2]

yeah, except the base is probably in the arctic. If it was as nearby as that peak, Eli would send out more men to get there, even on foot.

But Eli wants to get to the Borealis before the Combine at all costs. So a hellicopter would be fastest. Who's to say that Eli wouldn't have sent backup man power on foot after Alyx and Gordon took off for the peak?

[Ubik]

And I think Valve already said it's in the arctic.

[DEATH eVADER]

And I think Valve already said it's in the arctic.

It must be hard coming up with ideas for Ep3, as there is a lot of nothingness up there. There is the Artic Base and Borealis, but what else could be up there? A german U-boat that you could explore, a whaling outpost...

...Wait a minute, a whaling outpost! That would be an interesting locale



I believe you will wake up in the helicopter, but you find that Alyx isn't flying, but a rebel (The one who is voiced by Adam Baldwin); Alyx is in the back of the Helicopter sleeping. The helicopter has to land because it was running out of fuel. It lands at an Abandoned Ski Resort. The helicopter is refueled whilst you have to fight off a bunch of houndeyes that had taken refuge in the resort. These houndeyes are a much more hardened and more ferocious than the ones faced in Black Mesa.

After the confrontation, another helicopter lands; Barney has arrived in a small Bell Helicopter, one that he found in his absence. He flew to White Forest, then was notified on the mission, and the loss of Eli. The two helicopter fly together towards the Base, only for the larger Helicopter (the one that you are in) gets shot down by Combine AAA. During the crash, you are confronted by an Advisor, who drags out all occupants from the Helicopter, and crushes it. The first victim of the Advisor's mouth-straw narrowly escapes unscathed when the Advisor seems to sence a ghostly presence in the area and retreats. You are thrown to the floor in the process, becoming unconcsious. Gman appears in the vision, and gives you an 'illusion' of free choice; choose to use the ship or destroy it.

After you wake up, Barney transports you, Alyx and A Baldwin towards the mission.

Possible locales after this sequence is:
A Whaling Outpost (Confrontation with Combine)
A German U-boat (Possibly including an Anomalous, Mysterious, Story-Driven script that could possibly reveal Gmans origin)
Abandoned Science Outpost (The Thing-esque story)
Kraken Base (Confrontation with Combine)
Borealis (Confronation with Non-Xen, Non-Combine, Non-Zombie enemy; possibly Psychotic Humans that seem to not of aged or died from all those years on the ship, kind of like a Philadelphia Experiment-esque side-story)

[Gazork0]

...Wait a minute, a whaling outpost! That would be an interesting locale
I hope there are references to Norway in a suchlike whaling outpost :E

[DEATH eVADER]

I hope there are references to Norway in a suchlike whaling outpost :E


Possibly, but I mean I got the idea from Aliens Vs Predator, with the attack by the group of Predators.

There was concept art of a Active Camoflauge Soldier in Raising the Bar that got my attention

[DEATH eVADER]

off course with Alyx mourning her father, Kleiner might whip out Little Nelly for you

http://www.nnam.org/images/little%20nellie2.jpg

Less baggage to carry I suppose

[L3N!N]

All we can wait for is some media...if there will even be any. :frown:

[riomhaire]

A whaling outpost would have lots of harpoons. Harpoons are fun.

[DEATH eVADER]

A whaling outpost would have lots of harpoons. Harpoons are fun.

I know this should really go into the New Weapons thread, but there should be a way that the Grav Gun gets destroyed, in that it forces us to use physics objects in new and interesting ways, like your idea with the Harpoon

It could be a way of replacing both the grav gun and crossbow.

You could shoot the harpoon, and hit somebodies limb. They should be able to get up from the ground (which I think Havoc Engine actually allows). Once they are back up, limping, you should be able to give the Harpoon gun a tug, causing your victim to fall back to the ground.

"Sh*t I hit the guy in the leg, now he's hopping around the place. All well, lets wheel him in"

[riomhaire]

No. I meant using the harpoon + gravity gun to impale Alyx with. That's always fun in Nova Prospekt.

[David.Seth2]

It must be hard coming up with ideas for Ep3, as there is a lot of nothingness up there. There is the Artic Base and Borealis, but what else could be up there? A german U-boat that you could explore, a whaling outpost...

Yeah that would be cool to be at a whaling outpost. I just found a great example at this website: http://www.ferdinand-engelbeen.be/familie/greenland.html

There are a few pictures of Sisimiut, an old whaling town in Greenland. Anyways, what about this concept art thats supposedly from Ep3? http://www.fpsrantings.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/combine-advisers-at-half-life-2-episode-three.jpg

Would this imply that there is a large Combine base in the arctic as well? Or am I way off base?

[f_combineftw]

i got one


The night was moist.......

[Probydoby]

we are going north right? so we might go to the north pole, so that means we'll see one of these sticking out of the ground,

http://image.orientaltrading.com/otcimg/k680,681.jpg

[mrman234]

we are going north right? so we might go to the north pole, so that means we'll see one of these sticking out of the ground,

http://image.orientaltrading.com/otcimg/k680,681.jpg

CROWBAR REPLACEMENT!

[Nicky 0123]

That would be awesome as a Crowbar reskin...
:D

[freeman1993]

What I think will happen is you wake up after the advisor attack to see alyx on Eli's body crying her butt off, but finaly sobs up and grabs eli's body and show's the base the tradgedy. There will be mourning. After you grab the extra weapons around the base, you head back to the hanger and get in the heli and take off to the bourealis.

[Nicky 0123]

^ - X

Not this.

[Probydoby]

I think you'll see alyx mourn over her father, and then the gman comes,
It's just one of those moments, you expect him to come,

then he probably tells you what he wants from you, and something about the borealis,
he probably wants some of it's technelogy, technolegy,(uhhmm??:P)

[The_Max07[rus]]

I think we shall fly by the helicopter and we will be hit by soldiers of an combine. After falling we shall long wander on coast and on an ice we shall reach the ship.

[Pinkle]

i got one


The night was moist.......

nice Throw Momma From the Train reference LOL One of my favorite comedies :D

never thought I'd see it referenced to HL though, haha

[DEATH eVADER]

Lamarr comes to rescue the day, and attempts to latch onto Gman's head :D

[Lucifer20]

ok so basicly heres how i see the 3rd and final episode unwinding::)


The plot of Episode Three is largely unknown. Judging from events at the end of Episode Two, it will see Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance moving even further away from City 17 to an arctic setting some distance away. The plot has been rumored to revolve around the Borealis - an ice-breaker vessel belonging to a rival corporation of Black Mesa, Aperture Science -- the same fictional company featured in the recently released Portal. It is believed some powerful technology exists on board. It would appear that the main objective of Episode Three is to find the ship and the technology on board and save Dr. Judith Mossman in the process. The various characters in the Half-Life universe have differing opinions about whether the technology on board should be destroyed to prevent another catastrophe or preserved to be used against the Combine, and hence it is likely that Gordon and Alyx will be tasked with one or the other over the course of the game. This will most likely the latter, as Eli Vance was killed in Half-Life 2: Episode Two, and Isaac Kleiner is the character that supports harnessing the technology.



It is presumed that the player also will see the G-man's plans for Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance, and the "unforseen consequences". It is also possible that being the final episode, there may be a function of player choice towards the end that affects the outcome, but will most likely not occur seeing as the beginning of Half-Life 2 dashed whatever path the player choose at the end of Half-Life. Also that would leave the alternative option that the beginning of Half-Life 3 would establish to be non-canon and therefore irrelevant.



It is possible that the powerful technology could have to do with the destructive Artificial Intelligence GLaDOS, or the Portal Gun present in the game Portal. This is also supported in some unknown way by the back story of creating AI presented in Valve's viral marketing site http://www.aperturescience.com. This is also supported by Dr. Isaac Kleiner stating that when the Borealis disappeared it took some of the dock with it, presuming that the technology on board is a kind of Portal Technology.



It is also possible that there will be a reappearance of GLaDOS, possibly on board the Borealis, this could explain her saying that she was 'still alive'. She may be used against the Combine, as she said she is the 'only thing between us... and them' suggesting that she may have formulated a plan to defeat the Combine or have the ability to hold them at bay. However given that she stated that "I have an infinite capacity for knowledge and not even I know what's going on out there" This seems unlikely. It is most likely that she knows that some entity is doing bad things, but not that the entity is the combine, if that is indeed the entity in question. Also given the exiting of the aperture science facility into a parking lot in what appeared to be a forested area, it's unlikely that GLaDOS is on the ship, but still possible, given the numerous spheres shown at the end of portal, which contain GLaDOS's central files and operating kernel

ya thats how i see it i cant wait :upstare:

[LackingSaint]

Well, here's what I believe will happen. Sorry if I said sometihng simlar to this earlier.

The game begins with Gordon fading in and out of consciousness, with memories of Breen, Eli, G-man and the Resonance Cascade appearing in blurry memories, before he awakes in a helicopter, seeing only a pilot flying. Noticing you're awake, the pilot, Barney, looks back, flicking the switch for auto-pilot and beginning a conversation.
"What's up Gordon? You feeling okay? Sorry for the jolty ride, i've not really had much practice on this thing... so, you any better than you were earlier? I can understand being torn up a little, poor Eli... anyway, we're near our landing zone. Alyx'll be waiting for ya, haha. Oh, here." Barney opens up one of the doors to reveal you flying over a cold misty ocean. Seagulls caw as they fly overhead.
"Beautiful, ain't it..? makes you almost forget about the Combine.. Still, that'll be over soon.. Hey, what's that?"
Barney gasps as a Combine ship flys overhead, eventually shooting down the helicopter. Barney struggles as he attempts to steer the ship, eventually crashing into a large iceberg. The game begins as you escape the wreckage, following Barney to the outpost where Alyx is.

Thoughts?

[Lucifer20]

that seems like a fairly possible series of events
one thing though...how would alyx get there before you "without" the helicopter that you and barney are in

[thirty9th]

This makes the most sense. I could also see valve starting the game with Gordon waking up on the helicopter as its in flight to the Borealis. The only thing that gets me is that why would Gordon be passing out to begin with? I guess you could argue it would be due to stress from the strider battle and witnessing Eli's death. But really? After everything hes gone through hes gonna pass out from Eli's death? To bad there isn't a amphetamine drip in that HEV suit.

So if we do indeed start the game before the heli ride, how long will the heli ride be? I mean, is it gonna be in real time to get to the borealis, or will there be a lot of exposition of Alyx during the heli ride then 5 minutes later we are magically there? Even if we do get shot down/crash (which is highly likely) how far would we have to travel on foot? unless we had one of these of course :E http://www.break.com/index/sweet-subaru-with-snow-tracks.html

Possible explanation:

Going from the idea that Gordon might be stressed, just not enough to pass out, it would be logical for Valve to allow Gordon to be briefed at White Forest, board the chopper and then fall asleep in transit. This would eliminate the need for a crash or lengthy dialogue, but is Valve really going to let go of its past tradition of killing every vehicle Gordon enters? :P

[Nicky 0123]

ok so basicly heres how i see the 3rd and final episode unwinding::)


The plot of Episode Three is largely unknown. Judging from events at the end of Episode Two, it will see Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance moving even further away from City 17 to an arctic setting some distance away. The plot has been rumored to revolve around the Borealis - an ice-breaker vessel belonging to a rival corporation of Black Mesa, Aperture Science -- the same fictional company featured in the recently released Portal. It is believed some powerful technology exists on board. It would appear that the main objective of Episode Three is to find the ship and the technology on board and save Dr. Judith Mossman in the process. The various characters in the Half-Life universe have differing opinions about whether the technology on board should be destroyed to prevent another catastrophe or preserved to be used against the Combine, and hence it is likely that Gordon and Alyx will be tasked with one or the other over the course of the game. This will most likely the latter, as Eli Vance was killed in Half-Life 2: Episode Two, and Isaac Kleiner is the character that supports harnessing the technology.



It is presumed that the player also will see the G-man's plans for Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance, and the "unforseen consequences". It is also possible that being the final episode, there may be a function of player choice towards the end that affects the outcome, but will most likely not occur seeing as the beginning of Half-Life 2 dashed whatever path the player choose at the end of Half-Life. Also that would leave the alternative option that the beginning of Half-Life 3 would establish to be non-canon and therefore irrelevant.



It is possible that the powerful technology could have to do with the destructive Artificial Intelligence GLaDOS, or the Portal Gun present in the game Portal. This is also supported in some unknown way by the back story of creating AI presented in Valve's viral marketing site http://www.aperturescience.com. This is also supported by Dr. Isaac Kleiner stating that when the Borealis disappeared it took some of the dock with it, presuming that the technology on board is a kind of Portal Technology.



It is also possible that there will be a reappearance of GLaDOS, possibly on board the Borealis, this could explain her saying that she was 'still alive'. She may be used against the Combine, as she said she is the 'only thing between us... and them' suggesting that she may have formulated a plan to defeat the Combine or have the ability to hold them at bay. However given that she stated that "I have an infinite capacity for knowledge and not even I know what's going on out there" This seems unlikely. It is most likely that she knows that some entity is doing bad things, but not that the entity is the combine, if that is indeed the entity in question. Also given the exiting of the aperture science facility into a parking lot in what appeared to be a forested area, it's unlikely that GLaDOS is on the ship, but still possible, given the numerous spheres shown at the end of portal, which contain GLaDOS's central files and operating kernel

ya thats how i see it i cant wait :upstare:


Nice first post, I see you took everything into consideration and tried to come up with a reasonable explaination. Unlike some of the people here going 'OmG, adrium shep0rd.' I'm sorry, but Adrian Shepard will never ever return. Evar.

[Lucifer20]

thanks nicky :) i hope it its the first of thousands.

and yes i think ASHPD and its similarity to Adrian Shepard is toataly irrelevant

[LackingSaint]

that seems like a fairly possible series of events
one thing though...how would alyx get there before you "without" the helicopter that you and barney are in

She'd have headed you off in another plane. Of course copters can only fit abotu 7 people, not enough to begin an assualt on the Boarealis.

[thirty9th]

She'd have headed you off in another plane. Of course copters can only fit abotu 7 people, not enough to begin an assualt on the Boarealis.

Then again, maybe the Rebels aren't really planning a large scale assault on the Borealis. Alyx sure made it sound like it would only be her and Gordon going, not an entire strike team.

[Probydoby]

I think everyone is far too tired because of all the help they gave us fighting off those striders,

[DEATH eVADER]

I think everyone is far too tired because of all the help they gave us fighting off those striders,

I guess this will turn into a Battle of Hoth episode.

"Use the harpoon and tow cable, its the only chance of stopping them"

[(SGA) Doctorwho]

The Helicopter will be shot down as it is crossing over the arctic terrain by a Combine hunter chopper patrol and after a short blackout sequence Gordon will wake up in the Arctic base that we see in Mossman's transmission that has been recently subverted by the Combine forces we then see Alyx being interrogated by an Advisor, seeking to know the information that was denied them by Mossman (more on this later) Noticing that Freeman is awake the Advisor communicates via telepathy with him stating that unless Gordon agrees to help secure the Borealis for the Combine Alyx will be killed. Freeman will accept and Gordon and Alyx will join a Combine convoy heading to the ship's location along with two other Advisors and their soldier escorts.

As the group continues to cross the arctic terrain (fighting against packs of Houndeyes) A combine soldier with an odd voice reveals that a vort strike team is going ambush the convoy. Seconds later, vortiguant chanting is heard as one of the Advisors is struck by a vort beam attack the solider with the odd voice takes off his mask revealing that he is actually Barney. After a set piece battle between the Combine and our heroes Barney explains how the vorts teleported Barney out of the city before the citadel exploded but in the rush to get out of the city he was sent to a remote location near the formerly secure arctic base. After a monologue explaining what happened the vorts reanimate one of the APCs that was a part of the convoy and leave Barney, Gordon and Alyx to continue the voyage to the Borealis.

[Koola Mena]

Learn to paragraph please or your post gets really confusing aannnnnddddd iiiiitttttt aaaaaalllll sssseeeeemmmmssss liiiiiiikkkkkeeeee oooooonnnnneeeeeeee ssssseeeeeeeennnnnntttttteeeeennnncccccceeeeeee ttttthhhhhhhaaaaatttt iiiiiisssssss rerrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyy hhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrddddddd tttoooooooooo rrrrrrrrereeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaadddddddddd

Also, good idea with the opening.

[Raccoon]

Hi! Youre talking about the Borealis right? Does anyone have seen the picture of a ship in Borealis?
It is about to load a container on the ship, and the container has a Aperture Science logo on it, does that dont make you think a bit, about that the Aperture Science may have taken refuge at the North Pole? When the Aperture Evil Computer was taking over? Because it was at the same time as the Black Mesa inncident, when the computer exploded, so I think it may be a Evil Computer onboard that Ship, or at least a bunch of technology.

[XmanXavier11]

I don't think there's an evil computer.

[legohalflife2man]

I was thinking that we would see the Aperture Science Hand-Held Portal Device on the Borealis, and there has been much speculation about that very thing. The only problem is that, if the player shoots two portals next to each other, Gordon's full model will have to be shown, and Valve only has the hands designed for Gordon's third person model.

[XmanXavier11]

Yeah, I doubt they'll do that then. Since Valve has a problem with showing Gordon for some reason.

[G(ordon)-man]

Yeah, he doesn't even talk,so why do make him a model.And i don't think there will ever be a portal gun. Maybe there will be Chell with it but i think that putting it to a entirely different game would not be fun. Only in Portal 2.

[jet_porkins]

I honestly don't care about not seeing Gordon. It became tradition out of circumstance, not planning. I think it'd be neat actually seeing Gordon in a mirror for once. Only problem I have with first person shooters implementing a reflection is that the player character model is very static. I.E., holding the gun in the one position robotically/rotating the character doesn't show any leg movement at all... animation issues like that.

[lefty]

off course with Alyx mourning her father, Kleiner might whip out Little Nelly for you

whip out his little WHAT!?

[FISHY CRACKERS]

Here it goes:

game begins EXACTLY where you were left off. Alyx is crying over Eli's dead body with D0g sitting there. Kleiner and Magnusson shortly run into the hanger, investigating on all the ruckus. They are both devastated by what they see (especially Kleiner) and then Uriah run in with a couple other Vorts and attempt to heal Eli. While they are occupied, time freezes and a familar man in a blue suit appears and talks to you about.... something (probably talking about Eli's death). Time restores and the Vorts give up on attempting to heal Eli since he's long gone. Then some sort of ceremony takes place (involving the Vorts?) for Eli.

After the ceremony Alyx, in her frantic state, almost leaves in the helicopter on her own. She doesn't want anyone to come with her and she wants to avenge her father's death on her own. Kleiner eventually convinces her to take Gordon with her. Then you get in the helicopter (Alyx piloting, Gordon operating weapons) and take off for north.

The first level is you fighting Combine gunships, helicopters, and maybe mortar synths (since they fly) in your helicopter. You make occasional landings to make repairs or fill up gas and on these landings you encounter enemies like zombies and antlions. In one landing a bunch of Combine ambush you and you fight them off, but they manage to knock Gordon out... somehow. You're partly conscious as Alyx tries to drag you to the copter and says something like "God, you're heavy Gordon. Sorry, we gotta lose some of these weapons."

Then everything goes black (maybe a very very brief Gman siting) and you wake up in the copter with Alyx saying you've been out for hours and gas is almost out so you're landing. You've lost most of your weapons, but still have the pistol, crowbar, smg, (maybe AR2?). The copter lands and that's the end of the first level. You're close enough to the arctic base Mossman was at to continue on foot.

Yes. Yes. Yes. This better happen.

[XmanXavier11]

Yeah, I have gotten used to not seeing Gordon also. Although in Half-Life 1 they had a third person model for him...

[nofreeman]

Hmmm i guess this how id like to see the game start!!.....

Exactly where you were left off, alyx mourning over her fathers body...with no surprise a familiar voice stops you..with a slight grin on his face, (Mr Freeman you were so close wern't you, Fate as it seems...is in your hands now, (flashes of the Borealis apear) ....i want u and miss vance to take control of that vessel as of my predecesores have very special interest in it, well now i hate to leave on such bad note Mr Freeman)....fads out and you see alyx run of in the distance...u catch up with her....grdon i can't do it anymore why me why us!! ive lost everythink,she falls to her knees) u hear no u havn't docter kleiner,barney, and dog help her to her feet....she calms down a bit.. barney has got the helicopter running and say comming or not you hope into it and alyx tells dog to head north and we'll meet u there..she sobs a bit and gets into the cockpit... u head off north .....................................................tbc

[The_E]

i dont think it will be that simple

[SinBin]

Personally i think it would be lame if the game just started again with Gordon opening his eyes and Alyx still crying over BLANK. In my oppinion it would be cool with a small intro cutscene showing Dr. Kleiner, Magnusson and other Rebels rushing in to the Hangar helping Alyx up, saying "It's too late, he's gone", you know that sort of stuff. They would stand over Gordon and ask if he's okay. Everything from Gordons perspective of course. Gordon would faint again perhaps. Some flashes of him laying in a bed, Dr. Kleiner, Alyx, Barney and company standing over him. Some flashes of the burial of BLANK in perhaps a forest clearing. Then after this small intro you wake up in the helicopter flying low over northern landscapes with pinetrees and white patches of snow on the ground. You would have control over Gordon again and the first chapter would begin. In this chapter you would probably run out of fuel close to your destination, so you have to walk the last part. The first few levels could be your way there. Chased by Combine and stuff and then you finally enter the base. A few levels in there before you get to the Borealis and a last one on the Borealis itself.

My 5 cents. Cheers

[LackingSaint]

Remember, some kind of massive explosion would need to happen, so we could follow the episode traditon of 'waking up in a wreck'.

[nofreeman]

nah u can't have gordon fainting its to easy or simple u need somethink like an advisor stoping them in there path, as they can take control over anythink i guess... and waking up to find alyx has been captured??????

[Sneaki]

The advisor could have taken Gordons weapons at the end of ep2, or destroyed them, since you can't use them when you're picked up..

[G(ordon)-man]

Gordon has fallen from cliffs,bitten by leeches,shooten from combine.and passed out from simple drop?

[SinBin]

Gordon has fallen from cliffs,bitten by leeches,shooten from combine.and passed out from simple drop?

I agree on that part, it seems strange that he wouldn't survive such a small fall. I mean he has been headhumped to a pulp by headcrabs...
But if you looked at the askew viewfield it looked like if he was laying kind of knocked out on the floor. Maybe that's because of the shock or exhaustion from the week he had though, not necissarily the impact from the fall :)

[jet_porkins]

I have a theory.

Gordon is Chuck Norris.

And if my theory's correct, episode 3's gonna be AWESOME.

*punches combine baby*

[jerkasaur]

Personally i think it would be lame if the game just started again with Gordon opening his eyes and Alyx still crying over BLANK. In my oppinion it would be cool with a small intro cutscene showing Dr. Kleiner, Magnusson and other Rebels rushing in to the Hangar helping Alyx up, saying "It's too late, he's gone", you know that sort of stuff. They would stand over Gordon and ask if he's okay. Everything from Gordons perspective of course. Gordon would faint again perhaps. Some flashes of him laying in a bed, Dr. Kleiner, Alyx, Barney and company standing over him. Some flashes of the burial of BLANK in perhaps a forest clearing. Then after this small intro you wake up in the helicopter flying low over northern landscapes with pinetrees and white patches of snow on the ground. You would have control over Gordon again and the first chapter would begin. In this chapter you would probably run out of fuel close to your destination, so you have to walk the last part. The first few levels could be your way there. Chased by Combine and stuff and then you finally enter the base. A few levels in there before you get to the Borealis and a last one on the Borealis itself. Mostly this.

[Sneaki]

Personally i think it would be lame if the game just started again with Gordon opening his eyes and Alyx still crying over BLANK. In my oppinion it would be cool with a small intro cutscene showing Dr. Kleiner, Magnusson and other Rebels rushing in to the Hangar helping Alyx up, saying "It's too late, he's gone", you know that sort of stuff. They would stand over Gordon and ask if he's okay. Everything from Gordons perspective of course. Gordon would faint again perhaps. Some flashes of him laying in a bed, Dr. Kleiner, Alyx, Barney and company standing over him. Some flashes of the burial of BLANK in perhaps a forest clearing. Then after this small intro you wake up in the helicopter flying low over northern landscapes with pinetrees and white patches of snow on the ground. You would have control over Gordon again and the first chapter would begin. In this chapter you would probably run out of fuel close to your destination, so you have to walk the last part. The first few levels could be your way there. Chased by Combine and stuff and then you finally enter the base. A few levels in there before you get to the Borealis and a last one on the Borealis itself.

My 5 cents. Cheers

It'd be cool to spend more than one chapter at the borealis, but otherwise a good idea.

[jerkasaur]

sorry to bump the thread, but I just finished playing ep2 again, and I think a combine battle would make pretty much sense after what has happened, Dog hurt an advisor and every time an advisor gets hurt in some way there are combine forces rushing in to investigate, so I think it makes sense that way, also, in the middle of a combine battle we can have barney showing up, and, there won't be time for too much emotions that'll become boring. Gordon could be knocked out in the battle and wake up afterwards so he'll get some sort of rest he hasn't had for some time now.

[G(ordon)-man]

Meh??

[phoinix]

Personally i think it would be lame if the game just started again with Gordon opening his eyes and Alyx still crying over BLANK. In my oppinion it would be cool with a small intro cutscene showing Dr. Kleiner, Magnusson and other Rebels rushing in to the Hangar helping Alyx up, saying "It's too late, he's gone", you know that sort of stuff. They would stand over Gordon and ask if he's okay. Everything from Gordons perspective of course. Gordon would faint again perhaps. Some flashes of him laying in a bed, Dr. Kleiner, Alyx, Barney and company standing over him. Some flashes of the burial of BLANK in perhaps a forest clearing. Then after this small intro you wake up in the helicopter flying low over northern landscapes with pinetrees and white patches of snow on the ground. You would have control over Gordon again and the first chapter would begin. In this chapter you would probably run out of fuel close to your destination, so you have to walk the last part. The first few levels could be your way there. Chased by Combine and stuff and then you finally enter the base. A few levels in there before you get to the Borealis and a last one on the Borealis itself.

My 5 cents. Cheers

+1, except from the part where the helicopter fuel runs out. I would rather have the helicopter shot down, followed by an intense combine fight where Gordon and Alyx have to escape.

[G(ordon)-man]

+1, except from the part where the helicopter fuel runs out. I would rather have the helicopter shot down, followed by an intense combine fight where Gordon and Alyx have to escape.

This awfully reminds me ep1

[Mapster]

To me i would say the start of the game would be Kleiner coming out of the base and seeing Gordon lying on the ground as well as Eli. The chopper is gone and Alyx is no where to be found.
Gordon wake up later on in bed with Kleiner working on Eli trying to figure out what happened. Kleiner spots Gordon and assumes an adviser had broken into the base killing Eli and Alyx went on a rampage heading to the Borealis by herself.
Kleiner tells Gordon to take a trip to another base and take another helicopter over to the Borealis to stop Alyx from getting herself killed alongside Barney that now has a new uniform much like the rebels.

[FISHY CRACKERS]

To me i would say the start of the game would be Kleiner coming out of the base and seeing Gordon lying on the ground as well as Eli. The chopper is gone and Alyx is no where to be found.
Gordon wake up later on in bed with Kleiner working on Eli trying to figure out what happened. Kleiner spots Gordon and assumes an adviser had broken into the base killing Eli and Alyx went on a rampage heading to the Borealis by herself.
Kleiner tells Gordon to take a trip to another base and take another helicopter over to the Borealis to stop Alyx from getting herself killed alongside Barney that now has a new uniform much like the rebels.

Yep i just added this to my list of shit that better happen in Episode 3.

[test]

That sounds nice, but I don't think things will happen that way.

[Mapster]

Yep i just added this to my list of shit that better happen in Episode 3.

Uhh... thanks?

[CombineHunter]

Why is everyone assuming that hes going to get to the artic on a helicopter,has it not occured to anyone that he could transport there or at least closer to there.

[Pyroxic]

This is probably how Episode Three will go down.

Take off in helicopter. Helicopter gets shot down by Combine. You travel through snow for a while. You find Ski-do, you take it up mountain, you fight Combine, etc etc Episode 3 ends.

[G(ordon)-man]

No it wont. As you know, ep3 will end the current story arc. So, it will be very story-driven and so simple labels wont be true.

[Preator]

No it wont. As you know, ep3 will end the current story arc. So, it will be very story-driven and so simple labels wont be true.

Exactly, every half life so far has been leading to this, if anything the story will be longer and more diverse than the others, i mean as of yet there is much to be explained about a lot of things so much that you might even say that they won't answer it all, leaving a lot of the game skulking in the shadows for ever

[astiacortes]

Is it possible that instead of the player trying to reach the borealis in real-time, that we find some sort of old teleporting system ?

[Preator]

?.? What are you questioning lol

[CombineHunter]

Is it possible that instead of the player trying to reach the borealis in real-time, that we find some sort of old teleporting system ?

Thats exactly what i was saying.

[G(ordon)-man]

Of course in real-time. As i hope you know, Mossman discovered it deep in the arctics. Alas, teleporting there would take off the cheerful feeling of going somewhere hidden deep into something.

[ChiliFan]

It took a whole week to teleport from Nova Prospekt to City 17 using Kleiner's teleport. Assuming there's one like it at White Forest, imagine how long it would take to get to the Borealis.

[CombineHunter]

Of course in real-time. As i hope you know, Mossman discovered it deep in the arctics. Alas, teleporting there would take off the cheerful feeling of going somewhere hidden deep into something.

Yeah well you cant have it both ways, everyone keeps saying " we get there in a helicopter but it would take too long"well the only other possible way would be a teleporter

ChiliFan: It took a whole week to teleport from Nova Prospekt to City 17 using Kleiner's teleport. Assuming there's one like it at White Forest, imagine how long it would take to get to the Borealis

That was just part of the plot so the week would go by and get the rebelion in full swing
other teleports havent taken that long have they?

[Satans_Offspring]

Well I think that Gordon passed out at the end (Not because he was shocked about Eli but because he hasn't slept since he arrived in City 17 like a week ago) & he'll wake up probably in a room with Kleiner & Alyx talking about the future of the resistance or what to do with Eli's body or something & after whatever happens they might even discover that there are in fact more Combine out there somewhere.

Or maybe Alyx will be seeking vengance for Eli & she & Gordon may kill their first Advisor.

& though I dont like it I think at some point (maybe while flying) they might see a train wreck & go down to investigate & find Barney's dead body (Because he wasnt in Episode 2, & he should have reached White Forest before Gordon & Alyx) & find that Advisor's or something have taken hold of him, & then an awesome Adrenalised fighting sequence with Half-Life styled music to accompany it where u kill sh*tloads of Combine (sort of like the first Hunter battle in Episode Two).

[Satans_Offspring]

Possible explanation:

Going from the idea that Gordon might be stressed, just not enough to pass out, it would be logical for Valve to allow Gordon to be briefed at White Forest, board the chopper and then fall asleep in transit. This would eliminate the need for a crash or lengthy dialogue, but is Valve really going to let go of its past tradition of killing every vehicle Gordon enters? :P
EVERY Vehicle? There's only 3 vehicles in the HL2 Saga & 2 just get left outside a base & the buggy gets taken by a Dropship.

[G(ordon)-man]

Barney isn't dead. He has a sound file in ep2 where he congratulates you.

[Satans_Offspring]

CROWBAR REPLACEMENT!

Dude Nothing can ever replace the Crowbar!

[lord_raken]

Possible explanation:

Going from the idea that Gordon might be stressed, just not enough to pass out, it would be logical for Valve to allow Gordon to be briefed at White Forest, board the chopper and then fall asleep in transit. This would eliminate the need for a crash or lengthy dialogue, but is Valve really going to let go of its past tradition of killing every vehicle Gordon enters? :P

Good thinking