An idea about the antlions...

[Kevin]

As you all might know, the antlions also came from xen (well, thats what I read...). AND in some levels in Half-Life 2 you can see the "antlion thumpers", which keep the antlions away by beating the ground and thus creating vibrations too strong for the antlions, so they they wont(can't) come near it. But if they are on Xen too then just how did the xenians (in this case the vortigaunts and the other intelligent aliens) keep the antlions from attacking them?

Lately after playing through Half-Life 1 again, in the "interloper" stage, where you teleport to a cave, and after exiting theres a tentacle to your left. Further from there, you can find 2 alien grunts on cliffs (apparentlly) guarding the site. Behind them you can see 2 vortigaunts working near 2 strange things that closely resemble "antlion thumpers"
and they beat the ground the same way the ones in Half-Life 2 did.

So are those the Xen version of "antlion thumpers".
Just thought i'd share this.

 

[Remus]

Here's another idea how about they remove the damn antlions from the game[/rant]

On topic, this has been discussed before and I think we've reached a general consensus that those things you see in Xen aren't thumpers, but some kind of ore extractors perhaps. Also keep in mind that when they made those Xen levels they didn't think about what would later be implemented in HL2 (antlions)

 

[Asknoone]

I'm not sure those were Xen thumpers. I mean, you were on small little floating islands...doesn't quite seem the environment for a nest of Antlions. You could be right though...it's been proposed before.

 

[Kevin]

Here's another idea how about they remove the damn antlions from the game[/rant]

Nah man, antlions are cool in Half-Life 2


And the island you are on when you see those things are big enough i think.
HELL there are even tentacles there!

 

[ríomhaire]

IIRC, they don't actually thump though. They just go into the ground without much of a bang. Random note on that section: It's possible to sneak past without being seen, but if you are seen, Xenian re-enforcements arrive almost instantly.

 

[Cormeh]

Well, the antlion "thumpers" are clearly Combine machinery. So that scraps the Xen theory (BECAUSE THE COMBINE WEREN'T ON XEN).

 

[Planetary]

Yeah, the thumpers of Xen are just mining equipment, presumably they had other ways for keeping the antlions at bay.

 

[Asknoone]

Yeah, the thumpers of Xen are just mining equipment

How'd you know?

 

[Planetary]

How'd you know?

They go into the ground, and then come out again. Kind of like those old-style oil pumps they used when there was lots of oil. Going back and forth, back and forth... What else could they be?

 

[Kevin]

What makes you think they go INSIDE the ground.
Even the Half-Life 2 thumpers look like they go INSIDE the ground.

And to Cormeh: The combine never needed to be there. The combine never knew where nihilanth led the exodus. The xenians were there first. And you dont know if the antlions originate from the same planet(?) the combine do. Because if they DONT then obviously the xenians were the first ones to invent the thumpers and the combine copied they're technology when they found xen and started invading earth.

 

[MJ12]

antlions probably come from an entire different xen island gordon didn't discover, two little "xen thumpers" in one area are not going to stop antlions comming out from any part of the island

 

[Kevin]

But i don't think they actually originate FROM xen at all.

PS:<3 your elite action-fig!^^

 

[Planetary]

antlions probably come from an entire different xen island gordon didn't discover, two little "xen thumpers" in one area are not going to stop antlions comming out from any part of the island

Yeah, who knows how much room there is on Xen? If it really is an entire universe, then the Antlions probably come from elsewhere. Maybe we'll find out more in Episode Two, what with the Vortigaunt accompanying u into their hive.

 

[Kevin]

About the vortigaunt...i watched the ep.2 playthrough like video on youtube and in the lair i could've sworn i heard the vort saying:"we prefer sex" after gordon killed a larva with the crowbar.

 

[MJ12]

About the vortigaunt...i watched the ep.2 playthrough like video on youtube and in the lair i could've sworn i heard the vort saying:"we prefer sex" after gordon killed a larva with the crowbar.

haha, i think he says something about not hitting the larve because it makes the antlions mad and come looking for you

but thank you muchly for the likings of my figure

 

[Planetary]

It was either "We recommend sex", "we recommend sense", or" we recommend silence".

 

[Kevin]

"we recommend silence" sounds good.

 

[Destron]

Vortigaunt: "Forebear, Freeman! We recommend silence."

 

[Kevin]

Oh, ok that explains it. ty