Pilot Awards Ceremony

[Vinman]

Is it ever explicitely said that it's felt? Maybe it's just green paint. Or maybe it's green metal that stains as opposed to scratches, so that all anyone has to do is wipe off the table after a game with Hobbes rather than refelt/repaint it.

I hate to sound contrarian, but I won't consider Wing Commander II canon until this is explained. Why is it that in this game alone, poker tables have regenerating felt? I'm chalking it up as taking place in an alternate universe.

 

[ELTEE]

They never really do play poker at all. Blair is on a constant trip in order to help him withstand the rigours of flying. The inevitable hallucinations usually manifest themselves as poker games where Blair deals (no pun intended) with all of the demons in his life. That's why there are no such scenes in WC1 - Blair didn't meet his dealer (again, no pun intended) until he reported aboard Concordia. Good thing Sparks has the hook-up.

In fact, Hobbes doesn't exist either. Blair creates Hobbes in his mind as a symbol of his failed relationship with his mother. Everywhere he goes, she (read: Hobbes) follows him, even into the dark void outside the ship...

 

[Wedge009]

[The WC3 introduction] still gave me the impression that the Kilrathi were a strange, barbaric, evil people and I didn't want to fly with one of them. I guess if you had the Wing Commander 2 backstory; made friends with Hobbes and knew he betrayed his people, you might feel differently. While playing WC3 with no idea who this Hobbes guy was, it was a bit much to fly with him right after we learn that they're the enemy.

The timid Hobbes we see in WC3 is a far cry from the bold Confederation hero we see in WC2 (it's almost as if the role of ostracised pilot shifted from Maverick to Hobbes). Nonetheless, for those like yourself who didn't have the benefit of knowing Hobbes from WC2, there was a long letter from Hobbes in the Victory Streak manual explaining why an 'enemy' was serving on a Confederation carrier in the first place.

 

[Bandit LOAF]

They never really do play poker at all. Blair is on a constant trip in order to help him withstand the rigours of flying.

Yes, overmortal.

Admirals generally come with lower-ranked aides, who very much can serve (and have served, historically) as a snitch to report on stuff happening in places an admiral won't go.

Also, at the risk of continuing to overthink an already far-overthought thread of conversation - remembr that everyone in Wing Commander II loved Tolwyn (except Blair.) Angel, Sparks, etc. were all completely loyal to the man.

The timid Hobbes we see in WC3 is a far cry from the bold Confederation hero we see in WC2 (it's almost as if the role of ostracised pilot shifted from Maverick to Hobbes).

... which would have been a very interesting thing for the game to point out. If the game had reminded the player that Hobbes had stuck up for Blair on the Concordia then it would have made Blair's defense of and betrayal by Hobbes all the more personal (it would have also made the players' choices in the matter less clear cut.) That's one of my biggest complaints about Wing Commander III - spectacular as it is, it's written as an entirely stand-alone story that tries to avoid referring to earlier events.

 

[Mekt-Hakkikt]

I agree with LOAF and Wedge, though I have to say, I was happy that Hobbes was in it. It was the sole real connection to the other games (Paladin, Tolwyn, Angel and the crashed Concordia did not produce an emotional connection for me) and it was possible to defend Hobbes who was the only one who wasn't a jerk. Even when replaying WC 3 and knowing that he was the traitor, I always stood up for him because Blair owed him that.

 

[Delance]

As I'm sure Delance will back me up. Primate (WC4) is *the* best wingman. He's got good stats, he listens to orders and he's funny.

I apologize for replying to a somewhat older thread, but I'd just like to say that I do agree with Dundradal.