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  • Subject: My interpretation of covenant personalities
Subject: My interpretation of covenant personalities
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After playing Halo way to much I noticed that the covenant's personalities are really evident based on their movements, reactions and tactics. I know this seems obvious, but what I'm specifically talking about is the fact that when I engage covenant my tactics and strategy are based on my knowledge of the particular personality of an enemy, rather than its programmed AI. Anway, having not read any of the books, I thought I'd speculate on the reasons behind each of the covenants personalities.

Elites: Most probably my favourite bird in the covenant flock, these guys I would liken to Uruk-Hai in their mentality. They would have been brought up, trained and made to be convinced of their own superiority. Given that their race is one of the heads of the Covenant coalition (ie, they're one of its organisers), it would make sense that their culture is extremely militant. At a young age, Elites are probably adopted into military care. However, unlike human military, they are most likely not taught military theory, physical training would be of paramount importance. Readying their bodies for integration with their armour and shield systems. I imagine that, given the pains the MC goes through to be ready for MJOLNIR armour integration, it would also be no kettle of fish for the Elites. Given their natural stregnth, and the enhancement of its physical capablities through training, it would probably be an easier process for the Elites than a Spartan, hence the large number of elites with shield armour.

Battlefield tactics would come last on an Elites training schedule, and would probably focus on how best to utilize their stregnth. Throughout this entire process the Elites would develop a sense of invincibility, something their commanders would nurture and support. I'm basing this one the Elite's tendancy for close combat and the frustration, and almost disbelief, it displays when confronted with a situation its unsure about. Thier ducking and manouvering shows a competent tactitional intellect. However this intellect is clouded by its self assurance, when an elite lunges a mele attack at you, its as if it is sure it will hit you, their is no other outcome in its mind. When you move out of the way, it's slow reaction speed is an indicator of it's disbeleif, it was simply not prepared to deal with the consequences if it missed. The classic 'Yaaaaaaaargh' hissy-fit an Elite pulls is further evidence of the creature's limited scope when entering into a combat situation. It will win, that is assured in an Elite's mind, and that is its weakness, an inaptitude for adaptation and change.

This kind of personality applies essentially to all style of Elite warriors. They all display the same unrelenting self assurance and frustration at out of control situations.

Grunts: Ah, good ol' Grunts. Their personality isn't really hard to pin down, they ooze it. In fact, all these little dudes have is personality. Carrying their life-support backpacks, it is obvious that Grunts wouldn't like to be there in the thick of battle, at the receiving end of your fist. Under the right circumstances, the Grunts could very well be fighting on the side of humans. If we had gotten to their home planet before the Covenant, thrown our wieght around and bullied them into alliegance, the little troopers could have very well been on our side (they would have been a little more help than marines in certain circumstances).

Alas, it is not so, and instead we're left bludgening the skulls of the poor guys, as they flee with arms flailing and vocal chords screeching. Grunt culture is most likely very similar to humans, with personality being different depending on the individual. It is possible that at one stage Grunts were a very peaceful people, but circumstance changed that. Given their timidness it can be assumed that prior to their covenant assimilation the Grunts did not engage in war often. They place value on their own life, and even the lives of their fellow Grunts (alerting them to danger etc). Their 'victory' taunts after killing you can be attributed to adrenaline and the pure shock that they actually killed you, not a preconceived bloodlust.

Suprisingly, the Grunts are relatively strong for their size. Brandishing weaponry and equipment that probably wieghs the same as they do, their stregnth is often underestimated, due to how quickly they go down. But look at it this way, how fast does an elite go down once its shield is gone? A hunter, without its armour plating, would go down in a single shot. Grunts have got their wits and luck to protect them, nothing else. Indeed, Grunts are the unsung heros of the Covenant force, and without them the alien collective would be vunerable....(Grunt to be cont)

anyway, more soon if anyones enjoying this (btw this entire post is to encourage debate and discussion regarding the covenant, so feel free to voice your own guess as to why they are the way they are).

[Edited on 4/23/2004 8:15:00 PM]

  • 04.23.2004 8:11 PM PDT
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Wow, thats a really good obsevation of the Covenant species personalities, especially for not having read the books. I would agree with almost everything you've stated so far, good job.

  • 04.23.2004 8:40 PM PDT
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How long did it take you to type that?

  • 04.23.2004 8:47 PM PDT
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Other than the mentioning the tenacity and real strength of the Grunts, the true zeal of all Covenant, the normally total badass attitudes of the Jackals, and the fact that they are as tough on Legendary as they are in the books(and in real life, if Halo were real) I'd say you did a very good job. Now read the books (not the Flood) and enjoy!

  • 04.23.2004 8:48 PM PDT
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  • still hates toast

Very interesting post man. I wish people posted more stuff like this, heh.

  • 04.23.2004 8:51 PM PDT
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Excellent analysis, absolutely spot-on. Although I kind of already knew this, it's good to see that others actually care about their enemies' personalities and not just their weak spots.

It would be awesome to see some renegade Elites in Halo 2 that help you out, perhaps ones who are overwhelmed by the Flood and need your assistance to live - but who would shoot you in the back as soon as you're out.

  • 04.23.2004 8:54 PM PDT
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You should read The flood you could lurn more about elites and grunts.
I noticed that you didn't talk about the hunters ^^ lol
hunter:well they just want to kill evrything that moves.

  • 04.23.2004 9:04 PM PDT
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I disagree on the elites. I think they're more like the commanders than straight up warriors. They seem to be excellent tacticians, telling comrades what to do and where to go. They are stong, but I think the brutes will turn out to be the fighting machines, the brute force of the covanent.

  • 04.23.2004 10:06 PM PDT
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How long did it take you to type that?
Not very long, as you can see by the amount of spelling mistakes. You'd be suprised what you feel like doing after finishing your mid-year HSC exams (Australian).

And Kepp, I do agree that Elites are rallying points for Covenant troops, but whether they're trained to utilize this im not sure, and personally, doubt. Since Halo 1 was kind of an odd combat engagement, im not sure how the Covenant would act as an actual army. Because occasionally they seem to organise in squads with varying species, but this just could be coincidence and not a conscious strategy.

  • 04.24.2004 2:51 AM PDT