- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
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]