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This topic has moved here: Subject: Theories: Why do you think the Rookie doesn't speak?
  • Subject: Theories: Why do you think the Rookie doesn't speak?
Subject: Theories: Why do you think the Rookie doesn't speak?
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Becuase he's anti-social?

  • 08.18.2009 11:55 PM PDT
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Posted by: opogjijijp
Probably the same useless stupid lazy bull-blam!- that Bungie has done in their prev ious games(as as valve): So YOU can be the protoganist.

It's completely -blam!- stupid, because I know I'm not the protagonist, and having them not speak is far more immersion breaking that having them speak. I'm perfectly capable of being immersed in stories written from a limited first person perspective, there's no good reason for the silent protagonist thing. So I'll go by my personal canon, and say that he's mute.

In reality, It's nothing more than lazy storytelling. They don't need to write an actual character! Why take the effort when an empty shell like Gordon Freeman will do? It also saves times and money, because they don't need to hire a voice actor, record the dialog, and put it in game. So I guess it is more than lazy storytelling. It's lazy storytelling that saves money.


Spot on. Nintendo does this all the time too with everything from Zelda to Pokemon. A lot of RPG characters as well, most noteably Final Fantasy 7's Cloud. Master Chief is also almost a silent protagonist, he only has like a dozen lines throughout 3 games, so the same applies to him as well.

At least they didn't give the Rookie amnesia.

  • 08.19.2009 12:07 AM PDT

The reason is simply so we can do exactly what you've all done -- attribute his personality to something you understand and agree with on some level. The less we know about him, the more we build up our speculations on whom this F.N.G. is in our minds.

I believe he doesn't speak because Bungie decided that to emphasize your position as a character in the game, you cannot be made to speak when you wouldn't.

  • 08.19.2009 12:35 AM PDT

I like to derp and stuff. I have a YouTube channel~

Derp

For story purposes, his entire family was killed (whether it be by Covenant or not, who cares!) so he exacts his revenge during battle...or something lame like that.

But in all actuality, it's a clever plot device game developers use to make a character easier for the gaming audience to relate to and feel like they're in the game. Same reason why we won't see his face. I betcha.


Orrrrr, he was the awkward kid at Lunar High, and everyone called him lame for not wanting to talk, as well as wearing a helmet all the time. As soon as he graduated, he joined the marines, where he was promptly made fun of for the same reason...then became badass and unfortunate enough to be in Buck's squad...which is Dare's squad.

[Edited on 08.19.2009 1:03 AM PDT]

  • 08.19.2009 1:00 AM PDT

I just wasted a few seconds of your life and you're never getting them back!

Game-wise: because we're used to a protagonist who doesnt make cliched, annoying comments while we kill stuff...(I'm looking right at you, RE5)

Story-wise: Because he admires the Chief so much he decided to take after him...(???)

[Edited on 08.19.2009 2:01 AM PDT]

  • 08.19.2009 1:59 AM PDT
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We've known since December 2008. Its because we're jumping into multiple characters with distinct personalities and faces.

  • 08.19.2009 2:00 AM PDT
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Because he dont have a mic :D

  • 08.19.2009 2:05 AM PDT
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my gt is Godzillla....i just didnt link it properly

Posted by: KLASS
maybe he wants to be the strong silent type....

cuz ya know ...this is one of those times where that counts

  • 08.19.2009 2:06 AM PDT
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lol haha

  • 08.19.2009 2:09 AM PDT

cos the rookies badass. and behind his mask hes got a cigar and an eyepatch. Xl

  • 08.19.2009 2:11 AM PDT

Romeo raped him in the butt with the sniper rifle and told him not to say anything again

  • 08.19.2009 2:15 AM PDT

Recruiting for UNAF/United Nations Assault Forces, Message me on here or on Xbox LIVE or check out our Group page here on Bungie.net.
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Elites are better than Spartans, deal with it, and Armour Lock is fine.

i think its cuz bungie wants you to imagine that its really YOU when you play as the rookie. i mean, a game is always more fun when it feels like your the mai character. thats also why chief never takes off his helmet or you never see or hear the main character in the call of duty games.
.....But whats the chance of you're name being Soap?
Anyway all the characters have names meaning...There not you.
Thats why his names...The Rookie and not New Guy Bill.


[Edited on 08.19.2009 2:34 AM PDT]

  • 08.19.2009 2:33 AM PDT

Mike Lowery: [singing] Bad boys, bad boys what ya gonna do? What ya gonna do when we come for you?
[Marcus starts ad-libbing the first verse]
Mike Lowery: Dude, you gotta learn the words.
Marcus Burnett: We usually only do the chorus

okay hes a rookie
hes in a highly skilled team of ODSTs
perhaps he feels unwelcome and so keeps himself to himself
or perhaps he was hurt in battle and now cant speak

  • 08.19.2009 2:59 AM PDT
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I WARNED YOU ABOUT STAIRS BRO!!!

I TOLD YOU DOG!

I TOLD YOU MAN

I TOLD YOU ABOUT STAIRS

It's obvious that he's actually Gordon Freeman. Duh.

  • 08.19.2009 4:07 AM PDT

Posted by: A Ghost of Blue
It is to dee-pesonalize him, they want to really get across the point that YOU are The Rookie.

  • 08.19.2009 4:54 AM PDT

Still waiting for my steak Luke... Still waiting...

I'm gonna have to go with purposeful characterisation. The character becomes an enigma to the viewer perhaps generating more interest, by way of making people make forums about why he doesn't speak....0.0

[Edited on 08.19.2009 4:55 AM PDT]

  • 08.19.2009 4:54 AM PDT

Still waiting for my steak Luke... Still waiting...

Posted by: Halo 2 Rookie

I believe he doesn't speak because Bungie decided that to emphasize your position as a character in the game, you cannot be made to speak when you wouldn't.


He gets to be silent whilst i'm thinking about the profane words that would come out of my mouth if I was ever in such a bizarre situation.

  • 08.19.2009 5:00 AM PDT

maybe he wants to be the strong silent type...

LOL ... I thought the same too

  • 08.19.2009 5:02 AM PDT

I agree that cliche lines are the worst, but story-wise, if the script was well written, I'm sure talking wouldn't be a bad thing, hell, I could even see dialog trees.

"Chief, head down to the barracks"
A) Why? What's in the barracks?
B) Walk away

Just a rough, non-well written dialog tree. I'm sure I could come up with more options if I tried, but whatever.

  • 08.19.2009 5:09 AM PDT

-"Two men enter, the better man leaves. The lesser man is respawning, and that's Halo."

Posted by: A158SPARTAN
He could be mute


Can you join the army if you're mute?

  • 08.19.2009 5:11 AM PDT

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Posted by: KLASS
maybe he wants to be the strong silent type....


Ladies love the strong silent type. Bow chika bow wow

  • 08.19.2009 5:15 AM PDT

Rule 6: Respect the Admins

“It’s their website, and they can do whatever the hell they like with it. You’re a guest, and hassling them about how they run things is akin to going round your Auntie’s house and curling one out in her tea-pot.”

Posted by: HaloSavesMyDay
Posted by: A158SPARTAN
He could be mute


Can you join the army if you're mute?


Yes, yes you can. That's one advantage to knowing hand signals. It wouldn't hurt too much if a sniper was mute sunce they have to be stealthy anyways.

[Edited on 08.19.2009 5:16 AM PDT]

  • 08.19.2009 5:15 AM PDT

Posted by: Timmzy27
if he doesn't say a thing through the entire game, and i mean one word, then i would say he doesn't have a voice actor but then who cares


maybe they got a actor to do the sound for when the rookie gets hurts lol

what wrongs with not talkin lol Gordon Freemen never speaks in Half - life 2

  • 08.19.2009 5:19 AM PDT
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Total random guess- he could be a spartan-I (see Sgt. Johnson) who was injured (shot in throat) and moved to ODST once he recovered and the ORION project was shut down.

EDIT: This could also explain why his name is classified and why the new guy outranks the veteren Mickey.

[Edited on 08.19.2009 6:11 AM PDT]

  • 08.19.2009 6:09 AM PDT