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Author Topic:   Monoliths

NotLikeTea posted 02-13-99 02:11 PM ET
Just played the demo so far...
Are the monoliths ever actually explained?
Why are they there? Who built them? How do they work?
KJohnstone posted 02-13-99 02:22 PM ET
Go watch "2001: A Space Odyssey" and this will film will not answer your question
Rafael posted 02-13-99 02:29 PM ET
why give such necrotic information Kjohnstone
The monoliths upgrade your units skill level sometimes.
sometimes they have no function.
these are the only to behaviors i've seen these structures exhibit
KJohnstone posted 02-13-99 02:39 PM ET
Um, I meant to answer not what do they DO, but who built them... where did they come from? That's why I suggest watching "2001," so one can ask those questions better, but not answer. Figured NLT would move a unit on the monolith eventually anyway. Touch the monolith, monkey rover, so smooth, so smooth.

Imran Siddiqui posted 02-13-99 07:25 PM ET
Or you can read the book "2001, a space oddessey". Great book, and it's sequals 2010, and 2030.
Imran Siddiqui
KJohnstone posted 02-13-99 07:34 PM ET
I did read those, but the later books spoil everything about what makes the film great. 2010 seemed more like Clarke's, "This is what everything meant that wasn't explained in the movie."
Of course, Kubrick had an entirely different vision of the monoliths and what they really represented, so those books have to be taken with a grain of salt. I thought 2030 was much better than 2010, yet Clarke's explanation of the monolith's as super computers that can be taken down by a human-computer virus seemed a little silly (like Independence Day), deflates all the mysticism too. Clarke hates the mysticism yet Kubrick loves it, can only wonder how Kubrick's sequels would've have approached the monoliths (though he'd never make sequels).
DragonReborn posted 02-13-99 08:17 PM ET
in answer to the original question.. the monoliths are never explained. i think maybe you have to wait for smacII or whatever the sequel will be. Although when i built the universal translator it did seem to feature the monoliths in the movie.
PersonaNonGrata posted 02-13-99 09:54 PM ET
Monoliths:
upgrade your units' morale.
repair your unit
gives 2/2/2 (nutrients, energy, mineral) if your base is within range
has limited no. of usage before it's gone.
I think they're just built by ancient alien settlers who unfortunately, didn't fare so well with the mindworms.
eNo posted 02-13-99 10:03 PM ET
how many times can you use a monolith anyways? and can you pull down the ruins by exausting them?
Shadow posted 02-13-99 10:42 PM ET
Guys, as far as I can remember the sequence goes 2001, 2010, 2061, and 3001.
The published version wasa beeing written at the same time as the movie and to quote ACC:- "...was probably the most expensive way to write a book ever devised..." as ACC would look at the rushes of the days filming and adjust the book to fit.
Shadow
Spig posted 02-14-99 10:08 AM ET
Even when you've exhausted a monolith, it doesn't disintegrate. (Well not in the demo)
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Author	Topic: Monoliths
NotLikeTea	posted 02-13-99 02:11 PM ET Just played the demo so far... Are the monoliths ever actually explained? Why are they there? Who built them? How do they work?
KJohnstone	posted 02-13-99 02:22 PM ET Go watch "2001: A Space Odyssey" and this will film will not answer your question
Rafael	posted 02-13-99 02:29 PM ET why give such necrotic information Kjohnstone The monoliths upgrade your units skill level sometimes. sometimes they have no function. these are the only to behaviors i've seen these structures exhibit
KJohnstone	posted 02-13-99 02:39 PM ET Um, I meant to answer not what do they DO, but who built them... where did they come from? That's why I suggest watching "2001," so one can ask those questions better, but not answer. Figured NLT would move a unit on the monolith eventually anyway. Touch the monolith, monkey rover, so smooth, so smooth.
Imran Siddiqui	posted 02-13-99 07:25 PM ET Or you can read the book "2001, a space oddessey". Great book, and it's sequals 2010, and 2030. Imran Siddiqui
KJohnstone	posted 02-13-99 07:34 PM ET I did read those, but the later books spoil everything about what makes the film great. 2010 seemed more like Clarke's, "This is what everything meant that wasn't explained in the movie." Of course, Kubrick had an entirely different vision of the monoliths and what they really represented, so those books have to be taken with a grain of salt. I thought 2030 was much better than 2010, yet Clarke's explanation of the monolith's as super computers that can be taken down by a human-computer virus seemed a little silly (like Independence Day), deflates all the mysticism too. Clarke hates the mysticism yet Kubrick loves it, can only wonder how Kubrick's sequels would've have approached the monoliths (though he'd never make sequels).
DragonReborn	posted 02-13-99 08:17 PM ET in answer to the original question.. the monoliths are never explained. i think maybe you have to wait for smacII or whatever the sequel will be. Although when i built the universal translator it did seem to feature the monoliths in the movie.
PersonaNonGrata	posted 02-13-99 09:54 PM ET Monoliths: upgrade your units' morale. repair your unit gives 2/2/2 (nutrients, energy, mineral) if your base is within range has limited no. of usage before it's gone. I think they're just built by ancient alien settlers who unfortunately, didn't fare so well with the mindworms.
eNo	posted 02-13-99 10:03 PM ET how many times can you use a monolith anyways? and can you pull down the ruins by exausting them?
Shadow	posted 02-13-99 10:42 PM ET Guys, as far as I can remember the sequence goes 2001, 2010, 2061, and 3001. The published version wasa beeing written at the same time as the movie and to quote ACC:- "...was probably the most expensive way to write a book ever devised..." as ACC would look at the rushes of the days filming and adjust the book to fit. Shadow
Spig	posted 02-14-99 10:08 AM ET Even when you've exhausted a monolith, it doesn't disintegrate. (Well not in the demo)