This thread is inspired by another: view original post
The exclusion of the Tigerman probably points toward the Awoken and Exo not being aliens, as the Tigerman (obviously alien, am I right, guys?) did not fit the vibe they were going for. The two that made the cut are most likely human variations, The Food Chain pointed out that the existence of aliens with similar facial features is highly unlikely.
This is a little long but almost all of it hasn't been gone over.
As ShadowSlayer218 and a few others alluded to, this is a mythic sci-fi game, the Awoken clearly represent the Elven element of this mash-up. Evidenced by the screenshot from the Destiny Character Development video, they appear to be identified with the Hunter, a ranger-esce class (note the yellow hued warm colors, and the left variant doesn't even have an exposed face).
As for the Exo, previously we couldn't see the full concept but The Exalener has provided us with a [url=http://puu.sh/2pNg2]suitable reference[/url]. That helmet doesn't appear to have enough room for a full skull, notice the back top portion appears either blown out, broken, or stylized to have a chunk missing from what would be a full head. Also notice the hands, particularly the the thumbs, where the webbing and muscle should be instead there are mechanical tendons and a blacked out gap. To me the hands appear mechanical with the legs and feet simply being armored, indicating the Exo is not fully machine.
Where does this put the Exo?
[i]outside, external, turning out, outward[/i]- medically and scientifically this term is used to prefix something that produces something else, such as energy or waste, or something that lays outside of something else.
The most prominent term we might think of is [i]exoskeleton[/i] but we know that all classes utilize some form of armor, so maybe this is an external skeletal feature or replacement that does not supplement but attaches at the end of the body as prosthesis.
With human civilization facing annihilation it could make sense for recovered casualties to be repaired and sent back into battle, their disabilities replaced with prosthetics, their damaged brains/humanity sutured and cropped (offering a more useful disability: a mental familiarity with and propensity for violence).
Or perhaps they've willingly subjected themselves to medical procedures and cybernetic alterations aimed at enhancing their [i]physical[/i] or [i]outward[/i] presence on the battlefield, whereas the Awoken (filling the role of the Elves) might have more of an intellectual/spiritual prowess, scrying abilities or mental connection to physics, or similarly, as most have proposed, a more intense magical presence.
What do you think of this speculation, it's effect on story, and the gameplay implications of this may be?
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2 Replies in this Sub-ThreadAwoken could be a branch of humans that has evolved separately to homosapiens, perhaps because of the influence of the Traveler? To me the name "Awoken" suggests that they are the result of an event. I ways imagine the Exo to be cyborgs built from dying Guardians.
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I had wondered about that, a definite possibility but Bungie has now hinted that the Awoken are alien (although this could still fit within your parameters technically I suppose). Still I too think of them as being created from an event orat least in some 'artificial' manner to be juxtaposed against the clearly artificial Exo. I have the same gut feeling about the Exo as well. Although I can't help but wonder if the Exo and Awoken mark two polar circumventions of [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_valley]the uncanny valley[/url]. Some alien intelligences, mechanical and ethereal respectively that have taken a more human form to respectfully align themselves with our cause and culture.
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