Jim Raynor: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:09, 18 July 2007

Revision as of 16:42, 18 July 2007

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{{General CVGStarCraft character|

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{{Primarysources|date=July 2007}}

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{{General CVG character

|name=Captain James Raynor|

position=Captain of ''Hyperion'', commander of Raynor's Raiders|

|image=[[Image:James Raynor.jpg|200px]]

|species=[[Terran (StarCraft)|Terran]]|

|caption={{{imagecaption|}}}

gender=[[Male]]|

|firstgame=''[[StarCraft]]''

|image=[[Image:James Raynor.jpg|200px]]|

|voiceactor=Robert Clotworthy

affiliation===[[Raynor's Raiders===]]|

|inuniverse={{StarCraft characterbox

|voiceactor=Robert Clotworthy

|species=[[Terran (StarCraft)|Terran]]

}}}}

|affiliation=[[Raynor's Raiders]]; previously [[Sons of Korhal]]

'''James Raynor''', usually referred to as '''Jim''', is one of the central [[fictional character|characters]] in the fictional ''[[StarCraft]]'' universe. He is a twenty-nine year old<ref name="manual"/> [[Terran (StarCraft)|Terran]], originally from the colony of [[Mar Sara]]. In both ''StarCraft'' and its expansion ''[[StarCraft: Brood War|Brood War]]'', Raynor is voiced by Robert Clotworthy. Raynor normally appears in-game on a vulture scavenger bike, although he has also appeared in-game as a marine unit and as the commander of the battlecruiser ''Hyperion''.

|position=Former Confederate marshal; former [[Sons of Korhal]] commander; leader of [[Raynor's Raiders]]

}}}}

'''James Raynor''', better known simply as '''Jim''' to his friends, is a [[fictional character]] in the [[StarCraft universe]]. He is a [[Terran (StarCraft)|Terran]], originally from the colony of [[Mar Sara]].

==Development and character==

In [[StarCraft]] and [[StarCraft: Brood War]], Raynor is voiced by Robert Clotworthy. He will be voiced by Robert Clotworthy again in [[StarCraft II]].

Robert Clotworthy decided to voice Raynor without raising his voice much, as Raynor was a "badass" who didn't need to be loud to be heard<ref name="Clotworthy">{{cite web|url=http://www.blizzplanet.com/content/699/|title=Interview with Robert Clotworthy at BlizzPlanet|accessdate=2007-07-11}}</ref>: if someone didn't shut up and listen to him, it was their own fault. He based this on concept art of Raynor showing him on a hoverbike and outfitted with futuristic weaponry, which gave him the impression Raynor was not someone to mess with<ref name="Clotworthy"/>. He also mentions that Raynor is willing to do the right thing, no matter how difficult it may be, such as his assertion to kill Kerrigan despite his former love for her. Such sacrifices make Raynor a hero of the truest sort in his eyes. In the event that a ''StarCraft'' movie was produced, Clotworthy believes [[Clive Owen]] would be the perfect choice to play Raynor<ref name="Clotworthy"/> due to his "being dangerous".

==Appearances==

In the Starcraft Map Editor, he appears as the hero version of the Terran Marine, Vulture and Battlecruiser.

|firstgame===''[[StarCraft]]''===

During the initial Terran campaign of ''StarCraft'', Raynor is a [[Terran Confederacy|Confederate]] marshal on Mar Sara<ref name="manual">{{cite book|language=English|chapter=Roster of Heroes|pages=p91|author=Underwood, Peter|title=StarCraft Manual|publisher=[[Blizzard Entertainment]]|date=[[1998-04-01]]}}</ref>. The early missions revolve around his attempts to protect the colony from the [[Zerg]], but he is quickly arrested for doing so<ref name="ep1m2">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#e1_2|title=Transcript of dialogue for Episode I, mission 2 at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref>. During his time in prison, the player's character makes a deal with the [[Terran Dominion|Sons of Korhal]] for evacuation. [[Arcturus Mengsk]] has his men rescue Raynor from the prison<ref name="ep1m4">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#e1_4|title=Transcript of dialogue for Episode I, mission 4 at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref>. as a sign of good faith to the colonial magistrate.

==Biography==

Relatively little is known about Raynor's past before his appearance in the game, only that he is the marshal of the colony on [[Mar Sara]] and has apparently been so for a long time, having seen and done much in the course of his duties. He was married once to a woman named Liddy, and they had a son. However, Raynor's son was lost to the Confederate Ghost Program and was killed during training, causing Raynor to develop a deep resentment towards telepaths. Liddy may have died not long thereafter; by Jim's own account, she "never recovered. She just sort of wasted away, that winter she went down with the flu. And afterwards, I threw myself into my work. Found out I liked working alone." <ref>{{cite book|title=StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade|url=http://www.blizzard.com/books/scliberty-excerpt.shtml|publisher=Pocket Books|date=[[2001-02-27]]|id=ISBN 0-671-04148-7|authorlink=Jeff Grubb|first=Jeff|last=Grubb}}</ref> However, while this does seem to strongly imply that she died, it is still somewhat ambiguous, so it is possible that Liddy (and any other family Raynor may have potentially had) were killed later, by the Zerg or the Protoss during the destruction of Mar Sara.

Later in Episode I, Raynor accompanies the Sons of Korhal to [[Antiga Prime]], where he assists in helping the colony rebel and also reluctantly takes part in ensuring [[Edmund Duke]]'s defection<ref name="ep1m6">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#e1_6|title=Transcript of dialogue for Episode I, mission 6 at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref>. During this time, Raynor meets and becomes infatuated with Mengsk's second-in-command, [[Sarah Kerrigan]]<ref name="ep1m5">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#e1_5|title=Transcript of dialogue for Episode I, mission 5 at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref>. Towards the end of Episode I, the Sons of Korhal attack the Confederate capital world [[Tarsonis]] and Mengsk abandons Kerrigan to die at the hands of the Zerg. As a result, in the final mission of Episode I, Raynor rebels and leaves Tarsonis in the company of a sizeable number of men still loyal to him<ref name="ep1m10">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#e1_10|title=Transcript of dialogue for Episode I, mission 10 at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref>. In one of the early Zerg missions, the group is given the label [[Raynor's Raiders]].

===Fall of the Confederacy===

When the player first encounters Raynor in-game, he is a 29-year-old marshal on [[Mar Sara]] who is part of its colonial militia.<ref>{{cite book|language=English|chapter=Roster of Heroes|pages=p91|author=[[Blizzard Entertainment]]|title=StarCraft Manual|publisher=[[Blizzard Entertainment]]|date=[[1998-04-01]]}}</ref> Under orders from the [[Terran Confederacy]], he escorts key colonists of Mar Sara, including the player's character of Colonial Magistrate, to the wastelands in preparation for their abandonment of planet, which is under attack by the [[Zerg]].

However, Kerrigan is not killed but is revealed to have been captured by the Zerg and taken to [[Char (StarCraft)|Char]]. In Episode II, Kerrigan calls out to Raynor for help via telepathic dreams, but by the time he arrives she has been fully [[Infested Terran|infested]] by the Zerg and proceeds to destroys Raynor's base camp, but allows him and his men to leave the planet<ref name="ep2m4">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#e2_4|title=Transcript of dialogue for Episode II, mission 4 at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref>. However, the rebels are stranded on the planet with the High Templar [[Tassadar]] and the Dark Templar [[Zeratul]]. In the middle of Episode III, a Protoss force under command of the player rescues both Raynor and Tassadar from an orbital platform. Raynor and his remaining forces later return to Aiur with a fleet loyal to Tassadar and takes part in the final mission of the game against the [[Zerg Overmind]]<ref name="ep3m10">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#e3_10|title=Transcript of dialogue for Episode III, mission 10 at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref>.

While safeguarding these colonists, he receives a distress signal from a Confederate outpost named ''Backwater Station''. [[Alpha Squadron]] General [[Edmund Duke]] tells the Colonial Magistrate not to interfere, as he will send help, but Raynor believes Duke will take too long. He takes a detachment the local militia to fight the Zerg, defeating them and destroying their [[Infested Terran|Infested Command Center]], encountering [[Michael Liberty]] in the process. The Confederacy later arrests him (ostensibly) for destroying Confederate property. Liberty later arranges for [[Arcturus Mengsk]] and his faction, the [[Sons of Korhal]] to free him from the Confederate prison ship and Raynor decides to join their cause. He persuades the colonial magistrate to ally with them as well. Raynor takes part in many battles with the Sons of Korhal against the [[Zerg]] and the [[Terran Confederacy]]. After overcoming his prejudice against telepaths he sparks a friendship with Mengsk's second-in-command, Lieutenant [[Sarah Kerrigan]], to whom he becomes strongly attracted. The actions of [[Raynor]], [[Kerrigan]] and the Colonial Magistrate, now named Commander, later rescue [[Edmund Duke|General Edmund Duke]] from his crashed flagship on [[Antiga Prime]] and help ensure that the Terran Confederacy is eventually defeated at their capital world of [[Tarsonis]].

[[Image:Easy Rider (StarCraft).jpg|thumb|right|200px|Metzen's ''"Easy Rider"'' concept art, from which Clotworthy based the personality of Raynor.]]

===''StarCraft: Brood War''===

Toward the end of ''Rebel Yell'' Mengsk leaves Kerrigan to die at the hands of the Zerg on the New Gettysburg space platform orbiting Tarsonis, causing Raynor to sever his ties with Mengsk for this cold act of indifference. He and the Commander desert the fleet, and to Raynor's surprise he is joined by a small army of his former militia and some members of the Sons of Korhal. This becomes the later "[[Raynor's Raiders]]." [[Edmund Duke]] tries to prevent them from fleeing from [[Tarsonis]] using an orbital [[Ion Cannon]], but Raynor's new forces destroy the cannon and escape. Having lost his homeworld and the support of a prominent Terran faction, he strikes out on his own. Parting ways with Michael Liberty, who also deserted Mengsk at this time, Raynor's forces raid the shipyards at [[Dylar IV]] in order to acquire long-term transport. The raid is so successful that Raynor was able to hijack Mengsk's flagship, the ''[[Hyperion (StarCraft)|Hyperion]]'', when Duke arrived with it to defend the shipyards.

Raynor makes sporadic appearances in ''Brood War'', never appearing under the player's control for any substantial amount of time. Nevertheless, Raynor's character still has a major role in the progression of the ''Brood War'' story. In the Protoss campaign, Raynor remains on [[Aiur]] with [[Fenix (StarCraft)|Fenix]] to assist the evacuation to [[Shakuras]], later locking down the [[Psionic technology (StarCraft)#Warp technology|warp gate]]<ref name="ep4m2">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#e4_2|title=Transcript of dialogue for Episode IV, mission 2 at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref> in order to prevent Zerg pursuit. During this time the two become good friends despite being different species. At some point in Episode V they are contacted by Kerrigan, who convinces them that the [[United Earth Directorate]] is a [[lesser of two evils principle|greater threat than her]]<ref name="ep6m1">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#e6_1|title=Transcript of dialogue for Episode VI, mission 1 at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref>. As a result, Raynor and Fenix kidnap Mengsk from right under the UED's fleet<ref name="ep5m5a">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#e5_5a|title=Transcript of dialogue for Episode V, mission 5a at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref> and the allied forces led by Kerrigan are successful in recapturing [[Korhal|Korhal IV]]<ref name="ep6m4">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#e6_4|title=Transcript of dialogue for Episode VI, mission 4 at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref> in the early parts of Episode VI. However, Kerrigan betrays them once the Korhal campaign is complete, killing Raynor's friend Fenix<ref name="ep6m5">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#e6_5|title=Transcript of dialogue for Episode VI, mission 5 at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref>. In his final ''Brood War'' appearance, an outraged Raynor vows that Kerrigan will die by his hands.

===Raynor's Raiders===

===Other appearances===

Whilst Raynor contemplates his next move, he is drawn to the planet [[Char (StarCraft)|Char]] by the psionic emanations of [[Sarah Kerrigan]] in the form of dreams, believing that Kerrigan may be alive and that she could be rescued. However, his forces are overrun by the Zerg under the command of the newly [[Infested Kerrigan]] and Raynor is shocked to see her alive and in this condition. Kerrigan defeats his forces, but allows Jim and the remaining survivors on the ground to flee. However, the Zerg attack both Raynor's fleet and an orbiting Dominion fleet, forcing the ''Hyperion'' to withdraw to avoid destruction and stranding Raynor's crew on Char. The sudden arrival of the [[Protoss]] destroys the remaining vessels of Raynor's fleet.

Raynor takes part in a secret mission exclusive to ''StarCraft's'' [[Nintendo 64]] version, ''Resurrection IV''<ref name="R4w">{{cite web|url=http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Resurrection_IV|title=Resurrection IV|publisher=''StarCraft'' [[Wikia]]|accessdate=2006-09-06|date=2006-08-24}}</ref>. [[Artanis]] sends Raynor with Taldarin<ref name="R4">{{cite web|url=http://www.sclegacy.com/encyclopedia/starcraft_story.php#re_2|title=Transcript of dialogue for ''Resurrection IV'' at ''StarCraft'' Legacy|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref>, a veteran Protoss dragoon, to [[Braxis]] to rescue and deinfest the resurrected [[Alexei Stukov]]. With the assistance of Stukov's former Terran allies, Stukov's humanity is restored and he leaves the planet with Raynor.

Raynor links up with the forces of [[Tassadar]] and those of [[Zeratul]] both of whom were also drawn to Char by Kerrigan's psionic emanations. At first Raynor's troops did not fight alongside the Protoss, but after the Swarm departed for Aiur he was forced to do so to survive. During this time he becomes one of the few humans to learn directly about Protoss history and culture<ref>{{cite book|title=StarCraft: Queen of Blades|publisher=Pocket Books|date=[[2006-05-23]]|id=ISBN 0-7434-7133-4|first=Aaron|last=Rosenberg}}</ref>

.

Several ''StarCraft'' novels also feature Raynor: he is a prominent character in ''[[StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade]]'', in which it is revealed that at one time Raynor had a wife and son<ref name="LibertyNovel">{{cite book|language=English|author=Grubb, Jeff|title=StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|date=[[2001]]}}</ref>. His son is conscripted for the Confederate [[Psionic technology (StarCraft)#Ghost agents|ghost program]], and the intense training costs him his life. Afterwards, Raynor's wife Liddy slips into depression and becomes sick<ref name="LibertyNovel">{{cite book|language=English|author=Grubb, Jeff|title=StarCraft: Liberty's Crusade|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|date=[[2001]]}}</ref>, wasting away and dying. In the aftermath of her death, Raynor immerses himself in his work and develops a penchant for operating alone. He is also the primary protagonist in ''[[StarCraft: Queen of Blades]]'', a novelisation of the events of ''StarCraft'' Episode II<ref name="QueenNovel">{{cite book|language=English|author=Rosenburg, Aaron|title=StarCraft: Queen of Blades|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|date=[[2006]]}}</ref>.

Eventually relief arrives as the Fleet of the Executor, accompanied by [[Aldaris]] arrives to arrest Tassadar. Despite Aldaris' contempt for Raynor, he stays close to his Protoss friend and his forces assist in retrieving Zeratul from an infested Dominion installation on Char. The ''Hyperion'' also returns, providing Raynor's crew with a means off the planet. Raynor returns with Tassadar to Aiur to assist in the war against the Zerg. Whilst on Aiur he forms a strong friendship with [[Fenix]]. At the end of Episode III, Raynor's troops are instrumental in the defeat and death of the Overmind, for which Tassadar sacrifices himself.

The tactical shooter ''[[StarCraft: Ghost]]'' was supposed to feature Raynor as Clotworthy has revealed that he was brought in to voice the character<ref name="Clotworthy"/>, but the game has been indefinately postponed and Raynor's role was never revealed. However, Raynor is confirmed to appear in ''[[StarCraft II]]''<ref name="SC2">{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/starcraft2/news.html?sid=6171172|title=Q&A session regarding ''StarCraft II''|accessdate=2007-08-11}}</ref>, and although casting has not yet taken place, Clotworthy has stated he will gladly return to voice the character if invited to do so<ref name="Clotworthy"/>.

===The threat from the UED===

The temporarily leaderless Zerg rampage over Aiur, killing 70% of its inhabitants. The Protoss make the decision to evacuate [[Aiur]] through a [[Warp Gate]] to [[Shakuras]], homeworld of the Dark Templar. Raynor and Fenix stay behind on Aiur to guard the Aiur side of the Warp Gate so that the surviving Protoss can escape. This unlikely bond between a Terran and a Protoss is one of the strongest and most enduring in the entire storyline of ''StarCraft''.

==Reception==

During Episode V, Raynor makes a brief appearance in the ''Hyperion'', backed with a Protoss support fleet, to rescue Arcturus Mengsk from being captured by the [[United Earth Directorate]] and later escapes with him through the Warp Gate on Aiur.

Gaming's Edge.com describes Raynor as "almost the prototypical action movie figure who does things his own way and to hell with the rest of the world"<ref name="GamingEdge">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamingsedge.com/viewcontent.cfm?content=35&content_type=Article&department=1|title=Jim Raynor at Gaming's Edge|accessdate=2007-07-11}}</ref>, and says that he has a "healthy dose of arrogance"<ref name="GamingEdge"/>. The site also mentions that despite the fact he is a good man, Raynor's attempts to do the right thing almost always end with him getting the poor end of the deal due to circumstances outside his control. Gaming's Edge also brings attention to the simularities between [[Tassadar]] and Raynor, often displayed through their friendship in-game<ref name="GamingEdge"/>, in that both have little interest in politics and formalities in favor of acting for the greater good.

In addition, other reviewers have praised the ''StarCraft'' characters as a whole, for instance Gamespot <ref name="gamespot">{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/starcraft/review.html|title=''StarCraft'' for PC review at Gamespot|accessdate=2007-07-18}}</ref> states that the voice acting "brings the characters to life"

At the beginning of Episode VI, Kerrigan asks him and Fenix to bring Arcturus Mengsk to her. Kerrigan deceives all three into thinking they are allied against a common enemy - the UED. Kerrigan uses them to help her destroy the UED's [[Psi Disruptor]], as well as retaking [[Korhal]] for Mengsk. Then, when Kerrigan has no more use for them, she has Fenix killed. Raynor finally realizes Kerrigan's treacherous nature, and in one of the strongest moments of the game, swears to kill her, after which he strikes out on his own again. For the rest of ''Brood War'' we see no more of Raynor, and after the final mission we are told that "James Raynor and Zeratul went their separate ways, and have not been heard from since their departure."

<nowiki>{{sect-stub}}</nowiki>

However, Raynor made an appearance in the ''StarCraft 64'' map, ''Resurrection IV'', which takes place after Brood War. ''Resurrection IV'' occurs on the world [[Braxis]]. Here, he works with [[Artanis]] and other Protoss to help capture [[Alexei Stukov]], who is now an infested Terran, and return him to human using [[nanotechnology]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Resurrection_IV|title=Resurrection IV|publisher=[[Wikia]]|accessdate=2006-09-06|date=2006-08-24}}</ref>

==PersonalityReferences==

<div class="references-small"><references /></div>

Jim Raynor seems to be very short-tempered, but generous in the whole gameplay. In the scenarios, he always tries to do the right thing, and he also breaks out from Mengsk's force because of his abandonment of Kerrigan.

<!-- Sources as of July 18 2007

* Primary sources: ref #1, #17 & #18, used for simple facts

* Secondary sources: ref #2, #19, #20 & #21, used for character development and reception

* Tertiary sources: ref #3 to #16, only used in appearances-->

==External links==

Raynor is one of the very few major Terran characters in StarCraft to be [[Goodness and evil|fundamentally good]] throughout the game . Even when he assisted Kerrigan, it was to overthrow the UED, which he suspected would enslave or kill all three races in the sector (in essence, he chose what appeared to be the [[lesser of two evils]]). Raynor is also the only known Terran closely associated with, and trusted by, the Protoss.

* [http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/Jim_Raynor Jim Raynor] at ''StarCraft'' Wikia

==Game unit==

Jim Raynor appears in [[StarCraft]] and [[StarCraft: Brood War]] in three separate units. We first see him piloting a ''Vulture'' hover cycle. He raids the ''Jacobs Installation'' as a [[Marine (StarCraft)|Marine]], and he commands the ''[[Hyperion (StarCraft)|Hyperion]]'', a [[battlecruiser (StarCraft)|battlecruiser]], during Episode III as he fights alongside the [[Protoss]].

His vulture hovercycle has 300 hit points, and does 30 points of concussive damage. The Hyperion has 850 HP and does 30 points of normal damage.

He appears in all three forms in [[StarCraft: Brood War]] as well. Although he appears throughout Brood War, he is not a playable hero during those episodes. The only exception is a brief moment during the first mission of Episode 4, when he helps Zeratul and the Khalis escape from Aiur. This is also notably the only time players can command an invincible hero.

==Trivia==

* As of [[May 26]], [[2007]], the [[Battle.net]] Web Site contains a hidden image of [[Infested Kerrigan]] saying "Help me Jim Raynor...you're my only hope!". The animated GIF image and the text can be found at the bottom of the main page. In order to reveal them the user has to click the round object above the Blizzard image. This is a reference to [[Star Wars]] specifically, [[Princess Leia]]'s message inside [[R2-D2]]. Some speculate that this may also be hinting at Raynor's role in the plot of the upcoming sequel ''[[StarCraft II]]''.

* In the 2.0.3 Patch for the Blizzard MMORPG [[World of Warcraft]], a level 70 NPC named Lord Marshal Raynor was added at the Dark Portal opening event. This is almost certainly a Blizzard self-referential cameo.

*Raynor is the only hero in the game appearing in three units (Marine, Vulture and Battlecruiser). Both Raynor's Vulture and Hyperion have slightly higher fire rates than their normal counterpart.

* Raynor is one of the characters confirmed by Chris Metzen to appear in [[Starcraft II]].

==References==

<references/>

{{StarCraft}}

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[[es:Jim Raynor]]

[[pt:PersonagensJim de StarCraftRaynor]]

[[ru:Джим Рейнор]]

[[zh:吉姆·雷诺]]