*Psi and chi - are these two different things or, as Adiran suggested, 

are

they related in some way?
The impression I get from

most sources is that they are different.

I would say that Psi, as was said earlier, comes from without.  The 

Protoss

have to build a network of Psi Pylons in order for their units and 

buildings

to function properly, and in the manual it is said that this psi energy 

is

pretty much imported from the Protoss homeword.

	'Kay, people, that's one point laid to rest.

  Actually, wasn't it that the Khaydarin crystals (that pylons are made 
of, btw) attuned to the right resonance field and projected psi across a 
certain radius around it? Psi seems a bit more of an internal rather 
than an external; I mean, look at Kerrigan and any other ghost, as they 
tap their powers from themselves (although the ghosts have psionic 
inhibitors implanted in them, so that doesn't help them; Kerrigan, on 
the other hand, had hers removed after becoming infested and can throw 
psi storms). Templars are the only protoss that can throw psi storms 
because their minds are 'properly attuned' (for lack of a better term), 
and all protoss are psionic (correct me if I'm wrong, but they can 
communicate telepathically, right? If psi were an external force, then 
the protoss shouldn't be able to do this).
  And, btw, protoss units' shields don't need pylons to function; they 
just need themselves. Their technology is such that machines can 
'harness' psi. 

*Protoss e-shields - just remember, are the Protoss _really_ going to 

leave

you alone while you're

poundin' on the things?

  No. 

power balancer if you feel it is nessecary.  My personal take is that 

the

shielding on most Protoss units is roughly as strong as their armor, so 

if

you just treat it as extra armor (that regenerates) and stop thinking 

of it

as a supernatural/supertech phenomenon then it may be easier to think
through.

  Actually, shields are weaker than armor. You just can't beat physical 
protection, I suppose :)

	And how's this for an idea?  Many have speculated that Gosunkigi has 

latent spellcasting ability... what if it turns out to be latent psionic 
ability, something that sufficiently interests the Protoss that they 
'adopt' him into the Conoclave.  Definitely one of those long-term 
plots, but it has potential; what do you think?

  The protoss certainly didn't care about the Terran ghosts, so why 
should they care about Gos? 

*Reaction times - my impression is that the Nerimites will be pretty 

evenly

matched against the smaller

Zerg combat breeds (Hydralisks), and come up short against the 

Zerglings.

  Hydralisks a 'smaller Zerg combat breed?' 

Larger things such as

Defilers (whose 'plague' doesn't kill outright, but weakens horribly) 

and

  First of all, defilers are pretty puny suckers (they're only as large 
as hydras, which are about twice the size of man and halfway between 
mansized zerglings and giant ultralisks). Second, I think plague could 
bring in some interesting plot devices, especially if one of the 
Nerimites gets plagued.... 

Agreed here -- one thing I'd like to point out is that with the type of
attack the Zergling uses it would probably be a one shot kill deal 

against

any un-armored human.  

  Of course, now it's a contest between who gets off the first shot 
first. While Kuno isn't nearly as fast as Ranma, he attacks VERY 
quickly, so I would imagine the zerglings spurting blood first. 

Well trained chi users like Ranma may be able to form
a sort of 'explosive chi defense' to divert the damage, and by 

explosive I

mean they trigger a directed burst of chi from the area of their body 

to be

hit at the Zergling's 'arm-claw thingy'  I guess it depends on  whether 

you

think it would be more effective for him to try and dodge or to trigger 

an

attack, and also on your interpretation of how long it takes Ranma to
channel that kind of power.  

  More likely dodge. You can do that almost forever, but not chi blasts. 

I dont see the Ultralisk as a threat because it
wouldnt be able to hit most of Team Ranma, so all of that firepower 

would be

wasted.  It would, however, scare the hell out of just about anyone.

  Probably just stepping on someone would be enough :)

	While the idea of Akane becoming Zergling fodder has its own 
amusement value, the best motivator would probably be enlightened 
self-interest.  When you think about it, there's nothing heroic about 
fighting for one's own survival...  

  Plague-spray Akane at the get-go (a defiler is with the initial drop 
group, but, along with the other zerg, die), which would take her out 
for probably a week before she can do something, which in turn would 
have all of Akane's defenders (Ranma, Ryoga, Kuno, etc.) trying to keep 
the zerg away... all the while trying to figure out what's going on 
(perhaps that's what the others are doing). The others find out, come 
back (but not before one or two of them die...), and Akane recovers, and 
the gang tries to stop the zerg from whatever they're doing on Earth. 

Besides, if she dies at the word 
'go' we don't get to see the formation of the only Terran Archon on 
record.

  I don't think I like the sound of that.... 

"That's my story and I'm sticking to it."--JMS, creator of Babylon 5. 
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die."--Kosh, Babylon 5.
"Understanding is a three-edged sword."--Kosh, Babylon 5. 
"Never show your hand until the end."--me, being profound. 

--Razorclaw X

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