Advisor pod
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| Advisor pod | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Faction | |
| Type | |
| Individual information | |
| Health |
N/A |
| Weapon(s) |
N/A (transport) |
| Game information | |
| Designer(s) | |
- "Look! It's one of those Advisor pods! Back in the Citadel...those things we saw..."
- ― Alyx Vance[src]
Advisor pods, also known as Combine Escape Pods[1] or Combine Pods,[1] are Combine Synth[1] vehicles designed to safely transport Combine Advisors.
Overview[edit]
Advisor pods are large white synthetic ships used by the Combine as emergency escape vessels and incubation containers[3] for Advisors. They have armored, featureless hulls bearing the Combine emblem on the dorsal surface and are marked with a registration code printed on the side, for example "314 URB-LOC 0017". In front of the Synth's thrust assembly is a hollow cavity, which can house a larval Advisor[3] wrapped in a transparent "blanket". The pod has two retractable fins which are extended in flight and can be used to close the Pod's abdominal canopy lip during launch preparations, leaving only a teal-colored viewport at the front. Though they are never seen firing any weapons, Advisor pods appear to have what resembles the "Belly Cannon" of Combine Gunships on their undersides.
Advisor Pods are first seen in Episode One in a room inside the Citadel where Gordon and Alyx witness a pod being transported up through a chute with an Advisor housed inside, while several other pods are seen stored below. At the end of the game, many pods are seen fleeing from the Citadel moments before its destruction. In Episode Two, an inactive Advisor pod is seen being transported on an Advisor Platform along with a battalion of Combine troops. A crashed Advisor pod is also seen later on outside a barn, having released its occupant several hours prior to Gordon and Alyx's arrival.[3]
Behind the scenes[edit]
In Episode Two, the developers originally used flying Advisor pods, much like how they flew from the Citadel in Episode One, to show how Advisors traveled with Combine forces. However, this gave the wrong impression that Advisor pods were self-powered flying crafts capable of being piloted around rather than simple emergency escape units. Therefore the flying element was cut and replaced with the Advisor Platform transporting an inert Advisor pod.[3]
Gallery[edit]
Early concepts.
Concept art of an early design.
Ditto, with color.
Artwork of final design.
Rear view.
Ditto.
Belly, with Advisor visible.
Stored Advisor pods in the Citadel.
Alyx is watching as an Advisor is leaving in its pod in the Citadel.
Advisor pod leaving the Citadel, with the label "314 URB-LOC 0017" visible.
Advisor pods fleeing the Citadel moments before its destruction.
Ditto.
One of the Advisor pods fleeing the Citadel.
Combine convoy en route to White Forest, escorting an Advisor pod on an Advisor Platform.
Crashed pod in the Outlands.
Bright grey Combine logo featured on its body.
List of appearances[edit]
- Half-Life 2: Episode One (First appearance)
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two
