Goliath

The goliath combat walker is a terran one-man all-terrain combat walker used to support marine forces.

Overview
The Confederacy placed goliaths in the Confederate Armored Vehicle Corps, pilots requiring a PEB (Preferred Experience Base) of six months combat experience to be trained in their use. Not that goliaths were entirely confined to a single corps however, being found within many Confederate units and often attached to mechanized infantry. As such, goliaths became well known throughout the Koprulu Sector. Their armor renders them quite resiliant to small arms fire and even fragmentation grenades, though their cockpits are vulnerable to missiles. Their fronts are protected by a plexishield.

With reverse-jointed legs, the twelve-foot tall goliath features all-terrain maneuverability and a computer-based heavy weapons system. The goliath is equally adept at providing both ground level and anti-air support. Goliath armament consists of twin anti-armor 30mm smoothbore autocannons on the arms which fire explosive shells and Hellfire-AA scatter missiles. As such, while goliaths are primarily used against aerial targets, they still pose a great threat to infantry. Goliaths were further upgraded with the arrival of the United Earth Directorate in the Koprulu Sector. With improved propulsion technologies via Charon Boosters and upgrades to existing targeting system software, the goliath's range via its Hellfire missiles was increased dramatically. UED goliaths featured a large machine-gun attached to the lower torso and missile racks on the "shoulders". This design was adopted by the Dominion. Many goliaths are equipped with three guns, one on each arm and one between the "legs".

To control a goliath, the pilot strapped themself into a "cradle" which enabled the goliath to mimic their movements by passing instructions through the onboard computer. The process took practice to get used to it. Some commands (such as moving the arms up and down) could be uttered by voice.

History
The goliath was originally manufactured by LarsCorp Technologies for the Kel-Morian Combine. The Combine was using it by 2480.

The goliath was intended for the infantry support role, especially in urban environments. The walker became widespread throughout the Koprulu Sector when the blueprints were stolen by corporate spies and sold to Confederate interests. The Confederacy was using goliaths by 2485 at the Battle of Noranda Glacier on Onuru Sigma, which began the Guild Wars.

Unfortunatly for the goliath, the Brood War revealed critical weaknesses in terran anti-air capability. Wraith combat fighters and Valkyrie missile frigates proved to be an unwieldy combination against agile zerg airborne organisms, while ground-based anti-air support from the goliath was too limited in its mobility: all too often airborne attackers would simply move out of the goliath's range and find less well-defended targets to destroy. As such, terran technicians developed the Viking as the solution to this lack of flexibility.

The Dominion Armed Forces and LarsCorp retained goliaths for a period after the Brood War. . By the Second Great War, the Dominion had replaced them with vikings, but they were retained by other forces. One variant in service had four cannon.

StarCraft
Goliaths are best suited for the anti-air role, especially against large-sized air units. In StarCraft: Brood War, Charon Boosters allows it to outrange even guardians. The goliath's ground attack is less impressive for its cost; compared to two or three that deal more damage, the goliath trades firepower for staying power. Goliaths are large, but only take up two slots in a dropship or other transport vessel. It is also suitable for medium ground support with marines and firebats against larger units. Goliaths with Charon Boosters can be used as mobile missile turrets in bases.

Groups of goliaths are used by terran players when the opponent focuses heavily on aerial units. Given their role as anti-air units, goliaths are effective against virtually all air units save for small-sized air units such as mutalisks, scourges and observers, but when paired with marines, this becomes less of a problem. Goliaths are ideal for backing down capital ship fleets if in significant numbers.

Quotations

 * See: Goliath Quotations

Development
Goliaths appeared and functioned much the same in the StarCraft beta as they did in StarCraft proper. However, their weaponry consisted of chainguns and scatter missiles instead of autocannons and Hellfire missiles.

StarCraft: Ghost
Goliaths were set to appear in StarCraft: Ghost. Nova could pilot them.

StarCraft II
For all intents and purposes, goliaths have been replaced by the Viking.

However, Raynor's Raiders are still able to gain access to them in the game's terran campaign, Wings of Liberty, being unlocked by playing the mission Welcome to the Jungle, available after Rory Swann got their schematics for Raynor's Raiders.

Known Goliath Pilots

 * "The Commander"
 * Lieutenant Tsuname
 * Sergeant Wynn
 * Alan Schezar
 * Skullder Unit 001 pilot

Goliath Variants

 * Cerberus Goliath
 * Defense Robot
 * "Iron Golem" Goliath
 * New Dresdin Elite Guard
 * Skullder series
 * Skullder Unit 001
 * Skullder Unit 004
 * Spartan Company goliaths
 * War Goliath

Trivia
The goliath quotes several lines used by the ED 209, a robotic antagonist in the RoboCop series, such as "MilSpeck ED-209 online".

The goliath portrait in StarCraft II is based on Brian Sousa.

The StarCraft II Galaxy Map Editor contains additional goliath skins.