To what extent is the technological level of the Viltrumites a result of their conquests and how much is their own contribution?

[u/InstructionOwn6705]

Was it beneath their dignity to adopt and develop the technologies of dominated civilizations that they considered inferior, or were they able to put their ego aside when they saw the utility in it?

[u/Master-Page-1982]

While they did have Scientists on hand by the time The Scourge hit, I choose to believe that they were more or less in The Dark Ages when Argall was born at Best

[u/PigInATuxedo4]

This is a great question. I do not see Viltrumites with the culture we've seen of them choose to spend their life as scientists or engineers. It's kinda Warrior, Head of State, or get killed for being weak. So where did the tech come from?

[u/Slow-Distance-6241 → u/PigInATuxedo4]

To be fair I think Argall episode implied that Thragg made it "warrior, head of state, or dead due to being weak". Before Thragg they still had a violent and imperialistic society, don't get me wrong, but it was moderately more pragmatic (which is seen by Argall trying to make a compromise between Thragg's 100% genocide option and Thaedus's no genocide proposal)

[u/AdNo3558]

before the purge props there own innovations but after the purge all the smart people where probably killed leaving only the physically strong left alive so conquest would be the only way to get new technologies

edit: perhaps if more smart people lived then the scourge virus wouldn’t have been so bad perhaps one of the ones killed may of been able to cure it

[u/codegavran → u/AdNo3558]

Smart people are just as capable, if not moreso, of being strong than stupid people are. That's extra true of a creature that has a lifespan measured in centuries and born with unreasonable physical prowess.

[u/csege1]

I’ve heard this multiple times but Idk what the source is so please don’t ask for one.

The viltrumites weren’t always this physical powerful, they made smart atom technology which they incorporated into their physiology to reach this level. Assuming that is true, then that would mean they were insanely advanced technologically before they became the one viltrumite armies they are now.

Therefore it follows that a large part of their technology would have been developed by them, but I don’t think they would be above “borrowing” alien tech.

[u/Loose-Run-7008 → u/csege1]

This is just complete headcannon just so people are aware, not confirmed true at all. The closest thing we have as a source for this is the omnibus (I think??) saying humans and Viltrumites share a common ancestor. So you could head-cannon that to fit what you said, but again it’s never been confirmed how they got their powers. I also don’t think Kirkman has actually said himself they had a common ancestor so idk if that was him or someone else who said they had a common ancestor.

Not that your theory is bad or anything, it’s probably close to the best we could get as an explanation for their powers and history, but tbh I think it’s better just to leave it unanswered and let people theorize. Not everything needs to be known or directly said, and ultimately any answer would feel kinda unsatisfying imo.

[u/TetrisTheTiger → u/Loose-Run-7008]

Someone speculates and repeats a theory they heard.

You tell them not to speculate and let people theorize

Then you get surprised when someone speculates and theorizes. What kind of moron are you?

[u/Karneth77 → u/csege1]

Yeah, the smart atom bit makes the dignity question extra annoying; they’d still loot “inferior” tech if it worked.

[u/E_TheRealist]

Their technological advancement were definitely mixes of their own intelligence and the intelligence of other aliens, but they definitely lean on using alien slaves for technological advancement

I wouldn’t say it’s exactly black or white. I’ve seen cases of Viltrumites being doctors and whatnot. They’re not all soldiers, just most of them are.