Offical Vortigaunt summary/guide by Stallion.

So, you want to be a Vortigaunt, do you? Maybe just interested in what a Vortigaunt is? Got news for you, you found yourself in the right spot for such knowledge.


Let’s start out with the basic basics. Vortigaunts are a sentient alien species that was taking refuge in the borderworld Xen from Combine advances on their original home world. It was their last place to hide and run from them, as their own abilities could not come to par with the Combine’s own. During the Resonance Cascade, the incident at Black Mesa caused by an unknown science team (Lambda), portals began popping up all over Xen and Earth, connecting the borderworld to Earth. Seeing this as an escape route, all of the Vortigaunts (and subsequently, other forms of life from Xen such as Headcrabs) tumbled and travelled through these portals to keep distancing themselves from the Combine.

However, this turned out to be a complete failure, as you can plainly see. Thanks to the Resonance Cascade, the Combine have not only cornered the Vortigaunts, but discovered Earth and its inhabitants the humans. Enslavement happened, and here we are today.


Vortigaunts are a highly intellectual species that is, in a sense, superior to the human’s own brain power. They control a natural force called the Vortessence, an aura that envelopes anything that is alive. It is said that humans also hold Vortessence energy, however they lack the knowledge and ability to use it. This power can be used to heal wounds rapidly, create telepathic links with other Vortessence users, and even create a bolt of life-force sapping lightning that directly saps away another life forms strength. However, this is not as powerful as it looks.

Vortigaunts alone cannot do everything. Their powers are significantly weaker than weapons made by humans (and the Combine, obviously), and their healing powers as well are not a very big eye brow raiser. In order to significantly increase their Vortessence strength, it will take time and practice, but the only way to pull off very powerful feats is by combining their Vortessence strength with others (such as, lets say, reviving a near-dead Resistance figure). They rely heavily on cooperation with each other when it comes to using this power.

They can also, when one of the group does such, consume the larvae of the exogen species Antlions to amplify their powers tremendously. As such, as stated above in the example, such things as reviving a near dead figure are possible with teamwork, effort, and time. Vortigaunts are very powerful creatures when combined together with others, but even they cannot stop the Combine alone. This puts into perspective how powerful the Combine can be, and has even put most Vortigaunts into a state of depression and a loss of hope.


To answer this simple question, I will list out a sort of “ranking” system the Vortigaunts have in their culture. Vortigaunts organize themselves into “clans”, or families and add the clan name to the suffix of their birth given name. For instance, Nak’To’Ran, a free Vortigaunt, is a member of the Ran clan.

The ranking system is based off the belief of filial piety. Respect your elders. Older, and more experienced Vortigaunts are more respected and are generally leaders of the clan itself. Other than that, all Vortigaunts are treated the same way throughout the clan. Premature Vortigaunts, however, are considered as a “priority”, and are the most protected members of the clan. This is why almost all of the time you will never see a baby Vortigaunt walking around, as they are locked up tighter than the Citadel in City 17. (exaggeration)


Vortigaunts are, best case scenario, captured by units of Overwatch in the field and transported to Cities requesting them. They are equipped with special Bio-locked collars that suppress their innate ability to use the Vortessence, as communication with other Vortigaunts and the use of their power is prohibited by law (they can be used as weapons, obviously. Gotta lock ‘em up.)

Vortigaunts are not allowed the same rights as human civilians. They are usually locked up in the local Nexus of the district, and are only allowed to leave when accompanied by an MPF unit of the district. Their jobs are, simply, to clean up the city. They are all used as janitors almost all of the time, sweeping up the streets or cleaning the windows of the Nexus, maybe even shining the boots of MPF units. They are mostly not allowed to speak unless it is on their own time, or a unit is talking to them and expecting an answer.

Most Vortigaunts, especially the senior residents, lose any hope of ever gaining freedom from their shackles of the Nexus and Combine control. They are, when not needed, usually either let to roam a certain area of the Nexus or, if the units there are exceptionally nasty, locked in a holding cell. No one is allowed to leave, as such an attempt is punishable by severe punishment or death. Most Vortigaunts live and die in the Nexus, never to see anything other than the oppressive eyes watching them and the flickering street lights along the sidewalk with the ever present hum of an active stun baton following close behind.


The Resistance cells in the area are really an imprisoned Vortigaunts only hope of freedom. They have in the past staged muggings on MPF units who are patrolling sketchy areas of the city to rescue some as Vortigaunts are an extremely valuable asset thanks to their power. Some, if their ballsy enough, even break into the Nexus itself to create a prison break. However, the likelihood of this ever happening is very slim. Vortigaunts are usually on their own, and their brief time outside gives them very little time to seek assistance or find a person they could trust. Only the cunning could ever have a chance of escaping.


Not at all! I can speak from experience that such roleplay is very fun when you have a good unit on with you. It can cause some interesting RP’s, and the mentality and speech habits of Vortigaunts are unique in their own way. They speak as though they are professional philosophers, in a sense, and with a bit of work can even play some mind games with people that are quite amusing. Really, the RP is based around your level of skill in Passive RP, and whether or not the unit that is with you is someone who is genuinely interested in giving out some unique encounters with the Vortigaunt. (You hear that CP’s out there? Give some Vortigaunts love every once in a while! Make them clean your boots or something!)

Being a Vortigaunt can be very challenging, but it is all worth it in the end. Maybe you could eventually escape and get to the canals where you are marginally safer, maybe even find some resistance members. Maybe if you aren’t that lucky, you can befriend some units when no one is watching and cause some in-rank drama with the units superiors about biotic sympathy. Maybe you can sneak into the Nexus bathroom and replace all the toliet paper with the paper towels they always throw your way when you clean. That will show them! Then get beaten into a pulp when they find out. Worth it. The possibilities are endless.


Vortigaunts are a unique faction (or race rather) to play as in the HL2RP universe. With the right ideas and smart RP, you too can become an excellent RP master. You need to be, however, already adept at RP in order to roleplay as a Vortigaunt correctly. Fear RP. Proper grammar. In depth /me’s (doesn’t have to be walls of text, man. Get creative). Throw in some patience and you’ve got yourself the skills needed to succeed. Get out there and make me proud, you magnificent person.

Amazing guide. I love it. Sticky'd because this is great.