Borg
by Quvmoh


Class: Necromancer
Tag: None, but name should reflect a Borg designation number.

Introduction

Learn of the Borg from this information node.

Rules

  1. A Borg cannot use anything that has not been assimilated.
  2. A Borg cannot use anything of lesser quality, for it will inhibit perfection. - No crude, cracked, etc.
  3. A Borg cannot interact with unassimilated townsfolk.

Items

Before I go into detail about items, there are few things that the player needs to keep in mind. First, the highest quality item is preferred. Second, socketed items are preferred over any other item. Third, magical prefixes and suffixes are allowable only if it can be recreated by inserting runes, gems, and jewels into an item. Magical prefixes and suffixes can be used only if the proper rune, gem, or jewel has been assimilated. For example, if a chipped diamond has been assimilated, then magical modifiers that add to resist all in shields can be used. However, you cannot have a shield that gives resistance to just fire unless a ruby has been assimilated, even if a diamond has been assimilated.

Armor/Helm/Shields
- Blocking Techniques (2 x 2 inventory space Shields)
- Borg Epidermal Layers (Armor)
- Neural Processor (Socketed Helm w/ at least a chipped gem)
- Gem can be any grade and any type

Weapons
- Probe Injectors (Dagger Class Weapons)
- Arm Extensions and Attachments (Mace Class Weapons and Wands)

Borg Upgrade Installation Components
- Gems, Runes, Jewels, Charms
- Nanoprobe Generator
- Any grade emeralds
- Runes, Jewels, Charms that give poison damage
- Can be inserted into any socketable item. Does not need to be weapon
- Borg Enhancement Devise (Horadric Cube)

Skills

The Borg’s skills are divided into two primary categories.

1) Enhancement Skills
2) Assimilation Skills

Enhancement Skills
Enhancement Skills can be learned at any time and used at any time.

Assimilation Skills
Assimilation Skills cannot be used until the Drone has completed the required quests.

Assimilation and Quests

From the start, the Borg begins as a Drone. Upon defeating Diablo in Normal, the Drone advances to “Tertiary Adjunct”. Upon defeating Diablo in Nightmare, Borg advances to “Primary Adjunct”. When Diablo is defeated in Hell difficulty, the Borg advances to becoming a counterpart to the Borg Queen, just as Locutus would have been if he had not resisted.

1) Assimilation

Enemies

  1. Cast Weaken (Optional): Makes subject unaware, and lowers capacity to resist. Resistance is Futile.
  2. Use Poison Dagger: Inject nanoprobes into subject's blood stream.
  3. Raise Drone: Injection of probes causes the drone to enter a state of hibernation. Drone is awakened and follows the will of the Collective unquestioningly.
  4. Assimilate New Equipment: Any items dropped by subject have been assimilated and properly catalogued in the Collective. Items can now be used.

Townsfolk

  1. Obtain a neural processor (Gemmed helm)
  2. Obtain a supply of nanoprobes (Jar of Choking or Strangling Gas)
  3. Obtain a Probe Injector (Dagger Class weapon)
  4. Place items on ground next to them.
  5. Assimilation begins when the subject opens dialogue with you (exclamation point hovering above their heads). After the items have disappeared from off the ground, the assimilation is complete.

Assimilation process of townsfolk can be sped up by “saving and exiting” then reentering the game. The items left on ground will be gone, and you may interact with the assimilated townsfolk.

2) Learning and Adapting
As a Drone, you start out with a single component: wand. You have not yet gained the ability to Assimilate knowledge. The First part is to gain a Neural Processor. The Den of Evil quest cannot begin until you have obtained a neural processor. See the item section for details about the Neural Processor.

Once the Neural Processor is installed, the Den of Evil can now be entered. Once the Den of Evil has been cleared, the Collective realizes that the Drone requires to ability to assimilate knowledge. The Drone is granted use of Teeth and Dagger class weapons.

No Armor can be used until Neural Processor is installed.
No weapons, but the original Wand.
After Neural Processor is installed, Armor up to and including Leather Armor is allowable and Den of Evil quest can begin.
Completion of Den of Evil allows Teeth and Dagger Class Weapons.

3) Making Drones
Before Blood Raven can be assimilated, the Drone must be able to inject nanoprobes. Therefore, Poison Dagger must be learned, and a Nanoprobe Generator (See item section) must be installed. Upon assimilating Blood Raven, the Drone is granted ability from the Collective to create drones.

4) Retrieve Borg drone and Borg items
Retrieve Borg item "Wirt's Leg" from slain Borg drone "Wirt."
Free captured Borg drone "Cain".
Reassimilate drone "Griswold" that was freed from the Collective.

Reward
Self-destruct (Corpse Explosion)
Mace Class Weapons

5) Boss Assimilation