More ideas on Borg Mixed Tech

posted on June 15th, 2009, 11:02 pm

YEA!!! JAN! He's returned 

posted on June 15th, 2009, 11:45 pm

Omg Jan!

Well, the mixed tech research could be anything, it doesn't necessarily have to be existing powers.  And I think it could be implemented in a balanced way, depending on what specials were chosen.  It would kind of be like stock A2 technology assimilation, but more controlled.  Your Tactical Fusion cube couldn't steal shield inverter or corbimite reflector and become invincible, etc., because the specials are pre-determined.

Let me explain the odf thing in a "crash course" sort of way.  The odf files are the values for all the ships/stations in the game.  Their weapon damage, hitchance and a bunch of other stuff.  So each ship has a file.  Also, each rank, since the next rank is technically a new ship that replaces the old ship, if I understand right.  (I'm not a programmer or a modder, so some of the explanations might be a little off )  So for the Sovereign, there are files for each rank, 1-6.  Also, if you have a stat changer special like the akira's defensive patterns, that's a completely new odf file, a completely new ship, if you will.

The trick with the Borg is that they have odf files for every configuration.  So there's an odf for a torp torp torp regen armor armor Cube, as well as one for a Holding Beam X3, Regen Armor Armor Cube.  In short, there are a ton of odfs for the borg, because there are a ton of configurations.  Now, even adding one new potential module for every borg ship would basically mean taking the borg ship odfs that exist now and doubling them, (not quite but pretty close.  I'm also not a statistician )  That's just with one new potential module, like a fed mixed tech module.  Now if we do that with all 4 races, we've almost quadrupled the number of possible combinations.  Then we add on a whole bunch more when the other 3 races get created. 

Basically, the size of the borg odfs might be as large as the current folder itself for all the races.  And this is just with your approach which limits the borg ships to only one module.  The other ideas in this thread that mention 2 or 3 modules per ship, with 2 or more possible mixed modules from each race would create a crazy huge set of files.  What I'm concerned about is how it would affect loading times and whatnot.  I think that's why mixed tech modules are only on adaptors, because it cuts down on the number of odfs needed.  It's certainly doable, and I like your ideas, but what I'm curious about is how technically feasable it is.

Also, I think that mixed tech should be some kind of adaption.  TNG adaption would mean our weapons wouldn't work after a time, and the Borg are already powerful enough as they are!   So technology adaption would be a way to get some adaptability without making them invincible.

posted on June 16th, 2009, 1:04 am

Yes... I always did like that aspect of AII: though I imagine the Borg might also take said technology and adapt it to a slightly different use. They never just copy the tech exactly as far as I can tell--they make it uniquely Borg too

posted on June 16th, 2009, 1:08 am

If you were going to go with the 'special modules', wouldn't it make sense that the modules be the reverse of the race in question, as they are attempting to counter their opposition?  

Romulan Modules?  Puts the Tachyon Detection Grid ability on the Borg vessel, letting them see through the cloaks that they've analysed now.  

Klingon module?  Enhanced Repulsion Beam - Burns special energy to keep your target at your maximum range.  If they are too close, it pushes them out.  

Dominion Module?  Not sure there.  Possibly something like blinding sensors.  

Federation?  Well, the Borg already have the ultimate counters to them...I think it would just turn them on.  Combat Tractor Beam/Holding Beam, and the Shield Draining Torpedo to expose those delicate, graceful Federation hulls to the Borg's weapons.

posted on June 16th, 2009, 1:30 am

Ooo I do like that idea Silent 

Perhaps for the Dominion, certain Borg energy beams go directly through the shields 

posted on June 16th, 2009, 1:46 am

Those ideas are nice silent, but i guess the tachyon detection would be moot, as you can drop those handy sensor stations anywhere and annihilate all those sneaky cloakers.

But in general counter-technologies are fun.

And is it just me or is it hard to pinpoint the special "essence" of the dominion ? Apart from NOT winning any beauty contests with their looks (the people, not the ships). 

posted on June 16th, 2009, 2:20 am

Yeah, I keep thinking of the Breen when I try to think of specialties of the Dominion...

posted on June 16th, 2009, 3:38 am

I´m thinking..... i´m thinking.... YES......

Changeling Drones, they pass as drones assimilated from almost any race OR as Borg furniture. 

posted on June 16th, 2009, 4:21 am

The true essence of the Dominion is almost impossible to represent clearly in an RTS.  It's truely mammoth in size, with highly advanced construction, sensor, and medical technology.  Its weapon technology followed an unusual path, which gave them a massive advantage in the early days of their invasion, and its military is totally expendable.

Thats right.  Totally expendable.  The way (to use a Star Wars reference) the Emperor saw Tie Fighters and their pilots.  The Jem'Hadar and Vorta are all clones, with dozens or even hundreds of backup-copies waiting.  The copies usually know nearly everything their predecessor knew, making the loss of anybody but a Founder completely irrelevant in the larger scale.  Due to their control of the entire Gamma Quadrant, they have effectively inexhaustible supplies of materials, and hundreds of shipyards, rendering the loss of a single ship, even a Dreadnought, not likely to be more than an annoyance.

Finally, it's troops are fanatically loyal.  One part religious fervor, one part genetic hardwiring.  99.9% chance that your troops cannot be turned against you by any means, even if you grossly mistreat them.

Combine that with the Founders information gathering skills, and they become a terrifying force.  However, the Dominion trapped in the Alpha quadrant loses a major part of this equation.  They don't have limitless materials anymore, unless they can get through to the Gamma Quadrant somehow, or get their hands on replicator technology of sophistication equal to BorgTech or PreserverTech.  And that's a big deal.  A huge deal, in fact, as it forces them to develop new battle strategies...they can't just 'Redcoat it'.

posted on June 16th, 2009, 7:30 am

Mhh if the Dominon is so big shouldnt they have a front with the borg in their Quadrant? Delta -> Gamma? And how does a assimilated Jem Hadar look like? or A assimilated Founder?

posted on June 16th, 2009, 8:10 am

The Borg don't control all of the Delta quadrent, only part of it. I doubt the Dominion controls all of their quadrent, quadrents are big places and it would be almost impossible to take all the systems in one.

posted on June 16th, 2009, 11:08 am

Though I highly suspect that with the Collective meeting the Dominion and learning about their techlevel, the Dommies will have a front with the Borg soon enough.

posted on June 16th, 2009, 11:16 am

Even if their ships don't meet before their space expands into each others quadrent, there isn't long before their territory does. Since they are both conquerors with the power and resources to expand rapidly, it's only a matter of time before one threat is removed by the other.

posted on June 17th, 2009, 10:04 pm

Not sure who made this design but this is what I imagine a Romulan/Borg Mixed tech unit should look like...

posted on June 18th, 2009, 8:03 am

Looks more Klingon...