The Borg
by Skandranon

Class: Any
Tag: BORG

Introduction

"We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. Your technological and biological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. You will be assimilated."

The Borg is a member of an alien species which lives in the Delta Quadrant of the known galaxy. They have a hive-mind structure whereby all of its members (except the Borg Queen) are of a single "Collective" mind. They acquire knowledge through assimilation, and show an uncanny ability to adapt to opponents' attacks.

Rules

At the beginning of the game, the newest Drone of the Collective is gifted with a single implant. This may be a Dagger, Club, Buckler or Cap. Other items at creation are irrelevant. They are disposed of.

The new Drone may not use any items beyond that which it¹ has, which would be a Dagger, Buckler, Club, or Cap. The new Drone may not use any spells or skills. The Drone only interacts with others of the Collective, and so will not play cooperatively with non-Borg players. Also, it will not buy items from individuals not part of the Collective.

¹: "It" used because gender is irrelevant.

At the beginning of the game, the Drone is simply known as a Drone. It may use small red and small blue potions. When the Drone has assimilated Diablo on Normal Difficulty, it is known as a Tertiary Adjunct, which allows it access to some new missions. It is also then allowed to use large blue and red potions. Assimilation of Diablo in Nightmare difficulty gives it the name Secondary Adjunct. Secondary Adjuncts may use rejuvenation potions of both sizes. Assimilation of Diablo in Hell difficulty gives it the name Primary Adjunct, some additional missions, and the ability to use elixirs.

Individuality is irrelevant. All references to individuality must be erased, so hotkeyed messages must be changed to reflect that. For example, "Come here! We need help!" and "Follow us." replacing the standard messages. The new Drone's name must also be reflective of a number of another number. Examples: 7of12, 13_of_33, etc.

Things that are not a danger are irrelevant. The Drone cannot attack anything which does not attack it first. Once it has been attacked, it may then initiate combat against that monster. If it is unclear as to which monster struck (e.g. a swarm of arrows, one hits), the Drone may initiate combat against all monsters in that group.

Assimilation

To gain new abilities and to lift restrictions, the new Borg Drone has the special ability of Assimilation.

To successfully use a new technology, the Drone must first assimilate an enemy. To assimilate an enemy, the Drone must catch an enemy alone and slay it by melee. If the Drone kills an enemy when another enemy can see, its mental energies will be concentrated on the approaching threat and so cannot absorb the information before it disappears. The following table lists the prefixes, suffixes, and item types that can be acquired through assimilation of normal monsters. Some creatures have no new technology, and so will give you nothing. They are not listed because they are irrelevant. Enemies and their technology are grouped by class (Undead, Animal, Demon) and listed in order of dungeon depth with the earliest monsters coming first.

Demon Enemies | Demon Technology
Hidden | Cape
Flesh Clan (Melee) | Axe
Flesh Clan (Bow) | Long Bow
Stalker | Strong Enchantment
Stone Clan (Melee) | Mace
Stone Clan (Bow) | Composite Bow
Overlord | of Strength
Winged-Demon | of Magic
Unseen | of Vitality
Familiar | of Dexterity
Fire Clan (Either) | Quilted Armor
Night Clan (Melee) | Spiked Club
Mud Man | Skull Cap
Gargoyle | of Quality
Toad Demon | Small Shield
Demon Enemies | Demon Technology
Illusion Weaver | War Hammer
Magma Demon | ofLight
Blood Stone | of Radiance
Night Clan (Bow) | Leather Armor
Hell Stone | Long Sword
Red Storm | Flail
Lava Lord | of Flame
Blood Claw | Jagged Enchantment
Flayed One | Grand Enchantment
Storm Rider | Hard Leather Armor
Slayer | of Balance
Storm Lord | of Protection
Death Wing | of Maiming
Guardian | Helm
Cave Viper | of Might
Lava Maw | of Skill
Demon Enemies | Demon Technology
Maelstorm | of Zest
Vortex Lord | of the Mind
Fire Drake | of the Moon
Succubus | Broad Axe
Black Knight | Large Shield
Balrog | of the Jaguar
Gold Viper | Silver Enchantment
Snow Witch | Quarter Staff
Doom Guard | Heavy Enchantment
Steel Lord | of the Eagle
Counselor | Warrior's Enchantment
Hell Spawn | Valiant Enchantment
Magistrate | Studded Leather Armor
Azure Drake | Snake's Enchantment
Soul Burner | Flaming Enchantment
Cabalist | of the Bat
Blood Knight | of the Leech
Advocate | Vicious Enchantment

Undead Enemy | Undead Technology
Skeleton | Sharp Enchantment
Skeleton Captain/Corpse Captain | Short Sword
Corpse Axe/Burning Dead | Small Axe
Skeleton Archer/Corpse Bow | Short Bow
Horror | Sabre
Burning Dead Archer | Hunter's Bow
Burning Dead Captain | Falchion
Horror Archer | Long Bow
Horror Captain | Blade
Animal Enemy | Animal Technology
Fallen One | Rags
Scavenger | Fine Enchantment (Armor)
Carver/Devil Kin | Short Staff
Plague Eater | Fine Enchantment (Weapon)
Fiend | Bronze Enchantment
Dark One | Cloak
Shadow Beast | of Thorns
Blink | Spider's Enchantment
Gloom | of Piercing
Animal Enemy | Animal Technology
Bone Gnasher | Robe
Acid Beast | of Readiness
Horned Demon | Claymore
Mud Runner | Large Axe
Poison Spitter | of Swiftness (melee weapons)
Frost Charger | Iron Enchantment
Obsidian Lord | of the Fox
Pit Beast | Deadly Enchantment

Other prefixes and suffixes and base item types will be acquired through assimilation of creatures at higher difficulties. To get access to Unique items, the Borg has to kill some unique creatures.

Adaptation

The Drone's other ability is Adaptation.

To acquire resistances to spells, the Borg Drone must first experience them. Then it can adapt to resist the attack form. To successfully adapt, the Drone must first be killed in full gear by an attack of the appropriate sort. Where more than one attack is listed, the Drone must suffer one death by each spell.

Wearing full gear ensures the Drone will know how to adapt to the attack in a battle situation. When the Drone dies and is returned to life by the Collective, he may then equip resistance jewelry (provided he has already assimilated the technology) of the level allowed. The following table lists the resistance prefixes and the required assimilations and adaptations required. To use a certain prefix, the prefixes before it must be acquired first.

Assimilate Enemy | Adaptation to Magic Gained | How To Adapt
Skeleton, Skeleton Captain, Corpse Axe, Corpse Bow | Poison Spit, Flash | White Enchantment
Horror, Horror Captain, Horror Archer, Toad Demon | Blood Stars (on Normal) | Pearl Enchantment
Winged-Demon, Gargoyle, Blood Claw, Blood Stone, Hell Stone | All Magic (on Nightmare) | Ivory Enchantment
Death Wing, Lava Lord, Frost Charger, Red Storm | Poison Spit, Flash (on Hell) | Crystal Enchantment
Cave Viper, Gold Viper, Fire Drake, Blood Knight, Advocate, Black Jade | Blood Star (on Hell) | Diamond Enchantment

Assimilate Enemy | Adaptation to Fire Gained | How To Adapt
Scavenger, Burning Dead (Melee) | Inferno, Fire Bolt (on Normal) | Red Enchantment
Burning Dead Archer, Burning Dead Captain, Fire Clan (Both) | Fire Ball (on Normal) | Crimson Enchantment (21%-30%)
Magma Demon, Blood Stone, Hell Stone, Blood Claw, Flayed One, Red Storm | Inferno, Fire Bolt, Fire Ball (on Nightmare) | Crimson Enchantment (31%-40%)
Slayer, Guardian, Fire Drake, Magistrate | Inferno, Fire Bolt (on Hell) | Garnet Enchantment
Doom Guard, Hell Spawn (on Hell) Lava Maw, Vortex Lord, Balrog, Red Vex | Fire Ball (on Hell) | Ruby Enchantment

Assimilate Enemy | Adaptation to Lightning Gained | How To Adapt
Carver, Familiar | Familiar Attack, Storm Attack (on Normal) | Blue Enchantment
Death Wing, Storm Rider, Storm Lord, Maelstorm | Charged Bolt, Lightning (on Normal) | Azure Enchantment
Hell Spawn, Cabalist | All Lightning (on Nightmare) | Lapis Enchantment
Mud Man, Azure Drake (on Hell) Blood Knight, Advocate | Familiar Attacks, Storm Attacks (on Hell) | Cobalt Enchantment
Soul Burner, Black Knight, Cabalist, Blood Knight, Bloodlust (on Hell) | Charged Bolt, Lightning (on Hell) | Sapphire Enchantment

Assimilate Enemy | How To Adapt
See Adaptation for Red, White, and Blue. Choose Two. | Topaz
See Adaptation for Crimson (21%-30%), Pearl, and Azure. Choose Two. | Amber
See Adaptation for Crimson (31%-40%), Ivory, and Lapis. All. | Jade
See Adaptation for Garnet, Crystal, and Cobalt. Include Obsidian Lord and Soul Burner (on Hell) | Obsidian
See Adaptation for Ruby, Diamond, and Sapphire. Include Advocate (on Hell) | Emerald

To gain the resist prefixes Jade, Obsidian, and Emerald the Drone must find a way to die from all three attack types simultaneously on the same dungeon level.

Shrines

Shrines are irrelevant. The Drone will not examine shrines.

Spells

To acquire spell use, the Drone must first be adapted to the spell to be used. Then, it must, with MAX resist to that spell, die again in full gear to that spell. Then it carries out an additional assimilation on the monster that killed it. When it has done so, it has gained access to that spell at slvl 1. For each additional book that the Drone wishes to read, it must repeat the above process. Note that the Drone needs not have a book in hand to do this; it may repeat the process several times and then read books up to its limit. The following spells can be acquired through experiencing them, by Adjuncts of the listed number.

Spell | Adjunct
Charged Bolt | Tertiary
Inferno | Tertiary
Firebolt | Secondary
Lightning | Secondary
Blood Star | Secondary
Phasing¹ | Secondary
Fireball | Primary
Flash | Primary
Chain Lightning² | Primary

¹: You must allow a mage-type enemy to phase near you and kill you; then assimilate it for phasing or the attack spell used.
²: Stand in the middle of a pack of Cabalists for this one.

The other spells must be acquired through Missions, but the following spells are banned: Golem, Guardian, Bone Spirit, Elemental, Holy Bolt.

Missions

1) Townsfolk Assimilation
At the beginning of the game, the Borg character is not allowed to buy or sell items or get services from any member of the town except Wirt, who already is a member of the Collective (wooden leg!). To gain the ability to buy items and get services: Griswold, Cain, Adria, and Pepin must be assimilated. Gillian and Ogden can be assimilated as well.

Assimilate Griswold
To assimilate Griswold, he must be tricked into lowering his guard. An item worth no less than 10,000 gp must be sold to him as your first interaction with him. While he gloats over his acquisition, you insert your nanoprobes into his neck. Then, you must drop new implants for the assimilated blacksmith, which must be: one suit of field plate, one broad sword, one large or kite shield, one helm or full helm, one piece of jewelry. These items are placed at his feet and left there permanently. You must be a Tertiary Adjunct to attempt assimilation of Griswold.

Assimilate Cain
To assimilate Cain, you must simply bring an unidentified Two-Handed sword, Great Sword, Field Plate, Plate Mail, Gothic Plate, Full Plate Mail, Broad Sword, Bastard Sword, Short War Bow, Long War Bow, Gothic Shield, or Tower Shield to him. When he identifies the item, release your nanoprobes into his bloodstream. Then drop a set of implants for Cain. The difference is that they may be of any base type, but they all must be magical (and one must be unique). You must be a Tertiary Adjunct to attempt assimilation of Cain.

Assimilate Adria
To assimilate Adria, you must drop eight books at her feet in a single game. Then, you must sell her a book of Blood Star, Golem, Fireball, Chain Lightning, or Mana Shield. Then she may be assimilated, and the set of gear you drop at her feet must all be magical (and one unique) consisting of one staff of Composite quality or better, one suit of armour, one piece of headgear, and one piece of jewelry. You must be a Secondary Adjunct to attempt assimilation of Adria.

Assimilate Pepin
The healer is very suspicious and requires great care to assimilate. First, you must visit him when you are at five hit points and no mana. He will decline to heal you. Then, you must visit him when you are at four hit points, and no mana. He will decline again. Visit him again at three and two hit points, and he will refuse again. Visit him one last time, at one hit point and no mana, and he will try to heal you. While he is trying to heal you, assimilate him and drop him The Protector and three items of Health. Drones may attempt to assimilate Pepin.

Gillian and Ogden
Each requires but a single piece of jewelry dropped before their faces; then you may assimilate them where they stand. Drones may attempt these assimilations.

Farnham
You can assimilate Farnham. You'll need a Helm of Sprits. Before that, he's irrelevant.

Instead of a unique item, you may use instead an item from Wirt which has a prefix/suffix of qlvl 60 on it. The Protector for Pepin cannot be replaced.

2) The Mission to Analyze Regenerative Cell Structure

Task
The Drone must analyze the ability of the creatures in the dungeons to naturally heal. It must first clear a level except for one monster, then, with any weapon (but it must be a weapon), strike it 40 times without killing it. It is encouraged to leave time for the monster to heal between swings, thus adding to the Drone's database of knowledge. As soon as the mission is complete, the Drone may gain and cast the spells Healing and Heal Other at any spell level. Drones may attempt this mission.

Spells Granted
Healing, Heal Other

3) Mission to Analyze Stationary Flame

Task
The Drone must analyze the ability to create stationary flames which burn on no conventional matter. To that end, it must clear level 15 of Hell, but in an unusual way - all of its attacks and offensive spells must be delivered while standing in a burning cross. Any means necessary may be used to lure monsters within range, and monsters within Lazarus' room are exempted. When the level is clear (except Laz's room), the Drone has learned enough about stationary flame to cast Firewall at any spell level (and also to know that it should get out of the stationary flame right away ;) Only Primary Adjuncts may attempt this mission.

Spell Granted
Fire Wall

4) Mission to Research Dimensional Travel

Task
The Drone must reveal the whole minimap of level 15 by using Phasing only - not moving, not attacking, no offensive spellcasting, just using Phasing. Then the Drone must clear the level (and kill all the lovely angry inhabitants, who are right at that moment charging towards its position in one big mob). Then, the Drone and the Collective realize the need for directed point-to-point transport, and instantly develop Teleport. This mission must be performed by a Primary Adjunct on Hell difficulty. This mission cannot be attempted on a level with mage-type creatures on it because their teleporting disrupts your readings. When this mission is complete, if you also have finished analyzing stationary flame, the Collective amalgamates the technologies and grants you Flame Wave.

Spell Granted
Teleport

5) Mission to Research Stasis Fields

Task
The Drone must enter Hell and draw a large group of witches behind it. When the Drone is being tailed by at least 20 witches, it must stop moving, at which point the witches will make short work of it. As soon as that occurs, the Collective realizes that making an enemy stand still is a great asset, and will develop Stone Curse (Temporary Stasis Field). However, a Drone cannot attack an enemy within a Stasis Field, and ignores it as no threat, even after the stasis field collapses. Thus, this spell is only useful to the Borg for taking opponents out of the fight.

Spell Granted
Stone Curse

6) Mission to Research Force Fields

Task
The Drone must go from 1-16 in a hell difficulty game, without using a single point of mana or charges from a staff. The Drone needs not do any attacking, but may not surface for potions and must be wearing its best gear. When the half-beaten to death Drone arrives on 16, the Collective realizes that perhaps that large blue ball could be put to some additional use and to absorb some damage as well, and instantly develops Mana Shield.

Spell Granted
Mana Shield