Malebolgia
09-07-2007, 04:06 AM
Preview: The Zerg
by Corey Konieczka
The zerg are composed of several different types of creatures that have been integrated into the Swarm by the Overmind. These creatures, or breeds, have been selectively evolved to become efficient killers and to assist the zerg in their quest for ultimate power. The zerg do not utilize technology in the common sense, but their natural weaponry and armor are comparable to the most advanced gadgetry employed by any other species. This biological evolution, combined with an unmatched savagery and their blind devotion to the Overmind, makes the zerg an extremely formidable and deadly foe.
The zerg starting building is the Spawning pool which enables them to build a wide range of different ground units. These units for the backbone of the zerg military.
Zergling
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Zergling.gif Zerglings are the cheapest and most plentiful zerg unit. Do not let this make you underestimate them though. What they lose in their weakness, they make up with numbers. There are more zergling units than any other unit in StarCraft: The Boardgame.
Technologies: Burrow, Adrenal Glands
Hydralisk
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Hydralisk.gif The biggest weakness of a zerg army is their lack of anti air support. This is the main role of Hydralisks. Although not as plentiful as zerglings, zerg players still have as many Hydralisks as most players have of their basic starting units. Their ability to burrow, numbers, and reasonably powerful attack and defense make Hydralisks a powerful and plentiful foe.
Technologies: Burrow
Ultralisk
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Ultralisk.gif Ultralisks are housed within a hardened exoskeleton that is tougher than most man made armor. These massive creatures are the mastery of zerg evolution and strike fear in the hearts of their enemies. Ultralisks can not only can take a beating (especially once upgraded with Chitinous Plating), but can also deal out a world of hurt to any ground unit that gets in the way.
A strong army of zerg ground units can be strong and overwhelming, but predictable. This is where the zerg Queens and Defilers really shine. With a wide range of powerful abilities, these assist units make sure that your opponent will never know what to expect.
Technologies: Chitinous Plating
Queen
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Queen.gif Queens are cheap flying units with no attack of their own. They do however have three powerful special abilities. Parasite not only disables enemy cloaking in the same skirmish, but it also forces your opponent to play his combat cards face up (and first) in the skirmish. Ensnare also cancels cloaking, but also prevents enemy units from adding support strength to the skirmish. The last special ability, Spawn Broodling, automatically kills a wide range of enemy units at the end of the battle.
Technologies: Parasite, Ensnare, Spawn Broodling
Defiler
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Defiler.gif Defilers also have no standard attack but have a wide range of powerful abilities. First off, defilers can borrow in the ground making them impervious to attack. Second, Defilers can Consume their own units or workers in order to draw lots of combat cards. The Defiler’s powerful Dark Swarm ability prevents ranged attack units from attacking ground units making a powerful defensive cloud. Lastly, the Defiler’s plague ability adds automatic splash damage to any attack.
Technologies: Borrow, Consume, Dark Swarm, Plague
A swarm of zerg ground units is powerful, but requires support later in the game. Zerg flying units provide this air support, and work well in hit and run operations.
Scourge
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Scourge.gif Scourges are cheap expendable flying units. These explosive critters fly into enemy flying units and take them down in a blaze of glory. They are useless against ground units, but are necessary when opponents take the sky.
Mutalisk
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Mutalisk.gif Mutalisks are the standard zerg air unit, known for their hit and run tactics. The Mutalisk’s unusual attack produces and projects much smaller, voracious creatures that rapidly fly between enemy targets as it disintegrates explosively. This gives them a weak for of splash damage against enemy units. Lastly, Mutalisks have the ability to evolve into powerful Guardians.
Technologies: Guardian Aspect
Guardian
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Guardian.gif Although Guardians only cost 1 gas, they also require the "Guardian Aspect" technology and the destruction of a Mutalisk. While this sounds like a lot of resources, it is completely worth the effort as Guardians are strong flying units with a devastating ground attack. Once upgraded, Guardians have the highest ground attack of any zerg unit.
Technologies: Improved Flyer Attack
More info:
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/starcraft_designnotes2.html
by Corey Konieczka
The zerg are composed of several different types of creatures that have been integrated into the Swarm by the Overmind. These creatures, or breeds, have been selectively evolved to become efficient killers and to assist the zerg in their quest for ultimate power. The zerg do not utilize technology in the common sense, but their natural weaponry and armor are comparable to the most advanced gadgetry employed by any other species. This biological evolution, combined with an unmatched savagery and their blind devotion to the Overmind, makes the zerg an extremely formidable and deadly foe.
The zerg starting building is the Spawning pool which enables them to build a wide range of different ground units. These units for the backbone of the zerg military.
Zergling
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Zergling.gif Zerglings are the cheapest and most plentiful zerg unit. Do not let this make you underestimate them though. What they lose in their weakness, they make up with numbers. There are more zergling units than any other unit in StarCraft: The Boardgame.
Technologies: Burrow, Adrenal Glands
Hydralisk
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Hydralisk.gif The biggest weakness of a zerg army is their lack of anti air support. This is the main role of Hydralisks. Although not as plentiful as zerglings, zerg players still have as many Hydralisks as most players have of their basic starting units. Their ability to burrow, numbers, and reasonably powerful attack and defense make Hydralisks a powerful and plentiful foe.
Technologies: Burrow
Ultralisk
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Ultralisk.gif Ultralisks are housed within a hardened exoskeleton that is tougher than most man made armor. These massive creatures are the mastery of zerg evolution and strike fear in the hearts of their enemies. Ultralisks can not only can take a beating (especially once upgraded with Chitinous Plating), but can also deal out a world of hurt to any ground unit that gets in the way.
A strong army of zerg ground units can be strong and overwhelming, but predictable. This is where the zerg Queens and Defilers really shine. With a wide range of powerful abilities, these assist units make sure that your opponent will never know what to expect.
Technologies: Chitinous Plating
Queen
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Queen.gif Queens are cheap flying units with no attack of their own. They do however have three powerful special abilities. Parasite not only disables enemy cloaking in the same skirmish, but it also forces your opponent to play his combat cards face up (and first) in the skirmish. Ensnare also cancels cloaking, but also prevents enemy units from adding support strength to the skirmish. The last special ability, Spawn Broodling, automatically kills a wide range of enemy units at the end of the battle.
Technologies: Parasite, Ensnare, Spawn Broodling
Defiler
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Defiler.gif Defilers also have no standard attack but have a wide range of powerful abilities. First off, defilers can borrow in the ground making them impervious to attack. Second, Defilers can Consume their own units or workers in order to draw lots of combat cards. The Defiler’s powerful Dark Swarm ability prevents ranged attack units from attacking ground units making a powerful defensive cloud. Lastly, the Defiler’s plague ability adds automatic splash damage to any attack.
Technologies: Borrow, Consume, Dark Swarm, Plague
A swarm of zerg ground units is powerful, but requires support later in the game. Zerg flying units provide this air support, and work well in hit and run operations.
Scourge
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Scourge.gif Scourges are cheap expendable flying units. These explosive critters fly into enemy flying units and take them down in a blaze of glory. They are useless against ground units, but are necessary when opponents take the sky.
Mutalisk
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Mutalisk.gif Mutalisks are the standard zerg air unit, known for their hit and run tactics. The Mutalisk’s unusual attack produces and projects much smaller, voracious creatures that rapidly fly between enemy targets as it disintegrates explosively. This gives them a weak for of splash damage against enemy units. Lastly, Mutalisks have the ability to evolve into powerful Guardians.
Technologies: Guardian Aspect
Guardian
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/images/Starcraft%20Images/Figure%20Images/Zergs/Guardian.gif Although Guardians only cost 1 gas, they also require the "Guardian Aspect" technology and the destruction of a Mutalisk. While this sounds like a lot of resources, it is completely worth the effort as Guardians are strong flying units with a devastating ground attack. Once upgraded, Guardians have the highest ground attack of any zerg unit.
Technologies: Improved Flyer Attack
More info:
http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/starcraft_designnotes2.html