Wesley's STCCG card of the day #406

Hi, folks,

as my girlfriend is currently using my net connection I can't do any real work (no net available) and no real fun either (no girlfriend available) and thus I thought I could as well write a COTD on my secondary computer (and yes, I know we urgently need network cards ;-) )...

NINE OF ELEVEN

Personnel, Borg, common FC, universal
Integrity 7
Cunning 5
Strength 5
Allows all Borg in this hive with a [Com] Borg to share skills. Each such Borg has every shared skill at its highest level. [Com], [Delta]
"Identification: INTERLINK DRONE
Task: Expedite aptitude dissemination. Enhance.
Biological Distinctiveness: Cardassian species."

Probably the most complex Borg drone to master, the Interlink drone makes for unique vulnerabilities and strenghts for the Borg. With the sharing of skills, some Dilemmas are just not much of a problem, so for example REM Fatigue Hallucinations (3 MEDICAL) or even Theta-Radiation Poisoning (6 ENGINEER). On the other hand, certain otherwise easy Dilemmas are incredibly painful to the Borg when interlinked.

A well-timed 2-Dimensional Creatures ("Empaths are disabled...") or Unscientific method + Alas, Poor Queen (she's the most cunning SCIENCE) can wreak havoc with a Borg hive or even with the entire collective. Let's have a look at which Dilemmas are most affected by an Interlink

Drone:

Ancient Computer. No Obstacle for Borg.
Nagilum. With an assimilated Diplomat or Queen, this is no threat.
Tsiolkovsky Infection: very easy to cure.
Nanites, Null Space, Radioactive Garbage Scow, Birth of Junior, Nitrium Metal Parasites: All of these can ignore the required skill multiplier.
Frame of Mind: The Borg are the only affiliation capable of more or less regularly curing this one.
Primitive Culture and Security Precautions: Both of these will work as walls first (each scout has only one copy of the skill), but on the next turn, you'll get a free pass with an interlinked away team. (BTW, a self-seeded Security Precautions is a good wall to accumulate Borg on a planet you want to assimilate)
Maglock: If you can assimilate an OFFICER (or make your Queen one), you will have little problems with this.
Hippocratic Oath and Make us go. Both definitely hit the Queen when encountered in space and can thus severely hamper a Borg player's progress although they are of course not as permanent as the rather rude Unscientific Method / Alas, Poor Queen combo.

And last not least there is one Dilemma a Borg player can use for his own advantage with an Interlink Drone: Ooby Dooby. As soon as you can get an Interlink Drone, a Queen (Youth) and a few other Borg onto a ship, you can use Ooby Dooby as a mega-Kivas for potentially up to 20 cards. (I've done that ;-) ). Convert most of these draws into downloads and you have an ultra-fast deployment. Change your plans and repeat next door next turn for twice as many cards ;-) Just make sure you don't get any Music into your collective.

And a last neato trick that works really well with Interlinks: Give your Queen Treachery, play Reflection Therapy on a Borg and get a huge amount of one specifically needed skill rather permanently. Especially useful with Diplomacy or OFFICER if you can't seem to assimilate any personnel.

Favorite combo(s):

Interlink Drone + Borg Queen (Youth) + Ooby Dooby
Opponent's Interlink Drone + Cardassian Trap + 2-D Creatures (think about it, it's nasty ;-) )

Ratings for : NINE OF ELEVEN

Wesley's rating:                8.9
Allen's rating:                 8.9
Cpt. Targ's rating:             8.0
Data's rating:                  7.1
Dr. R'Mor's rating:             9.3
EHCCGPP's rating:              10.0
Gowron's rating:                9.1
Hal's rating:                   8.0
Locutus' rating:                9.5
Nanite's rating:                ---
Picarde's rating:               8.0
Ranger's rating:                9.4
Rekar's rating:                 9.5
Rothspar's rating:              7.9
Sheskerie's rating:             8.0
Tebok's rating:                 8.6
Tony's rating:                  9.5
Vox's rating:                   9.0
----------------------
AVERAGE RATING:                 8.5

PS: You might actually have a chance to see more regular COTDs soon... I'm shifting some stuff to computerized processing and that should save me time... (and it would also help if everyone of you read the stuff on my site before asking me questions already answered there - this takes a whole lot of time on some days...)

Please direct all email concerning card of the day to: crusher@kiss.de

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http://www.xs4all.nl/~ldp/COTD.html
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With all back issues from #1 up to today !

LLAP,

Wesley Crusher
Temporarily immortal STCCG Lord

"A couple of lightyears can't keep good friends apart"