From: paulsen@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (FreeKill)
Newsgroups: rec.games.netrek
Subject: Re: Lack of borg hosts
Date: 1 Oct 92 01:40:09 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

In article <5700@news.duke.edu> mel1@soc6.acpub.duke.edu (Douglas Melamed) writes:
>I feel the need to clarify a few things regarding borgs.

>1. Using a Borg is not cheating. It is much more realistic than having one
>person try to dodge, fire phasers and torps, det and, tractor/pressor at the
>same time.

True, it's not cheating.  However, a player can handle all of the above at
the same time if he practices.

>2. Borg users are not all scummers and dogfighters, many are great team players.
>It's not the client but the player that makes the difference.

Borgs do wonders to make up for the differences between players.  Gee, didn't
see Streaker pick up?  Don't worry, the borg will tell you.  Gee, can't kill
Streaker at the planet?  Don't worry, the borg will almost do it for you.
All you have to do is point the borg in the right direction.

>3. Using a Borg does not take the skill out of the game. On the contrary, it
>de-emphasizes dog fighting and allows one to concentrate on team play. It adds
>a new dimension to the game.

A good player (which there are quite a few of) can dogfight while concentrating
on team play.  I think the borg removes a dimension of the game.

>4. Borgs are not hard to kill. An average player can easily kill a bad borg
>player. It's as easy as charge-run dodge charge-run dodge, and when they
>run out of fuel they're very easy to kill.

Note the key phrase "bad borg player."  Ever see MUCUS PIG in a borg with the
character MUCUS RATIO PIG.  Truly a sight to behold.  An average player is
damn near unkillable in a borg, and you need about 2-3 players to take him
out.  Against SFOP, a team of incredible players had to gang up on one bot
and wait for him to run out of fuel.

>5. Anti-borg complainers worsen things more than they help them. They taunt the
>other player taking away from everyones enjoyment of the game.

I agree here.  If you are playing on a borg server, you have no right to
complain about borgs.  During most normal playing hours, there is always one
server open that is borgless.  Play on that if you don't like borgs.

>6. In my experience Anti-borg players are mostly clueless players who are much
>more rude and obnoxious than any borg player I've ever met.

Rude and obnoxious I agree with.  However, usually the borg'ed players are
much more clueless.  Also, it's EXTREMELY annoying when ensign Nobody kills
me with his super Pig borg and then tries to convince me that he is incredibly
skillful, and the borg really doesn't help much at all.

>7. MOST IMPORTANTLY CHILL OUT IT'S JUST A GAME! I believe that the standard 
>client should contain many of the so called borg features such as number of
>armies next to planets and shield energy shown by color of shields and auto
>compute trajectory. It will help emphasize TEAM PLAY not hurt it.

I don't think having the army numbers there would be a good idea.  I used to,
but a lot of people flamed me, and I saw the light.  It would make a large
difference in the game.  Auto-aimed torps?  You gotta be joking.

>8. Lastly, Give me a damn good reason why borgs are Satan reincarnate as some
>of you seem to think.

Hey, I don't mind 'em because I refuse to play on borg servers anymore.  Most
reasons include the following:
 A) damn near impossible to genocide with the enemy having a couple borgs
 B) most borg'ed players think that their fighting skill is a talent they have
	rather than admit that the borg is doing the real work
 C) I enjoy doing all the work myself.  Personally, I think that using a borg
	ruins the game to an extent that I'd be better off going to the arcade
	and playing a real video game.
 D) I believe it's impossible to become truly clueful by playing a borg.  There
	are some things that you have to learn by actually doing it yourself.

>Thank you for your time, I just wish the anti-borgers would show some rationality
>for a change.

Hey, I used to believe the same way.  However, there is a certain amount of
pride in beating someone by using your own skills as opposed to thinking, "Gee,
my borg is better than his."  I really enjoy playing a game and winning because
of my own skills.  When I lose, I know it's because my opponent is better, not
because he has a better borg.

FreeKill