The Overmind

[Zula]

There is a question lingering in my head recently. Can anyone remember why the Overmind wanted a physical body? Was it ever propely explained?

[Revenant]

Because the Xel'naga built it that way. I assumed that it had a physical body on Char, and the "may be manifest" thing was actually more of a "may attach myself" thing. It did land like a meteor, and so was sent from somewhere. The StarCraft manual (set at a point before the game starts) says that "the Overmind itself" is protected by the Tiamat brood. You can not protect a bodiless entity. Also, it rebuilt itself on Char as a physical being.

[ARM3481]

It wasn't explicitly revealed why it was necessary in the first place. Though it might be worth noting that despite infesting plenty of Terrans and of course turning Kerrigan into Zerg, it seems like we never actually witnessed the results of the Swarm properly assimilating either of the other playable races (obviously not the Protoss, since that would mean the Overmind winning). I imagine true assimilation would have led to the Zerg genome being capable of actually producing Protoss- or Terran-based offspring from base larvae like they do with other Zerg based on assimilated species, though obviously that's just a guess on my part.

So whatever the specific mechanics involved, I guess truly assimilating a species into the Swarm might have been something that only the Overmind itself could properly do, and that even the Cerebrates lacked the means to pull off. Otherwise one would expect the Zerg to have already assimilated the Protoss when it invaded Aiur by way of massacring and gathering the remains of countless defenders or even capturing their civilians.

[Revenant]

It wasn't explicitly revealed why it was necessary in the first place. Though it might be worth noting that despite infesting plenty of Terrans and of course turning Kerrigan into Zerg, it seems like we never actually witnessed the results of the Swarm properly assimilating either of the other playable races (obviously not the Protoss, since that would mean the Overmind winning). I imagine true assimilation would have led to the Zerg genome being capable of actually producing Protoss- or Terran-based offspring from base larvae like they do with other Zerg based on assimilated species, though obviously that's just a guess on my part.

So whatever the specific mechanics involved, I guess truly assimilating a species into the Swarm might have been something that only the Overmind itself could properly do, and that even the Cerebrates lacked the means to pull off. Otherwise one would expect the Zerg to have already assimilated the Protoss when it invaded Aiur by way of massacring and gathering the remains of countless defenders or even capturing their civilians.

I do not think the Overmind's presence was necessary to incorporate a species into the swarm, just the protoss. It is specifically noted in a few places that while the Zerg can can "infest" terrans, they are genetically incompatible for true assimilation (and so they explode). Under normal circumstances, such a species would be religiously destroyed by the zerg, but the zerg need terrans as a bridge to the zerg-proof protoss.

[Rolandius]

They never created Xel'naga-based offspring that I remember and Xel'naga were assimilated. I don't think they create a mirror version for every creature they assimilated or else there would be many more kinds of zerg just by the time they left their planet.

[ARM3481]

They never created Xel'naga-based offspring that I remember and Xel-naga were assimilated. I don't think they create a mirror version for each creature they assimilate or else there would be many more kinds of zerg just by the time they left their planet.

Well obviously they don't always create outright Zerg versions of every species they assimilate. Even before they turned on the Xel'Naga, one of the earliest creatures incorporated into the Swarm were a species of spacefaring beasts, and they basically did that to give all the Zerg strains the attributes needed for surviving interstellar travel.

Still, when it comes down to it the actual means by which utilizing the humans would gain them the Protoss didn't seem particularly intuitive or followed-through by the Overmind in the end. Particularly since Kerrigan basically embodied the culmination of their efforts to utilize the developing psionic potential of humanity, yet they left her back on Char while the Overmind went off to assimilate the Protoss. Particularly since things like the existence of the Dark Templar and subsequent discovery of Aiur through Zeratul's thoughts, which were really the impetus behing the Swarm's efforts at Protoss assimilation beginning in earnest, seemed pretty much unexpected by the Overmind.

I dunno, maybe the Overmind had some more roundabout idea for getting at the Protoss through Kerrigan's psionic abilities, then when confronted by a chance to hit them on their homeworld cast aside the old plan and grabbed onto the shortcut that presented itself during the snapshot of Zeratul's memories when he killed Zasz.

[Cantus]

Well obviously they don't always create outright Zerg versions of every species they assimilate. Even before they turned on the Xel'Naga, one of the earliest creatures incorporated into the Swarm were a species of spacefaring beasts, and they basically did that to give all the Zerg strains the attributes needed for surviving interstellar travel.

Still, when it comes down to it the actual means by which utilizing the humans would gain them the Protoss didn't seem particularly intuitive or followed-through by the Overmind in the end. Particularly since Kerrigan basically embodied the culmination of their efforts to utilize the developing psionic potential of humanity, yet they left her back on Char while the Overmind went off to assimilate the Protoss. Particularly since things like the existence of the Dark Templar and subsequent discovery of Aiur through Zeratul's thoughts, which were really the impetus behing the Swarm's efforts at Protoss assimilation beginning in earnest, seemed pretty much unexpected by the Overmind.

I dunno, maybe the Overmind had some more roundabout idea for getting at the Protoss through Kerrigan's psionic abilities, then when confronted by a chance to hit them on their homeworld cast aside the old plan and grabbed onto the shortcut that presented itself during the snapshot of Zeratul's memories when he killed Zasz.It seems like the Overmind required Kerrigan's unique terran identity to acclimate to the psionic potential of the Protoss. Once it achieved understanding of her (and further the Protoss' own potential psionic links through Zeratul) it began to attempt to incorporate the species.

In essence, in order to truly assimilate the Protoss' unique "hive" mind of billion's of unique identities attached (as opposed to base animalistic beings like normal zerg) the Overmind needed bridges of understanding. It was nearly finished with this when it was destroyed by Tassadar. However, if it had achieved this understanding, the genetic assimilation of the Protoss would have been inevitable.

[Zula]

Well obviously they don't always create outright Zerg versions of every species they assimilate. Even before they turned on the Xel'Naga, one of the earliest creatures incorporated into the Swarm were a species of spacefaring beasts, and they basically did that to give all the Zerg strains the attributes needed for surviving interstellar travel.

Still, when it comes down to it the actual means by which utilizing the humans would gain them the Protoss didn't seem particularly intuitive or followed-through by the Overmind in the end. Particularly since Kerrigan basically embodied the culmination of their efforts to utilize the developing psionic potential of humanity, yet they left her back on Char while the Overmind went off to assimilate the Protoss. Particularly since things like the existence of the Dark Templar and subsequent discovery of Aiur through Zeratul's thoughts, which were really the impetus behing the Swarm's efforts at Protoss assimilation beginning in earnest, seemed pretty much unexpected by the Overmind.

I dunno, maybe the Overmind had some more roundabout idea for getting at the Protoss through Kerrigan's psionic abilities, then when confronted by a chance to hit them on their homeworld cast aside the old plan and grabbed onto the shortcut that presented itself during the snapshot of Zeratul's memories when he killed Zasz.

Well I always understood that space faring species was the one the Overlords are based on.

Also the Overmind isn't needed for the assimilation of new species into the swarm. The slug which the roach is based was incorporated under the command of Kerrigan after the brood war.


It seems like the Overmind required Kerrigan's unique terran identity to acclimate to the psionic potential of the Protoss. Once it achieved understanding of her (and further the Protoss' own potential psionic links through Zeratul) it began to attempt to incorporate the species.

In essence, in order to truly assimilate the Protoss' unique "hive" mind of billion's of unique identities attached (as opposed to base animalistic beings like normal zerg) the Overmind needed bridges of understanding. It was nearly finished with this when it was destroyed by Tassadar. However, if it had achieved this understanding, the genetic assimilation of the Protoss would have been inevitable.

This a pretty interesting theory you have here thought I do not know how the Overmind could really comprehend the Protoss 'hive mind' through Zeratul's memories since he has a Dark Templar wasn't a part of the Khala(Was this the name of the psionic link? Correct me if I am wrong.)

[Cantus]

Well I always understood that space faring species was the one the Overlords are based on.

Also the Overmind isn't needed for the assimilation of new species into the swarm. The slug which the roach is based was incorporated under the command of Kerrigan after the brood war.




This a pretty interesting theory you have here thought I do not know how the Overmind could really comprehend the Protoss 'hive mind' through Zeratul's memories since he has a Dark Templar wasn't a part of the Khala(Was this the name of the psionic link? Correct me if I am wrong.)It's more that it was making progressive jumps to understanding the Khala (yeah right word) by first understanding Psionics, next protoss minds, and finally (if it had the chance) the Khala itself. Once it could tap into that, it could have subtly controlled all of the none Dark Templar through the Khala, but it didn't have a chance to acclimate to the fact that it wasn't brute forcing minds as with the zerg. It seems like Kerrigan is also too terran to get the nuances of the Khala (plus it's not her goal anyway), but if she did she would be an even greater threat than the Overmind because of her ability to discern such required finesse points.

[Rolandius]

Well I always understood that space faring species was the one the Overlords are based on.

Correct. That assimilation helped them enter space, and then destroy the xel'naga of course. It also could transport land-based creatures inside of it to travel through space. Starcraft lists the genus of all their creatures.

[Revenant]

They never created Xel'naga-based offspring that I remember and Xel'naga were assimilated. I don't think they create a mirror version for every creature they assimilated or else there would be many more kinds of zerg just by the time they left their planet.

Based on the wording of the StarCraft 1 manual, the Xel'naga just made the Zerg Overmind smarter and more learned. I theorize that a few upgrades for (or minor bodily features on) other Zerg breeds are made up of all that is left of one or many assimilated species.

Well obviously they don't always create outright Zerg versions of every species they assimilate. Even before they turned on the Xel'Naga, one of the earliest creatures incorporated into the Swarm were a species of spacefaring beasts, and they basically did that to give all the Zerg strains the attributes needed for surviving interstellar travel.

Still, when it comes down to it the actual means by which utilizing the humans would gain them the Protoss didn't seem particularly intuitive or followed-through by the Overmind in the end. Particularly since Kerrigan basically embodied the culmination of their efforts to utilize the developing psionic potential of humanity, yet they left her back on Char while the Overmind went off to assimilate the Protoss. Particularly since things like the existence of the Dark Templar and subsequent discovery of Aiur through Zeratul's thoughts, which were really the impetus behing the Swarm's efforts at Protoss assimilation beginning in earnest, seemed pretty much unexpected by the Overmind.

I dunno, maybe the Overmind had some more roundabout idea for getting at the Protoss through Kerrigan's psionic abilities, then when confronted by a chance to hit them on their homeworld cast aside the old plan and grabbed onto the shortcut that presented itself during the snapshot of Zeratul's memories when he killed Zasz.

SPOILER ALERT!

As it turns out, Kerrigan was actually designed to be able to ignore the orders that the Overmind gave and was given. The Overmind had no plans to use her to counter or assimilate the Protoss' psionics. According to Tassadar (who never died, beyond just living on as part of the Khala) she was a tool to "free" the Zerg. Apparently free them from the overriding things that they were programmed to do, but did not like or want to do. Which apparently had something to do with not destroying the Protoss (even though they were predatory symbiotes from the start, or weren't they?) and not being slaves to the Hybrids. I assume the Overmind wanted to eat things on its own terms. This probably deserves discussion elsewhere.

It seems like the Overmind required Kerrigan's unique terran identity to acclimate to the psionic potential of the Protoss. Once it achieved understanding of her (and further the Protoss' own potential psionic links through Zeratul) it began to attempt to incorporate the species.

In essence, in order to truly assimilate the Protoss' unique "hive" mind of billion's of unique identities attached (as opposed to base animalistic beings like normal zerg) the Overmind needed bridges of understanding. It was nearly finished with this when it was destroyed by Tassadar. However, if it had achieved this understanding, the genetic assimilation of the Protoss would have been inevitable.

The Khala was a defense against assimilation, but it was never said how. That is an interesting understanding of it.