Scourge evolution

[WaterGolem]

Ok I dunno if this has been mentioned, I skimmed (briefly) over some topics but couldn't really see anything...I'm just wondering about the story behind the zerg. If all their units are strains or species or whatever (different things I know, but for all intents and purposes they're the same in this context) how could the scourge have possibly evolved? How could a trait which results in the organisms death have arisen through mutation and selection? Any ideas on the biological mechanism of evolving glands which secrete highly explosive compounds (which result in death, so the bombadier beetle doesn't count)?

[ninerman13]

Maybe the Zerg incorporated a species into the swarm that had highly dangerous chemicals in their bodies for defensive purposes/to avoid getting eaten. These chemicals didn't cause death, but were selected to protect the creatures from predators. From there, I'm sure that with the swarm's evolutionary prowess it would be relatively simple to progress to exploding utilizing those chemicals.

All of the Zerg strains are fundamentally changed from the original incorporated species - they are warped to be bloodthirsty, aggressive, and deadly creatures. I am sure the Scourge came about the same way. The whole idea behind Zerg evolution is that species were tweaked genetically by some unknown mechanism.

[Shadowdragon]

Even if the creature dies, the overmind doesn't (or rather, didn't). And he is the one who evolved the zerg (along with the celebrates). So as long as the DNA was intact, whether the creatures were alive or not made little diffrence.

[MarineCorp]

maybe the scourge could evolve into a reaver like air unit....that would be awesome

[Itsmyship]

I'm sorry, but just to correct you....the Scourge are the Undead from Warcraft. I think the "Swarm" or the "Brood" is what you're looking for.

[MarineCorp]

Yeah i know that but were talking about the suicidal scourges in Starcraft...those flying units suicide themselves ^^

[Itsmyship]

OOHHHHH!!! That makes SO much more sense now :P Hahaha sorry, I had a dumb moment

[MarineCorp]

Lol no problem

[MANGLER]

Living things seem to exist to survive their genes, not themselves; such as salmon swimming upstream to reproduce and die, or worker bees dying to protect the queen bee. The same would make sense with scourges.

[WaterGolem]

Living things seem to exist to survive their genes, not themselves; such as salmon swimming upstream to reproduce and die, or worker bees dying to protect the queen bee. The same would make sense with scourges.


Yes but your example (the salmon) is very different to this case. The trait for swimming up the river and then dying will be passed on cause the purpose for this behavious is to reproduce, so those that don't have this trait will be less likely to pass their genes. But with the scourge there's no way for a mate to select any particular individual based on the effectiveness of their explosion, cause they'd be dead afterwards. But yes I'll agree to the worker bee one, if their original species was some kind of social organism like ants or bees, they could've been the defensive caste of the hive. Good point

[Lemmy]

Whats the point of passing down the genes if we dont enjoy life? (Unless enjoying life is actually passing down the genes :o)

[Wlck742]

You can't say that "passing down the genes" isn't enjoyable. ;D

[GrahamTastic]

The Zerg are very strange... Good question. Maybe they are just emo.

[JBL]

maybe the scourge could evolve into a reaver like air unit....that would be awesome


This was very off-topic but it gave me another off-topic concept.

the scourge could be built from another zerg unit, so they are already on the battlefield.. just like MarineCorp said... but there could be an upgrade for the overlords so they can build the scourges

It wouldn't be like the reaver because scourges cost much more and takes longer to spawn.. but at least they would spawn on the battlefield or they could defend the overlord against air attacker.

[string_me_along]

Infested scourges could have really come from anything, even if they didn't have highly voliatle chemicals in them. The infested terrans blow up and I really don't think I have explosive chemicals in me*.


*Except after taco consumption.

[WillOfTheSwarm]

I read somewhere (don't ask me where, I think it was a book...) that the Overmind came across a planet where a species of bee like creatures lived (I.E. Queen, Worker, Defender) He liked the way the Defenders defended, which was suicidal Kamikaze attack which took out the main attacker, and a few around it too. So he incorporated the species and took the Defenders Kamikaze strike, and kicked it up a notch. Bam.

Hope that helps.

[kenshin72]

Zerg has a similarity to social insects such as ants and bees so based on this i would just assume that scourges has specific job by the overmind or whoever controls zerg to fight for swarm by kami kaze

[WillOfTheSwarm]

Thanks lichking.

Keep in mind, I'm not sure if its canon or not, so don't quote me on that!

[freedom23]

but its still weird for the zerg to select one insect that lives to die for its cause but what the heck the overmind is still the one deciding for their own species and its none of my business ^_^

[WaterGolem]

Hey thanks guys! I completely didn't even think of the bee example...a suicidal defense mechanism right here on Earth! So I guess the original scourge strain evolved as a type of hive/socially altruistic kind of species with suicidal defenders. I wonder what the scourge "queen" looked like

[string_me_along]

/\
" I wonder what the scourge "queen" looked like"

Judging from the scourge in SC1: Pretty ugly. Those things did horrible, horrible damage to my carriers and BCs, but they were pretty freaking ugly. Their Queen probably also looks ugly, but may be able to hide behind her gigantic egg sack.

[Wlck742]

I don't think a scourge queen would be able to fly. Most likely she is full of nutrients and all that crap so she could lay lots of eggs. I think she'll be as aerodynamic as Rosie O'Donnell.

[string_me_along]

I don't think a scourge queen would be able to fly. Most likely she is full of nutrients and all that crap so she could lay lots of legs. I think she'll be as aerodynamic as Rosie O'Donnel.


Personal pet peeve: It's O'Donnell (with two L s) Not that I'm related to her or anything, but it is actually my last name.

She also has a bad hair cut. <--- I suspect so does the queen scourge.