Control

From StarCraftWiki

Control, besides the regular meaning of the word, is what the Zerg as a race must use on a psionic level to control the Swarm. Control is sometimes also referred to as "food" or "supply" for the Zerg.

[edit] Controlling the Swarm

The Zerg control is usually handled in a hierarchy, where one enormously powerful controlling entity such as the Overmind, Cerebrate, or the Queen of Blades retains control of all Zerg creatures in the vicinity, but can still hold control over others at a distance. The controller has a direct link to these creatures, and can feel what happens to them.

When a Brood is sent to distant locations, away from the main controller, then the Overlords and the recently evolved Overseers are used to keep the local operations in check. A group of Zerg that lacks any control are less intelligent and coherent than a group of more familiar pack creatures, such as wild dogs, but when they have the proper guidance, they are more deadly than any other living force.

[edit] Conflicting Control

When there is just one all-powerful mind to control the Zerg, even the more intelligent creatures such as Cerebrates and the Queen of Blades will easily succumb to the power, but without the Overmind, power is dispersed between Cerebrates and other lesser controlling entities. After Tassadar sacrificed himself by flying a psionically charged Gantrithor straight into the Overmind and utterly annihilated the main controlling force of the Zerg, it disrupted the control of the Swarm, and the individual Cerebrates took control.

Zerg under one controller's sway seldom change allegiance to another, except if their controller is killed. By the end of the Brood War, Kerrigan (Queen of Blades) had killed all the remaining Cerebrates, and took supreme control of the Swarm. She has apparently grown much more powerful, as she is able to control the entire Swarm without the help of loyal Cerebrates.

[edit] Control in StarCraft

In the game, Control is a measurement of how many units a player can control on a specified battlefield. The value of 200 control units is the maximum for a single conflict, and is reached by producing Overlords and Overseers. Different units require different amounts of control, depending on their psyche, so a Zergling will only require half a control point, and an Ultralisk will require 4 points.

If the Zerg should lose a lot of control when opponents kill Overlords or Overseers, any currently living units will not be rendered useless. Control is only necessary to increase the size of the Swarm, as the main controller always retains a level of influence over the Swarm.