As far as i know, the only way to play without the borg as a starting faction is in a map that doesn't have the delta quadrant but i dont know if they appear later on in the game as an event or something

Originally posted by ssanti93:

As far as i know, the only way to play without the borg as a starting faction is in a map that doesn't have the delta quadrant but i dont know if they appear later on in the game as an event or something

Yeah, I think they become a "Crisis" type event, that pops up in the late game, instead... Not entirely sure, as I only ever play on the full map, but I vaguely recall this being mentioned somewhere...

I would understand them as a crisis event, but nope they are a regular empire next door to me in one game, and next to my ally in this game. It is a Spherical, 30+, Random Galaxy, but having the Borg so close and so overly powerful in both games doesn't seem very 'random' ;-).
And before I get any 'Get Good' comments :-p, it is early game when you can only manage a 4K fleet tops. When the Borg have at least 2 4K fleets, this adaptive technology buff, and no means to end the war early, just means you are toast.

IMO, either the Borg need to be a crisis faction later in the game, or players should have an ability to turn then off when starting a new game.

You could be just remarkably unlucky, and starting near the Borg in 2 games is well within the realms of possibility...

About all I can suggest, if you really want to play on the random maps, is to keep trying...

Perhaps lookup the Reveal Map console command, save immediately upon starting, zoom right out, use the Reveal Map console command and see where the Borg are -- they should stand out as the only empire who does not start with a single planet (zooming out should limit spoilers), as I understand it...

Ruin, your tip of revealing the entire map, using a console command, was really helpful. In my latest game I zoomed out to see the Borg on the opposite side of the map. Did sadly reveal a few spoilers, as I saw a few empire symbols I recognise, but at least I saw where the main threat was.

BTW, 'Reveal Map' didnt work for me. I had to use 'observe', to see everything.

Originally posted by corestandeven:

Ruin, your tip of revealing the entire map, using a console command, was really helpful. In my latest game I zoomed out to see the Borg on the opposite side of the map. Did sadly reveal a few spoilers, as I saw a few empire symbols I recognise, but at least I saw where the main threat was.

BTW, 'Reveal Map' didnt work for me. I had to use 'observe', to see everything.

I had hoped if you were zoomed out far enough you'd not see the other symbols, but yeah, I wasn't sure what the actual command was as I don't use the console in Stellaris... I had meant looking up what ever the command was to reveal the map, not that that was the command itself...

Why not just build Level 2 starbases and let the Borg bang their heads against those?

Originally posted by davidutlib:

Why not just build Level 2 starbases and let the Borg bang their heads against those?

In the first two games I mention it was early game, so I had no decent tech, they just instantly rolled over me. I had an upgraded Starbase, which was the first system they attacked, and within a few seconds an event popped up saying they had adapted and everything had a 100% negative effect. I was just instantly curb stomped. Second game I had an ally between me and Borg (the Andorians), but Borg just cut through them like butter and were again on me.

However if Starbases are the way to go mid-late game then I know how best to prepare, because in my current game they are on the opposite side of the map - thanks to Ruin's tip. :)