Deep maintenance Z level

[Confuseddp]

I've brainstormed about this with a few people over the years, it's a really unique idea and could be fun, but each time the actual code part scared me off. My idea was always like, some sort of vent system you could crawl into that served as a very narrow Z level or something thats overlaid over the map somehow, so you could for example hear people fighting and dying in the vent system while standing in Medbay and it would do the clonk clonk as you walk through.

The real question is how to approach the design. Both has pros and cons.

• Make it randomly generated
  • High variance per map (More fun?)
    
  • Difficult to balance
    
  • Difficult to code
    
  • Random room / procedural generation might look ugly
    

• Make it static per level
  • Zero variance (Less fun?)
    
  • Easier to balance
    
  • Easier to code
    
  • Allows for unique feeling map layouts & easter eggs
    

Ultimately I'm in love with the idea, we'd just have to narrow down a direction.

What about static but a few "Maintenance" prefabs that could encourage exploring?

A few areas underground where you need to lay rods and floors would be cool too.