Rebalance Robotic Modules + tools

[Noah Buttes]

Whoa now, the problem with the last Robotics attempt was round start borgs were significantly nerfed, and the research method was unwieldy.

I think it can definitely work if ironed out more. The progression scale just needs to be adjusted from unfun-okay-fun to okay-fun-lots of fun

The issue with a system that permits a high level of customization like that is that it is incredibly difficult to balance properly because you have to account for a whole spectrum of different variables at once. In comparison, the fixed module system is comparatively easy to balance because it enables the adjustment of discrete, quantized packets of tools rather than adjusting the whole massive system at once.

Here's some balance considerations regarding cyborg tools, points in bold are present in both the current module based form and the proposed progressive form.

• How strong is this macguffin by itself, that is, independent of its interaction with other macguffins?
  
• How strong does this macguffin become when used in tandem with this other macguffin?
  
• How does the possession of multiple macguffins, while not necessarily being used in tandem, affect the overall utility of the macguffin user, hereafter referred to as the macguffiner?
  
• How does the usage of a macguffin by a macguffiner affect its target, hereafter referred to as the macguffinee?
  
• In relation to time, how quickly should a macguffin of this strength be available for use to the average macguffiner?
  
• In relation to expenditure on the part of the macguffiner and/or the macguffinee, what amount and type of resources should be expended to produce a specific macguffin?
  
• How quickly should the macguffiner/macguffinees be able to acquire the resources to make a specific macguffin?
  
• How strong is a particular macguffin in relation to the typical strength of the assembled body of macguffinees at the point in time where the acquisition of said macguffin becomes feasible or likely?
  
• If this macguffin is too strong, what trade offs should it have to balance this strength?
  
• Are the trade-offs of a macguffin capable of being reduced, eliminated, or converted into strengths by other macguffins?
  
• How does the order of macguffin acquisition affect the level of utility and/or enjoyment provided by said macguffins to the macguffiner?
  
• How does the order of macguffin acquisition affect the of utility and/or enjoyment provided by said macguffins to macguffinee?
  
• Is a specific combination of macguffins likely to result in unintended side effects to the macguffiner?
  
• If yes, will these side effects negatively affect the assembled body of macguffinees?
  

If that's too much, I can make do with an analogy.

Editing the modules is like tuning a guitar. If one of the strings is off key, you fix it. You'll have to tune the other strings eventually, but it's not really a big deal.

Editing a system that permits customization is like tuning a piano. If one of the strings is off key, you have to call in a professional to tune ALL the strings. Granted, the professional tuning lasts a lot longer, but it's a hell of a lot more expensive, time-consuming, and laborious. Plus, if the professional fucks up, there's several tons of pressure on each of those piano wires, so you can kiss your piano goodbye.

Basically, it'd be an arduous ordeal of testing, receiving feedback, rebalancing, and testing again that would probably drag on for months.

It'd be even worse if it were implemented as a patch, because then feedback is limited until it actually goes live. Then some coder unaffiliated with the patchmaker has to field all the inevitable complaints and either address them directly or hand them off to the patch-maker to start slogging through fixing it.

I can only think of a few active coders who might be patient enough to deal with that mess, and one of them is busy wrestling with atmos code.