This is pretty extreme, but keeping in line with robotic limbs and cool stuff like that I had the idea that one could essentially "create" either robotic soldiers, clones, or organic soldiers with implanted brains. I'm sure you're wondering, "But Ultima, that's downright insanity." I know, I know.
First, how does one obtain the base materials for any of these things? Well, that's easy, and they all have their own advantages and disadvantages. Let's start with robotic soldiers.
Robotic Soldiers
With a high level robotics skill, one could obtain special assembly-line equipment that consumes input trade goods for the construction of robotic squaddies. These squaddies would have an inherit defensive bonus either dependent on the material input , robotics skill (either as the end-all-be-all or modifier), or simply a standard grade shared with all robotic soldiers. So you just input 10 steel bars, 10 robotic components, 5 textiles, and 5 units of tools. Out pops your robotic soldier, loyal to you as any other squadie. You can name it, and do whatever (it may pop out as a recruiting NPC would, but instead of being payed for, it is "activated"). But, you might ask what are the SKILL levels given to this cyber soldier of metal death? Quite an interesting question, indeed...
The skill levels of robotic soldiers can be dependent on the robotics skill of the creator (recruited or otherwise). Say for every 10 points in robotics, the machine starts out with 5 points in all attack, defense and weapon usage stats (they have the same skill levels in all weapons in the beginning). They DO NOT learn like organics do, however, and depending on the games programming limitations, cannot be "reprogrammed" to increase their skill or base values. They can, however, be deconstructed for parts at a loss. Also, robots can only equip back packs and weapons. Another disadvantage of robotics. This would balance the issue of ultra robot soldiers (unless your robotics skill is completed ridiculous).
Clones
Simple, you've got a doctor skill of a comparable level to robotics to create robots. Similar procedure. Buy factory parts, input trade goods such as "Organic Material". The deal with clones is that they don't instantly pop out. They take time. So whenever some sort of TIME factor is input into the game, this will be put into consideration. So, the situation with clones is that while they don't retain the collected knowledge of the super-soldier that is being copied, they DO maintain, say, UP TO HALF that soldiers skill levels. Knowledge such as robotics and medical skills, etc will suffer much higher penalties. Unlike robots, clones DO learn and can wear armor. Organics can be obtained through purchase or imputing bodies that were carried to a "vat" of some sort. Organic Material and cloning equipment are both expensive. On top of that, not just anyone will buy Organic Materials, although medical facilities might.
Clones/Bodies w/ implanted brains.
This requires a high medical skill PLUS a moderately high robotics skill. Long story short. You can lob off the heads of ANY individual. Collect the head for combination into a organic goo jar (purchased separately) and then place the head-in-goo-jar in a machine for transfer into an organic body. This head/brain would be implanted with a loyalty chip so that even cannibals could be used. They retain up to 75% of ALL skill levels (25% penalty due to decomposition) but may lose certain body bonuses such as athletics and strength (depending on the quality of the body being used).
All considered, with implanted brains, your character being decapitated by an angry enemy isn't the end of the world on hardcore mode players (where you can't simply reload). Simply have a buddy grab your head or brain, and pop it into a prepared replacement back at home base. Awesome.
I understand these ideas are pretty extreme, even for a fully completed game. I imagine this game will , in the future, contain MANY possibilities with crafting and building so I figured I'd just pop this in here for the "Great Creator" to use.
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