We need a Dupe Builder

[sirnumbskull]

Probably needlessly complicated, but here's my take:

I propose a builder that lets you add points to skills and pick bonuses and detriments.  How do you balance it?

Resin.

It's called the PRINTING pod, so why doesn't it take resin to (3D) print dupes/care packages?  Give resin a slightly higher melting point, shrink the size of the pod to 1 tile, and set a mini, "production version" of Experiment 52B next to it that regularly produces resin.  When you click the pod, it brings up a menu that you can configure your dupe or care package in, including materials that you've encountered or critters that you've seen.  

Skills that are more useful, like "Skilled: Mechatronics Engineering", or critters/seeds/materials that are rare or difficult to produce cost more resin.  You want +16 strength?  Prepare to pay a lot in resin.  Tricky detriments like Flatulent or Narcoleptic give you higher resin discounts.

Once you've configured the printer, you hit Build! and dupes come by and load it with resin, and then a short duplicant powered machine operation later you get your brand new print!

OR you can use the resin to make isoresin, and with that you can build visco gel for earlier liquid locks or insulation.  Although I think isoresin should be created by some sort of radioactive bombardment instead of being boiled.

The mini X52B plant should be mostly inert, and there should be one you can find on every planetoid.  You'll just need to dig for it.  Maybe when you find it it starts with some resin near it so you can build your mini pod and get to printing.  The more planets you explore, the more resin you can produce!

AND when you finally find X52B you can convert all your stored food into even MORE resin, and with all that resin you can make dupes that are finally useful even lategame.  

[Sasza22]

I think it would be cool if there was a way to hack into the printing pod and create a dupe with the traits of your choice. But i don`t like the idea of making resin more available for that. Keep resin as a rare resource and give it a different requirement. Maybe a special structure you build by the printing pod or even on it (kinda like you upgrade the portal in DST). The upgraded portal would require a dupe to stand there and operate it while it consumes extra power based on how good the created traits are.

It shouldn`t be too high tech since you don`t need more dupes lategame. It should be something you can do earlygame but it`s costly. Something like large amounts of refined metal and power, maybe even significant heat created around the pod would be ok costs for a crafted dupe to do it when it`s still relevant. But the hacked pod should still have it`s limits like no more than 3 positive traits a limit on stats etc.