Genetic Blueprints: Work in Progress.
The entire mechanic of buying a weapon with samples or experimenting with random samples in Biolabs will be gone and revamped in a more interesting, clean -yet deeper- system: Genetic Blueprints. Genetic Blueprints are "formulas" that you will find in Ancestor's settlements. They are just the recipes to build weapons, abilities and now even Permanent and Ephemeral (One run only) mutations. These Genetic Blueprints still require the ingredients:
DNA Samples: Different combinations, similar to a talent tree.,
Proto-Genes: 100 of them, with 5 qualities and 0-100 integrities. They also have a collection signature with time, date, location and source. If you don't need one of them, collect it!,
RNA Guide: To guide the Cas9 Molecule, a mandatory element to make gene editing possible.,
Optional: Enhancers, Stabilisers.
If that is not enough, Proto-genes are droppable and exchangeable with other players. And your Evolution tree will make specific Proto-Genes more valuable than others. More facts? Some Genetic Blueprints are in Ancestor's language, and only the Culture Evolution tree will be able to decipher these recipes. More?? Most Genetic Blueprints can be constructed in the Basecamp with human tech, with the peace of mind of being safe and having all the time in the world. But now, hear me well, hardcore players, some Genetic Blueprints will unlock bonuses if they are built in Ancestor's Laboratories. Meaning that you will have to bring and risk your Proto-Genes and perform the action while being in the Biome. YES, Proto-genes are lost if you die and they are not extracted. But no worries, at least Genetic Blueprints are forever. So be careful where you go with your cash out there. This is just scratching the surface, and one of the systems I'm really, really excited about since it offers tons of exploration and experimentation. Get ready