A Utility Processor (meant as a tool not a playstyle) - The "Remote Authentication Token"
- 0 or 1 mass - Little or no energy/heat upkeep - Low Coverage & Low Integrity - Rare-ish
The thematic idea is that LRC-V3 was built by MAIN.C, and it can interface with MAIN.C parts, so it could blend in with the helper bots, if it can circumvent the Signature Authentication system.
"Timestamp Hash Discrepancy, Audit Required...."
The utility is an passive utility - it works until unequipped or destroyed (which would discard it).. On Equip - The cogmind starts Legacy MAIN.C routines - completing the disguise - each turn is taken by a MAIN.C AI routine until the player discards it. This uses one of my favorite mechanics, which is "strategic loss of control".
I would not want to make other gameplay options inferior or change the overall feel of the game. In particular, this should not allow the player to get close to the stairs without danger.
Implementation shouldn't be too hard - I imagine temporarily "teleporting" Cogmind to a nonexistent square off the map, and "replacing" it with a specially marked Green MAIN.C Bot with Cogmind stats, which can run around repairing walls, cleaning matter filters, etc.
I could sketch a method based on pointers, although I imagine you already designed a library with appropriate containers for managing the bots.
On unequipping or destruction - just "delete" the fake bot and swap cogmind back in. The RAT utility should have coverage set to MAX, so that when Fakemind is hit, the utility is destroyed immediately and Cogmind is then swapped back in - This should prevent using it in the middle of combat.
