Howdy!
Are you like me? Do you spend 99% of your playtime as a cyborg? Do you ever tire from the lack of diversity in the world of machine handymen? I know I sure do, which is why I propose that we take cyborgs a step closer to their Goon roots and make them interesting again!
What is this strange bald guy on the internet talking about you ask? Well I'm glad you asked! You see, the version of cyborgs that Paradise uses are a streamlined model, lacking in diversity beyond module choice. On goon however, you have a small variety of cyborg bodies that can be built, allowing for borgs of situational play. Let's take a look at some of the content.
Sturdy: Cyborg with a bit of extra armor attached. Can take a bit more abuse, but is a little slower for it.
Heavy: Cyborg with a lot of extra armor attached. Handles incredible amounts of abuse, but is very slow.
Light: Cyborg with no armor. Extremely weak and fragile, but very fast to compensate.
Standard: your bread and butter cyborg. The only existing type on Paradise currently.
Right off the bat you have diversity that will impact cyborg play style. From high speed, easily destroyed medical borgs zipping across the station to save injured crew, to nigh immobile security borgs defending a checkpoint. The possibilities obviously aren't endless, but it's a change of flavor that I'd love to see. It's not only an improvement for the cyborgs, but for the AI as well, thanks to this little gem right here!
The AI interface board: This little beauty can be installed into a cyborg frame to make it controllable by the AI instead of a dead player. For those times when the AI wants a physical body to take part in the action itself.
Moving on to the upgrade list!
Here I'm just going to quickly cover some of the upgrades that Paradise doesn't already have versions of.
Efficiency Upgrade: Lowers base power usage by 1. Not that amazing in my personal opinion, but has the potential to be great with some tweaking.
Expansion Upgrade: Adds another slot for upgrades. Not needed with the way paradise handles borg upgrades.
Force Shield Upgrade: an installable version of the combat borgs energy shield. Eats up a ton of energy and soaks damage.
Heat Shield Upgrade: Makes the cyborg immune to heat. Doesn't work on goon, wouldn't serve any function here either, as cyborgs already are immune to heat.
Recovery Upgrade: Reboots the cyborg, allows the cyborg to break out of a stun from flashes, as well as xenomorph spit and tackles. Costs 2500 cell charge per use. Even as a regular cyborg player myself, I feel like the cost for this could be a bit higher, unless it's extremely expensive to create.
Repair Pack: A single use instant full heal for the cyborg. Paired with the self repair module, this upgrade can save you in a tight situation.
Teleporter Upgrade: Allows the cyborg to bring up a menu as if they were at the teleporter room computer and teleport themselves to any valid tracking beacon.
MODULE UPGRADES
Ever play one of the various modules and think to yourself “Wow, it would make this module that sacrifices everything to make me really good at this one thing worth it, if I had ___”? Well I'm with you my fellow synthetic lover. Now I'm not suggesting simply GIVING extra items to each module right off the bat, but instead suggesting that each module have an upgrade module that can be unlocked via Research and Development, like every other cyborg upgrade. I even have some suggestions for potential unlocks for these.
STANDARD
Cable Coil – For fixing things and whipping crew to show dominance
Rainbow Crayon – For writing color notes and making the janitor hate you [more than they already do, you monster]
Camera Monitor – To release your inner voyeur, because picking this module regulates you to standing around anyway.
ENGINEERING
Pipe Dispenser – Because running across the station for a pipe dispenser that is likely missing is enough of a reason for most engineers to not bother fixing atmospherics as it is.
Disposal Pipe Dispenser – Same reason as above, except with disposals.
Plasteel - For fixing the reinforced walls that science chemistry destroys EVERY SINGLE ROUND.
Reinforced Plasma Glass – For replacing windows on the station with snazzy looking purple versions.
MEDICAL
Advanced Hypo-spray - Omnizine, Mannitol, Liquid Solder, and Mutadone
Energy Based Advanced Trauma Kit – Less time in the cyborg recharger, more lives saved.
Energy Based Advanced Burn Kit – Same as above
MINER
Advanced Plasma Cutter – For digging ore and fighting Necromorphs
Rapid Crate Sender – You aren't doing this for mining points, get that ore back faster
Mining Satchel Of Holding – COLLECT EVERYTHING
JANITOR
Fire Extinguisher – All cyborgs should have one anyway
Drying Agent Spray – Extremely useful spray from tg station. Makes the clown hate you.
Trash-bag Of Holding – DUMP EVERYTHING
SERVICE
Food Synthesizer – Goon Service borg tool. Makes a small variety of foods. The fact we don't already have this is baffling.
Booze Dispenser – For providing mixed drinks on the go
Soda Fountain – For caffeinating crewman too lazy to go to the bar.
SECURITY
Taser – The tool security borgs gaze longingly at is finally yours to command. Never forget the words of Uncle Ben
Pepper Spray – For dealing with the clown, because you're a sadistic monster for picking this module already.
FINAL NOTES
Reminder that this entire thing is just my personal opinion. I suspect there are some of you that are fine with cyborgs as they are, and even some people that would like to see them nerfed, or given even less options and diversity, and you are obviously entitled to those opinions.
I also understand that these suggestions aren't something that can just be copy pasted over from GOON and TG Stations. Parts could be copied over, but a lot of reworking of said parts to fit the mechanics and materials of Paradise would have to be done. I just felt that putting this all out there, could be a good first step. Even just to see if enough other people actually care enough about cyborgs to want some of these suggestions.
That's all I can think of for now, so to end this post. I leave you with my beginning message.