Microlab Modernization I: Parametrized Microlab Foes

[John-Candlebury]

Summary

Content "Microlabs will now spawn foes from a series of mutually exclusive lists."

Purpose of change

The base framework of Microlab generation hasnt really received much attention since it was added between 3 and 5 years ago. Now that they are set to replace the standard RNG lab completely its worth to take a look into how they work and overhaul their generation to produce more interesting exploration experiences.

I've chosen to start by varying the monster lists encountered, as this is a simple chance witha very strong gameplay impact. That can also later on be used to inform the spawning of special maps within the lab.

Needless to say it'll be necessary to track the actual impact of this changes for a few months, as I expect some variants to require difficulty tweaks in the future.

Describe the solution

The base spawns placed by "GROUP_MICROLAB" have been greatly reduced, but each microlab now generated will complement those with any of these lists:

Lab variant	Effect
mnm_more_density	Increases the desnisty of group microlab, to current labs numbers
mnm_acid_zombies	Places acid and spitter zombies
mnm_rust_zombies	Places basic rust zumbies and predators
mnm_hunter_zombies	Places runners and predators
mnm_phase_zombies	Places phase skulkers and shrikes at a higher rates.
mnm_raptor_zombies	Places pupas and basic raptors
mnm_robots	Robotic defenders favoring prototype lab bots.
mnm_mutants	Assorted evolved and unevolved mutants
mnm_wasps	Places a high number of wasp nests. Terraforms the lab.
mnm_leech_plants	Places leech plants all around the lab
mnm_slimes	Places a small number of slimes that will eventually get out of control as slimes tent to do
mnm_shadows	12% chance to place a Wraith on every overmap tile
mnm_triffids	Places lots of triffids and terraforms the lab. Rare
mnm_fungaloids	Places lots of fungaloids. Lab gets terraformed eventually
mnm_migo	Places mig patrols
mnm_tindalos	Places a hound of tindalos on overmap lab tile with 25% chance. 1% chance to place an aditional star-crowned hound. Very rare
mnm_yrax	Spaws neutral yrax bots inside the lab. Very rare

Testing

Visited most variants of lab by manually setting parameters.

[github-actions[bot]]

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* Yrax **triakis** * **triakis** remains

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