# Xenobiology Update (EOBGames)
*Inspired by Fel's work.*
Xenobiology is in a bad place right now. Players enjoy the rewards- but the process of obtaining them is almost entirely braindead and unfun, and the rewards are too varied and powerful currently. So, I propose a revamp to the system, ~~stolen from~~ based upon Slime Rancher and suited to the SS13 universe.

## Basic Information
Slimes are now a more precious resource- killing them is necessary to obtain their core, but not their produce.

Slimes want two things in life: a good environment to live in, and food that they like to eat. If a slime is able to fulfil both of these requirements, they will become happy, and produce at 100%. If a slime cannot fulfil one of its needs, it will become sad, reducing its effectiveness until it does not produce at all. If a slime can fulfil neither of its needs, it will become sick, and die after a period of time(taking its core with it, meaning nothing can be salvaged). Managing slimes, therefore, is important, both to keep your valuable creations alive, and to keep them producing at maximum efficiency.

Environments can be simple or complex- basic slimes can usually be placed in a pen with an environment program loaded from the xenobiology computer, but higher tier and hybrid slimes may require manual construction to fully meet their expectations. Environment requirements can include tile type, toys, amenities such as water access or comfortable bedding, atmospherics, or even social requirements (i.e. they may want to live with multiple slimes, or even require a solitary existance for maximum efficiency). Some needs for environment may be mandatory, and without these fulfilled the slime will count their environment need as entirely unfulfilled, while others may be optional- these will not prevent the environment need from being fulfilled, but a penalty will be applied to productivity for not meeting them.

Food, again, is dependant on the slime type and can vary in complexity. Grey slimes will eat almost anything that gets inside their pen, while higher tier and hybrid slimes can be very picky!

Slime requirements can be found by viewing them with a Slime HUD on, or via the Enslimeclopedia, which is found on Modular Computers.

## Reduction of RNG
In order to reduce RNG, slimes can now be *nudged* towards various strains via alterations to their environment and diet. In addition, slimes may be *custom-produced* via a vat with a new resource- **Primordial Slime**, created from melting down slimes in the **Slime Recycler**. Higher grade slimes will produce more Primordial Slime upon recycling.

#### Slime Production
Grey slimes are the only slime which can be produced with no additional material besides their Primordial Slime cost. All other varieties must be produced with a **Strain Modifier**, which can be produced in one of two ways- by using the produce of a slime of that type, thereby allowing replication of currently obtained slimes, or via a crafting recipe that relates to that slime type- for example, metal slimes may require a large amount of metal.

Some slimes may only be created via slime production, and these are known as crossbreed, or Hybrid, slimes. These slimes are more powerful, but cannot be bred, have demanding environment requirements, and exotic foods.

## Slime Types
A reduction of slimes types along various elemental routes is my first proposal. Additionally, slimes will no longer be identified purely by colour, but by material.

### No Tree
##### Grey Slime
The basic Slime type remains as a grey slime. It can, via environment, split into the base level slime of any of the other trees.

### Material Tree
The material tree consists of slimes that produce raw materials- this includes various metals, plastic and coal, amongst other things.

#### Main Branch
##### Iron Slime
The most basic variety of metal slime. Produces Metallic Extracts. Desires rocky habitats, and consumes minerals (but produces more than it consumes).

##### Silver Slime

### Fire Tree

#### Main Branch
##### Fire Slime

### Hybrid "Tree"
##### Industrial Slime
A hybrid of Fire and Iron Slimes. Produces Industrial Extracts, which can be used to fabricate special machines. Desires bronze habitats with a steam atmosphere, and consumes stock parts.

## Slime Diseases
Slime Diseases are a new challenge in looking after your gelatinous friends: slimes have a random chance to contract one of the following diseases. This chance is elevated when they are not receiving their full needs. Diseases spread throughout the slime population in a pen, which means that optimally slimes should not be in crowded enclosures. Some diseases may be contagious to humans, and all are fatal to slimes- so special care must be taken with them.

#### Blorbitis
The slime's blorble gland has become infected. This will reduce their productivity, and they will become unable to vocalise properly, spluttering and coughing while doing so. Blorbitis does not transfer between species, but is fatal to slimes. It is also the slowest progressing of the diseases, and therefore is the least difficult to deal with.
##### Stage 1
The slime cannot vocalise properly. It is not infectious at this time, so with proper observation it can be quarantined before infecting the rest of its pen.
##### Stage 2
The slime begins to cough and shiver, and leaves small puddles of slime around as it moves. At this point, it becomes infectious.
##### Stage 3
The slime refuses to eat. Its colours become desaturated, and it can no longer vocalise.
##### Stage 4
The slime dies, and its core is destroyed.
##### Curing
The slime should be kept warm, and fed tea and hot soup. This will reduce the disease's progression and can, with enough time, cure it. A virologist can also produce a cure for the illness via a randomised recipe per round (found via taking a sample of infected slime and analysing it in the virology lab).

#### Mad Slime Disease
The slime's neural jelly is solidifying, causing it to experience psychosis and violent outbursts. Prompt treatment is required to prevent this becoming terminal, and it can be transferred to humans! (Remember, slimes can be subdued with low temperatures, which send them into hibernation!)
##### Stage 1
The slime exhibits increased aggression, lashing out at handlers and other slimes. It will become slightly more opaque.
##### Stage 2
The slime is extremely aggressive, attacking anything nearby. It gains an angry face.
##### Stage 3
The slime alternates between extreme aggression and inactivity, seemingly falling unconscious randomly.
##### Stage 4
The disease becomes terminal at this stage. The slime now spends the majority of its time unconscious, and its core becomes useless.
##### Stage 5
The slime fully solidifies and dies, turning into a chunk of solid slime.

#### Slime Fixation Syndrome