IT and computers as a alternate use for intellect and AI cores.
Certain types of objects such as turrets, research benches, automatic switches, or maybe eventually automated production create a certain amount of "Data". Data must be maintained by pawns with intellect using objects like punch cards or terminals depending on research tier, with terminals giving more efficiency. Servers could allow more Data storage, and AI cores could be used to maintain data passively.
If data is not maintained glitches will occur causing things like turrets shooting friendly's, electrical failures, and all sorts of "fun" things.
It could be implemented on top of the electrical system, so no need to lay even more cables, and I feel I would be fairly simple to implement.
This would allow a way to use intellect late game, balance turret spam, and gives an additional price to "Hi-tech" Structures. It would also give a way to balance automated production. And thing like researchable turret upgrades that are better but create more data.
This would make high tech bases more interesting, And require in a non contrived way for you to need AI cores late game. Managing an AI could be a challenge in itself, but that's outside the scope of this suggestion.
Certain types of objects such as turrets, research benches, automatic switches, or maybe eventually automated production create a certain amount of "Data". Data must be maintained by pawns with intellect using objects like punch cards or terminals depending on research tier, with terminals giving more efficiency. Servers could allow more Data storage, and AI cores could be used to maintain data passively.
If data is not maintained glitches will occur causing things like turrets shooting friendly's, electrical failures, and all sorts of "fun" things.
It could be implemented on top of the electrical system, so no need to lay even more cables, and I feel I would be fairly simple to implement.
This would allow a way to use intellect late game, balance turret spam, and gives an additional price to "Hi-tech" Structures. It would also give a way to balance automated production. And thing like researchable turret upgrades that are better but create more data.
This would make high tech bases more interesting, And require in a non contrived way for you to need AI cores late game. Managing an AI could be a challenge in itself, but that's outside the scope of this suggestion.