okay, I admit the title of this is a bit obscure.
what I mean is this:
- currently, "manufacture" operations can use all kinds of "raw materials" and even produce any number of items, to the point that you can add manufacturing jobs that use (for example) a rifle and a scope to manufacture a sniper rifle, as well as using a sniper rifle and "manufacture" a rifle and a scope. this is really cool, because it allows very modular items for mods.
- this does not work for any "object" with a unique ID: craft, for example, or possibly soldiers...? I'd like to see that implemented. possibly via a separate "modify" screen that lets you pick a "unique" item (one with a discreet ID), and shows you the available options for upgrading, like a manufacturing project, listing requirements and costs.
what would this give us?
- the ability to allow craft upgrades: interceptors with alloy plating, with alien-navigation-augmented controls, with UFO-power-source engines...
- the ability to implement stuff like cybernetically-enhanced soldiers. or genetically modified. "Enemy Within", anyone?
- even specialized medical stations, that "use" a wounded soldier as "raw material" (along with some other stuff) and "construct" a healed soldier (in less time than it would take for them to heal normally, preferably).
- special training centers? a "shooting range" facility, in which you can assign "jobs" that take a soldier as "raw material" and use some time to "manufacture" a soldier with better aim? (although the last two might be better for a re-utilization of the psi-lab code).
