Rethinking Lazarus Injector

[Kaed]

For those of you unaware of (semi) recent updates, there is new a machine in mining that you can redeem points gained by processing ores in the smelter for assorted rewards. They range all through assorted things miners need, like better tools or just snacks to eat.

Bizarrely though, there is also an item called the Lazarus Injector, which costs a whopping 1000 points. It is a one-time use item that revives a dead simple mob. Now, at first I was somewhat baffled why this out of place item was being provided to miners, who almost never even encounter pets, and further why it was so expensive for what amounts to a gimmick item.

After doing 30 seconds of research, I discovered that it is only there because it was directly ported from another codebase (/tg/?), where it actually has a meaningful purpose - since the asteroid in that code apparently has a number of hostile mobs drifting around, the injector brings them back to life and makes them friendly to you.

Lacking such things on our asteroid, I question why we should have this item available to miners. Since the rewards machine does not describe what an item does, you basically have to buy something to find out what it is, it mostly exists to waste points for a curious newbie. I should also note most of the other reward items have names that somewhat illustrate their purpose, but 'Lazarus Injector' doesn't tell you anything about the item unless you know obscure religious minutae.

Even if it isn't removed, it should be drastically reduced in price, since it does not have much of any use in this server other than to be essentially a party trick where you revive Ian.

[ajstorey456]

OR!

Put more mobs on the asteroid. That's fun for miners, xenoarch, AND xenobiology.

[Arrow768]

Well, there were plans to add mobs and environmental dangers to the astroid, but the dev responsible for new mining resigned before completing the second part.

[LanceLynxx]

why would you remove a feature if it causes no issues whatsoever? Just rename/add a description so miners don't buy it on accident, maybe lower the cost, or keep the cost but give it multiple charges by buying cartridges (just like the automatic railway fabricator), and R&D fabricate the cartridges as a backup (since it would be useful for xenobio as well). Maybe give it a researchable level of biological.

[Jakers457]

QM should be able to use it on dead miners, so they can be mindless flesh golems that still dig on after death.