Here's a prototype new virus paradigm that I was thinking about.
I really think viruses need a major overhauling ... our viruses are a little artificial and overpowered. I've tried to formulate a new one. I like the ideas about viruses being transmitted through feeding, death and proximity, but I feel that the 'immune particles' are a little too artificial.
Oh well, see what you think:
New sysvars:
.vrepro
.retro
(only accessable from viral DNA)
.mkvirus
(only accessable from non-viral DNA)
.mkimmune
.immunity
(only accessable from non-viral DNA)
A virus is a self-contained 'unit' that doesn't automatically incorporate itself into it's host's genome like our current viruses. It cannot replicate outside a host. It is essentially a codule.
An 'infected' bot will have a certain number of virus particles inside it. Some are aquired from the initial infection but the virus particles can use their host to replicate using .vrepro. This will use up a considerable amount of their host's energy. If the virus replicates continually, the host will die extremely quickly. This is usually not benificial to the virus for obvious reasons.
If a bot feeds on an infected bot, then one or two virus particles might come back with the -2 shots, giving the would-be attacker a nasty surprise. The probability of infection is proportional to the amount of virus particles that reside within the attacked bot.
If an infected bot dies, the virus particles that were in the cell will spray in all directions with the 'poof'. If another bot happens to be close by, the chances are that they will become infected. If there are no potential hosts close by, the virus lingers for a short time and then vanishes.
The third way a bot can become infected is through proximity. If a 'healthy' bot colides with an infected bot then there is a small chance that one or two virus particles will cross into it.
The chances of viral infection are increased by a greater numbar of virus particles in the infected bot. The chances of viral infection are decreased by a slime layer.
Viruses cannot access, read, or write to any of their host's sysvars unless they use .retro. A virus does have a 'viral memory array', which it shares with all other viruses in the cell. The sysvar .vrepro is not shared, but posessed by each virus particle.
A virus can use the sysvar .retro to permanently incorporate some of its DNA into the host's DNA. Likewise, normal DNA can make itself into a virus using .mkvirus. Viruses can use this to 'hide' in their host's DNA for a few generations and then reappear, or manipulate their host.
Viruses can be combatted by making 'immunity particles', which drive off viral invaders. If the immunity particles are sucessful in combating an infection, they will have a greater chance of sucess next time. Immunity particles are very expensive and require constant maintainence.
.mkimmune makes immunity particles
.immunity reads back how many immunity particles you have
Thoughts?