Win Condition and Overall Theme about keeperrl-technofac HOT 2 OPEN

Factory progressively makes other factions more aggressive, to win you just have to survive. (factory-themed tower defense?)

Sounds very Factorio-ish. It could scale off of some secondary global resource, like pollution. We could also have very polluted areas constitute their own biome of sorts that spawn dangerous poison-themed enemies. I don't see this as an alternative to the Rimworld win, but rather as a complement.

you have to build a factory to ultimately create some item (that can only be built using factories) that unlocks an area with the win condition

This seems like the most reasonable progression curve to me because we'd have complete control over the McGuffin, and because designing a "final area" is simply too cool to pass on.

from keeperrl-technofac.

As far as themes go, I'll elaborate a bit on your mechanite idea. With some awful made-up lore to back it up, because why not.

Deep underground, at about Z-level 30 or so, if not deeper, we could add small veins of a precious ore - mechanite.
Relics of an extremely advanced civilization that is long gone, mechanite crystals are clusters of intelligent nanobots that can be manipulated into rearranging their lattice structure, add more technobabble to taste. Their secrets are unraveled at the hands of an expert technomancer, though learning the craft takes a lot of dedication (which justifies it having its own skill tree).

Mechanite smithing

All body armor made from mechanite exhibits basic self-repairing properties, granting the user stacking passive regeneration but rating slightly below adamantine in terms of raw defense. It comes with two rune slots per piece.

Weapons made from mechanite have a chance to destroy/corrode the enemy's equipment, but their damage, once again, rates below that of adamantine. They also have two rune slots.

Mechanite crafting

A new crafting station lets you create special runes out of mechanite and fabricated ingredients. These runes are orthogonal to those that spawn normally, and their effects are more in line with the themes of the mod. I picture them as electronic chips.

A second crafting station lets you create jewelry out of mechanite and fabricated ingredients. I picture these as body augmentations or implants.

Mechanite fabrication

Lets you create advanced components out of mechanite. Possibly a requirement for the win condition. Must elaborate further when more context is available.

from keeperrl-technofac.