Introduce robots as mercs. Craftable and available to purchase. Your intelligence and science levels determine how many robots you can manage. 60 science is required to program low tier robots and 120 to program high tier robots. As for intelligence, it determines how many robots you can have following you; the formula would be similar to that of charisma and mercs: int/2(round down) -1. To craft robots you need energy expert. level 2 for low tier robots (protectotron, brain robot) and level 3 for the higher tier robots (sentry bot, mr gutsy, turret).
Robots could be bought from the lady in NCR inner city at the top right corner. She already chills with robots, why not make and sell them? Robots can also be sold at Navarro, BoS base, and basically anywhere else that has a technology center.
High science skill would be required to program your robots and repair skill to keep them in tip top shape. Yes, robots have deterioration instead of HP and can be broken in combat. Broken robots can be repaired but suffer the same consequences as repaired weapons and armor (increased rate of deterioration). Broken robots can also have Science used on them to get some parts back.
Programming robots will allow you to link them to your faction database for more effective base guarding. It will also allow you to set their combat options, following options, that kind of thing. You could program your robots to shoot faction friends if they wield weapons and to not kill faction members if wielding weapons. You could give your robots a command to find and kill thieves. The options are extensive!
let me know what y'all think
