I pick number 1. because I'd want the zombie to remain active in the level making for more ways to avoid or get rid of him. What's the point of a non-swimmer lem turning into a zombie at all if he just is going to drown after going into poison
Yes, my thoughts exactly.
(5) poison turns lemmings into zombies, and all zombies (swimmer or not) can swim in poison.
I also like this suggestion. Interestingly, making all Zombies always swim in Poison means that Poison is always a Swimmable object, and this would actually
simplify the code for it. With only what we have currently, this is definitely the best option.
There is just one other thing to consider, though: I do have plans to make water into a "Dezombifier" at some point (i.e. all water, rather than creating yet another modified water type). Then, should Dezombified non-Swimmer lems swim or drown?
If swim, then that means that all Zombies are always Swimmers. Not necessarily a bad thing, but there isn't exactly an explanation for it. If drown, then it makes the Swimmer skill a much more valuable factor in the scenario where Poison/Zombies and Water exist in the same level, but could potentially be confusing if the Zombies have been happily Swimming in Poison elsewhere without actually
being Swimmers. So, option (2) then becomes more favourable.
Of course, both "Zombifier" and "Dezombifier" could be non-water objects, and Poison gets an early retirement (although Dezombifiers could still be independently
styled as Poison, but with non-water properties, as in suggestion (3)). This would be simplest of all, but quite honestly would be far less interesting, and once again reduces the potential of the Swimmer skill.
Bit of a circular argument, this one. I feel like I need something definitive to break the loop.