what good are kelp ancients?

[shatner]

One quirk of those things is that they can build labs because the unit they are modded from has magical paths which are being suppressed on the Kelp Ancient. There have been occasions where I've really needed a lab somewhere but don't have or want to move an amphibious mage over there, so instead I can burn a single nature gem to summon someone to build it for me and act as speed bump PD afterwards. It's niche but it's something.