Been wondering for a while, can a Mad Scientist invent a Dude/Deed/Improvement while they are at a location you do not control?
Looking through the rulebook (1.4.0) there is nothing about having to invent at a location you control, you only need to be able to bring the card into play (usually by shoppin’) . Since you can go shoppin’ for non-gadget Dudes/Deeds/Improvements while all of your dudes are in town square, can you also invent these cards while your only Mad Scientist is at an uncontrolled location?
As far as the rules go, you do not need to be at a location you control just to invent. However, you do need to follow any rules that apply to the card being invented.
Deed- placed on your street per deed rules. The Scientist will not need to be at a location you control to invent the deed.
dude- invented dudes are placed at the same location as the dude inventing it. Per pg 42 in the rulebook. Again, no control is necessary to invent a dude.
improvements- The mad scientist won’t need to be at a location you control, but all improvements in the game must be attached to a location/deed you control. So the important part for improvements is where it is going, not who is inventing it.