Teleporting Directly onto the AI

[Gouty]

Wraiths, abductors, wizards and ninjas (there may be more I've forgotten) can all teleport directly onto the AI with little to no warning and kill/card/ERP etc. the AI with no way to defend.

Is there anything that could stop this? Should anything be done to stop this?

I think the ideal solution isn't really policy but code (it was suggested that I post here though). Something to stop it from happening. Even if it just moved them to somewhere 2 tiles away this would at least give the turrets a chance. It could be explained in the fluff with a "bluespace disruption field" or "translocation inhibitor". I wouldn't even mind if it had drawbacks like using a shit load of power, or increasing the likelihood of translocation events coming to the core (as they always seem to do anyway) or drawing some of the weaker anomalies.

[Vaina]

There's plenty of things that "aren't fair" for the AI. Reinforced walls are jackshit against anyone coming by with thermite, cult and wizard practically get "one free AI kill" with wraith and shifting respectively. The whole point of the AI is the idea that it's vulnerable and easily dispatched unless someone wants to take the proper measures to protect it, a la moving the AI core when war ops hit. You can't honestly say that the midround antag who has a lot to lose by letting the AI live shouldn't be allowed the same graces just cause it doesn't immediately come into play at roundstart.

[DrunkenMatey]

Sliding glass door with command access lock directly infront of ai. Might buy a few seconds to stop insta gib/card by some.

[Not-Dorsidarf]

The AI square isnt on a dense turf, you can teleport into its own square so that wouldnt do anything

[somerandomguy]

Make it so you can't tp on tiles with an ai, they look like they should take up a whole tile (including floor to ceiling) anyway

[PKPenguin321]

If there is a cult, wizard, etc, then have somebody move the AI to somewhere more populated

[TehSteveo]

Why is this policy discussion? Unless we're suggesting a rule for these antagonist to not teleport onto the AI, then this code feedback or ideas at best.

I'm moving this to coding feedback as everything discussed here is code related and not related to server rules or an editable config.

[Screemonster]

Make it so you can't tp on tiles with an ai, they look like they should take up a whole tile (including floor to ceiling) anyway

make it so you can't tp onto a tile with a dense turf or a dense, anchored object/mob

[Atlanta-Ned]

I still don’t understand why there’s never been an AOE, teleporter blocking device that people can build for places like the AI core the armory. Seems like something you’d want in a universe where teleportation is common.

[Luke Cox]

Sliding glass door with command access lock directly infront of ai. Might buy a few seconds to stop insta gib/card by some.

This is the most sane solution. It won't stop the AI from getting killed but he can at least scream before it happens

[PKPenguin321]

Sliding glass door with command access lock directly infront of ai. Might buy a few seconds to stop insta gib/card by some.

This is the most sane solution. It won't stop the AI from getting killed but he can at least scream before it happens

see

The AI square isnt on a dense turf, you can teleport into its own square so that wouldnt do anything

You can stand on the same tile as AI, so when teleportation comes into play a glass door won't do much

[Yakumo_Chen]

Turf density doesn't stop wizards anyway

[MisterPerson]

Turf density doesn't stop wizards anyway

Foolish mortal! Nothing can impede the power of the great sage, Doink the Red-and-White!

[Grazyn]

Wraiths were designed specifically to kill the AI. The first thing you hear as the first wraith has always been "Go kill the AI" since the dawn of time.

[Gouty]

The majority of the time when an AI is killed/carded by someone teleporting there is no warning before hand, no way to anticipate, no way to counter, zero skill, timing or planning required and zero risk involved for the attacker. The AI can rarely even get a message off after the fact as it is so quick. If you are in a shell you aren't even going to hear them enter or notice if you are taking damage.

If there is a cult, wizard, etc, then have somebody move the AI to somewhere more populated

Yes, moving can be a worthwhile thing to do, but this only works if you aren't completely blindsided which is what happens most of the time. And it's not like moving isn't without massive drawbacks including being exposed while in transit, setup time, lack of power infrastructure, and actually having a borg or someone trustworthy to take you. Even once an AI is relocated it is still at risk of the antag finding you and doing the exact same thing, or others attacking without the defences that the core brings (especially in the case of cult where Spirit Realm can see and find everything).

[...] Reinforced walls are jackshit against anyone coming by with thermite, [...]

At least if someone is breaking into your core from the outside you get an alarm, have time to call for help, put down shutters, use the foam dispensers, possibly identify who it is who is breaking in. You might even be able to see it coming from the actions of chemistry. There is a big difference between "easily dispatched" and completely helpless.

[Davidchan]

Code a 3x3 bluespace field over the AI. Tie to beacon or make it a passive effect of the core. If anyone teleports or appears on any of the 9 squares they are shunted 3-9 tiles in a random direction as if they walked through the teleporter wearing a bag of holding. Stun em where applicable. Anyone who walks or passes normally through the barrier is completely unaffected.

[Yakumo_Chen]

Even then on most maps the apc is very exposed (meta is the prime offender) and destroying it is trivial (emping doubly so) and is just as much of an AI kill

[Anonmare]

Honestly just making the turf dense would cut out 50% of the bullshit. You can still TP in front of the AI and go for the APC but it gives them at least a chance at counterplay.

[4dplanner]

There's already a way to set tiles as teleport proof I believe, so it's kinda a mapping issue

[Cobby]

I still don’t understand why there’s never been an AOE, teleporter blocking device that people can build for places like the AI core the armory. Seems like something you’d want in a universe where teleportation is common.

For the most obnoxious of TPs we do though, it's called holy water!

[Timonk]

Well you can stop the ERP by ahelping it

[Tlaltecuhtli]

AIs are easly replaceable anyway (4 plasteel and >1 gold bar to make a posibrain) and nothing stops a borg to drag ai out when a wiz/cult/clock cult/ nuke ops /abductor is announced

[DemonFiren]

isn't losing part of the game though

[BeeSting12]

isn't losing part of the game though

yes but only when the other team is losing

[Timonk]

isn't losing part of the game though

Imagine an wizard appearing on top of the ai and clobbering it with his staff

[Gouty]

Just found out that if an AI is in their shell a blob can spawn right next to the AI core and instakill it.