Rev and communication

[Luke Cox]

Revs are the only team antag that doesn't have some form of global communication. If gang bosses can send out orders via gang tools, revs should be able to as well.

[newfren]

I mean if it's going well enough revs can just use common.

They spam converts so fast that they don't really need the communication buff to work like gang does - either you're in the early game and you have to quietly dunk a head when you see another couple of revs floating nearby or you're in the late game and can shout "CE FUCKING AROUND IN SPACE NEAR AFT PORT SOLARS" by which time he's fucked off again.

[Cik]

i agree. gangs are smaller than revolutions, and rely less on critical mass and more on communication. revs don't really need communications most times, besides common. the fact that revs can convert a whole room in like 5 seconds means that they are far more blitzkrieg based than the much slower gang buildup. all you really have to do is group up and roam as revs, and just act together.

part of the tradeoff of rev is that it's not stealthy past a certain point because they can't communicate really without shouting over common, adding a secret, un-interceptable comm system would just be a flat buff and i don't really think rev needs a flat buff.

[Incomptinence]

Rev needs this not.

[Steelpoint]

The whole point of Rev is a bunch of people using whatever they can steal and scrounge together to over throw the Security and Command staff.

[Saegrimr]

Flash
"Set your headset to 145.7"

[Oldman Robustin]

I'd support this if Revs weren't already steamrolling.

I think taking the AI off department channels (has this been done yet?) is a better compromise. Helps reduce validhunter AI's and lets gangs/revs use certain department radios to communicate once they've off'd the department head.

[TheNightingale]

Taking the AI off department comms is just a huge nerf to AIs in general. They can achieve it through intercoms anyway, so it's just a skill-gate that not everyone has. Revolutions do well enough already.

[Gun Hog]

Revs do not really have a need for communication, do they? They spread faster than a virus, and reach a point where they can openly communicate without fear, as Sec is too busy mounting a defense against the greytide. But yes, if they want to be tactical, telling each convert to use a different radio channel is optimal.

[Oldman Robustin]

Taking the AI off department comms is just a huge nerf to AIs in general. They can achieve it through intercoms anyway, so it's just a skill-gate that not everyone has. Revolutions do well enough already.

Intercoms were an absolutely fair middle ground.

It required a lot of effort from the AI and you had to micromanage the 3 intercoms so that you didn't blurt out security secrets into common radio.

AI -NEEDS- a huge nerf. It's the fucking living symbol of power creep in SS13. AI gets several buffs a year and when someone tries to bring us back to a time where the AI didn't decide the outcome of almost every round, people whine about it being a "HUGE NERF" when its usually just a reversion to some bullshit AI got in the last few years.

Forcing AI to WORK for dept. radio monitoring was acceptable. AI wouldn't just randomly tune in to most depts. without a really compelling reason, and the game was better that way.

[Takeguru]

I was floating this idea around in my head earlier.

Start revheads with syndiekeys.

[Luke Cox]

Keep in mind that this communication would be one-way, just like gang heads. It would still be pretty limited.

[callanrockslol]

Taking the AI off department comms is just a huge nerf to AIs in general. They can achieve it through intercoms anyway, so it's just a skill-gate that not everyone has. Revolutions do well enough already.

Intercoms were an absolutely fair middle ground.

It required a lot of effort from the AI and you had to micromanage the 3 intercoms so that you didn't blurt out security secrets into common radio.

AI -NEEDS- a huge nerf. It's the fucking living symbol of power creep in SS13. AI gets several buffs a year and when someone tries to bring us back to a time where the AI didn't decide the outcome of almost every round, people whine about it being a "HUGE NERF" when its usually just a reversion to some bullshit AI got in the last few years.

Forcing AI to WORK for dept. radio monitoring was acceptable. AI wouldn't just randomly tune in to most depts. without a really compelling reason, and the game was better that way.

The captain has access to every department radio too. He also has a gun and the authority to execute anyone that needs executing.

[Cheimon]

That energy gun is for defence! The one in the cabinet doesn't even have a key!

Also, while the captain can certainly go and grab radios from all departments, he only has access to command, security, and common channels in his normal headset.

[TheNightingale]

The Captain has access to all department comms, but only Command and Security are enabled by default. Activate your headset (click-drag it to your sprite) and you can turn on the other channels too.

Remember, AIs are completely bound by their laws - so if you want the AI on your side as a revolutionary, change the laws. (It's easier than it sounds - you can do it with x-ray and telekinesis.)

[Lo6a4evskiy]

The whole point of Rev is a bunch of people using whatever they can steal and scrounge together to over throw the Security and Command staff.

This. Don't try to blend all team modes. Revolution is decentralized by design.

[Cheimon]

It's nice to have a game mode where there's only one gadget, the converter. And even then, flashes are fairly common.

[Tornadium]

Not required, Rev is basically a free win if you have like 3-4 robust people on the rev side. Just sheer weight of numbers usually carries it as well as heads getting bored or being stupid and leaving brig fort.

[Anonmare]

I don't really see why revs need special communication considering how quick they become the majority.

*Maybe* revheads can get station-bounced radios on a random frequency by default but secret comms are unnecessary and pointless