Make Drones OK again. [Code Bounty?]

How, what and why to code in BYOND.
Post Reply
User avatar
Aeri
Joined: Thu Nov 28, 2019 6:44 pm
Byond Username: Cat348

Make Drones OK again. [Code Bounty?]

Post by Aeri » #630566

I consulted Melbert on this and he said and I quote, "drones are weird cause they're like both policy and code" so I'm sticking this thread here.

OK, so, on paper, I like the idea of being a drone when I don't feel like playing the full extent of a round, you're just a little guy, you're helping out, slowly making fixes and stuff to the station. Drones are never subverted, they don't care about what the AI, or anyone else, wants. Cool right? Wrong.

Problem is, as of the changes to drones a wee bit ago (I forget how far back, it was a period best imagined in months I guess) I've tried being a drone several times and the consensus is that they are thoroughly fucking useless at what they're "made for" so why even have the motherfuckers. Drones being shitters is something that should be logged and the player behind it drone banned, if drones are going to be this bad they shouldn't exist.


- AI should be able to send drones one way requests for service, the AI should know that drones are there, one of the few communications drones can make is that they can "drone ping"
- Give them a "storage module" or something, maybe re-use the little box icon from the MODsuit storage module because hey, guess what, you need to store some materials in order to do anything resembling your function, no, I don't really want to spend 20 minutes lugging two lightbulbs at a time across the station. Also you can't open/close the crate/trash cart/etc you're probably dragging around as a drone if you happen to accidentally open it next to a mouse or some stupid bullshit
- Dial back the restrictions on what drones can do, I basically can't pick up anything that isn't a raw building material or a hat, replacing an emagged door? Oh damn, I can't pick up a multitool because using it could interfere with my laws :roll:, can't pick up a light replacer, that might interfere with my laws. Can't pick up this piece of garbage off the ground and put it on a table because hur durr laws
- This lumps in with point 3, but they don't have a multitool or cable coil synthesizer, nothing really, those items are critical to repair. The Multitool is more important than the cable coil in this instance since I _am_ allowed to carry a cable coil, mind.
- only sentient beings should inhibit my ability to interact, not a random medibot
- This last one is kind of a reach, but it'd be cool if there was some incentive to load the drone dispenser, drones being worth while would be a good one, or maybe there should be enough material for 1/2 shells in the damn thing at the start of a round


This would probably need to get past somebody in charge, but I'd pay 10-20$ for it or something if someone actually does this, gets it in front of the right people, whatever.
Tell your local headmins to abolish ENFORCE_HUMAN_AUTHORITY, humans are fucking boring. Allow plasmeme CE, Lizard HOS, etc!
User avatar
TheFinalPotato
Code Maintainer
Joined: Sun Oct 13, 2019 7:58 am
Byond Username: LemonInTheDark

Re: Make Drones OK again. [Code Bounty?]

Post by TheFinalPotato » #630670

talk to the headmins
My ancestors are smiling at me, Imperials. Can you say the same?
Image
Image
Image
Image
User avatar
Vekter
In-Game Admin
Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2014 10:25 pm
Byond Username: Vekter
Location: Fucking around with the engine.

Re: Make Drones OK again. [Code Bounty?]

Post by Vekter » #631064

Drones are a goddamn nightmare to balance. The way they're implemented is pretty much the only way we can as the headmins won't even let them be enabled on the server if anything is changed about them.

We used to have a lot more freedom as drones and it was actual hell to moderate. How can you tell if a Drone did something specifically to hinder someone else when individual movements/actions aren't logged?
AliasTakuto wrote: Thu Jan 04, 2024 1:11 pm As for the ear replacing stuff, you can ask Anne but I don't think this is what I was banned for. If I was all I can say is "Sorry for being hilarious"...
Omega_DarkPotato wrote:This sucks, dude.
Spoiler:
Reply PM from-REDACTED/(REDACTED): i tried to remove the bruises by changing her gender

PM: Bluespace->Delaron: Nobody wants a mime's asscheeks farting on their brig windows.

PM: REDACTED->HotelBravoLima: Oh come on, knowing that these are hostile aliens is metagaming

[17:43] <Aranclanos> any other question ping me again
[17:43] <Vekter> Aranclanos for nicest coder 2015
[17:44] <Aranclanos> fuck you
cacogen
Forum Soft Banned
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2018 10:27 am
Byond Username: Cacogen

Re: Make Drones OK again. [Code Bounty?]

Post by cacogen » #631248

The removal of the drone duffelbag and with it the ability to carry items has made them so tedious to play that I’ll probably never play them again unless it’s changed.

There should be a blacklist on what they can pick up or an easy way for the crew to access their inventories instead.

You could just add a drone console (assuming one doesn’t exist already) that could force them to drop what they’re carrying. To prevent them stashing items, you could give them a camera that the AI and security camera consoles could see so you knew where they were.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users