Give department heads more control of their department

[onleavedontatme]

Read the bold part if you don't care about my rambling justifications for the idea

I mean it quite literally. This is kind of a zany idea so bear with me. It might be my worst one yet. Seriously I almost didn't post it and I'm usually willing to post really bad ideas.

Everyone knows department heads are more or less a joke. Nobody listens to them.

A lot of people have also been discussing ways to remove the AI's stranglehold on the game.

I've already coded the basics of it (it was surprisingly simple) so I could add make a PR for this as soon as the feature freeze is over. Anyway the idea is

Give department heads an item (I was thinking some magic tech mask or glasses/HUD) that lets them control the doors/APCs in their department via hotkey like the AI does. Simple as that.

-Chemist keeps handing out lube to the clown? Turn off his lab. Some guy refusing to listen to you? Bolt him in, etc
-Delivery to the front door? Open up from the comfort of your desk
-Decreases reliance on the AI in the long term (AI DOOR, AI BOLT THIS OPEN, AI ENABLE EMERGENCY ACCESS), which is important if people are seriously talking about scaling it back
-Unlike the heavily fortified AI, the guy controlling the doors in this scenario will still go down very easily to one stun/a couple of revolver shots, and you'll be able to loot his door magic

QM would get supply/mining doors

Captain would get bridge doors

HoS would get sec doors

RD would get science doors

CMO would get medical doors

etc

Nobody would get main hallway doors, or doors for other departments, even if they have access to them (captain can't control RD doors). Would actually make the CMO, CE, and RD relevant instead of entirely redundant.

Could work as an implant/augment as well, but I'd rather it be something people can steal. Could possibly be extended to other machines in the department as well.




I think the idea of some kind of techno aristocracy each controlling their own little domain is fun. I realize it might not fit very well into the current game/playstyle though. I could see it devolving into nations somewhat easily, or making malf impossible (I think redesigning malf so its not about doors would make it more fun for everyone involved though).

Anyway, there it is, a somewhat radical and probably not the best idea. If someone wants to sprite a fancy tech mask that'd be cool though. Like I said, it's already coded, I just want to limit my embarrassment to this forum before I throw it on github.

Also I swear I'm still working on migrants.

[DemonFiren]

Captain should also get Gateway, EVA and Teleporter doors. EVA should be shared with CE, Gateway and Teleporter with RD.

[Falamazeer]

I'd like more details please.

Would this be steal able? Or would it be ID locked, like sec huds where invalid IDs cannot set people to arrest
Would this be Duplicatable Could science make a replacement set? or cargo order a new set?
How could I fight this? Would I cut the AI control wire? Or would a new wire be set for this?
Why glasses? Google glass kinda thing? What about the other glasses commonly used? CMO would have to choose if he sees health bars or if he's the tyrant king of medbay, same with CE and traymeson glasses, Maybe those glasses should have the functionality associated with their department, same with the HoS and sechuds, Or maybe tie this idea to PDA buttons. (Bolt doors, flip breakers, etc etc)

[onleavedontatme]

I'd like more details please.

Would this be steal able? Or would it be ID locked, like sec huds where invalid IDs cannot set people to arrest

Stealable, I loathe ID locks. It wouldn't be tied to ID at all in fact, because it'd be based on department. Even though the RD has access to the bridge doors, he can't use them, for example.

Would this be Duplicatable Could science make a replacement set? or cargo order a new set?

Good question.

How could I fight this? Would I cut the AI control wire? Or would a new wire be set for this?

AI control wire, emag the door, kill the guy and take his shit.

Why glasses? Google glass kinda thing? What about the other glasses commonly used? CMO would have to choose if he sees health bars or if he's the tyrant king of medbay, same with CE and traymeson glasses, Maybe those glasses should have the functionality associated with their department, same with the HoS and sechuds, Or maybe tie this idea to PDA buttons. (Bolt doors, flip breakers, etc etc)

Yeah, cause magic hud vision. I guess they could be gloves or something as well (gesturing at doors). I'd rather it be a mask than glasses because merging them with huds sounds like a nightmare. Mask could double as a gas mask and lose no functionality (plus be highly visible). Mask could be the part with the hud built in, since we allow wearing glasses+masks already.

PDA would work as well

[PKPenguin321]

I'd like more details please.

1 Would this be steal able? Or would it be ID locked, like sec huds where invalid IDs cannot set people to arrest
2 Would this be Duplicatable Could science make a replacement set? or cargo order a new set?
3 How could I fight this? Would I cut the AI control wire? Or would a new wire be set for this?
4 Why glasses? Google glass kinda thing? What about the other glasses commonly used? CMO would have to choose if he sees health bars or if he's the tyrant king of medbay, same with CE and traymeson glasses, Maybe those glasses should have the functionality associated with their department, same with the HoS and sechuds, Or maybe tie this idea to PDA buttons. (Bolt doors, flip breakers, etc etc)

Going off of the OP,
1. Yes, can be looted with no ID locking
2. No, cannot be duplicated (kind of like the hypospray or the CE's magboots, only one exists but it can be looted by anyone)
3. Iunno
4. Fair point

I feel like to balance it out you could make it an item you need to be holding in your active hand to make use of it. That way it can be combated way more easily (disarm) and isn't quite as efficient as being able to have 24/7 access to all your doors (when you think about it, having it be an item you have to use instead of it being a passive effect from equipping an item is a pretty big difference). Also solves the issue of it being glasses.

I actually really like this idea and think it would be hella snazzy. Maybe balance it by only making it able to open/close, bolt/unbolt, and emergency/unemergency access doors. That way traitors can't just remotely disable airlock safetys and doorslam/electrocute people to death.

[onleavedontatme]

That way traitors can't just remotely disable airlock safetys and doorslam/electrocute people to death.

It wouldn't have a door safety hotkey (ran outta buttons, just like the AI), and I don't think the electric shock would be any more overpowered than borgs/AI being able to stun with it.

[whodaloo]

I think adding it to their PDA cartridge would work fine, especially since all heads start with a spare cartridge in their lockers. If you lift the cartridge somehow you could use it without an ID lock, or if you snatch their PDA you can use it as you please.

[Falamazeer]

Hmmm, Seems interesting, definitely worth trying out.
Basically giving heads a little more weight to their words by making them mini AI's (God) of their departments.

[onleavedontatme]

I think adding it to their PDA cartridge would work fine, especially since all heads start with a spare cartridge in their lockers. If you lift the cartridge somehow you could use it without an ID lock, or if you snatch their PDA you can use it as you please.

Yeah, PDA could work fine, but it's a bit clunkier having another window up vs hotkeys.

And like I said, I think having augmented leaders lording over the humans is just cool. If I had the skill/time Mechanicus station/mars station would be my dream project.

[Scones]

Sounds hilarious but

>qm would get

DONT YOU MEAN HOP YOU FILTHY FUCKING SEPARATIST

[onleavedontatme]

Sounds hilarious but

>qm would get

DONT YOU MEAN HOP YOU FILTHY FUCKING SEPARATIST

Nah fuck him he's an all access assistant.

But seriously I don't think giving the HoP control over doors on another Z level will help encourage him to stay at his desk

[whodaloo]

I think adding it to their PDA cartridge would work fine, especially since all heads start with a spare cartridge in their lockers. If you lift the cartridge somehow you could use it without an ID lock, or if you snatch their PDA you can use it as you please.

Yeah, PDA could work fine, but it's a bit clunkier having another window up vs hotkeys.

And like I said, I think having augmented leaders lording over the humans is just cool. If I had the skill/time Mechanicus station/mars station would be my dream project.

Could you have it tied to the PDA cartridge but still work through hotkeys, or is that not possible code wise?
I think if you were to add this idea at all, you'd have to make it easy to use. I'd much rather have an in-hand item + hotkeys over a PDA thing that you'd have to use a window for.
I also don't think you should be able to shock/unshock doors with this item, but bolting and unbolting is okay.

[lumipharon]

No to hotkeys,

PDA functions maybe, but could be abused remotely if stolen.

It would be best if the heads respective office had more buttons to control shit.

Everyone loves buttons.

[Atticat]

I'm down with any buttons that will give the RD more control and maybe privacy in his damn office.

fuck the AI, honestly

[Incomptinence]

Nah fuck him he's an all access assistant.

But seriously I don't think giving the HoP control over doors on another Z level will help encourage him to stay at his desk

The QM is just a shitty lazier nastier cargo tech that pushes others around and adds nothing, remove qm post haste.

Also this subversive attempt to elevate filth scum QM to head level leaves the question of who other than captain has this power over service.

Give hop power to lock filthy QM in room and kill him, perfect.

[Erbbu]

Sounds good to me.

[onleavedontatme]

Nah fuck him he's an all access assistant.

But seriously I don't think giving the HoP control over doors on another Z level will help encourage him to stay at his desk

The QM is just a shitty lazier nastier cargo tech that pushes others around and adds nothing, remove qm post haste.

Also this subversive attempt to elevate filth scum QM to head level leaves the question of who other than captain has this power over service.

Give hop power to lock filthy QM in room and kill him, perfect.

I figured literally nobody would care about bolting botany doors, I guess HoP could have those though.

Does HoP even communicate with the service people on a regular basis?

[Scones]

No, but this would probably help. I mean, it's pretty rare that service radio gets used AT ALL BY ANYONE, much less so by the HoP.

QM is needed to keep people in line because while the HoP is the big boss, he's usually got bigger fish to fry. Still, people shouldn't forget who the real top dog is.

[onleavedontatme]

No, but this would probably help. I mean, it's pretty rare that service radio gets used AT ALL BY ANYONE, much less so by the HoP.

QM is needed to keep people in line because while the HoP is the big boss, he's usually got bigger fish to fry. Still, people shouldn't forget who the real top dog is.

Could just have QM be in charge of mining/cargo doors and HoP in charge of miscellaneous (chef, chaplain, librarian, clown, everyone else that nobody cares about)

[Incomptinence]

Or if you are dead set on legitimizing the QM move service under him on the pretense of rations and supplying food and give him control of both. Added bonus of chef/botany/bartender being part of a department maybe helping them out of the getting shit on /ignored by coders "RP job" category.

I saw a QM last game, disgusting creatures.

[DemonFiren]

As QM I resent that remark.
It just might be correct, though...

...still, if the QM gets control of service, what about the HoP?

[Marflow]

I like the lockdown idea for all departments, but having individual rooms APCs shut off etc seems a bit too spesific and unneeded. If chemist is making lube even after CMO tells not to make it, there's always security to handle it or telescopic baton. To me the overly spesific item can enable powertrippers too much. Granted, powertripping head has only ever happened twice to me so it isn't really that big of a problem, but it might breed the mentality. By powertripping I mean actual arseholes who consider their position and job to solely include trying to get their subordinates to fuck up so that they can be fired for idiotic reasons such as "You didn't report in radio" or "You speak to me only when spoken to".

[lumipharon]

Also speaking of lube, cutting apc power doesn't turn off chem dispensers, it just stops their energy from recharging.
Chem masters stop working though.