Gameplay Aut'akh OSS Programs

[AccointNaim]

As you might know, Aut'akh have Soul Anchors which can run OSS Programs, they can range from "Oh my god, they're a hivemind" to just a public messaging board.

Which is why I present to you OSS Programs, and .OSSNEX, ranging from ripping off Vaurca to more unique abilties.

OSS Programs will be able to be picked like a changeling picking their abilties using the Aut'akhs ability tab, they can only pick one (Two? Three is more lore friendly), and CANNOT change it.

First, .OSSNEX, or .OSS Network Expander is a machine located in the AI Core area, the Vault, or a new special area. And allows the OSS Programs to run, if destroyed all Aut'akh on the station will momentarily stumble while walking, and will no longer be able to use OSS Programs, speaking of which...

PrivateSquare.OSS is a new .OSS Program which is basically Vaurca Hivemind, but while using it you will go blind to simulate using your eyes to enter a chatroom, using it will open a textbox, which when spoken into will be sent to all Aut'akh using PS.OSS and the AI.

TravelGrid.OSS can either just be like a Holographic Map already in the game, or, more interestingly spawns a predetermined pathway to a place of your chosing, (Bridge, Medbay, Cargo, Bar) which is only avaliable to see to the Aut'akh using it.

NTMedSafe.OSS is a collaboration between NT and the Aut'akh, allowing them to access the medical records of the Aurora they CANNOT change anything about the records! (This is only available to Medical Doctor Aut'akh)

NTSecSafe.OSS is a collaboration between NT and the Aut'akh, allowing them to access the security records of the Aurora, they CANNOT change anything about the records! (This is only avaliable to Security Officer Aut'akh)

AGames.OSS has the arcade machine games in it, "Orion Trail" and "Defeat (X)"

And finally, BattleTrance.OSS, an implant (Not actually a program) which is only avaliable to Traitors, Ninjas, and Mercenaries using 8 - 18 TC, or just avaliable as a program. (Depending on how OP), when chosen they will get a Split Personality, referred to as Commander in game (Used by a ghosted player) which can be enabled by choosing Split Personality, or Traitor (Or even a whole new role selection), when enabled the main Aut'akh loses control and the Split Personality takes over, gaining a pain resistance boost, slight movement speed boost, 25% Damage increase to Melee weapons, but will only last 1 - 2 minutes, after which they will fall to sleep for 10 seconds and will be unable to use it for 5 minutes.

 

Also, I am accepting more suggestions for .OSS Programs

Edited May 12, 2019 by AccointNaim

[Skull132]

51 minutes ago, AccointNaim said:

NTMedSafe.OSS is a collaboration between NT and the Aut'akh, allowing them to access the medical records of the Aurora they CANNOT change anything about the records! (This is only available to Medical Doctor Aut'akh)

NTSecSafe.OSS is a collaboration between NT and the Aut'akh, allowing them to access the security records of the Aurora, they CANNOT change anything about the records! (This is only avaliable to Security Officer Aut'akh)

I need to be horribly nitpick-y here. I've echoed similar complaints over any related proposals about IPCs and such as well. Why would NT provide any external party access to its internal and secure networks in this capacity? A principle of information security is control over access points, and in common application, this means that corporate internal networks can only be accessed via devices which are under direct corporate supervision (work computers, enslaved synths).

And there is a flip side to this as well. Why would the Akutha, or IPCs, put themselves at risk by exposing themselves to NT networks? The moment you start communicating with another network is the moment you need to put in extra effort to control exactly what they can do on your network. If NT was to provide a weakness in the Akutha or IPC security, it could very well just enslave all of them, for example. Or, in a more believable capacity, would use it to fuck with either of them.

[AccointNaim]

Ah, yes, that does sound horribly stupid for both sides now that I think of it, I'll try to replace them with something else.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

An important part of the autakh situation is that on station they are outside the range of the Mesh. They have no wifi on the aurora. This makes them feel a lot more isolated and lonely than they are used to which compels them to avoid isolation and interact with others.

While giving them their programs would be fun it would take that away.

I also want to avoid mimicing vaurca mechanics. Each species should stand on its own with special mechanics.

I also worry about power creep. This makes the autakh use 100% of their power when they're written to be getting by the skin of their teeth.

[Kaed]

Let's be honest, the way that you put them on the station is a little bland jackboot.

They've got all this tech that they supposedly invented but almost none of it is usable because you said so, because you want to 'encourage them to interact with people'.

That's all people do all day playing this game. Why create the rich back story and lore for this species if none of it almost none if it is going to be used so you can shove this conflict down their throat.  Telling people all these cool things Aut'akh can do but that they don't get to do 'because I want them to be friendly and outgoing'.

If you had started out by giving them access to the Mesh and something happened that took it away from them maybe the players would care more.

But you're expecting people to role-play caring about something they've never had, and experienced no sense of loss for, just because you wrote down on a piece of paper that their character's supposed to want it. The lore and gameplay segregation gulf is too large.

It's like saying that a character is addicted to heroin, but there's no heroin accessible on the station that they can strive for or struggle to obtain.  They just kind of once in awhile say gosh I really wish I had some heroin then move on.  

Edited May 13, 2019 by Kaed

[AccointNaim]

I've now realised that while this would of been cool, and that I have atleast tried to fit this in with the lore, that is it's all fucking dumb.

I'd like this post to be taken down, please.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

Its not dumb its just not in the design philosophy of autakh

Do you think that should be changed?

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

On 12/05/2019 at 03:44, AccointNaim said:

TravelGrid.OSS can either just be like a Holographic Map already in the game, or, more interestingly spawns a predetermined pathway to a place of your chosing, (Bridge, Medbay, Cargo, Bar) which is only avaliable to see to the Aut'akh using it.

Because honestly.... this is uninvasive and intuitive... showing the map...

[Jessica_Stark]

Honestly, if Travelgrid actually could do the pathing to your desired location, it would be GREAT for getting out of maintenance if/when you get lost, or finding that one room that nobody ever really goes to, but you discover you need to.  It'd probably be complicated to do, though. I'm not an SS13 expert, but I could somehow see tying it into the AI pathing that bots use when summoned to particular locations and then using that to generate the path. Plus, it lends a bit more RP in  the form of "You need to go there? I've never been there either, but let's find out together."