Remove E-MAGGED drones

[Negativ900x]

I would like to see the possibility for maintenance drones to be emagged removed. I want to see this happen because I believe they currently are in the exact same state as the security module (that was removed) but instead this is supporting the antagonist rather than the station/ISD in such a way that it just instantly kills any form of retaliation whether that be from the station AI or the ISD.

Let me make this evident with some examples:

What can drones typically do that is useful for antagonists or themselves:

• Drones can shock, unlock, bolt, interface with electronics just like an AI can (if they are in range).
• Drones can pass trough doors even if bolted and survive a trip down disposals.
• Drones are not susceptible to the ion rifle (possibly a bug?)
• Drones just like the security module can very quickly overpower someone with the tools they are granted including the use of shocked doors or safety disabled doors.

What can the ISD/AI do to counter this:

• Wait until they run out of charge.
• Forcefully deconstruct parts of the station to get out of locked in.
• Engage in melee/ranged combat using weaponry which may prove difficult due to the size/speed/ability to move trough doors of maintenance drones.

So why is this a problem? 

This is a problem because waiting until they run out of charge does nothing for RP but stall the round out a bit.

Deconstructing a door/wall is something not many security members tend to know or have the tools to do so at hand.

 

That means the only possible way to shutdown maintenance drones is to kill them trough sheer destructive force using weaponry that unless it is something ranged you will more than likely lose that battle due to the tools that are available to a maintenance drone killing you faster than you can kill it.

 

The security module for cyborgs when emagged is much stronger than emagged maintenance drones but has a variety of ways to combat unlike the maintenance drones. Additionally the security module was removed because it functioned more or less like a built-in antag hunter/killer for the station which is unhealthy for the progression of the round. Maintenance drones as I see it now when emagged are many times more efficient at functioning as a built-in crew/AI/station killer. There is nothing that is safe from maintenance drones reach. As seen in many rounds before this just results in maintenance drones hunting down people and killing them mercilessly or using the in-built mechanics such as electrified doors or siphoning areas to kill crewmembers.

I'd like to hear your opinion about this matter and wether you agree or disagree with this suggestion. If you do disagree please add why.

 

[Mogelix]

I like e-magged drones I just think they're kind of bullshit and should be nerfed/reworked/rebalanced. Not removed.

[Negativ900x]

Just now, Mogelix said:

I like e-magged drones I just think they're kind of bullshit and should be nerfed/reworked/rebalanced. Not removed.

What would you change to the current emagged maintenance drones to make them more balanced?

[Mogelix]

4 minutes ago, Negativ900x said:

What would you change to the current emagged maintenance drones to make them more balanced?

Make them even less durable. Maybe make the emag fuck with the structural integrity of drones so normal drones don't suffer. Airlock shittery is bad but I think their are ways that can fuck people over who do that repetitive tactic, but often times when they do these countering moves (I.E interface meming) they get fucked by the fact that drones can survive several e-pistol shots allowing them to escape and continue being memes.

[Doxxmedearly]

2 hours ago, Negativ900x said:

What would you change to the current emagged maintenance drones to make them more balanced?

Something that makes them a tool in an antag's arsenal rather than a weapon. Emagging things provides utility- access, distractions, etc. Drones should be in line with that. They can be a personal multitool of access. 

• Remove the plasma cutter. Sure the damage is weaker now, but coupled with the drone's ability to hide and control airlocks, it makes it a powerful weapon it has no business having. 
• Remove the drone's ability to electrify doors. It really shouldn't have this to begin with. 
• If you're right and they can't be ion'd or affect by EMP, make it so they can be.
• Reduce drone durability overall. Even regular drones don't need to be tough, to be honest. 

This would be at least a start to making them easier to deal with. 

[geeves]

This is my PR on it. https://github.com/Aurorastation/Aurora.3/pull/6898

 

Drones no longer have a plasma cutter, and when e-magged, their max HP gets reduced to 15, down from 35.

[Negativ900x]

38 minutes ago, geeves said:

This is my PR on it. https://github.com/Aurorastation/Aurora.3/pull/6898

 

Drones no longer have a plasma cutter, and when e-magged, their max HP gets reduced to 15, down from 35.

I can get behind this change.

[SatinsPristOTD]

Emagged drones turns into a yakity sax with a fucking plasma cutter and a little shit that can take multiple gun shots without dying. They're hard to catch, can't be locked down, and give absolutely no RP in return for going on wild goose chases.

It's not like THEY can RP. All they can do is panic siphon the room you're in and yeet away. Too much power for a ghost role.

[Bear]

1 hour ago, geeves said:

This is my PR on it. https://github.com/Aurorastation/Aurora.3/pull/6898

 

Drones no longer have a plasma cutter, and when e-magged, their max HP gets reduced to 15, down from 35.

I'm always a fan of balance, don't remove. My fear with this (and im not the only one) is it will make magged drones resort to lethal responses faster. However, very little HP will make them think twice before engaging so its definitely worth seeing how it does!

[Garnascus]

Emagged drones are insanely fun and also insanely OP. It relies on a lot of factors to happen though but lately people have been catching on to it. We probably just need to make them less durable and easier to hit with ranged weapons. 

[Brutishcrab51]

I've never had an issue catching emagged drones, just don't be dumb about it. Use an Ion Rifle. Know how to click on them. Actually click on them. Seriously, just click on them - or use the aim toggle so they can't dodge!

 

The PR posted in the above makes them useless. They are viable to emag because they are dangerous, they are a waste of an emag if they are not dangerous. Just emag a normal cyborg at that point. You don't cut off a generation's arms just because one of them punched you.

[Doxxmedearly]

25 minutes ago, Brutishcrab51 said:

The PR posted in the above makes them useless. They are viable to emag because they are dangerous, they are a waste of an emag if they are not dangerous.

Yeah it's not worth using a single emag charge on a drone that can deconstruct walls, open/bolt/electrify every airlock for you (and still walk through them), control alarms/computers/etc, build things for you with self-generated materials, and unlike a borg is totally ignored by crew until it starts attacking or interacting them (and can be carried in your hand/on your head). Better save that charge to open a door, or make the cleanbot spray gibs. 

Edited August 20, 2019 by Doxxmedearly

[geeves]

17 minutes ago, Brutishcrab51 said:

Just emag a normal cyborg at that point.

Yes.

[Negativ900x]

20 hours ago, Brutishcrab51 said:

I've never had an issue catching emagged drones, just don't be dumb about it. Use an Ion Rifle. Know how to click on them. Actually click on them. Seriously, just click on them - or use the aim toggle so they can't dodge!

 

The PR posted in the above makes them useless. They are viable to emag because they are dangerous, they are a waste of an emag if they are not dangerous. Just emag a normal cyborg at that point. You don't cut off a generation's arms just because one of them punched you.

 

On 20/08/2019 at 12:35, Negativ900x said:

Drones are not susceptible to the ion rifle (possibly a bug?)

Yeah so with aim enabled and if you manage to click it in time yes that would be a solution if this wasn't a problem with it. Normal maint drones explode when being emp'd. EMAGGED ones do not seem to do the same consistently. Some do and some don't which is very weird.

Additionally let's assume it *did* work. Having one specific item to defeat one or more maintenance drones that for one could just be ordered to steal the only ion rifle available on the station is pretty bad. That is similar to how its considered powergaming for the first thing a malf borg/AI to do is to remove the ion rifle from the armoury without any interaction beforehand.

[Nantei]

On 20/08/2019 at 06:05, Doxxmedearly said:

Remove the drone's ability to electrify doors. It really shouldn't have this to begin with. 

Drones have this I assume to unshock doors that are shocked by the AI/Traitors/Irresponsible Engineers. I am not sure if it is possible to make it so they can only unshock doors, but it's so rarely used for legitimate purposes that I would rather they didn't have it at all if we can't make it so they are only able to unshock doors.

 

Also I feel it is worth noting that maintenance drones are still the absolute greatest threat to the AI and I should not have to say how absurd that statement is. Have AI turrets target emagged drones please. That way if a drone wants to gank the AI, they can't just stroll in and slap them to death with tools or cut their power. They have to tunnel around or other nonsense. I know people will say just ahelp it, but in some cases it can be valid for a drone to kill the AI (As in they are ordered to), and similarly it shouldn't be so easy for them to begin with.

Edited August 24, 2019 by Nantei