Quick Tips for AI. Mechanics and Antagonics

[BurgerBB]

This guide is in two parts. One for people who want to get the most out of the mechanics, and another who want to get the most out of interacting with antagonists.

Part One: Mechanics.

To lockdown the fuck out of a room, bolt all the doors, activate the fire alarm, then turn off "environment" for the APC. It will be impossible for anyone to break out of the room unless they have explosives, thermite, or a welding tool and a crowbar.

A person is dying on sensors but their location isn't listed? Use the camera tracking feature (Bottom left button) to find them. You can use the keyboard to quick find by the first letter of their name.

Cameras can also be used to locate non-human antags or creatures, such as space carp, cult constructs, borers, or station pets.

Use the keys "," and "." to transition between z-levels quickly.

There is a setting in AI preferences called "Toggle Hologram Movement" that disables hologram movement, but allows you to freely move around the station. Useful for when you want to maintain a holocall with someone while doing something else.

It's recommended that you have the Crew Monitoring Console open when you're not busy. Heartrate information is very useful, as it can tell you when someone is sprinting or dying.

Shift Clicking a door opens it. Alt clicking a door shocks it. Ctrl clicking a door bolts it.

You can turn door bolt lights off and bolt the door to confuse anyone trying to get in a room.

If someone is hacking a door, you can turn off main power and backup power to confuse the hacker. If you're lucky, it's possible to bolt the door at the same time as them pulsing a wire to confuse them.

If you're bored, you can do some basic tasks, such as setup atmos and RCON. If you're really bored, you can go through the crew's records and report issues to security.

Don't forget the surface exists. Some new players might need some guidance on how to get to the main level, so it's good to check for stragglers. Also antags like mercs go through the merchant dock frequently.

You can listen in on people's conversations using the intercom by turning off the speaker, setting the intercom to AI Private, and then turning on the microphone. Make sure you do this in order, and make sure you go back and reset the settings back to default if you wish to avoid detection.

As AI, you can control the air alarms for an area. Make sure you're full aware of the area you're affecting, as some air alarms can control other scrubbers/vents outside the room.

Part Two: Antagonism.

(This applies to default laws. Some things may not apply with other lawsets. Also, be aware of the server rules when following the advice in this thread.)

You should generally never interfere with antagonists as AI unless it puts the crew's well being at risk. Even if you see armed raiders with guns on the station, it's better to watch them closely. If they approach crew, then you should bolt them from the crew. It's good from an OOC and IC perspective to report a hostile presence after antagonists have left an occupied area. (Justification: Screaming "INTRUDERS/HOSTILES" will cause aggression in the hostiles and security.)

You should never lockdown a room unless doing otherwise will put someone's life in risk, directly, or someone orders you to. An example when it's okay to do this: Someone has fired a gun and is chasing someone. An example when it's not okay to do this: Someone stole medical supplies and is currently on the run from security. It's fine to do the later if someone orders you to lock them down. (Justification: Trapping a beast will only make it angrier.)

You should never shock a door in order to detain crew. This should be self-explanatory, but I've seen it done on default laws. Even if the crewmember is a changeling, you should always attempt to take someone down non-lethally. (Justification: They're still fucking NanoTrasen personnel.)

You should only lock your core down if there is a significant and obvious threat to the AI core. If you do not believe that your core will be assaulted in the next 10 minutes, then you should not lock down your core.(Justification: Locking down your core early prevents non-antagonists from entering the area and fixing possible issues.)

The best way to know where an antagonist might go next is to think like one. For example, if they are an organic and recently suffered an injury, they will try to find treatment ASAP, so you should look near first aid lockers nearby or medical, possibly. The Captain's office and the Armory is also very common grounds for break ins. You should only do this if you KNOW there are antagonists on the station, but it doesn't hurt to scan everything if you're bored. (Justification: As AI, you are tasked with watching over the station and the crew.)

As AI, you are extremely vulnerable to most antagonists and even the crew. Most, if not all antagonists, trying to subvert you or destroy you WILL take the path of least resistance, which usually involves hacky ways to get into your core (building a fuckton of lockers, emitters, maxcaps) or subverting you (printing an AI upload circuit from the science console). Be aware of this fact when dealing with antagonists. In order to not be a dick and not shut down everyone who might compromise you, it's best to only use a fraction of your power in order to make it appear that you're that much of a threat and you're leaving wiggleroom. (Justification: An AI does not need to use an excessive amount of force to put someone down. Your calculations as an advanced unit will guide you to making the right choice.)

It's best to be neutral in every situation, but do not act like an enlightened centrist. While yes, your laws state that you must serve nanotrasen personnel according to rank and role, it does not forbid you from providing input or assistance to either side. The law basically means that conflicting orders are resolved in favor of the crewmember with the highest rank. (Justification: Being a friend to many means an enemy to few.)

You should make a habit of always using the announcement system whenever a situation requires immediate attention. (Justification: Sometimes messages get lost in comms.)

 

This will get updated as I think of more things.

[MagnificentMelkior]

Somewhat outdated as AI cannot shock or bolt doors anymore, but notheless a good guide. In regards to being a "friend to all."

Would it be acceptable on basic laws to privately converse with an antagonist and try to help them avoid harm (including security) if they are NT personnel, as long as you don't disobey any orders given by security?

[Butterrobber202]

On 10/11/2020 at 17:55, MagnificentMelkior said:

Somewhat outdated as AI cannot shock or bolt doors anymore, but notheless a good guide. In regards to being a "friend to all."

Would it be acceptable on basic laws to privately converse with an antagonist and try to help them avoid harm (including security) if they are NT personnel, as long as you don't disobey any orders given by security?

probably not gonna get alot out of the author considering they caught a banhammer

[MagnificentMelkior]

Oof

[Chada1]

On 10/11/2020 at 17:55, MagnificentMelkior said:

Somewhat outdated as AI cannot shock or bolt doors anymore, but notheless a good guide. In regards to being a "friend to all."

Would it be acceptable on basic laws to privately converse with an antagonist and try to help them avoid harm (including security) if they are NT personnel, as long as you don't disobey any orders given by security?

Yes it would, just don't actively inhibit security while doing it. ?