KingOfThePing Posted February 2, 2021 Posted February 2, 2021 In another post, regarding the access of medics and first responders I gave this thought (just copy paste): "Okay, really hot take here: Access bounded with/to IDs is a flawed system and I found it always very strange. Why not do the following: IDs are what it says - cards to identify someone. They dont have any use on doors or access in general. This gets outsourced to, can you guess the super sci fi answer? Access keycards. What's the difference you ask? Simple - these access keycards are only for sensitive areas. The Supermatter Engine, Command obviously. Head offices, armoury, etc (exact areas pending). So what's the difference? Well, for one, it's easier to forge a keycard - stealing IDs is always something that draws attention in some way. forging or manipulating a keycard is way more subtle. Second, the age old access question for who gets where is (partially) solved. Everyone just has basic department access. What speaks against it anyway? there is not much in the, for example engineering lobby that can be meddled with and if - maybe a small remap is needed. You could even go further and make it so that you actually have to swipe your keycard for these secured doors either on a device or on the door itself, so you need maybe a second or two to open them. "But Lanze, this is not realistic." Why not? Example - I am working in a (military) hospital. There are security areas but you either get buzzed in (something that wouldnt work with Aurora, obviously) or we use our access card. But even then, with a tiny bit of effort people could gain access to these areas relatively easily but they stick out. Someone will notice them because they are out of place. Something that would be similar here. My two cents on the whole debate, honestly." Please discuss what you think about this idea.
Butterrobber202 Posted February 2, 2021 Posted February 2, 2021 Tbh I'm down for switching to access-keycards. But you'd have to decide where the line is drawn in terms of general access. Letting any joe-smo walking to mining and grab a pickaxe would probably be a no-go.
KingOfThePing Posted February 2, 2021 Author Posted February 2, 2021 Sure there has to be some brain bashing to determine the access. But it will expand the access nontheless. You can even extend these keycards to elevators, for example. Endless possibilities. Bonus points for adding a cool sound when swiping a card and getting access granted/denied.
DatSamTho Posted February 2, 2021 Posted February 2, 2021 Big +1 from me this is such a good idea, and would solve a bunch of issues you could maybe even have leveled keycards? Though I see how that probably wouldn't work too well
Arrow768 Posted February 2, 2021 Posted February 2, 2021 I am not sure how this solves anything. First of all, I am also not sure why it should be simpler to manufacture a access card than a ID card. (Given that keycards usually have a cryptographic anti-tamper module that holds the secret key / id with the explicit purpose to prevent duplication/tampering) Even if we want to ignore realism in this case, I do not believe that it is a good idea if someone can just "manufacture" a access card for a specific area / with a specific access level. 1 hour ago, KingOfThePing said: What's the difference you ask? Simple - these access keycards are only for sensitive areas. The Supermatter Engine, Command obviously. Head offices, armoury, etc (exact areas pending). Given that most of our devices are id-locked, the player always needs a access card with the appropriate access anyway. If the proposal is to have one access-card that holds all the acccess required, then the player will immediately notice that said access card is gone if they try to use a device. If the proposal is to have one access-card per access-type. Then its going to be a usability nightmare, as we have 67 different access levels on the station. Carrying 67 cards around (in case of all access) and finding the correct one to use a specific device is a usability nightmare. The suggestion to give everyone basic departmental access can be implemented without the access cards (If that is desired, which is a topic for a different suggestion). The other "endless possibilities" such as adding access to elevators are also possible with the current id cards. Given that this either changes nothing, or is a usability nightmare I am voting for dismissal.
KingOfThePing Posted February 2, 2021 Author Posted February 2, 2021 I think you misunderstood some of the points I tried to make - I can't right now but I will try to explain it better tomorrow
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