Should BUDDY learn engines/thrusters?

[NerdyVampire]

The round has startet and time goes by.. the bridge crewman wakes up, but there is no engineering staff yet.

"BUDDY can you start the engines and thrusters?"

- "I'm sorry, that is not something I am able to do."

But that is a technically a lie. I lie on purpose because I like the threat of a dark station, the new RP it sometimes gives, and how much more the ambience fits when an antag is at large. More importantly, I don't want to be known for taking work away from engineers that may also love starting up the shop from full darkness and getting the glory.

But the AI shell has a wrench, and that's all I takes to secure the canisters, aside from knowledge of the standard supermatter engine set up, and the valves are secured and interactable. Technically, BUDDY could do these things.

But should I? What do you guys think, is it good enough that BUDDY refuses to do stuff like this, or would it be better if I actually learned the engineering stuff and did it when asked?

Cast your votes Auroreans!

[Zelmana]

Yes to engines no to thrusters

[Gem]

ummm akkshuiually its a reactor... 🤓

[Cnaym]

Yes to "depending on manifest"

If there is a lot of erpers (service, cargo, bridge crew, science) help them out with both to make their round more fun.

If there's a couple officers and medical, the sm is enough so they can work with the antags.

If there is dead to no pop, just don't bother. Dark rounds are grand because it changes much about what would else be a dead round and candles at the bar and tea are enough to have fun.

Now if you are more on the realistic but interesting side of things, limit power. Use the rcon to disable unused departments and power those that are in use, with priority to the medbay and yourself. This way you get almost completely dark rounds while also having crew goated together and antags able to do some stuff more easily

[Captain Gecko]

What Cnaym said. Check how many players are around there, online, even if notplaying. On deadpop, it's not issue... With a proper population, it is. Hell, darkness is often what turns of a lot from latejoining on occasions.

[Lmwevil]

if i join in and the ship is depowered, my interest is rapidly dropped since i can't do my job usually, unless i'm a service member

[NerdyVampire]

Good replies, food for reflection for sure.