Holopad Broadcasts

[evandorf]

My first thought was that this would be a tweak to the existing holopad system where someone with command access could activate a holopad connection to all receiving pads across the ship, with the projection being just the character who initiates it. Basically another way to keep the crew informed, but it has some advantages over the standard announcement system.

• For situations where a longer, more nuanced announcement is needed, this allows you to break up your speech into multiple typed sentences and prevents a common occurrence where some command member isn't responding on comms and is just staring at the command console until they're done typing up their essay. It also lets you pivot if more information is needed or if someone asks a question over comms.
• It gives the crew a visual of the speaker, which for command might not be that exciting, but this could also be something event characters or antags can also tap into, which allows more of the crew to have eyes on and converse with persons that might normally only be relegated to command interaction.
• It has a more cinematic feel. Your mileage may vary.

I'm not suggesting a replacement of the announcement system or in-person meetings, but more options are better, IMO.

[NerdyVampire]

Will the speech just stack? I don't think it is viable to remove or space out holopads more than they already are (and as an AI player I would be sad to see less holopads).

Sounds great, as long as it isn't over-used, because it can also get old fast if it fills even more than regular long announcements. But I would think that it would be easy to self-regulate, as regular announcement is likely most prefered by people.

Some concerns that should be addressed if it goes forward:

• What happens when multiple holopads are in line of sight of a player? Does the speech stack? (please don't remove holopads to fix, as an AI player I'd rather have more than less)
• What happens if the holopad is already in use, say by an AI?
• Should all of command have access to it, or just the heads? Consulars and represenatives too?

[CatsinHD]

1 hour ago, NerdyVampire said:

What happens when multiple holopads are in line of sight of a player? Does the speech stack? (please don't remove holopads to fix, as an AI player I'd rather have more than less)

This is already somewhat solved by the TGUI chat box, as it will merge lines that are the same into one line with a number marker. So, it won't clutter (as much) and you can still RP being annoyed by having 5 pads nearby.

1 hour ago, NerdyVampire said:

Should all of command have access to it, or just the heads? Consulars and represenatives too?

Just heads imo. Consulars and Reps had their announcement access removed, and this would be really just a second option for announcements so the same restriction should apply imo. BCs are arguable.

Personally I like the idea. Aside from figuring our what happens to AIs when the announcement starts, it's a pretty neat alternative and also allows command to make an announcement that isn't logged.

[evandorf]

26 minutes ago, CatsinHD said:

Aside from figuring our what happens to AIs when the announcement starts

My first thoughts are that the broadcast interrupts whatever the holopad is being used for but, like normal operation, you can turn it off if you don’t want to hear it or need it immediately for something else.