[Silly?] IPC "mods"

[Killerhurtz]

So. Organics have Genetics, right?

I suggest adding another possible function for Robotics. Mod research.

Basically, you get components from the Research lab. Then, on either an empty IPC frame or an IPC volunteer, you try interfacing the components with it. There'd be a machine for it, of course.

Like for instance - levels of the sensor modules would give nightvision/material vision/x-ray vision. Micro-manipulators could increase movement speed (or decrease minimum hand/arm health before it starts failing). Capacitors would lower the hunger rate. Suit cooling unit makes it temperature-resistant. So on, so on.

But like genetics, what mods will and won't work are randomized at each round start. And instead of rad/toxin damage, a failed mod would give burn/slight EMP damage (like if it shorted) on top of the brute damage given even on a success (because it's a certainty that there has to have been some... reconfiguration to accommodate the component).

TL;DR: parts-based IPC genetics, pimp my IPC

[NebulaFlare]

Hmmmm......to my understanding, part of the IC reason why IPCs cannot fix their chassis is because they are not allowed to modify them to be stronger. So this would counter the unspoken society fear of having super strong IPCs.

*shrug*

[Guest]

Hmmmm......to my understanding, part of the IC reason why IPCs cannot fix their chassis is because they are not allowed to modify them to be stronger. So this would counter the unspoken society fear of having super strong IPCs.

*shrug*

That's kinda contradictory to our rules in genetics. I assume that people aren't allowed to modify themselves out of control either. Either way, we are here to research genetics mods, not provide them. Same rules can go with IPCs.

I support this idea, would give roboticist something to do.

[Zidanyia]

Do IPCs really need this?

[Guest]

http://aurorastation.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=3615

I don't think they do.

[Killerhurtz]

On the topic of IPC OP-ness, IMO it's more of a matter of "weaknesses weren't coded in" than inherent strength - but that's a suggestion for another thread.

Zidanyia, IPCs don't *need* this. But organics don't *need* genetics research/modification either (and we are heavy RP and not balance-based, aren't we?). In the context of research, I find this makes sense.

But still - thanks Scope, I'm going to make a new thread about possible IPC weaknesses to add to make them a lot less OP.

[Zidanyia]

I think it's a matter of:

Would it add anything to bideo gaims?

Would said bideo gaims be more, or less fun, with another mega-IPC feature?

[Guest]

I'm going to make a new thread about possible IPC weaknesses to add to make them a lot less OP.

That would be interesting. I will add I am not against the idea of modular attachments/upgrades for IPC's however some balance must be there to start with.

[PoZe]

I have already proposed viruses for IPC http://aurorastation.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=2494

But nobody where interesting in that.

We have 547 topics with suggestions and only few of them are realized. This shows that people don't actually like changes or changing something. Lol. And it's being caused by different reasons: Maybe someone has better idea, but they just criticize someone's original idea, instead of helping.

Anyway, I support idea to bring modifications to IPC and balance them with weaknesses/viruses.

[Guest]

It's more finding the person with the time and want to do it. Hopefully when I get around to contacting the coding app's peoples there will be someone who wants to put the time/effort to add them.

[Dreamix]

To me, the whole "mods" thing seems overpowered, with just a simple surgery needed to give a IPC x-ray vision, and attaching a suit cooler to IPC's, would make it EMP-vulnerable fast-walking dioneas. People can do self-surgery on themselves, mind you.

Because, how else would you like to apply those modifications to IPC's? With coding? Physically? I just don't see it working well.

Not even mentioning that it would be heavily abused, with IPC roboticists giving themselves all mods every shift.

[Killerhurtz]

For those interested, here's the thread I made suggesting my balance fixes: http://aurorastation.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=3711&p=36637#p36637

And Scopes, I know exactly how you feel - it's just too easy to forget that Aurora is a free-access server tended to by volunteers on their spare time.

I want to get in onto the coding scene for Aurora, but I feel like Byond's code is confusing - if you had a good guide somewhere, I'd start learning right away.

 

To me, the whole "mods" thing seems overpowered, with just a simple surgery needed to give a IPC x-ray vision, and attaching a suit cooler to IPC's, would make it EMP-vulnerable fast-walking dioneas. People can do self-surgery on themselves, mind you.

Because, how else would you like to apply those modifications to IPC's? With coding? Physically? I just don't see it working well.

Not even mentioning that it would be heavily abused, with IPC roboticists giving themselves all mods every shift.

 

Not a simple surgery. I thought about it deeply, and the way I would see it work better is in a simulation-style UI, where they add components and an empty IPC body, and the machine simulates it and outputs the data of the result. Then a tube/syringe of special nanopaste can be produced to apply these changes - good or bad, and since it deals with reconfiguration it would cause a good deal of brute damage that will need to be healed anyway. And as discussed earlier - what mods would and would not work would be randomized at the start of the round, just like Genetics - which means that unless RNJesus is seeking giggles, it's highly unlikely that there will even be a part in all categories that work - maybe two power cells, one scanner one round, nothing the other, so on.

And to add a layer of "work" to it, we could add an "interface" minigame where, instead of randomly changing a gene in organics, the roboticist would need for EVERY part to try different connection interfaces between parts and the body, instead of just a pass/fail. I'll try to photoshop a mockup of the whole idea tonight.

Side note, AFAIK X-Ray doesn't make people invulnerable to rads (which I consider to be the organic EMP). Suit-cooling unit would, however, make them like a fast Dionea admittedly - but that's if that particular round the interface works. And no, people can't self-operate - that's why I suggest using a machine for it - just like the geneticist can't irradiate himself in the machine to find out genes, the "IPC mod machine" would need an operator.

And the "heavily abused" part also applies to genetics. I don't always see geneticists applying, to themselves, all of the genetics mod they find - I picture IPC modification to be similar. And so far, out of all the components I can think could be added (and their effects), there's only I think three of them that could actively be used offensively - most of them are more of the utility type (seeing further away to act as a watchdog, running faster to places to catch people or to give needed help quickly, being able to go for longer without needing to recharge so being able to help for longer, etc)

As for the lore of the whole story - it would be under the pretense to find possible upgrades and alternate configurations for specialized IPC/borg platforms to improve performance in certain applications.

[LordFowl]

Personally, I would prefer cybernetics for all races, with IPC mods being a variation of the deus ex style cybernetics. That way it doesn't directly pander to IPCs, while still providing them benefit.

[Killerhurtz]

That actually sounds more in line with what heavy RP should be. I always felt that "genetics for superpower" didn't feel right - it belonged more in the realm of the non-canon antagging like cults and wizards than in a normal station. So switch Genetics with an Enhancement lab and have the modifications work across the board - I like that, especially since it means that, for components - the Enhancement lab will be able to provide both enhancements and replacements, organic and synthetic, for everything - need a prosthesis? Make a prosthesis. Need a new grown hand? Make a new grown hand. Engineers planning to do something that needs a little extra? Give them the little extra.