Meta Research Input thread

[Arrow768]

I just noticed the suggestion regarding the reports

It should be fairly easy to be able to submit reports to a review board.

Just add a special fax destination that saves everything faxed there to the db.

Then the lore devs tasked with reviewing it, can look through the submitted reports in the wi and award research points based on them.

[HunterRS]

As someone who plays science every day, and does mostly everything. I kinda dislike this idea for one reason: It's changing everything we had known. Trying to figure out what to do to what our characters WOULD know and with this change, RnD will be changed, and what exactly are these point spent on?

My idea, don't change RnD, it is fine where it is.

[Ornias]

R&D: That might take a little bit of work, but some way of encouraging players to actually write research reports would be great. Maybe a database players could upload reports to, where the lore staff (most likely me ) would peruse and award points according to how well written it is and how creative the experiment is.

PLEASE. I write a lot of research reports in science and it's disheartening to just see them get wiped at the end of each round - but giving them actual value other than the RD just yelling at you to get to work? I'd kill for it.

On another note, toxins research would be excellent. I'd love to see new machines, new ways to work with explosives other than just "big explosion small explosion". I want to see controlled demolitions, targeted explosions, that kind of thing. On how to reward it, depending on how far this project goes towards toxins (because it's clearly very ambitious, which I like), I'd like to see perhaps the option to set a predicted explosion radius on a computer in toxins launch, and award points depending on how close the explosion is to that prediction. Also remove the bombcap.

I'm excited for this project, I really am. It will probably take a lot of fine-tweaking to get right, so we don't either fly through it or never get it done, but I'm excited to see science full of eager scientists again.

[Nanako]

As someone who plays science every day, and does mostly everything.

How long have you been playing though?

It's the opinion of many veterans that R&D doesnt have longevity, its too easy to rush up the research levels. I don't have a current plan for changing that but it's quite probable i will in future

 

I kinda dislike this idea for one reason: It's changing everything we had known. Trying to figure out what to do to what our characters WOULD know

If your character knew a particular scientific field before, they still will. Its just you, the plyer, who'll need to learn new stuff. Right now the main mechanical changes are in xenoarch, many of the other areas won't be altered too much.

what exactly are these point spent on?

Techs, the nature of which are described in the OP.

I won't be giving exact lists of techs because i want to keep them a surprise. The specifics are only discussed internally

My idea, don't change RnD, it is fine where it is.

I expect after playing it a while longer, you'll change that opinion. When you have rushing to max research levels memorised and can do it in 15 minutes. Then try doing it every round for weeks. It gets very repetitive.

If i do make any change to R&D, it will probably concern removing repetitiveness from the research level process

[HunterRS]

Even though I can do it in 15 minutes, it's still fun for me, I have played for over a year now, 90% in science, It is fine where it is, and FYI, quit saying you will change peoples mind, it gets quiet annoying.

[Tequilajoe]

This is an interesting idea. I like some things, and there are other things I'm not so sure about. But it sounds like its all going to happen so come what may and I'll probably get used to it.

Here's a big question however. You say the RD chooses what to spend the points on, in game. As someone who plays RD, I realize that is a huge decision: this will give RDs unprecedented power. They will have the only job that will be able to make game changing decisions that can last for hundreds of rounds. That being said, how will this work with antags? What if Kyle is standing at the console, scratching his beard thinking of what to spend the hard-earned RMPs on, and Urist McTraitor walks up behind him, clubs him over the head, takes his ID, then buys bluespace rubber ducks or something that nobody wants? (Not that we dont want Bluespace rubber ducks, its just an example). What if Kyle is a traitor himself, and decides to spend all the points he can to further his nefarious ambitions in a particular round?

Just something to think about!

[Nanako]

What if Kyle is standing at the console, scratching his beard thinking of what to spend the hard-earned RMPs on, and Urist McTraitor walks up behind him, clubs him over the head, takes his ID, then buys bluespace rubber ducks or something that nobody wants?

 

It will also check for command whitelist status before allowing the points to be spent

As an antag, spending research points would be kind of a dick move. But if someone manages to do it then thats a matter for the administration.

All actions and expenditures will be logged and revertible. Admins can decide whether or not to void the purchase

[icy_dew]

What if Kyle is standing at the console, scratching his beard thinking of what to spend the hard-earned RMPs on, and Urist McTraitor walks up behind him, clubs him over the head, takes his ID, then buys bluespace rubber ducks or something that nobody wants?

 

It will also check for command whitelist status before allowing the points to be spent

As an antag, spending research points would be kind of a dick move. But if someone manages to do it then thats a matter for the administration.

All actions and expenditures will be logged and revertible. Admins can decide whether or not to void the purchase

what if you check the spending after the round, and check for antag intervention?

if something happened because of antags, you undo it.

[Nanako]

Look guys, Let me make this perfectly clear:

1. You can partially spend points, so you can spend everything your team has earned this shift

2. All transactions will be recorded and reversible if necessary

3. Any decisions on whether a purchase is valid will be the responsibility of the moderation/administrative team.

That is the final word on that subject. No more questions on administrative issues related to this system will be entertained.

The kind of feedback i want to see in this thread is about quantifying departmental rewards, or mechanical changes to areas of research that would fit better with this system

[Arrow768]

Will be kept open as nanako is still working on it

[Nanako]

Due to the ending of my involvement with the development team, this project is cancelled. Its the one i was most looking forward to, but it seems it was not to be.