A few things about the new AI PDA message functionality.

[Avack]

The new stuff's pretty cool, but now that I've gotten a chance to try it out I've got a couple things I'd like to say about it:

 Firstly, while most of the mailing lists are good and cool, there's a couple which don't benefit the AI and can be kind of annoying. I'm specifically talking about the ruckingenur kit mailing list: as soon as a mechanic showed up for the round and started scanning stuff, I started getting a barrage of "item scanned" and "item already in database" messages which were of no use at all to me and were honestly kind of annoying.

 Secondly, on message interception: the AI has no way to tell whether a message was intended for them or not except through context. An intercepted message between two crewmembers appears absolutely identically to one sent to the AI, which can easily get really confusing.

[sartorius]

Also dear god, if anyone just walks back and forth through a row of scanners with contraband, the AI is deluged with neverending spam regarding security threats

[Vitatroll]

Not even sure why AI was given automatic access to PDA messages. They already had access through various, albeit nerdier methods. I mean, what's the point of pda messaging now?

[Mordent]

Not even sure why AI was given automatic access to PDA messages. They already had access through various, albeit nerdier methods. I mean, what's the point of pda messaging now?

To message one person without spamming the radio?

[Vitatroll]

Years of listening in to private conversations (lol) has led me to believe that PDA messaging is only ever used for conversations that 'shouldn't be heard'. Inter-antag communication. Compromised sec-headset communication. Compromised AI communication. Game 'secrets'. Everyone else just spams the radio.

Feels like this was by AI players, for AI players.

I guess everybody will have to rely on coordinating hand radio frequencies for semi-private conversations now.

[cyberTripping]

why is this even a thing? It sounds like it just makes packet nerdery and PDA messaging even less useful than they were before, with the "benefit" being that the AI just doesn't need to apply any effort or understanding in order to spy on folks as efficiently

as a certified packet nerd this makes me sad

[Frank_Stein]

Wait you hear all PDA messages and not just get alerts for everything? Some kinda way to mute messages selectively or have to activately decide to listen in on someone would be better, I think

Haven't gotten to mess with this, but with summoning securitrons, what's the success rate for people with that? I don't get much use out of that feature as Sec, since it's not uncommon for them to both move too slowly and to at some point abandon the request to travel to where you are.

Seriously, watch Beepsky next time you summon them. They typically move about 3 tiles, stop and wait for a second, then move 3 more, and just keep repeating that. You're better off dragging bots behind you for backup.

[Avack]

Clarification on interception: essentially, all PDA messages sent to a PDA are also sent to the AI. On the round I played before making this thread I listened to several conversations between crewmembers over PDA messages, where each message they sent to each other was also sent to me. The AI is given no indication whether a given message was sent directly to them or was sent to somebody else and merely CCed to them.

[amaranthineApocalypse]

I'm really not a fan of this feature. If you want to snoop in on the PDA traffic, then just use the packet sniffer on the internal PDA cartridge. At least that doesn't clutter up your chatbox.

[Triacontakai]

Yeah, I was always under the impression that PDA was supposed to be a decently secure method of communication so I'm not really a fan of this.

[Maegor]

Isn't it only the department messages that the AI receives?

[Mordent]

Yeah, I was always under the impression that PDA was supposed to be a decently secure method of communication so I'm not really a fan of this.

If there are any mechanics or scientists, you absolutely shouldn't assume any message you send is secure in any way. The AI can also see PDA messages by default, as they have the Packet Sniffer PDA programme. Requires they have it open, of course.

I would be for rolling back this change, or as a minimum providing an indicator regarding whether the AI was the intended recipient or if it's just "noise". In the latter case, they probably should not get an obnoxious ringer beep.

[amaranthineApocalypse]

Yeah, I was always under the impression that PDA was supposed to be a decently secure method of communication so I'm not really a fan of this.

If there are any mechanics or scientists, you absolutely shouldn't assume any message you send is secure in any way. The AI can also see PDA messages by default, as they have the Packet Sniffer PDA programme. Requires they have it open, of course.

I would be for rolling back this change, or as a minimum providing an indicator regarding whether the AI was the intended recipient or if it's just "noise". In the latter case, they probably should not get an obnoxious ringer beep.

I'd suggest rolling it back, but making the Packet Sniffer thing more prominent

[Triacontakai]

Yeah, I was always under the impression that PDA was supposed to be a decently secure method of communication so I'm not really a fan of this.

If there are any mechanics or scientists, you absolutely shouldn't assume any message you send is secure in any way. The AI can also see PDA messages by default, as they have the Packet Sniffer PDA programme. Requires they have it open, of course.

hence, decently secure since usually there arent nerds that bother with that

[Frank_Stein]

I'd like it as:

1. Have department wide messages still go to AI
2. Differentiate between messages to the AI and messages for departments and which ones
3. Have messages between people removed but the packet sniffer available for them to turn on when they want to snoop