Pathology Feedback

[zjdtmkhzt]

However, I have an issue with one thing: the pathogen particles and other decals. I know one of the main goals of the whole pathology rework was to make pathogens visible. But, in my opinion, they might as well be removed. The presence of the pathogens can be easily noticed by the symptoms and if you don't have 100% viral protection, avoiding the particles still does not make you safe from them. And despite them spawning less frequently than before, once a pathogen with fairly high spread gets released, they still contaminate the whole station. Which also gives the station an uncomfortable, dirty feel. And even if the pathogen heals all your damage and revives you if you die, you still feel like the station shouts at you: Wear viral protection or you'll catch something nasty.

So here are my few suggestions that'd possibly address the issue:
1. Remove the particles entirely
2. Make particles spawn only if the pathogen has patho farts/sneezing symptom
3. Make them visible only if you're wearing some specific googles

They do only spawn when a symptom with airborne transmission triggers. (Farting, Sneezing, Coughing, ..)
And avoiding them should protect you even without viral resistance? They won't do anything to you if you don't touch them.
You can still catch things from the pathogen's other symptoms though, like sweating or hugs.

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I so far liked all the changes; but in this following post of mine I am just going to adress one singular thing.

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Perhaps some use could be drawn from making the decal based clouds and puddles have various different colors...based on whether the virus is good or bad.

That might be a solution to people shouting all day long about any type of good virus spreading about.

Yup, I had the same thought reading TTerc's post.
Maybe I'll integrate this with the danger-rating stuff I had planned for health scanners.

My original thought was that maybe a pathologist making a good pathogen would just use hugging or infect people manually (with their consent), but I suppose that is unrealistic.

I could see myself implementing something where a common cold, with a minor negative score would be similar to now, while a high danger rating plague would be black or something and a very beneficial pathogen an almost transparent pink.