Faustian Bargain Kit: A discussion

[Nerkson]

A unique devilish suitcase with three contracts, three demonic pens, and an evil lawyer suit (get it?). Simply click on someone with a contract while holding a demonic pen in your off-hand to complete a pact; people can voluntarily sign one by using a demonic pen on a contract. Anyone who signs a pact gains certain "benefits", like lots of mutations, fabulous wealth, or even Macho Man powers, depending on the contract; you can Examine each pact for clues on what it offers. Meanwhile, each pact signed makes your pen and briefcase hit harder and stun longer and raises your lawyer suit's melee & bullet protection.

- ss13 wiki


There was some discussion on the Discord, and I was encouraged to make a thread. While some of this applies to RP, other parts of it definitely apply to Standard as well.

Points I've read about and come to:

• Anyone savvy enough will know the contracts suck (and not sign them), and those not savvy enough will sign them (and be in for a learning experience and revenge), which leans into point 2...
  
• Asking people to sign it is a very loud indicator that screams "I'm a traitor! I'm valid!" at best, and at worst allows people to feed the antag. It' It's not fun to look for the vampire at round start and beg to be thralled. Its a very grey area on RP.
  

• As it stands, this 8 TC item is underwhelming. It leaves you with little other room to buy items, and is the Chaplains only unique Traitor item, with a shared item in the form of a bible thats just smaller.
  

• You can force people to sign contracts, but it takes forever and really only works on someone who's watching a computer monitor or is SSD.
  

• The soul mechanics are fine, with the pen stuns scaling nicely and the damage output being rather high, but you are prone to security/ random vigilantes taking your entire stash of items,  leaving you more or less bankrupt for the round and unable to finish the gimmick. Or they just kill you and then you're done anyways.
  

Some ideas for change (Not *all* ideas at once, but a list of potentials that can be by themselves or combined with others):

• Lowering the cost to 7 or 6 - At 7 it would let you buy a Sleepy Pen or a Chameleon Projector, which can definitely aide with obtaining contracts and/or running from the angry crew thats trying to send *you* to hell. At 6 it would open up the world to Revolvers, Emags, and Cloakers. Both options also let you buy more lower-tier TC items to have more fun - Duct Tape, Freedom Implants, or a crap ton of Microbombs. It's your world.
  
• Allow the contracts to be summoned and created at will. Less reliance on your vital gear being stolen.
  
• Lean in more to Devil Magic. Blood Circles, Organ eating, you name it. You're announcing to the crew you're evil from the start anyways.
  

It is worth noting that the Faustian kit is much stronger on the RP servers than it is the Standard servers, as people will usually let the antagonist have their fun for a bit and ramp up before poo hits the proverbial fan.

Let me know your thoughts, suggestions, comments.