Goonhub
Yesterday, 04:34 AM
I had one round as Salvager I remember where we stole the AI succesfully and brought it to our ship to hold it for ransom.
But we did sorta strip off station locations for it that don't get used like Donut 2's Assylum.
In my opinion Salvagers are "fine" as they are but I think they need a different boost and different motivations.
1st up: Different ways to get salvage.
As it stands now the Salvagers is basically ENCOURAGED to break into the station and cause damage to even make scraps.
There isn't much stealth involved.
Now I sometimes try to roleplay as someone who's checking the warranty on things and then taking devices who's warranty have expired.
Now we know there are many ways to "BREAK MACHINES" (wrong wires/emagging) And I think... to hide salvagers doing stuff. We need to add this one mechanic 1st.
"Warranty and broken machines" Essentially... random vending machines or devices that can be salvaged can "break" during a shift. But only if they have an "expired warranty"
As an engineer you can easily fix this, but they might have to be fixed again during the shift or you replace them with a new one where the warranty problem is solved all together.
This is how stealth salvagers will work too. They can take a machine that is over warranty (reduced scrap value) by posing as an engineer/warranty officer OR... they check on warranty on machines. "Break them" in advance then haul them away for full value.
2nd thing:
Power Sink Strategy.
OY VEY! This one sucks balls cause it's the easiest and most unnoticed way salvagers can power creep.
Just attach a power sink on a corner of the map and start draining. Mostly thanks to engineerings BRILLIANT increased power resource.... they don't notice you draining all their power and salvaging it for massive weapons and armor.
I employ this tactic a lot myself cause it's the easiest way to gain power for the big heists you want to do. (Aka stealing AI's)
In my opinion... a power sink of SALVAGERS (Not the syndicate ones wich cause blackouts) needs to act differently then just "being loud" ...When attached to a power grid, it causes devices to glitch and break more often... wich in turn helps the salvagers salvage.
But also it makes people more aware of possible salvagery. And also maybe cause the lights to go on and off sometimes as another hint for security to look for it.
Next up:
Salvager goals.
Salvagers as much as I love them are kinda goal-less then just: "Get to your point limit"
Maybe by adding hard goals like my "Stealing the AI" bit is a thing.
Have Salvagers , salvage something big from the station as an end goal.
Maybe the AI law rack, Maybe the Mainframe, Maybe the teleporting console in science.
Something that is rare, hard to steal , possibly in the open so Salvagers WILL get noticed when they make this move.
I know when we try to steal the AI's we get VERY NOTICED.
This topic is really good and points out major flaws in Salvagers.
You are discouraged from engaging with the crew till you have a powerful arsenal.
When you have a powerful arsenal, go ham.
It's basically traitors but on a slower pitch.
We might wanna buff them early on like they can get a few custom gear settings to start with.
But overall... I think we need to tweak some things 1st to force more noticability and interaction cause my lord.
SALVAGERS ARE ANNOYING WHEN THEY JUST CAUSE BREACHES AND FAIL TO STEAL 1 MACHINE!
I litterly remember 1 round where engineering was constantly called to fix 1 wall on the outer permitter and reoxydizen that area constantly since salvagers kept showing up there. And to have a security pod constantly there isn't fun for security either since it's basically waiting for a salvager to show up to try again. No one likes playing pod patrol as it's very lonely.
And for the salvager it ain't fun either since they take a while to break in...
So I recommend allowing salvagers to come in stealthy anyway. (Disguised Pod) and try to steal under the crew's noses.
But we did sorta strip off station locations for it that don't get used like Donut 2's Assylum.
In my opinion Salvagers are "fine" as they are but I think they need a different boost and different motivations.
1st up: Different ways to get salvage.
As it stands now the Salvagers is basically ENCOURAGED to break into the station and cause damage to even make scraps.
There isn't much stealth involved.
Now I sometimes try to roleplay as someone who's checking the warranty on things and then taking devices who's warranty have expired.
Now we know there are many ways to "BREAK MACHINES" (wrong wires/emagging) And I think... to hide salvagers doing stuff. We need to add this one mechanic 1st.
"Warranty and broken machines" Essentially... random vending machines or devices that can be salvaged can "break" during a shift. But only if they have an "expired warranty"
As an engineer you can easily fix this, but they might have to be fixed again during the shift or you replace them with a new one where the warranty problem is solved all together.
This is how stealth salvagers will work too. They can take a machine that is over warranty (reduced scrap value) by posing as an engineer/warranty officer OR... they check on warranty on machines. "Break them" in advance then haul them away for full value.
2nd thing:
Power Sink Strategy.
OY VEY! This one sucks balls cause it's the easiest and most unnoticed way salvagers can power creep.
Just attach a power sink on a corner of the map and start draining. Mostly thanks to engineerings BRILLIANT increased power resource.... they don't notice you draining all their power and salvaging it for massive weapons and armor.
I employ this tactic a lot myself cause it's the easiest way to gain power for the big heists you want to do. (Aka stealing AI's)
In my opinion... a power sink of SALVAGERS (Not the syndicate ones wich cause blackouts) needs to act differently then just "being loud" ...When attached to a power grid, it causes devices to glitch and break more often... wich in turn helps the salvagers salvage.
But also it makes people more aware of possible salvagery. And also maybe cause the lights to go on and off sometimes as another hint for security to look for it.
Next up:
Salvager goals.
Salvagers as much as I love them are kinda goal-less then just: "Get to your point limit"
Maybe by adding hard goals like my "Stealing the AI" bit is a thing.
Have Salvagers , salvage something big from the station as an end goal.
Maybe the AI law rack, Maybe the Mainframe, Maybe the teleporting console in science.
Something that is rare, hard to steal , possibly in the open so Salvagers WILL get noticed when they make this move.
I know when we try to steal the AI's we get VERY NOTICED.
This topic is really good and points out major flaws in Salvagers.
You are discouraged from engaging with the crew till you have a powerful arsenal.
When you have a powerful arsenal, go ham.
It's basically traitors but on a slower pitch.
We might wanna buff them early on like they can get a few custom gear settings to start with.
But overall... I think we need to tweak some things 1st to force more noticability and interaction cause my lord.
SALVAGERS ARE ANNOYING WHEN THEY JUST CAUSE BREACHES AND FAIL TO STEAL 1 MACHINE!
I litterly remember 1 round where engineering was constantly called to fix 1 wall on the outer permitter and reoxydizen that area constantly since salvagers kept showing up there. And to have a security pod constantly there isn't fun for security either since it's basically waiting for a salvager to show up to try again. No one likes playing pod patrol as it's very lonely.
And for the salvager it ain't fun either since they take a while to break in...
So I recommend allowing salvagers to come in stealthy anyway. (Disguised Pod) and try to steal under the crew's noses.