Idea to make radiation that affects a person more stealthy

[Lord_earthfire]

Hello there,

To make it quick: Radiation is -FAR- too obvious.

On the other hand, it can feel bad to fall over dead and have no idea what killed you when you have an enviromental effect. Even more so, as engineer you are working with radiation and kinda have to be prepared to deal with getting a small dose

I would have 3 ideas to change this:

1. Lock the radiation warning hud icon behind having a geiger counter on you
2. Make geiger counters easily available for engineering, especially on maps with the nuclear reactor and the singularity by placing these in anti-rad lockers and enable the print of these in engineering manufacturers
3.Hide the radiation sickness UI element until you hit the "moderately irradiated" treshold.
 
These changes would make it so that you have less suspicious moments when it comes to low doses or radiation. But once you are affected by a rather lethal, but surviveable amount, you know it. Also, engineers and miners have access to geiger counters, enabling them to notice much earlier. These also work while being in belts or backpacks, by the way.

If the ideas have some positive to neutral feedback, i would PR these changes.

[Agent reburG]

Absolutely,
I always hated this massive big red pop-up. 

Because it comes on top, with ANOTHER pop-up telling you the very same. 

I like this solution, the Geiger Counter is utterly underused, but maybe make it possible to read of it how many sieverts you would/are accumulating?

[RSOD]

i like the idea, because having someone instantly go "OH GOD! OH NO! THERE'S RADIATION HERE!" and instantly dip and run even if it's an amount so small you don't even take damage from feels annoying. means people have to be more careful around radioactive environments and geigers get more use than just clicking ominously while in your inventory

[Kotlol]

I am fine with these changes IF you bring the following things too.

1: Engineering with set engines that will produce radiation (Singularity Engine/Nuclear Reactor) will get some new devices besides Geiger Counters. Sensors that will detect radiation flowing out of the "zone" it is allowed in.
While we see rads fly out of the reactor into the rest of the station... mostly engineering ignores it until everyone shouts at them.
If we go more stealthy, we need some "radiation sensor array" around the nuclear reactor and if a specific level of radiation goes beyond that level (aka particle flies too far out), Engineering will get a ping saying: "Radiation leak alert"
These can also be made by mechcomp as a new tool. Rad-detectors.
Yes maps who DO NOT have these things standard these engines will NOT have these detectors installed and have to be with Mech-comp to have this safety net.

2: We need a new flavor text for examining people to check for "radiation sickness"
Essentially like how it says: "Looks bruised up" "looks a lil burned up" , for rad damage/toxin damage we don't get anything... So I think we need some hints would be nice if someone examines the effected and go: "Ooh you may have some rads...

3: Can we for the love of kot.... have a species that thrives on rads? Roaches used to be 100% immune (wich was funny but I do like the current roach being very minorly damaged by it, but it still annoying for them.)
And I say species yes... so it can be critters or antags. I was thinking Arcfiends THRIVE off radiation or are immune.. like changelings do not need to breathe air. That way Arcfiends are more likely to increase engine outputs to the extreme since it gives them more power. Heck maybe them being irridated gives them a temporarely radiation damage bonus to their abillities... but it also makes them VERY OBIVIOUS in Arcfiendness (so still avoid if you want to be stealthy)

[Cropsey]

Engineering borgs having geiger counters would be nice.

[Lord_earthfire]

Engineering borgs having geiger counters would be nice.

i think for borgs i would leave the current behaviour unchanged (which is like they have a geiger counter active at all time). They kinda should keep the ability to directly detect hazardous enviroment for the crew.

1: Engineering with set engines that will produce radiation (Singularity Engine/Nuclear Reactor) will get some new devices besides Geiger Counters. Sensors that will detect radiation flowing out of the "zone" it is allowed in.
While we see rads fly out of the reactor into the rest of the station... mostly engineering ignores it until everyone shouts at them.
If we go more stealthy, we need some "radiation sensor array" around the nuclear reactor and if a specific level of radiation goes beyond that level (aka particle flies too far out), Engineering will get a ping saying: "Radiation leak alert"
These can also be made by mechcomp as a new tool. Rad-detectors.
Yes maps who DO NOT have these things standard these engines will NOT have these detectors installed and have to be with Mech-comp to have this safety net.

Interestingly, i wanted to do that with geiger counter assemblies... turns out, radiation in most circumstances does not interact with objects in any shape or form. It only interacts with mobs. And every idea i had to implement this would potentially cause a lot of performance issues (e.g. each radiation source interating with every object near them. That would end -badly- for piles of radioactive ore).

The only exception is neutrons from the radioactive engine and these are already very easily visible by turning the station green. And i wasn't planning on changing that for the time being. So, the only thing needing this is the singularity. And you can turn that danger off by simply closing the shutters.