Inspector Gadget antagonist

[CalliopeSoups]

This is more of an interest check than a suggestion. For a while I've had different conversations about what new antagonist the game could have and what type of niche should be filled for that. I think the game has room for a new non-human antag that chooses what things to bring to the round in the same way traitors or wizards do. That being a list of abilities you can spend points on. 

On the design side I've seen interest in a terminator style antag for a long while, in that they would be a human looking antag that reveals more of its robotic nature the more you damage it. I felt like a standard terminator would be a little boring though. This where my idea comes in, Inspector Gadget. I feel as though an antag styled after his kind of antics would be incredibly fitting to goon's atmosphere. 

Mechanics wise they'd be a little more like wizards than traitors. They'd have a big list of things to spend points on roundstart that come in different categories like escape, damage and utility. Instead of a magical vibe their abilities should be mechanical, physical and slapstick. The goal with this would be to make them unique compared to other antag abilities, though I believe a wizard styled teleport would likely be in there. They'd just use extendo-legs until they're off screen. My first ability idea was a zipline hand sort of like the one from the Batman Arkham games, where a line would be shot to a wall behind you and in-front of you letting you zip down a hallway and dropkick people as you go. 

I'm making this thread mostly to gather ability ideas from people as well as any concerns design or mechanics wise, cause if there's no large issues with the concept I will just work on this on and off throughout 2026.

[kyle2143]

Umm, I'm pretty sure that Inspector Gadget was a GOOD GUY!!!

[CalliopeSoups]

Umm, I'm pretty sure that Inspector Gadget was a GOOD GUY!!!

Not anymore... He is a WEAPON now!!

[ju45he]

Umm, I'm pretty sure that Inspector Gadget was a GOOD GUY!!!

What if he's the good guy but NT is the bad guy?

[Ikea]

You should be able to place brown bricks Instead of inspector gadget, making it clockwork themed could be neat. There was that one clockwork artifact project, maybe tie it into that or something? IMO my take for antagonists is they should be designed in a way to where their objectives, aesthetics and gearset are inherently hostile and contrary to the goals of a station, maybe you need to consume people to fuel yourself or something. Right now it just feels too like, mild. Anyways when the game breaks sometimes what happens is players can only move at a set speed almost turn based, and some ability that forces other people to do that seems neat.

[Drunkangel]

Clockwork infiltrator sounds fun, it's pretty basic but "head-hammer" which makes the sprite do a big but quick wind-up, then whaps into the enemy for a single target but melee ranged stun. Thematically something like the hammer in the hat but easier on spritework that way.

[GARGATHUGANOKSREVENG]

So is it just another reskin of traitor/wizard with different abilities, but the same objectives as always?

I've heard people complain about wizards a lot lately. I like playing wizard because of how overpowered it is, but I'm not sure many people who play the game would want more of that. I'm not sure what this antagonist brings that the wizard doesn't already, besides a fancy new coat of paint.

I like the time-stopping ability Ikea suggested, where I'm guessing they mean the antagonist can force input delay on other players, but I don't know how you'd tie that into inspector gadget or why inspector gadget is terrorizing a corporate space station anyway.

[CalliopeSoups]

It wouldn't actually be Inspector Gadget, it would likely be a silicon/clockwork art disguised as a human or a syndicate weapon. I'm just using Inspector Gadget shenanigans as the design concept.

I agree with them needing some goal to distinguish themselves from wizards, this is likely the harder part of brainstorming them. They could perhaps start with some points but get a little more after a few kills up to a maximum, or maybe they'd be sabotaging equipment with emag-like effects? A teleport reskin wouldn't be great either on second thought. They should just come with their own unique escape tools, say like... retreating inside a scuttlebot like hat.

I think if I can't nail a good plan for their objective and such I'll still likely make it as an admin spawned thing that just comes with a set list of abilities instead, or maybe an addition to classic's midround antag pool.

The head hammer Drunkangel suggested sounds funny and should probably displace the victim's sprite to be flat for added effect. I already had a similar thought of a big hand that comes out the hat and slaps someone. Perhaps if I try to make this as a full in-rotation antag it could be neat to give them slots to work with. So instead of points you're just choosing which things to put in which parts of your body, letting you spec into being more flighty or fighty etc while making them a little more different to wizards.

[Kotlol]

I think you rather have some sort of TERMINATOR villian then Inspector gadget.

Someone who looks normal but is a silicon killer in disguise.. just this one has been enforced with Honk Co. products since those aren't picked up as Contraband.

[Snoid]

toggleable ability that makes it so when they lie down, they get little wheels coming out of their back so they can drive around while being hard to shoot a gun at and also they can go under tables. if anyone tells me this is just what vampires do then ill cry

i think maybe the antags mission should be to spy on the station? but it needs to be annoying enough to warrant sec actually arresting/executing them. one idea is maybe they have unlockable abilities they can only get by stealing certain items on station. like if they get the captains megaphone and click on themselves with it, they gain an ability that lets them do an AoE stagger? also whenever they type in all caps then its megaphoned.

i really want a slapstick antag to be evasive and defensive rather than a murderer, but thats a bit much to ask for given that everyone has the ability to grab a toolbox and start bashing people over the head. the more defensive stuff you add, the stronger the antag is at opening opportunities to rampage. like if someones floor goblin and they decide to start killing, theres basically fucking nothing you can do to stop them.

[GARGATHUGANOKSREVENG]

i think maybe the antags mission should be to spy on the station? but it needs to be annoying enough to warrant sec actually arresting/executing them. one idea is maybe they have unlockable abilities they can only get by stealing certain items on station. like if they get the captains megaphone and click on themselves with it, they gain an ability that lets them do an AoE stagger? also whenever they type in all caps then its megaphoned.

bootleg spy thief lol. so is it like spy thiefs but they get wizard(-type) powers instead?