---
# System prepended metadata

title: 'New forensics device: Telecrystal signal tracker (TST?)'

---

# New forensics device: Telecrystal signal tracker (TST?)

The TST is a laptop tracker, similar to the Lifeline (the radar app for suit sensors) that tracks faint traces of telecrystal related teleportation (uplink purchases and mission conclusion).

A tracking "center point" is created with 2 balancing levers:

1. A random delay, between 2-3 minutes, so detectives can't rush when a new signal is found and instantly figure out the bad guy.
2. A random offset, of 5 tiles in any direction, as to not give away who is the Traitor in cases of a limited access area, like virology.
But as the offset is short, multiple signals around virology would put the virologist in the spotlight.

# Deepening our forensics system
And both ways, detectives get a way to slowly piece together a possible traitor.
Traitors can play the cat-mouse game, risking making their acquisitions in public areas instead of safely deep within their department or in maintenance near a secluded area, virology again as an example, to put the spotlight on someone else.

And to keep this as detective content, only 1 tracker will spawn in their locker.

# While not kicking traitors down...
Traitors should be able to dodge the detective's spotlight by being clever.

Using smart locations, disabling NTnet, stealing the tracker and destroying it.

They should only be penalized **IF** they are careless and the 2 balance levers are there to keep them safe from being instantly found out.
Forensic work is only engaging after a "chase", it is not rewarding to instantly find a traitor over easy fingerprints...

# Alternatives
1. Implementing more tracker options: Adding a way to track changelings/heretics with this device would cut on its novelty.

Implementing more forensic work for other antagonists, like a bioscanner that can track leftover changeling cells on the floor as an example, would be very welcome.

2. Tracking traitor items: Some would make sense, the experimental teleporter as an example, but a pinpointer directly to an antagonist should be avoided.

Tracking the experimental teleporter in/out locations could be an interesting, but perhaps spammy, feature.

# Players always min-max the fun out of the game!
A few things can go wrong...

1. Detectives can decide to stay glued to the tracker screen all game, the tool should be just one option in their arsenal, and not the most influential.

There are some drawbacks to using the laptop, it takes one hand and slow you down. Still if it becomes an issue, a harsh power drain could force detectives to put it down while it charges and to save power.

3. Traitors might stop using the uplink after minimal purchases, making the round boring for both sides.

Adding an item they can apply to their uplink to upgrade it into a "signaless" uplink could be an option, or goals that push them to disable NTnet and the tracker by proxy.