# Species Templates ## Abstract Species templates are a system that augments current species code, allowing a unified "template" to be placed on multiple different species to grant the same abilities/modifications to each. This is intended to grant more versatility to existing species that are only obtained through midround transformation (slime people, etc.) while also allowing characters to maintain some element of their original appearance. It is more than a little annoying that, as a Tiziran, turning yourself into a slime or plant just makes you look human. This system can find other uses as well, most notably the various Halloween monsters that have an obviously hasty implementation. ## Goals 1. Unify "transformed" and "monster" species types under a single versatile system. 2. Create an easily-extendable system allowing for the easy implementation of new templates. 3. Allow players to maintain some amount of their own character customization even if they become a vampire or what have you. ## Non-Goals 1. Make a system that is more powerful than existing species. You should most likely not get a lot of benefits from both your base species *and* a template unless there is a very good reason to. 2. Allow multiple templates. You still should only get one of these. While the balance would not necessarily be a concern if methods of obtaining multiple templates were heavily restricted, the implementation would become *much* harder if templates have to be compatible with each other. --- Each "human" character will be able to support a single template datum. Templates will work very similarly to species, with the main difference being that they will *override*, rather than replace, elements of a player's base species. For example, a vampire Tiziran will have the benefits (and drawbacks) of vampirism, but will still maintain their Tiziran appearance, sound effects, and so on. Templates will each have a whitelist of species they can be applied to. This prevents potential compatibility problems that may otherwise arise. This system will ideally replace a few notably species, most notably xenobiology slime people. The base "jellypeople" will not be touched, but the subtypes thereof will be moved to this system. While this may introduce some redundancy regarding the shared slimeperson abilities, it will make for a more pleasant gameplay experience overall. ## Alternatives * Modify the transformed/monster species themselves to allow them to inherit appearance rather than only looking human. This would make balance much simpler, but would also make for much clunkier code to maintain appearance.
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Contract Killer (minor midround/latejoin antagonist)

Contract killers are a midround and latejoin minor antagonist, picked from the crew much like sleeper agents/Syndicate infiltrators. They are antagonists with a very simple mission: assassinate one randomly-chosen member of the crew. As killing some members of the crew, such as heads of staff, may prove challenging, the contract killer has help available to them. By spending time around their target, they can “gather intel” - once enough is gathered, they can summon a special gear kit. Using this kit, they can attempt to kill their target off once and for all. When this is done, their mission is “concluded”, and they can go back to being a member of the crew.

12/15/2023
Xenoarchaeologist (New Research Job)

Abstract The Xenoarchaeologist is a new job in the Research department, focused on the retrieval and research of artifacts from Lavaland (and Icemoon). The xenoarchaeologist travels to the mining world, seeks out relics to dig up, and brings them back to the station to research them. Artifacts come in a number of tiers, from relics that are purely for flavor (to be placed in display cases or sold), to various levels of "useful" artifact that can be recovered to a functional state and used to help various station departments. Recovery is a major focus of the job - different types of artifacts will require different steps to recover, many of which may require interaction with other departments. There is also an emphasis on the different cultures that have inhabited Lavaland over the millennia, intentionally or otherwise - each will come with distinct types of artifacts to discover. Goals Add interesting new content to Lavaland that isn't purely focused on fighting monsters and collecting loot. Give Research an engaging new job that is less formulaic than every single science job that currently exists - there is a degree of randomness that should always keep things interesting rather than rote. Inject unpredictability into the items available to the crew each round, as nothing from xenoarchaeology is guaranteed to be found. Encourage cross-department interaction. Not only between Research and Mining, but with other jobs too (other departments can help activate artifacts, and artifacts can be given to other departments in turn). Add fun and flavorful objects to discover that can be put on display to be seen even in future rounds.

5/14/2023
Orb Traitor / Traitor Escalation

Problem Statement Orbstation players have expressed a general dissatisfaction with the effect of Progression Traitor on the pacing of rounds and actions of antagonist players. A particular issue is the tasks of lesser impact provided by the progression system, which encourage people to accidentally expose themselves early and then create confusion amongst the crew about how to treat them from that point onwards; knowing that they are probably going to become exceedingly dangerous in the future OOC but unable to particularly justify acting on it IC. Additionally, the breakneck pace of task accomplishment encouraged by the infinite treadmill of secondary objectives (with a strong incentive to do as much as possible) could seem overwhelming and stretch belief in terms of what one person is doing. On a low population environment, this can often be quite difficult to detect or to stop even if it is detected, allowing players to "snowball" in a way that isn't that satisfying. Other players have expressed that they benefit personally from the mechanical guidelines and reward structure giving them a framework on which to base their play. Additionally, some few of the tasks presented by Progression Traitor are both very cool but also undesirable to give to a player as soon as the round starts (weakpoint exposure, final objectives). We need to attempt to solve the issues of the former while still maintaining some elements enjoyed by the latter group. In terms of Final Objectives we also want to preserve some concept of scarcity for them, such that they do not occur in every available round as traitors themselves appear in most rounds (1 in 4 or 5 may be more appropriate).

4/30/2023
Troublemaker (minor roundstart antag)

Abstract NOTE: This design doc is pending complete rewrite. Reason: progression traitor is likely to be completely changed soon, and the original purpose of the troublemaker may no longer matter. The "troublemaker" is a new minor antag that is intended to stir up low-level conflict and provide a smokescreen to other, more serious antags by having similar objectives to them. At the start of the round, a number of troublemakers are drafted depending on the crew population, potentially including zero. They do not consume threat, and interact as little as possible with the dynamic system. They have 1-3 objectives, at least one of which always duplicates a more serious antag type's objective. Finally, troublemaker status does not prevent someone from becoming a different antag later via the dynamic system. Goals Provide a "nuisance"-level antagonist that is still mostly on the side of the crew, for variety. Give an extra source of minor trouble/conflict for the crew and security to worry about, without being excessively disruptive. Give plausible deniability for low-level antag objectives, such as early Traitor objectives, to disconnect actions such as "putting up rude posters" from the foregone conclusion of "will try to kill you and blow up the station later".

4/26/2023
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