Evacuating to the AO: Why?

[FearTheBlackout]

I guarantee you there isn't a single round where the aliens successfully invade the Almayer where several Marines DON'T fly to the AO on one of the dropships. The question is: Why? What purpose does it serve to the round other than extending it well past its due? I just don't understand why it isn't against the rules.

[Retrokinesis]

It doesn't count anyone planetside or hiding in closets or vents (marines or xenos) as being "alive" for the purposes of ending the round, so it's not like you're dragging things out. If anything, the final survivors on the Almayer going to the dropship and fleeing is going to end the round faster because the xenos don't have to hunt them down.

Sometimes the mods will spawn AI xenos on the planet to eat you for the amusement of deadchat, though, so you have to be willing to risk that.

[Bulaven]

Well. From a human standpoint, being doomed to die at the claws of the xenos, or the flames of the self-destruct, just really doesn't seem worth it to some Marines/Officers. Cowardly as it is, in the face of overwhelming odds, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility to survive on a hostile planet. In their eyes, survival moves from 'Impossible' to 'Unlikely, but plausible'.

Not saying it isn't annoying, sometimes, but it's not out of the realm of consideration when someone is that desperate to live.

[Lobster]

Real men die in a hellfire explosion while duel wielding shotguns in the SD wearing nothing but boxer briefs

[BillyBoBBizWorth]

I guarantee you there isn't a single round where the aliens successfully invade the Almayer where several Marines DON'T fly to the AO on one of the dropships.

There has been plenty of rounds where no one goes back to the planet, heaps and heaps.It kind of is against the rules already in the sense that your voided as a alive combat-able marine, thats the punishment, and possibly the admins bombing you.

[FearTheBlackout]

It doesn't count anyone planetside or hiding in closets or vents (marines or xenos) as being "alive" for the purposes of ending the round, so it's not like you're dragging things out. If anything, the final survivors on the Almayer going to the dropship and fleeing is going to end the round faster because the xenos don't have to hunt them down.

Sometimes the mods will spawn AI xenos on the planet to eat you for the amusement of deadchat, though, so you have to be willing to risk that.

Are you sure? I could swear I've been in rounds that didn't end because there were people planetside. I might be mistaken!

Still, I feel that it's absolutely pointless to put yourself out of commission for the rest of the round when you could stay and fight. I'd go as far as to say that desertion contributes to the marine-xeno win ratio.

[Ttly]

Planetside humans are only abombed when evac hasn't been called (and thus they still count for the round).

[Mach01]

If evac isn't called, planetside marines are counted and need to either ghost or be abombed.

The important thing to note about evacuating by Normandy is that Almayer probably isn't the only ship to see the distress from the colony. I mean, ERTs include everything from CLF to UPP, so they're all in the area. People evaccing by Normandy probably figure they can find a secure position (maybe fix up the FOB) and hold out for a day or two against whoever's left until someone shows up to help.

Also if you're like me, you evac by Normandy because it gives you a much freer arrpee environment so you can make ghosts cringe.

[Royal Griffon]

The only time you don't want to evac is if that distress beacon isn't called and evac isn't called. Cause then you'll just prolong the inevitable more than likely.
Plus as someone who does this regularly, I find it pretty funny to do it. Like Snatch will see it differently depending on the situation, either die fighting, help cleanse the ship, or live for possibly another year if someone shows up after they hear that distress beacon.
Also I tend to yell, "BYE EVERYONE I'LL REMEMBER YOU ALL IN THERAPY!" When I decide to run like hell.

[FearTheBlackout]

I supposed it's enjoyable if you want to get memed by spontaneous explosions, AI-liens, or giant spiders!

[Bulaven]

The only time you don't want to evac is if that distress beacon isn't called and evac isn't called. Cause then you'll just prolong the inevitable more than likely.
Plus as someone who does this regularly, I find it pretty funny to do it. Like Snatch will see it differently depending on the situation, either die fighting, help cleanse the ship, or live for possibly another year if someone shows up after they hear that distress beacon.
Also I tend to yell, "BYE EVERYONE I'LL REMEMBER YOU ALL IN THERAPY!" When I decide to run like hell.

Cheeky bastard.

[Bulaven]

I supposed it's enjoyable if you want to get memed by spontaneous explosions, AI-liens, or giant spiders!

I remember when there was still a drop pod, rather than the Normandy. I was dragging a wounded fellow Marine with me.

I was told to stand still.

That pod didn't like me when it came down.

[Vispain]

I usually try to evac via evac pod.
Personally, I feel like going to the planet to escape a infested/self destructing Almayer is a death sentence since it is still highly likely xeno and eggs are there. So...yeah. I just go for evac pods if possible. It seems like the most viable escape route and if it isn't available I'm probably going to die at that point anyways.

[Retrokinesis]

I had a very memorable escape via the Normandy down to the prison station once, where we got on with the CL and launched just as the xenos were about to get in. Led to some very fun RP where we walked through the dark, deserted research ward while the CL talked about how the Company was almost certainly responsible for this but we should pretend we knew nothing about what happened if we wanted to survive. Then we made it to the warden's office and the CL sent a fax to get us rescued.

But yeah, honestly, I would make evac always able to be triggered after the hijack even if there's not enough threat detected for SD. I just don't find SD/tank hangar holds to be particularly fun and would gladly opt-out via pod every round if it actually ended up triggered more.

[Royal Griffon]

I just wanna point out that 9/10 times escape pods will NEVER be active for you to use, and if they are activated withing 5 minutes the CO or XO will just lock them so nobody can escape
I think Heinz is the only one who allows escape pods in all honesty, and Bill Carson

[Bulaven]

I just wanna point out that 9/10 times escape pods will NEVER be active for you to use, and if they are activated withing 5 minutes the CO or XO will just lock them so nobody can escape
I think Heinz is the only one who allows escape pods in all honesty, and Bill Carson

I remember when the map was first changed over to the Almayer. Nobody really knew that the limit on each pod was three, so you'd see people blowing up pods left and right..

[NoahKirchner]

I agree with you until you said that it should be against the rules, and that's ridiculous. Hardcode a way for the round to end without it, more rules are bad.

[FearTheBlackout]

Doesn't have to be a rule! Whatever prevents or discourages it is fine.

[NoahKirchner]

Doesn't have to be a rule! Whatever prevents or discourages it is fine.

Ok then, a way to disregard ground forces would be neat, automatic evac maybe? (Or no reqs for calling it aside from a boarded ship?)

[Royal Griffon]

you'll still see Anders groundside. There is almost nothing you can do about it, those escape pods are 9/10 times not open for use thanks to COs and XOs wanting everyone to fight, so like ze serpent of Eden, I will sneak aboard the Normandy and make my leave
Also they've disabled the ability to lockdown the Normandy while shipside, and Xenos like to come check the Normandy out as soon as they land along with SD and CiC, so it's risky to try and evac to the AO while shipside but not so much when you actually launch.

[ThesoldierLLJK]

Throw your soldiers into posistion where there is no escape and they will prefer death over flight

Sometimes it’s better to make a last stand than run away, I’ve seen rounds where the final defense at SD can be successful with all Xenos getting wiped