Dropship hijacked : panicking or not ? meta or not ?

[Kesserline]

The first time I played, I remember mods and admins reminding in OOC chat that barricades and code red were forbidden UNTIL the aliens were on the Almayer.

Yet, on the most recent rounds I played, code red is set at the very second of the DS is hijacked.

I can understand the meta concern, because, if not, USCM could prepare SD in advance, and Xenos wouldn't have a single second to waste before going boom-boom on the Almayer.

But ? Who is right ? I don't really know what to think anymore. Right now, I just wait to see what the highest rank says and act dependingly on it (if code red : PANICK, if not, I don't care until it crashes").

______________________________________

Depending on the most logical lore and RP reason, I would tend to panick as soon as the DS is hijacked, or at least, one minute after its take off. Why ? Because every radars/sensors on the ship would notice that the Alamo (or Normandy if really bad round) is on an interception trajectory with the Almayer. So.. either it will land, either it will have a collision. But, as nothing is said in that sense, I have only to rely on Command updates/announcements.

But yet.. meta balance. If marines are prepared too early, Almayer part of the round maybe a too tough nut to crack for the Aliens.

I really would like your advices on the question, and if possible, the admins decision, just to not have to wait for someone else with higher rank to react, and be able to react by myself (by not caring or panicking).

[Blade2000Br]

Ds hijack= General panic + plus code red + SD

DS not hijacked= Relax and have a drink

[caleeb101]

I believe how it's supposed to work is you wait until the system updates saying:

'The dropship is on a collision course towards the Almayer!' Then you start panicking. Sometimes the people in command will see that the aliens have boarded the ship via camera which would mean you can start panicking when the ship is hijacked. That's how I look at it at least.

[Kesserline]

Collision course is like eh.. 5 second before impacts. But the shuttle has made its way from the surface to the Almayer. So eh.. interception/collision trajectory would be warned way before, nah ?

Anyway, you have 2 versions of the story : 1 panicking as soon as hijacking is warned (Between 2 to 4 minutes before crashing onto the Almayer ?) and 1 panicking when the collision is warned (5 seconds before impact).

That's the point of this thread. I need clarifications for my poor soul and heart. And I could use some hugs in game if you see me.

[JennerH]

You should usually start asking questions, and getting concerned, and of course if you're in the know about them being aboard already by all means panic, but if it just took off for no reason just play it out, rp. Maybe meta a tiny bit by not standing exactly where it could land, because no one likes being smashed and gibbed instantly, although that doesn't mean sprint away from medical like someone farted and closed the window.

[Gnorse]

Here's how I look at it :
-If command checks the dropship cams and announces the aliens boarding, panic
-If they don't, I assume a rogue marine stole the ship for some reason

[4thsurviver]

I think the first message is normally good enough. People will normally see the DS leave for no reason, someone will check the cameras and see the xenos rush it, they might even see the queen stroll into the cockpit and hit buttons on the terminal, command will say remote control is locked out, then you get the launch message and have enough evidence to know its not marines on a joy ride.

If pieces of evidence are missing feel free to be on edge anyway, its clear that something has gone wrong. Also the departure warning implies that the autopilot is on and that means at time of launch it was heading for the hanger, it makes sense to be at the ready to secure the DS for stowaways until the auto pilot shutdown is confirmed.

[thatguyfromlife]

I feel the real meta is marines yelling for evac and to arm the SD when the Alamo is coming up. Sure, the marines got beaten back and took losses, but is it that hopeless? Time to run away or blow yourself up? I feel marines should at least try to fight the xenos off when they land, before blowing the ship.

[contactdenied]

I think it's weird that people immediately want to call SD sometimes, but I can understand wanting to evac. I don't like it when I walk past the pods to see marines in them and not doctors or MTs, makes us look like cowards compared to the MT or doctor running around with armor and a gun.

[TheDonkified]

snip

I mean, I don't really like to rush SD or evac as a marine when the ship is hijacked, but when you are forced to evacuate by an overwhelming force that took down a platoon of marines, and then its coming to hijack your ship, its understandable that you wouldn't want to fight them. Taking down your ship is understandable if you know they capture and infect marines to increase their numbers. By blowing up your own ship, you're making a battle you know you will lose into a situation where you take down your enemy along with you.