Should all Survivors know how to set up Engineering?

[TheSlapDoctor]

It seems strange to me that any random survivor can grab a rifle and a wrench and go set up the (presumably quite complex) generator system regardless of what job they'd have had before the massacre.

Also, from an RP standpoint, the survivors don't know that the Marines are coming, so why would they bother IC to go enable lights and doors rather than just hole up in a corner with a gun pointed at the door and pray for rescue?

[Gentlefood]

The issue currently is there is very little rules and regulations regarding survivors. I believe once the survivor update hits there will be some more realism applied. But currently survivors are more or less your standard SS13 crewman who knows a little of everything.

[TheSlapDoctor]

True, but what do you think would be fair?

[Gentlefood]

Well. If survivors are severely limited on what they can and cannot do then spawning as anything other than an engineering survivor severely gimps the player in question. Which wouldn't be all that fair from a gameplay standpoint unless they get some kind of compensation. Until the survivor update hits I couldn't say disallowing non-engineering survivors the ability to build would be fair or conductive to good survivor gameplay.

[TheSlapDoctor]

That's also true. But I feel like playing Survivor is more about RP once you get rescued than about actually trying to survive. Because if you're playing just to survive, either your round ends in the first ~20 minutes from being captured, or after that once you get rescued. Because after that, you're just a Marine that missed briefing, so why not join as such?

[ZDashe]

I'm kind of hoping that survivors actually spawn in with a defined role/identity, and that would decide their skill set.

Here's to hoping that survivor guidelines would be established from then on.

[Derpislav]

I'd say to let most survivor "powergame" slide, because let's be honest - most survivors get hunted to extinction by runners about 5 minutes into the round, and the robust ones (who survive mostly thanks to being allowed to fight, hack and bandage all at once) get to contact the marines... AFTER WHICH POINT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. There's a rule against ID editing, and then there are unwritten rules about not giving survivors Sulaco roles. No alternative is provided, they're simply not allowed to get a job at Sulaco. Ever. Not even get access to help out somewhere.

[forwardslashN]

I think it's sort of expected at this point. Once the update hits we can maybe have more interesting survivors, ones that don't immediately run for security to get guns then to engineering to set up power.

[hellion2]

I'm kind of hoping that survivors actually spawn in with a defined role/identity, and that would decide their skill set.

Here's to hoping that survivor guidelines would be established from then on.

I'm kinda against this, I mean what if I am a survivor and it defines my role as Doctor, but I have no idea how to do anything medical? (That's just an example, because one of the things I still haven't learnt is doctoring)

[ZDashe]

I'm kinda against this, I mean what if I am a survivor and it defines my role as Doctor, but I have no idea how to do anything medical? (That's just an example, because one of the things I still haven't learnt is doctoring)

Hmm... you have a valid point. I guess just some general guidelines to aid newer players figure out how to play a survivor better, but not restrictive in the sense of what you are obliged to do. Most of the time I go survivor I assume the role of a more tech savvy survivor, so I always try to set up engineering just so because lights on the colony makes me feel safer.

[Sadokist]

I mean Derpislav made a good point. First I think "yea that's pretty dumb that they'd all know how to set up engineering" but when you think about it there isn't much for survivors to do. Might as well give them the option to do SOMETHING other than just wait to be saved. There's already a rule against them hunting aliens. I don't think anybody would wanna play survivor if they couldn't do anything.

[Sailor Dave]

Why are there so many rules against survivors doing anything? Is them not being allowed to hunt aliens an actual thing? They can't be given a new ID, they can't be assigned to a role on the Sulaco, they can't fight with the marines, and apparently they can't even fight on their own? Why do they even exist then? Why would anyone want to be a survivor?

[coroneljones]

They can only hunt if their colony role was security related,last i checked
So they either know surgery,medic
Building and repairing,engineer
Or they hunt,Security

Or so i belive

[Derpislav]

So they're essentially monkeys that bite back.

[Ms.Degrasse]

Survivors are seriously needing a rework.

They are a disappointing role to play, taking the rules into consideration.

Some stuff here is - plainly said - bizarrely pointless.

"They can't get an ID." - And that way, they are to be blasted by every turret they meet?

"They can't hunt aliens." - Even if they are the security speciallist from the colony?

I confess I am clueless as how to properly roleplay a survivor after I got rescued.
(Look like they became meaningless taking the rules mentioned in consideration.)

[Feweh]

Theres some serious balance issue for survivors once they get rescued... They have nothing to do.

I actually understand why they prefer to go An-tag instead, a lot more fun for them.

[RhMoore]

Theres some serious balance issue for survivors once they get rescued... They have nothing to do.

I actually understand why they prefer to go An-tag instead, a lot more fun for them.

It has been pretty boring, and the last few rounds I was a survivor, I was practically a potted plant. No one noticed me or the other survivor at all, the few that did told the other survivor to wait in the CL's office. An order that would have meant waiting for the whole round while the aliens kill everything.
Also, thanks to the Colonist Uniform, I just ditch my job clothing and RP my chosen job, usually an engineer.