Do centcom announcements about aliens ruin the event?

[Arkraven]

A lot of people agreed in game recently, when I asked if centcom announcing that aliens have infected the station while they are still larvae effectively ruins the round.

The minute alien sentries are found the shuttle is usually called before the alien round even gets started, also taking into account gestation time for alien larvae it essentially stifles any sort of threat.

Hell 95% of alien infestations are easily dealt with and end in 2/3 larvae dead and the station still pretty much fine.

So here's an idea, why not disable the announcement until someone screams about aliens over the comms? Have a script check to see if an alien is actually aboard after someone does call it and then have the announcement displayed.

Another idea is to have the station actually deal with the threat, or have a centcom announcement about activating the nuke to prevent their a escape if the alien population gets over certain point.

So thoughts?

[Bombadil]

I'd say if alien population gets to be 4 or so then thats when the announcement occurs.


Queens get royally fucked by the announcement

[iyaerP]

You have to remember that aliens aren't supposed to be a round-type unto themselves, but rather a game-ending mechanism for rounds that drag on too long. That is why they are so OP, so players either mech up and teamwork to take them down, die horribly while feeding new bodies to the aliums, or flee to the shuttle.

[Stickymayhem]

While it's not particularly fun, it's worth mentioning that if the crew doesn't kill them that early they are guaranteed to completely die.

[Reimoo]

I don't know, I've seen rounds where aliens manage to establish a sizeable base and they still get wrecked by a competent crew. There is a balanced area where the aliens have established themselves yet are still able to be stopped. The announcement should be timed around this.

[Bombadil]

While it's not particularly fun, it's worth mentioning that if the crew doesn't kill them that early they are guaranteed to completely die.

Ripleys with goliath armor and death ripleys are fucking xeno bane. Also tons of rounds now have laser cannons when they used to never get built now their thrown about like fucking candy

[danno]

i think it would be a good idea to at least try disabling the announcements.

[bandit]

A halfway solution: Have a classified report print, but not automatically produce an announcement. The command staff will have to read it and decide whether to announce it to the crew publicly or (if traitors / bored / dead / braindead / whatever) keep it quiet.

Also will reduce meta because the only current classified report IIRC is for blobs bursting.

[Sum Ting Wong]

The AI being able to track larva is a bigger problem.

[Zsword]

I actually really like the classified report idea, it gives heads some purpose other than 'better at *divisions* job than the rest of the division', Captain and HOP aside, it also sets out a sort of objective for them to check up on a little more routinely than once ever, as well as add the bridge as an actual patrol point for the HoS or something.

[paprika]

Aliens are meant to end rounds, admins who don't know this already are bad

[Cheimon]

I sort of think they are a bit of a problem, I'd rather they were much later. It's nice when aliens have to be discovered to be...well, discovered: magical space sensors aren't that interesting if you're playing as an alien.

[Arkraven]

I know it's supposed to be an end of round thing, but my complaint is that it doesn't serve its purpose well... Especially if it sucks at ending a round because of announcements about it...