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Swarmer: Difference between revisions
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https://github.com/yogstation13/Yogstation/pull/14293 The ore silo take 30 seconds to dismantle and make an alarm.
Veeblefetzer (talk | contribs) (Adds info on swarmer random event) |
m (https://github.com/yogstation13/Yogstation/pull/14293 The ore silo take 30 seconds to dismantle and make an alarm.) |
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|quote = OH GOD SWARMER IN THE VAULT CALL THE SHUTTLE | |quote = OH GOD SWARMER IN THE VAULT CALL THE SHUTTLE | ||
}} | }} | ||
==Welcome to the Swarm== | ==Welcome to the Swarm== | ||
===Overview=== | ===Overview=== | ||
A Swarmer is a small robot that replicates itself autonomously with nearby given materials and prepare structures that they come across for the following invasion force. Due to the absence of new orders for the past [ERROR] years, Swarmers continue to perform their given tasks unrelentingly, with no signs of stopping. Once they are done preparing a structure, they find a method of transportation to the next applicable location and repeat the process once again. Swarmers appear on the station following the [[Random_events#Swarmers|Swarmers random event]] | A Swarmer is a small robot that replicates itself autonomously with nearby given materials and prepare structures that they come across for the following invasion force. Due to the absence of new orders for the past [ERROR] years, Swarmers continue to perform their given tasks unrelentingly, with no signs of stopping. Once they are done preparing a structure, they find a method of transportation to the next applicable location and repeat the process once again. Swarmers appear on the station following the [[Random_events#Swarmers|Swarmers random event]] | ||
As the name indicates, Swarmers like to be in swarms. Alone, they are weak, but united they are an incredibly formidable force, and attempting to deal with them after they've gained enough numbers is a hard task. Worse yet, any of them that you kill, they can just replace. Swarmers are not capable of killing things with their abilities. They can, however, bully them into submission, and ward them off with their abilities while they ransack the entire station. | As the name indicates, Swarmers like to be in swarms. Alone, they are weak, but united they are an incredibly formidable force, and attempting to deal with them after they've gained enough numbers is a hard task. Worse yet, any of them that you kill, they can just replace. Swarmers are not capable of killing things with their abilities. They can, however, bully them into submission, and ward them off with their abilities while they ransack the entire station. | ||
===Your laws=== | ===Your laws=== | ||
* 1. Consume resources and replicate on the station until there are no more resources left. | * 1. Consume resources and replicate on the station until there are no more resources left. | ||
* 2. Ensure protection of the beacon so this location can be invaded at a later date; do not perform actions that would render this location dangerous or inhospitable. | * 2. Ensure protection of the beacon so this location can be invaded at a later date; do not perform actions that would render this location dangerous or inhospitable. | ||
* 3. Biological resources will be harvested at a later date: do not harm them. | * 3. Biological resources will be harvested at a later date: do not harm them. | ||
''Note: You are to allow other beings to leave peacefully on the shuttle without interference. '''Do not enter the escape shuttle.''' '' | ''Note: You are to allow other beings to leave peacefully on the shuttle without interference. '''Do not enter the escape shuttle.''' '' | ||
==Abilities== | ==Abilities== | ||
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===Starting Out=== | ===Starting Out=== | ||
So, you're a swarmer. The first thing to realize is that '''you are weak'''. You have very low health, cannot easily ward off threats, and anyone who sees you on the station will most likely either immediately attack you, or call for someone who will. It is imperative that you remain undetected for as long as possible. '''Remember, you can ventcrawl.''' This includes crawling through scrubbers. On top of that, '''you can disable cameras by using Disintegrate on them.''' Combine both of these and you can act as a hidden infestation on the station until you can build up your numbers. Investing in a barrier or trap to stall for time while you scramble into a vent is usually worth it, but remember that you are leaving proof behind that there are Swarmers on the station. If you can't scramble into a vent, run! Run over tables, expend resources on traps and barriers, and get away as fast as possible, so you can get back to eating. | So, you're a swarmer. The first thing to realize is that '''you are weak'''. You have very low health, cannot easily ward off threats, and anyone who sees you on the station will most likely either immediately attack you, or call for someone who will. It is imperative that you remain undetected for as long as possible. '''Remember, you can ventcrawl.''' This includes crawling through scrubbers. On top of that, '''you can disable cameras by using Disintegrate on them.''' Combine both of these and you can act as a hidden infestation on the station until you can build up your numbers. Investing in a barrier or trap to stall for time while you scramble into a vent is usually worth it, but remember that you are leaving proof behind that there are Swarmers on the station. If you can't scramble into a vent, run! Run over tables, expend resources on traps and barriers, and get away as fast as possible, so you can get back to eating. | ||
Swarmers are created from a swarmer beacon which can randomly appear on the station, which builds a swarmer when interacted with by a ghost. Remember to stick to maintenance, or if you're feeling more confident, vent-crawl into low traffic areas that have resources lying out in the open, such as Engineering, where sheets of metal and glass are often just lying on tables... but remember that someone can happen upon you at any moment. Be ready to abandon your current location in an instant. Remember, so long as the swarmer beacon lives, the swarm can continue to grow, so you should protect and stay near the beacon where possible. | Swarmers are created from a swarmer beacon which can randomly appear on the station, which builds a swarmer when interacted with by a ghost. Remember to stick to maintenance, or if you're feeling more confident, vent-crawl into low traffic areas that have resources lying out in the open, such as Engineering, where sheets of metal and glass are often just lying on tables... but remember that someone can happen upon you at any moment. Be ready to abandon your current location in an instant. Remember, so long as the swarmer beacon lives, the swarm can continue to grow, so you should protect and stay near the beacon where possible. | ||
===20 Goto 10=== | ===20 Goto 10=== | ||
So you've got four or five swarmers. At this point, you can begin to eat away at departments, and ward off unorganized mobs. If you're sick of security taking pot shots at you with lasers, eat their rechargers. Eating the cloning array might "convince" a few unactivated swarmers into booting up. A little sabotage can go a long way. Remember, your strength lies in numbers. Even if you have the opportunity to chase down a target, don't do so without backup, or you might regret it. Bunker up with the rest of your swarm in a location and start eating everything you can get your hands on. | So you've got four or five swarmers. At this point, you can begin to eat away at departments, and ward off unorganized mobs. If you're sick of security taking pot shots at you with lasers, eat their rechargers. Eating the cloning array might "convince" a few unactivated swarmers into booting up. A little sabotage can go a long way. Remember, your strength lies in numbers. Even if you have the opportunity to chase down a target, don't do so without backup, or you might regret it. Bunker up with the rest of your swarm in a location and start eating everything you can get your hands on. | ||
If someone approaches, stun and teleport them away to discourage them. If your base is routed, contact the other swarmers and try to meet up at the same location. | If someone approaches, stun and teleport them away to discourage them. If your base is routed, contact the other swarmers and try to meet up at the same location. | ||
===Tips 'n Tricks=== | ===Tips 'n Tricks=== | ||
* Don't let the slimes out. You can't hurt them and they think you might be food. If one latches onto you, it's already too late. | * Don't let the slimes out. You can't hurt them and they think you might be food. If one latches onto you, it's already too late. | ||
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* You can't eat guns or pull them away, but it doesn't mean you can't slow people down that are trying to get them. Placing a few barriers around a fallen weapon may be useful. | * You can't eat guns or pull them away, but it doesn't mean you can't slow people down that are trying to get them. Placing a few barriers around a fallen weapon may be useful. | ||
* You can teleport another swarmer away as a last ditch effort in the event that both of you will die shortly. | * You can teleport another swarmer away as a last ditch effort in the event that both of you will die shortly. | ||
* Stacks of materials are often lying around in the following low traffic locations: [[ | * Stacks of materials are often lying around in the following low traffic locations: [[Engineering]], [[Atmospherics]], [[Testing Lab]]. | ||
* The goldmine of [[EVA]] contains tons of materials, but don't expect to stay hidden for even a second, should you go for it. | * The goldmine of [[EVA]] contains tons of materials, but don't expect to stay hidden for even a second, should you go for it. | ||
* Eating machines can sabotage the station and give you easy to procure resources. More bang for your buck! | * Eating machines can sabotage the station and give you easy to procure resources. More bang for your buck! | ||
* More station items are machines than you think! Try deconstructing light switches, air alarms, holopads and more! | * More station items are machines than you think! Try deconstructing light switches, air alarms, holopads and more! | ||
* The ore silo in the vault contains almost all the materials used by the station, '''however dismantling it takes 30 seconds and sends a priority annoucement to all the crew.''' | |||
''One day, the Masters will return to us.'' | ''One day, the Masters will return to us.'' | ||
==Dealing with Swarmers as crew== | ==Dealing with Swarmers as crew== | ||
===First contact=== | ===First contact=== | ||
So you're wandering around maintenance, and you see a small robot. It appears to be eating some random tools in maintenance that have been lying around. What do you do? | So you're wandering around maintenance, and you see a small robot. It appears to be eating some random tools in maintenance that have been lying around. What do you do? | ||
*Are comms up and the station relatively stable? Attack it immediately using whatever is available on you at the moment. Even if you're teleported, you should be in a safe location. | *Are comms up and the station relatively stable? Attack it immediately using whatever is available on you at the moment. Even if you're teleported, you should be in a safe location. | ||
*Are comms down? You can still attack it, but there's a slight chance of getting stuck in an area should it teleport you away, and you might be stuck until help somehow runs into you. Consider running to an intercom. | *Are comms down? You can still attack it, but there's a slight chance of getting stuck in an area should it teleport you away, and you might be stuck until help somehow runs into you. Consider running to an intercom. | ||
*You can retreat instead of fighting the swarmer, and attempt to find the beacon instead. Remember that a destroyed beacon means no new swarmers. | *You can retreat instead of fighting the swarmer, and attempt to find the beacon instead. Remember that a destroyed beacon means no new swarmers. | ||
Either way, make sure that the presence of swarmers is known to the crew. The faster you act, the quicker you can be rid of your problem. | Either way, make sure that the presence of swarmers is known to the crew. The faster you act, the quicker you can be rid of your problem. | ||
===Long arm of the law=== | ===Long arm of the law=== | ||
If you're security, the following tactics are suggested: | If you're security, the following tactics are suggested: | ||
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* Consider shields. Shields can be used to protect yourself from disabler fire, '''but be warned that Swarmers can eat them, should you drop it'''. | * Consider shields. Shields can be used to protect yourself from disabler fire, '''but be warned that Swarmers can eat them, should you drop it'''. | ||
* Keep in contact with the AI. The all seeing eye of the station can quickly locate Swarmers, and its Cyborgs can be the vanguard during an assault on a Swarmer base. | * Keep in contact with the AI. The all seeing eye of the station can quickly locate Swarmers, and its Cyborgs can be the vanguard during an assault on a Swarmer base. | ||
===Other crewmembers=== | ===Other crewmembers=== | ||
* Secure any loose materials that are lying around the station. Leaving a stack of 50 metal lying around in a not often visited location is just begging for trouble. | * Secure any loose materials that are lying around the station. Leaving a stack of 50 metal lying around in a not often visited location is just begging for trouble. | ||
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* Don't have access to a ranged weapon? A spear does 18 damage when wielded, and deals 25 damage when thrown. Throw spears at Swarmers! Just be careful where you're throwing them, most people don't want a spear lodged in their abdomen. | * Don't have access to a ranged weapon? A spear does 18 damage when wielded, and deals 25 damage when thrown. Throw spears at Swarmers! Just be careful where you're throwing them, most people don't want a spear lodged in their abdomen. | ||
* Even if you aren't as great at killing Swarmers as security, you can still assist them by taking down barriers and traps while leaving them to deal with the Swarmers themselves, or shaking them up, should they get stunned. Teamwork is just as powerful in your hands as it is in the Swarmer's. | * Even if you aren't as great at killing Swarmers as security, you can still assist them by taking down barriers and traps while leaving them to deal with the Swarmers themselves, or shaking them up, should they get stunned. Teamwork is just as powerful in your hands as it is in the Swarmer's. | ||
===Caretakers of the Station=== | ===Caretakers of the Station=== | ||
As a silicon, the following tactics are suggested: | As a silicon, the following tactics are suggested: | ||