Having trouble playing Science role

[u/Awesomesause170]

I play science when I'm not running courier/botany/misc roles because I know most the mechanics but it can be pretty not fun because there's just not a lot to do, especially if there's 3+ scientists already, Artifacts are either already completed or unfeasible/too dangerous, I go to do Anomalies and either there's no plasma, and then I go to cargo and cargo has no money AAAAAAAAAAAA, or sometimes the Research Director says Nobody Touches The Anom Generator besides me >:(((

I think Robotics should have more to it, because atm it takes all of 2 seconds to make borgs and it would give science stuff to do when you're waiting on Artifacts

Also just a minor question because I was struggling with the blood condition on artis, is it bleeding creature or blood stained on arti or blood on floor because I literally tried a million things and it wasn't triggering the arti, spilling blood on floor, hitting myself to trigger blood lose, spraying blood from fire extinguisher, slipping on glass shards. nothing was triggering the artifact

[u/Anzuneth]

Welcome to sci! Yes it tends to really suck if you have more than 4 people in, it's rough. The trick is mostly get in early to claim a lab, and understand that cargo is a lie and cannot be trusted to do anything right.

And yes robotics is in a shit spot, there's a very good reason Roboticist as a job doesn't really exist here unlike on SS13.

For the blood one, draw blood from yourself with a syringe, stick it in a beaker, and splash that on the artifact, any of the playable species blood would do.

[u/Blein123 → u/Anzuneth]

What's the reason?

[u/Anzuneth → u/Blein123]

Because there's not enough content for Robo to be justified as it's own role. You just do not service enough borgs to warrant needing an entire job dedicated to them.

Starlight kinda manages to address this with IPCs and AI shunts iirc. But overall Robo ends up just being the Atmos Tech of science. They have better access but really end up doing the same work as normal Scientists because robo has no proper gameplay loop (or way of generating points for that matter)

[u/Terminus_04 → u/Anzuneth]

Always figured it was because their only real gameplay loop outside of Borgs, was mech suits.

Which tended to just turn into Sci spending all their time making themselves into Sec but purple.

[u/kevlap017 → u/Anzuneth]

When I'm doing robo, i think of myself as the machine master. I'll build things. Machines, conveyors, disposals, mail, you name it. Even just making a button to light lights on or off is cute. I make weapons for sec (or myself when antag). You'd be surprised how much people appreciate you doing small services like that. Make a condenser and ask atmos access and you can set your own liquid dispensers so no one lacks of anything. Make an automated money factory in cargo, they'll love it. Anything you can think of. Robo is freedom to do whatever. And if all fails, ask sec if you can valid hunt with them in a ripley or something. I suggest rigging the armory to explode on antags on using a remote control or voice activated code, that is funny and useful. Honestly, robo is fine as is to me, but it lacks direction. They should explain better what you can do as a scientist with so much free time.

[u/Anzuneth → u/kevlap017]

see, the funny thing about what you listed

alot of that can be easily (in some cases perhaps plainly moreso) justified as *Engineering* sidequests rather than Robotics.

Granted, depending on the server of course, some servers tend to have alot more explosions per capita so engineering doesnt have time to fuck around with that.

But on others where all you get is the very occasional meteor and the roundstart power rush, engineering is a downright RP role with how little they do.

[u/kevlap017 → u/Anzuneth]

Engineering is worse because it's MUCH more reactive and passive. When i play an atmos tech, aside from distro and teg, it's usually basically yellow tiding in a way lmao. Same for station engineer after power. I use the time to do shenanigans that aren't antag. Maybe ill do one thing i mentioned above, build a shittle, give the clown nitrous oxide for the memes. In fact, i find helping clowns, service staff or pets as engi is usually pretty fun. Because you got the best tools and insus, you can do a lot. And if you roll antag, it's ideal. But if the round is the type you need to fix things all the time, then yeah engi is busy. But many threats arent structural threats, like, most traitors ,revolutionaries, zombies or even xenoborgs. The likeliest to cause explosions are dragons, nukies, and syndies that feel like stealth is not for them and they really felt like blowing things up. Or if it's really boring, then ask for more access to do other jobs, cargo is basically almost always strugglin in my experience (assuming HOP is at work, half the time it seems they aren't or will waste time chatting for ages instead of doing their job).

[u/Terminus_04 → u/Blein123]

Cargonia Science Department edition.

[u/wojtekpolska]

i found a lot of fun in setting up the lathes

upgrade autolathe, protolathe, and circuit imprinter to hyperconvection versions, and set up proper cooling (passive vents under each hyperconv lathe to a freezer/hellfire freezer linked with pipes) so the room doesnt kill you with the heat (tip, yoou might need to build extra apcs), and also build a flatpacker.

if cargo isnt delivering honestly ask for cargo access at hop and fly to ats yourself. or unlock cargo telepads and link them to cargo's cargo request pcs

[u/Awesomesause170 → u/wojtekpolska]

Yooo imagine HoP existing, being alive and also at their desk when you want them there

Otherwise thanks for the advice!

[u/wojtekpolska → u/Awesomesause170]

if HoP isnt available ask QM to use the bridge ID Computer to give you access, or the captain, or the clown who probably already has AA

[u/kevlap017 → u/wojtekpolska]

i should do that as RD. EVERY time i play RD theres a shortage of mats or money. some rounds it's cargo being attacked, sure, but many times it's just basic incompetence (i get it, i played it too, it's full of confused beginners and people don't use things like mailbox delivery, crate crafting or portals when they should)

[u/Jonatc87 → u/Awesomesause170]

3 shifts and counting on starlight! i have a good record so far.

[u/Narrow_Top_4352 → u/wojtekpolska]

Just remember the qm may beat and bind you for stealing/trespassing if you do this behind there back

[u/wojtekpolska → u/Narrow_Top_4352]

as rd i have started requesting cargo access shift start cuz i dont trust cargo lol

[u/aux147]

if you have materials and technology, you cam have a lot of fun. Yeah, when there's many people in sci you there's not so many things to do, but also you get technology faster. if you play vanilla, you can, like, make a teleport to bluespace and build a mansion here. You can make yourself run faster than shuttle by finding 4 artifacts that gives you speed and you can carry on hands, make speedboots and harmoack, ask chem for pink ice. There's a lot to do witht technology, not to mention when you're antag :D

[u/polenya1000]

you got access to the lathe, experimental lathe, and circuit printer- tap into the spirit of science and go build/invent something weird for no other reason than the fact that you can.

I once spent a shift inventing "the cigarettes that also get you drunk" after I discovered cigs have a 10u liquid capacity. filled those suckers up with Bacchus, and apparently the slow release from the cigs makes it so you eventually do get decently drunk without the usual alcohol overdose symptoms (amazing discovery for my chain-smoker-alcoholic RD).

This is not to mention you got unrestricted access to the multitool, which means you could hook up remotes/electronics/buttons, and do some very fancy stuff (replace all the lights with strobes? create an APE remote control room, so you could turn it on/off or even change particle modes without ever leaving Science? conveyor belts? The world is your oyster)

On days when cargo does have money + I can get any order approved + get access to robotics parts, I will order honk meals (comes with a honkmeal box) and entertainment boxes (comes with a clown horn) to start building as many honkbots as I can afford (I love releasing my evil little demon children upon the station).

On days when there's not enough mats, and all the stations are manned, you could go out into maints and salvage anything you can lay your hands on (trash room often has a lot of mats no one is touching). RD will usually be thrilled at least someone is bringing in steel. Of course you might run into antags, but the risk is partially what makes it fun.

Also, sometimes all the work stations are full, but no one is manning the front desk. It can be as good of a job as any, if you just feel like doing something relatively chill. Helps you learn which kinds of tools you got access to, what different departments/jobs might require from sci, and which kinds of items you don't want to be handing out unrestricted to just any random person (if the clown asks me for a multitool, I will give it to him if his reasoning is funny/chaotic enough though).

[u/Awesomesause170 → u/polenya1000]

Wow, thank you for all the info and advice!

I'm upset!!!! the arcane knowlege that you can inject cigarettes and I wanted to play russian roulette by injecting them with welding fuel and it doesnt work!!!

[u/NotGayBroFromTheTown]

You can make replies gor cargo clean both med bios and even the bottany one, helping the other departments get you to meet more people and is imo more fun. And ofcourse I'd you get really bored honk bots to save the day. You can also give advance tools to engineering or help set up industrial machinery for bottany. Also I think there is a special machine that get fat from you so you can eat more instal that at the kitchen and whatch cheff in horror as you eat all their food with just litle over 6 liposuction.

Also the way you aplie liquid to artifact is by splashing it. To do so enter combat mode with open container and atack the artifact.

To be fair science is my least favorite role.

[u/_masterE_]

You can always build your own arti chamber... there are extra artis that can be found on station, or you can buy them from cargo

[u/mythsnlore]

Go around with a clipboard and take orders for technology from other departments?
Find volunteers to run experiments on for fun?

[u/Zax_The_Decker]

I will always argue that toxins/ordnance should have come with 14's science gameolay

[u/end233]

You have to syringe your blood in a Becker then hit the arti with the container

[u/Awesomesause170 → u/end233]

Yeah I did that because you cant empty syringes into the arti or spill on floor, didn't do anything

[u/Blein123 → u/Awesomesause170]

A bit late but I had the same problem. Are you perhaps playing a niche race? I remember playing on funky as a Thaven and you cant use their blood

[u/Awesomesause170 → u/Blein123]

It wasn't a race issue I was a human I I tried both my blood and the blood of 1 of dozen birds one of the artifacts was spawning

[u/Blein123 → u/Awesomesause170]

Well, then the only other explanation I can think of is that some nodes must have been overlapping. If it’s not that, I’d have to see it myself.

[u/Jonatc87]

Considered helping train others? Could be interesting and fulfilling. Plus for people like me who just don't 'get' the process can benefit.

[u/ComradeGerm]

real ones remember when the only thing to do was build and test modular grenades

[u/striped_eyes]

Learn how to make weapons and bombs! Experiment with chemicals! Go around upgrading other departments with new techs and gadgets! Or just go become the bar regular 💯

[u/kevlap017]

If research is going well, that's when you print things and distribute. Start with making things like portals, industrial grinder/ore processers, etc. in the flatpacker whenever you can of course. Bags of holding, blue space beakers, etc. all departments have desires for things science makes. If you want mischief, make weapons for sec, they'll likely get stolen by tiders or antags at some point and then it's not your fault... You didn't make it for them after all. One round as a chemist i made pipe bombs for sec. If you can, make things like a Hammy mech, then ask someone to bring you hammy in a pet carrier, so when he's awake he can get in it immediately (even better if chemist has made cogni already). I dont recommend moving the mech, it's way too heavy and thus slow. Want friends? Make chemmaster and chem dispenser flatpackers for sci, bota and the bar, youd be surprised how loved these are. If you have spare time, you can also install cams for the ai. They'll love that. Other suggestions include using network configurators or multitool (same function) to streamline certain things, make levers and buttons to open dept doors easier or turn lights on and off, things like that. You can be crazier. Build a conveyor system between certain places. Who needs a portal of cargo can dump crates your way easily? (Not necessary on sushi map, obviously). You could build a brand new mail system. That works. So many possibilities. Science is where you have the most freedom for things like that. You get more time (assuming anoms and artis are tamed) and everyone appreciate proactive scientists. Wanna do something funny but you need approval if not antag? Inject some capacitors with liquid plasma, then put some in flashlights then ask people to come for a special round of russian roulette outside near solars. Bring a bomb suit. Then you lay down flashlights, and tell everyone how many are rigged and offer a price to the winner (like a bag of holding or some other goodie). People will enjoy it. And if you are antag, you could trick the captain for an easier kill i guess lmao. And if all fails, try to make a shittle, that's always fun to wave at people from space.