The Practical Captains Guide

[Karmasakakiki]

Captain isn't a difficult job even if you hardly know what to do, but, playing captain wrong could get you banned from the server permanently if you aren't careful and thus, I'v decided to create this guide to give players an idea about concepts that are relevant to the captain, but, not necessarily a part of any other guide on being a captain. This is why I call it the "practical" guide. This isn't a guide on how to be socially acceptable, formal, or the likes, but, an intentional mediocre guide as to how to play captain from my point of view in terms of what I believe is practical and the thought processes behind it.

 

First Concept: Crew Enthusiasm

Unlike other servers, paradise station has enthusiastic and artistic players that will go around the entire station and redecorate. Because of this, it's easy to decide to run the show a bit differently if the crew is willing to try. Obviously you have to focus on getting the station goal done for the round, but, if the crew isn't too happy as individuals in real life trying to play the game to have fun, the goal will never be completed. If you go code blue or code red, be sure to talk with security and the head of security before doing so, as doing so will decrease productivity on the station because it will make everybody aware that there is a problem other than what they're doing. You can also lie to the crew to make them more enthusiastic. This isn't necessarily against the rules, but, centcom might have something to say and someone might get upset somewhere along the lines of doing this. The AI doesn't have it in their laws to be obligated to tell the truth. Using the AI to give fake messages for the sake of increasing productivity can be a good thing. These things can be the difference between completing that station objective and not completing the station objective.

 

Second Concept: Customizing the Station

The station is kind of like a car in some ways. You can customize the engine to the station, get science to fill maint tunnels with sepia tiles to slow down shady activity, get science to create bluespace tiles to speed up productivity in medbay, get new weapons researched or ordered through cargo, have hydroponics create an army of omnizine bees and extra their honey, have an army of phazon mechs to tactically deal with syndicate problems, and much more. Because of all of the ways you can customize the station, you also have to understand when choices are good or bad for customization. Don't try to force the crew to do something they don't want, as most people playing the game are doing it to have fun and telling them what to do could lead to a massive lite rp greytide rebellion. if you have a particular thing you do, be sure it's not seen as metagaming or powergaming. Merely "thinking" something is metagaming could make it so in the eyes of the staff and get you in trouble, so keep your damn mouth shut about what you always do, even if it is to rush science into replacing tiles.

 

Third Concept: Power Choices

Unlike power gaming, power choices are decisions which give you more authority over others than you already have. Delegation is telling people what to do. If you don't have someone to tell what to do, then you need to try and get someone to temporarily be promoted so that they can be told what to do. This is useful for head of security, as it's hard to find someone who knows space law enough to play the role without them getting permanently banned for abusing their power. Having someone executed without a magistrate is an example of a power choice, which doesn't require centcom unless the captain isn't on the station and neither is the magistrate. Security officers will sometimes try to commit mutiny against you even if they aren't antagonist. This is  because they didn't read space law, came from another server, and believe the rules from one server is the same as another. When this happens, what you've done before this moment and preparing for this moment isn't power gaming, but, preparation for the stupidity of others. Some choices you will make will make people likely try to commit mutiny even if it's something small you did. This is why blueshield exist. Security and the head of personnel will normally not be very dependable beyond the scope of their departments when it comes to these things. Becoming friends with all the heads could allow you to talk about one head you want to fire behind their back and get that head demoted without any resistance from the other heads. This is a power choice. If you demote a head without the heads all being in on it, they will lose their trust in you. Letting the trader dock can potentially be a power choice if done correctly. Changing AI laws can be a power choice.

 

Four Concept: Responsibilities

Always secure the nuclear authentication disk immediately and place it on your person. This is legit a rule and part of being a captain. You can get demoted, terminated, or job banned for not doing this. Secure the spare ID and the nuclear disk tracker, then give it to the blueshield if present. If a blueshield isn't present, you don't have to do this, but, you can give it to the head of security or place the items in a secure location. The nuclear disk must always be on you at all times. You're responsible for choosing to go code blue and code red when necessary, but, nobody tells you when and what to do for that. Any head can go code red. Going out of code red in an emergency could get you job banned, so don't do it. You don't have to go code red when there is a threat, but, it can get you reported to centcom which will likely not amount to anything because it will sound from their point of view as a mere accusation. Try to complete the station objective, but, don't micromanage and don't demote people unless the other heads agree. Anything from centcom is mandatory and some things can even get you permanently banned from the server if you mess it up. Delegate at all times and if there is nobody to delegate to, make someone.

 

Tricky Tricks

Here are some tricks the captain can pull that could potentially get the captain in trouble with a few staff members if they aren't careful when pulling off these tricks. Mostly Controversial.

1. Trader Baiting: Let the trader dock with the station after having security prevent crew from trading. Make a deal with the trader to tell security the name of anybody who buys class S contraband. Use it to blackmail those crew members into either going to the permanent brig or getting implanted and doing what you tell them as a slave for the rest of the round. Highly likely to piss off many people and isn't against the rules in its purest forms, but, can be in special conditions such as rounds that have an obvious cut and dry antagonist.
2. Black Listing: This is where you tell security and the head of security to purposely ignore a particular member of the crew if they cry for help. Although it's against the rules to let someone come to harm as an AI, it isn't against the rules to let someone come to harm as a security officer and I'v seen it happen many times. The only proof that it's intentional or even hint is going to be the captain chatting with security about it or writing it on a piece of paper. Useful for letting specific undesirable crew members go missing, such as internal affairs, magistrate, other heads, grey tiders, mutineers, ect.
3. Department Proxy Sabotage: This requires you, the captain, to promote another crew member to have extended access, preferably with the knowledge of security, to go on a mission to infiltrate a specific department and purposely sabotage one of your own work stations. The reason you don't do this yourself is because it's not your job to do work; Your a captain after all. This is useful for getting rid of toxin mixing, which can be a huge threat to the station when the mime turns themselves into a monkey and uses the PDA to blackmail you into giving them all your credits or they blow up the station. Be careful not to use this trick on virology, or else centcom will likely create gibbingtons.
4. Surprise Department Raid: How this works is unbenounced to an entire department, the entire security force is about to break into and raid the department to find contraband. This normally begins with the AI locking maint tunnels around the department, including the exits and entrance. Obviously AI law set needs to be changed from ASIMOV before doing this. Once security is in position, security rushes in and the door is bolted shut behind them as they stun and check every member of the department their invading for any contraband what so ever, specifically class S. This is something that can be done in code blue, but, not code green. It will likely piss a bunch of people off. The head of security can also try to set this up themselves.
5. Security Stacking: Here is how you piss off everybody and start a civil war on the station. Not everybody is enthusiastic. You need enthusiastic security officers to have them pull off anything or get anything done. Because of this, it may be at times depending on how poor the security force on the station is, better the hire more security with the head of securities permission. Clown, mime, and anybody enthusiastic on security will normally perform better than players who started as security because they are more willing to work in the position. This doesn't mean they won't greytide, but, if you're having trouble getting anything done, this will certainly help push things along. You may also get a few admin messages as to why you promoted someone to security officer.
6. Customizing Execution: It's not in space law that executing a prisoner must be done in a particular manner, although particular manners are layed out. What is in space law is obviously giving people last words, having the chaplain present, ect. Customizing execution to something unique can be helpful for getting rid of unique antagonist, which is the purpose, but, it can also be something to ultimately piss someone off. The entire purpose of doing this beyond merely killing the antagonist is to give the crew enthusiasm. A boost in morality can increase productivity in many ways and make crew members feel more involved even when they aren't. This can however work against you if the security decides to use your method of execution to begin accusing everybody of being a changeling without any evidence.

So there is a few examples of the tricks and concepts needed to be a fully functional captain on the station. Many people will disagree with me on these, but, many of those people will also never play captain out of fear of being permanently banned or losing their real life self control in a childrens game and abusing power.

[Kyet]

There's a lot of stuff in this guide that seems highly questionable to me.

Examples:

• "Merely "thinking" something is metagaming could make it so in the eyes of the staff and get you in trouble, so keep your damn mouth shut about what you always do, even if it is to rush science into replacing tiles." When a player has an opinion about whether something is metagaming or not, it is simply an opinion. When an admin does, in their official capacity, it is a judgement, and a ruling that must be followed. Encouraging people to do things they think the staff might consider metagaming, but keep quiet about it so they are not caught, tends to be read as encouraging metagaming by the staff.
• "This is useful for head of security, as it's hard to find someone who knows space law enough to play the role without them getting permanently banned for abusing their power" -- no, it isn't. We have plenty of HoSes that know space law well enough, and even if you don't you can look it up in many cases (e.g: sentencing times) as you play.
• "Security officers will sometimes try to commit mutiny against you even if they aren't antagonist" No, they probably won't. This is super-rare, and if it happens to you really at all, take a hard look at your own actions!
• "Department Proxy Sabotage: This requires you, the captain, to promote another crew member to have extended access, preferably with the knowledge of security, to go on a mission to infiltrate a specific department and purposely sabotage one of your own work stations." Why on earth would the Captain ever want to give someone extra access for the express purpose of sabotaging the station they are in charge of?

I could go on, but I have to cut this post short for RL reasons.

In summary: lots of the advice in this guide seems to be questionable, with some of it extremely questionable to the point of you probably getting bwoinked for doing it. Not the stuff you flag, though - I've never seen a captain get job banned for dropping the code below red during an emergency, but I have seen them get banned for doing other things you encourage, like deliberately trying to skirt around what admins consider to be metagaming.

Overall, I think this guide needs a lot of editing.

 

 

[WingedYordle]

I agree, as someone who plays captain regularly, I would not do any of this

Edited December 10, 2018 by Trubus

[Scrat]

How to be a tyrant in only a few easy steps 

[TheClosetMailman]

I agree with the shirtless vulpkanin, most of these can only really apply to someone that uses the TYRANT lawset, AKA an asshole with an office and a few metabuddies in the head of staff roles.

[TyOmaha]

2 hours ago, Karmasakakiki said:

Customizing Execution: It's not in space law that executing a prisoner must be done in a particular manner

But it is

Quote

Executions can be done only by electric chair, lethal injection, firing squad, gas inhalation or asphyxiation. Other means of Execution are illegal unless a prisoner requests them. Cyborgification, either as a means of execution or posthumously, is also a valid option. See Legal Standard Operating Procedure for more information regarding executions.

 

[Aletmagne]

A lot of this advice is liable to get you demoted or worse jobbanned

[Karmasakakiki]

2 hours ago, Ty Omaha said:

But it is

 

Space Law also states that I can execute someone on sight because they escaped or attempted to escape permabrig. That would be a conflict within space law itself and there isn't a stated priority in space law as to which order laws should overrule each other relating to some form of standard operating procedures. Breaking space law stated procedures states no consequence other than the feedback from the staff themselves. This falls on SOP, where SOP states that SOP is malleable. SOP also states "Breaching Standard Operating Procedure without a very good reason is grounds for demotion, at the discretion of the relevant Head of Staff". SOP never states if I can only take away from the SOP or add to the SOP. Because of that, in the case of a changeling, guillotine and incinerator could be something that could be done. The only in character consequence is if the other heads disagree. If the heads agree, then the only other consequence is a direct message from "centcom" or an admin message.

[WingedYordle]

45 minutes ago, Karmasakakiki said:

Space Law also states that I can execute someone on sight because they escaped or attempted to escape permabrig. That would be a conflict within space law itself and there isn't a stated priority in space law as to which order laws should overrule each other relating to some form of standard operating procedures. Breaking space law stated procedures states no consequence other than the feedback from the staff themselves. This falls on SOP, where SOP states that SOP is malleable. SOP also states "Breaching Standard Operating Procedure without a very good reason is grounds for demotion, at the discretion of the relevant Head of Staff". SOP never states if I can only take away from the SOP or add to the SOP. Because of that, in the case of a changeling, guillotine and incinerator could be something that could be done. The only in character consequence is if the other heads disagree. If the heads agree, then the only other consequence is a direct message from "centcom" or an admin message.

If you read SoP for Legal... hostile eoc like Xenomorphs, Changelings, Shadowlings, and powered vampires are kill on sight. Thralled are to be detained and deconverted. Those who escape perma are considered shot on sight. Attempted escaping perma is not a kill on sight as they can still be detained. 

Its not an execution, it’s more of a punishment for escaping. All of this says it in SoP for security

[Karmasakakiki]

"Any prisoners that escape Permanent Imprisonment may be detained or killed on sight, at the discretion of Security."

 

I mean if you do it, you aren't violating space law. Centcom/Admin > Server Rules > SOP > Space Law. It's this lack of understand of what set of rules to obey first that makes people confused about the rules. SOP has to be higher priority than space law for a malleable overriding of space law under emergency circumstances. Now if the server staff would like to redefine these, I would suggest allowing SOP to only be malleable under certain circumstances, but, enforcement is quite difficult and considered a local issue. Server Rules obviously come first, but, if staff tells you what to do, you have to do it as part of the bottom line. Security doesn't have to play paddy cake with a prisoner who escaped permabrig and I'v never been a permabrig escapist that didn't get the electric chair right after.

 

I will however say that magistrate should come first when deciding who gets to be executed, before the captain, which the captain I see as the same level on who can authorize execution as the head of security. The reason for this is the captain shouldn't be personally executing people. They should be delegating task. It's not their job. If none of these are around, centcom has to okay it. If centcom doesn't respond, the prisoner has to be put in permabrig again, however the fact that space law states "at the discretion of security" leaves room for "interpretation". Obviously if you're just a peon security officer, you shouldn't be executing anybody you don't have to unless they are kill on sight enemies of the corporation. Because security is limited to their job and their job only, having people who escape permabrig be placed back in permabrig honestly is quite challenging, as you have to figure out where the hidden wall to escape is located at. Another issue is that if someone escapes permabrig without making a secret hidden wall, then it's likely true that you as a security officer made a mistake and it's kind of your own fault they had the opportunity to escape. In that situation, the security officer that didn't follow SOP properly and isn't a head of staff should be demoted. This isn't what happens.

[TyOmaha]

You're ignoring the escape Permanent Imprisonment part, if a dude is already in perma and isn't escaping you can't just drag him out to the halls and say "technically he escaped"

 

[Shadeykins]

1 hour ago, Karmasakakiki said:

Space Law also states that I can execute someone on sight because they escaped or attempted to escape permabrig. That would be a conflict within space law itself and there isn't a stated priority in space law as to which order laws should overrule each other relating to some form of standard operating procedures. Breaking space law stated procedures states no consequence other than the feedback from the staff themselves. This falls on SOP, where SOP states that SOP is malleable. SOP also states "Breaching Standard Operating Procedure without a very good reason is grounds for demotion, at the discretion of the relevant Head of Staff". SOP never states if I can only take away from the SOP or add to the SOP. Because of that, in the case of a changeling, guillotine and incinerator could be something that could be done. The only in character consequence is if the other heads disagree. If the heads agree, then the only other consequence is a direct message from "centcom" or an admin message.

Laws do not overrule one another. There are several exception clauses for "Use of Deadly Force" so Security isn't hamstrung.

This is not "overruling other laws," it's quite literally to allow security to do their job.

Guillotine/Incinerator are not valid means of execution. The incinerator is literally only permissible because of the Changeling Enemy of the Corporation clause.

Quote

Changelings/Testimony - All changelings are to be considered hostile alien lifeforms and a direct threat to all personnel. All changelings are to be killed on sight and immediately cremated. Forensic evidence and/or direct testimony from Mindshielded personnel is necessary to establish proof. Personnel who provide false testimony are to be charged with Murder if the supposed changeling is killed and attempted murder if it is not.

If you do not follow through on proper execution standards, it's considered murder. This includes improperly executing prisoners.

Quote

As a member of Security, higher standards of play are expected of you. You are expected to follow Space Law and Standard Operating Procedure correctly, when playing Security.

If you wish to RP a corrupt member of Security (taking bribes, beating a prisoner, etc), then Adminhelp for permission first. We're generally willing to give permission if the situation warrants it, or you have a valid justification

This is Rule 10.

Intentionally violating the rules will get you warned/disciplined/job-banned. It is absolutely within the rules that security should be following Space Law. Additional adherence to SOP is expected for security because it handles things like brigging procedures, trials, and execution standards (which are not inherently part of Space Law).

1 hour ago, Karmasakakiki said:

I mean if you do it, you aren't violating space law. Centcom/Admin > Server Rules > SOP > Space Law. It's this lack of understand of what set of rules to obey first that makes people confused about the rules. SOP has to be higher priority than space law for a malleable overriding of space law under emergency circumstances.

The override is inherent in Space Law. Space Law is not under SOP.

SOP is complementary to Space Law, not the other way around.

Space Law > SOP

[Karmasakakiki]

If spacelaw overrides SOP, then crew members would have to be sent to permabrig during a nuclear operations round when they get their hands on class S contraband. Also I'v been executed by guillotine before and even made a report against the players that did it here on the forum. I was accused, but, no proof was around and the accusers didn't have mind shield implants. They didn't get sentenced for murder. Why? Well I won't deny that I was a changeling. There was no evidence of this. All I did was blow out the electricity around my department while a witness was watching, not a mind shielded witness. There was more than one person who "wasn't mind shielded" that accused me of this as well, as I did this around three parts of the station. I didn't kill a single person, trespass, or anything of that nature. It's not a matter or rather or not they violated space law, but, rather or not anybody was going to do anything about it, which is the bottom line of every rule on this server, even the server rules themselves. I witness this every time I play and it's a very common thing on how most online servers are ran.

 

In fact in real life, there is pretty much a law that makes something illegal that you do without knowing it or something you believe that could be considered a mental disorder. Why do you think everybody is still out of prison or jail for the most part aside from a few people who are made an example out of even if they're just as guilty as everybody else? Because the system wouldn't work anymore, which is the entire reason for this power structure. I mean if "SOP" can't override space law, then most people would always be in the brig and I'd have already been permabanned for putting someone in the brig for very minor infractions.

[Saxis]

Wow, this is a pretty good guide on how to get job banned as captain! Good job!

[Kyet]

During nuke ops, security doesn't have time to be searching crew for contraband, and if someone is walking around in a nukie hardsuit, for example, they're likely to be shot by their fellow crew.

More generally, not all crimes have equal priority. Security can and should focus on the most important ones. Sometimes that means letting more minor crimes slide.

Specific complaints about someone's conduct in a specific round should go to ahelp at the time, or player complaint afterwards. Not in the guides forum.

SS13 is not real life, and comparisons to real life are often unhelpful.

Most crew members don't get in trouble most shifts.

 

Given that the general opinion of this guide is that it is at best unhelpful, and at worst advising people to do things that might get them in trouble, I am going to lock this thread.

Feel free to create a new guide, but I advise you to discuss it a lot more with other players, perhaps on Discord, before posting it.

[Shadeykins]

7 minutes ago, Karmasakakiki said:

If spacelaw overrides SOP, then crew members would have to be sent to permabrig during a nuclear operations round when they get their hands on class S contraband. Also I'v been executed by guillotine before and even made a report against the players that did it here on the forum. I was accused, but, no proof was around and the accusers didn't have mind shield implants. They didn't get sentenced for murder. Why? Well I won't deny that I was a changeling. There was no evidence of this. All I did was blow out the electricity around my department while a witness was watching, not a mind shielded witness. There was more than one person who "wasn't mind shielded" that accused me of this as well, as I did this around three parts of the station. I didn't kill a single person, trespass, or anything of that nature. It's not a matter or rather or not they violated space law, but, rather or not anybody was going to do anything about it, which is the bottom line of every rule on this server, even the server rules themselves. I witness this every time I play and it's a very common thing on how most online servers are ran.

 

In fact in real life, there is pretty much a law that makes something illegal that you do without knowing it or something you believe that could be considered a mental disorder. Why do you think everybody is still out of prison or jail for the most part aside from a few people who are made an example out of even if they're just as guilty as everybody else? Because the system wouldn't work anymore, which is the entire reason for this power structure. I mean if "SOP" can't override space law, then most people would always be in the brig and I'd have already been permabanned for putting someone in the brig for very minor infractions.

Multiple people witnessing you EMPing your surroundings with no clear source of that EMP is more than enough testimony. Non mind-shielded personnel can still testify, the only difference is that their testimony is not true by default.

Your blatant misreading of Space Law and SOP is not grounds for an argument. You have been told by three admins as to the actual interpretation of Space Law thus far, one of whom actually wrote the document itself. If you bothered to actually read Space Law, you would be well aware that you can't brig people during a station-wide emergency when there's an imminent threat to the health of prisoners.

Space Law > SOP.

Follow the server rules.

/thread

[necaladun]

Quote

Foreword: As the name indicates, Standard Operating Procedure is a set of Guidelines to be followed when the station is functioning nominally. Breaching Standard Operating Procedure without a very good reason is grounds for demotion, at the discretion of the relevant Head of Staff. In addition, blindly following the letter of SOP while ignoring the context of the shift is a ridiculously bad idea. SOP is malleable if the situation requires it, and the general well-being and proper functioning of the crew and station should not be sacrificed for the sake of rigorous adherence of SOP. Remember, context is king.