I’m working on a project idea for auto-promotion in Commander during low population times to eliminate the need for admin intervention. Essentially, after five minutes, ARES will announce the absence of an Executive Officer (XO) or Commanding Officer (CO) and designate the most senior person in the ranking as the Duty Officer in charge of the Combat Information Center (CIC). For example, ARES would say: “Due to a lack of command staff, XX has been designated in charge of operational command. Access modified.” It won’t check again, and if a more senior member of command joins, that person should revoke the previous one’s access; the only fault I see here is if that person instantly cryo’s, but at that point, I think that is an administrative issue? If there are multiple people in the same role, the most senior among them will be appointed. For instance, if there are four Staff Officers (SOs) and no XO, the Officer with the highest (playtime)* will be designated as the Commander of the operation.
I also want to add a locked cabinet in the CIC that contains a spare command headset and an Overwatch pamphlet. This way, working in the CIC won’t be difficult for those who lack those skills (It will only open during these kinds of events).
This is a great idea. At least the pamphlet is a must.
As for everything else? I’m not sure. Forcing players into a command role will probably never work. It will also, at some point, inevitably decide people on random from a list of same ranking positions. Hey, did you know that CMs medical ranks are a bit weird? Doctors have 2nd lieutenant simply by existing. Good luck to them.
The solution to this problem already exists, and it is the access console and the spare IDs in briefing.
Chances are for lack of command staff, one of the heads of department could take over that already has command access. CMP, CE, CMO, QM etc.
So then you have the probability of having a CO, XO, ASO, then SOs, then heads of 4 different departments, which could take over that tells me it is a bit unlikely for all of them to be missing at once at a given time.
When it comes to the case of having multiple heads of department, they typically do not join to do OW functions, so forcing it one them is not ideal imo, regardless of rank. I think it is more effective that they are informed and decide to step up by themselves.
Still it is a good idea that could see some use regardless.
I’ll be honest, as CE every time I’ve been in a situation where I was forced to step up and take command, I mostly wandered around avoiding radio contact and people wearing a black jumpsuit with my suit sensors turned off. I really have no experience at the job and no gusto toward it.
To everyone who responded: there is a Chain of Command (CoC) that must be followed. If you don’t want to run the CIC, you can appoint someone else to take charge. However, it is important that someone is in charge and has the proper access rights. In addition to this if you don’t want to be in charge don’t pick a role in the chain of command.
Please refrain from making comments such as “this isn’t an issue.” I would appreciate avoiding those types of responses.
Gotta pipe up to amplify the volume on the whole locked cabinet with an Overwatch pamph- a lot of roles that WILL get aCO’d on Lowpop WILL NOT have the Overwatch/Leadership skills necessary to even utilize the Command Tablet.
My second I/O round ever I got aCO’d and could not set a tac map and barely knew shit, so I spent my time parading around the bridge stressed out of my mind telling everyone who came in that I was PROMOTING them to Junior Senior Manager of X or Y depending on their job. I think I told a maint tech he was appointed leadership of the Maintenance Cabal or some shit like that and told him to keep close because I was convinced a mutiny would come and I’d need bribed guns on my side.
I’m not saying it’d have been much better with proper skills to utilize the gear, but I’d at least have been able to draw the crayons on the tac map.
I would like to include an out-of-character (OOC) and in-character (IC) message for anyone who gets promoted, along with the chain of command list and the essential CIC guide, to help them feel more oriented. I believe it’s a great idea, and I appreciate your input! Thank you for sharing!