Marcus Springfield
Alina Mickevich
Sarah
Elder Mal’rah Loxzil
MA-T1
Why do you want to become a Mentor?:
For the same reason I wanted to become a CO - to help get more people into this silly ass SS13 game. CM easily has the best new player experience of SS13 (and honestly many other games). I’ve been a Mentor elsewhere for about 4ish years now, so I might as well apply that to my current most-played codebase as well. There are few things as important to a SS13 server than ensuring new blood flows into the community, and being able to help with that would be an honor.
What gameplay areas do you know and which areas are you strong and weak in?:
Strengths
CIC and Marine Law: pretty simple to leverage my time as a CO into either of those facets of the game.
Squad Lead and Macro Questions: anything groundside tactics or overarching gameflow questions should be simple.
Medical, Requisitions, Intel, Engineering: plenty of time running these as both CO and Synth - MedChem included here.
Marine Combat: kits, gear, roles, etc. Cant lead an Operation without understanding what the tools do!
Middling Knowledge
Xenomorph Castes: When I play Xeno, I dont really want the stress or headache of playing T3s/Queen. That being said, I do know what each of the castes and their strains do.
Queen: While I have zero Queen time, the various abilities such as ovi’ing, the Maturity system, pheremones, leaders, and Hive Boons are all fairly easy to explain!
Weaknesses
Research and OT: while I know how the Contract System/Botany work, I cant say I have a ton of direct knowledge of doing the actual tasks. I never really found staring at Chem Machines to be an enjoyable gameplay loop, but tasks such as explosive assembles and basic research steps I have down.
Gunship Pilot: another one of the “havent really been hands on” roles. I can set up and do firemissions, but it never really piqued my interest, so it definitely has gaps!
How often are to able to play CM?:
I typically play a round or two a day.
A screenshot or transcript of your human and xeno playtimes:
Will post below.,
Anything else you’d like to add?:
My grand secret plan to unlock all the roles on the Role Preferences screen continues :^)
But yeah, I feel I have the knowledge to help the poor PVTs and Young Runner XXs of the world. CM’s drawn me in to SS13 again the same way other servers did a decade ago. It’d be nice to give back.
Springfield has been a positive, proactive, and enthusiastic member of the community. They’re helpful, honest, and knowledgeable.
They’ve been a great addition to the CO whitelist. I think giving them more tools to help new players can only be a positive influence on people looking to get into or learn more about CM.
I personally believe you will be an excellent fit, but as a matter of procedure allow me to ask you some questions. Here is some guidance to bear in mind.
Assume any hypothetical players know nothing.
Assume anything too ambigious will be misunderstood.
This is more about how you answer than if you answer correctly. Its how you would respond to seeing these mhelps over what you reply to the player.
Hi, a player has 600 burn, and the burn treatment isn’t working. Can he not be saved?
Hi, how do I reattach a marines arm?
Hi, how do I run intel?
My popup text is strange symbols how do I fix this?
I think you are a little beyond “how do i fix an apc“ so these are intended to be a bit painful. New players do ask the strangest questions in the most unhelpful ways.
Once you’ve exhausted Burn Kits and the Synthgraft, you’ll need to start defibrillating them. This will start to chip away at the remaining burn damage. It will heal more if you use chemicals like Epinephrine. You have to take care though, as too many defibs can lead to heartbreak, which will require a surgeon or MEDEVAC to fix. Its also a good idea to ensure someone is providing CPR to high-damage cases.
If youre not a Doctor, you’ll have to send them to one (ie, HMs cant do limb replacement surgery). If you are, then youll need to start by preparing the limb by aiming at the affected part and going: Scalpel > Suture/Fix-o-Vein to prepare the site. Then, you’ll have to attach a new robotic limb to them, which can be printed from a Limb Printer. The steps to attach this are: Click on the missing limb with the new Robotic Limb > Hemostat/an open hand > an open hand (again) to calibrate!
To process Intel, there’s 6 key items to keep track of: Paper Scraps, Intel Folders, Disks, Tech Manuals, High Value Items, and Research Items. Youll want to take any research items (vials, research grants, chemical property reports and breakthroughs) and take them to Research to handle. Scraps and Folders can be read by using them in hand. Sometimes youll find that Folders will give a “you find nothing interesting” response, which means you havent found the corresponding Paper Scrap for it yet. Once you read through all the Scraps and Folders, you can go to the Intel Computer in the Intel Wing of the Almayer, click it, and youll begin uploading everything youve read to the Intel Objectives screen. If you open this (which is found in the IC Tab) you can now use the “Data” tab to take Encryption codes and start decrypting disks in the Disk Readers. You can store all of the items youve decrypted and read on the shelves in the Intel Room. Technical manuals can be read after their corresponding Intel Folder has been read, and it will note any High Value Items that need to be collected and placed in the Intel Room’s storage. You can collect all of them and simply place the High Value items on the racks and theyll count if you read their related manual!
Most issues with the UI can be fixed by using either Fix Interfaces or Refresh TGUI in the OOC Tab. If neither of these work, you can always try clearing your BYOND cache as well. You can do this by opening your Preferences on the BYOND application (the little cog wheel), going to “Games” and clicking Clear Cache.
I’ve known this guy across two servers with one of them being CM. I’ve never seen this guy act inappropriately icly nor OOCly. I would love to see them accepted into the mentor team.
There shouldn’t be a reason to keep this guy waiting +1 from me.
You could of mentioned you can kit while the windup is happening, and mentioned the epi is in your revival mix. Acceptable answer though, and covered the defib spam arts.
Yep, spotted the pitfall of a corpsman trying to do it, but might not of noticed the implication the corpsman thinks he can sew someone’s limb back on.
Correct, even High value items which many do not know.
Sometimes clearing cache works, but important to note, if they are seeing strange symbols its often an issue with version, and they might need to check their version is up to date, and if so reinstall. Its an elusive issue but a known thing. Fix chat will not work.
All in all I am happy, combined with your responses and knowing your character. +1
+1, always polite; has the extremely rare skill as HM also to not overstep with “helping” people who don’t request it. Knows just when to help, and how to do it, without being condescending
Hi, matttheficus! Its always good to see new applicants to the mentor team!
While I have no doubt in my mind that you know the answer to the majority of these off the top of your head, I am asking these questions to ensure that you can articulate answers in an easily understandable manner.
Your answers can be as long or as short as you want, as long as you believe that it has adequately answered the question!
Question time!
Marine questions:
I can’t put on my smartgunner armour or eyepiece, please help me!
Help!!! I’ve been selected as commander by ARES!!! what do I do now!?!?!?!?!?
How do I emote?
How do I fix my broken arm???
What is the difference between frontline mode, and normal shooting?
I died. Can I be cloned, like on other servers?
I’m having trouble getting into the roleplay part of this game. Do you have any advice?
How do I fix IB as a corpsman? Someone said I can do it, but didn’t tell me how!
How can I carry more stuff as a corpsman? I barely have enough storage to carry splints in my satchel!
Oh god! I’ve become A-SL. How do I stop being A-SL?!?!
Xenomorph questions
OH GOD I WAS A GHOST BUT NOW I’M A LARVA WHAT HAPPENED HELP!!!
I tried to facehug a marine but I just jumped onto them and stunned them for a moment. Why didn’t it work?
Why can’t I tunnel while hauling a marine?
I saw another ravager throw spikes, how do I do that?
I’ve seen other runners coat people in acid when they attack. How do I do that?
Misc. Questions.
How do I become working joe?
What is a young blood? How do I do it?
Help!!! My UI just vanished!!! please help!!!
Whats a PvE?
I have a suggestion regarding a recent change to the game. Where can I give feedback?
There is a blank white square in the middle of my screen in the CM-SS13 window. I cannot move it. Please help me.
Make sure you have clothing on, else you cant wear Armor! Backpacks will also block SG Armor, so ensure youre not wearing that either! As for the eyepiece, make sure your Smartgun is equipped and that youre not wearing anything in the eyewear slot!
That means youve the highest ranked (in game rank, that is) in the round! This can happen to anyone in the Chain of Command. You’ll want to go to CIC, grab the tablet and Command Headset from the small wall locker to the north of the Bubble in CIC. Let your Squad Leads know that you’d like some help coming up with a plan - they would much rather know that youre looking for help now rather than find out during the Operation. Theyll likely give you some pointers of which LZs to pick and maybe some planning - rely on your NCOs when youre feeling overwhelmed with things to do.
You can use the ‘m’ key or type ‘*clap’ in the Say bar. You can also go to the Preferences tab and set Hotkeys for emotes as well!
You’ll want to apply a splint for a temporary fix, or go and visit a Doctor for a full fix! Keep in mind, Corpsmen cannot fix it!
It will change your firing mode to use alternate IFF - not letting you fire through friendlies but in exchange reduces your damage falloff range!
You cannot! Once your 5 minute death timer completes, youll have to either wait for a ghost role to roll, or you’ll have to give Xenomorph a try!
CM - and SS13 as a whole - is a big olde game of improv. Listen to what people around you are chatting about and try to add to it in some way. Some people will pull you into the conversation, some will confront you, some will ignore you - its all about seeing how people react to what you say and rolling with the punches.
Youll want to make sure your Surgical Inten is on at the top-left side of your screen. Next, get them on a roller and apply some pain meds - oxy or tramadol both work!. If you have the surgical kit you start with, you can do Scalpel > Hemostat > Retractors > Suture (select Mend Internal Bleeding) > Suture. If you dont, you can use a boot knife twice > Suture (select Mend Internal Bleeding) > Suture.
The key to maximizing HM loadouts is nesting storage. You can use Medkits inside your backpack to carry a LOT more things. There’s some spares in the Medical Prep rooms in Medbay and outside Medbay in the hall to the north-east!
CIC has likely made you aSL. You can always ask over Comms to have them pick someone else! You get Command Comms when youre aSL, so you can use ‘:v’ to ask them directly.
Xeno Questions
Welcome to the Hive! Stay in the Hive for now, and wait till you get the “Youre ready to evolve” prompt! You can then select one of the Tier One xenos to become! You can ask further questions about each type if you want help picking, but Drone is usually a good first pick.
Marines either need to be rooted or prone for a facehugger to hug someone. You can tell theyre rooted by a small blue effect by their feet.
Hauling prevents tunneling! Youll have to walk your newly capped Marine to the Hive!
That means theyve picked the Hedgehog strain! You can select it by being a Ravager and going to the Alien tab and clicking Purchase Strain. Then just use the Fire Spikes ability after collecting some shards by taking some damage!
Theyve selected the Acid Runner strain! You can purchase it in the Alien tab and clicking Purchase Strain.
Theyre an intro to the Predator Whitelist! Theyre spawned by WL holders as a ghost role. You can always try to reach out to a Pred WL holder and see if they’d be willing to run one sometime.
Click F12 a couple of times till it comes back.
PvE is the Players vs Environment version of CM. They have AI-based antagonists for the Marines to fight against instead of other players.
Hey hey! Thought I’d fill out the xeno question side of things a little more.
I’m queen because nobody else wanted to be queen but there’s so many buttons what the fuck do I doooooo
I’m kinda new to xeno and I’m liking warrior so far but I seem to die a lot. Can you help me? Why is it that other people are getting like 10 bajallion kills with warrior but I just get shredded whenever I try to lunge? Any tips?!
Hey a drone completely walled off someone’s body, like no doors or nothing, isn’t that against the rules?
How do I purchase boons, and what’s the best boon to get?
It’s my first time playing praetorian, which strain should I pick? Or should I just stay base?
A majority of playing Queen is a lot like playing XO - making sure your Hive is informed, directed where to push, and that you provide as much utility as you can. The main things at the start: toss down a Hive Core using the green-black Order Construction ability. Next, find a spot nearby it to grow your Ovipositor - this will give you a bunch of utility abilities, the first being Eye Form which lets you look around all the resin on the map. As soon as its grown, youll want to begin emitting Recovery Pheremones and select some leaders. You can do this by using the Hive Status button under the Alien tab, then using the Choose Leader ability - you should be able to have four (assuming theyre roundstart and not immature/new from drone). After that, youll want to spend some time building up the Hive - use Project Resin to build up some walls, doors, etc around your Core. Your Hivelords should be helping you. From that point forward, heal or give plasma using the abilities or your Hive Status window, give directions and orders with Word of the Queen, or join the fight using your spits/screech/etc!
Warrior’s big strength is in its positioning. You always want to make sure youre not overextending. A smart warrior is the one that gets kills. You always need to balance a Lunge with how risky the area youre jump to is. Do you have sisters near by to help/screen you? Are there more marines? Have you seen the Scout/SADAR/any of the Specs recently? Knowing when to go in and how to punish Marines’ mistakes is the biggest hurdle to the caste.
I’m assuming yall have a Convert to A-Help button like we had on Para? If so I’d probably escalate it to them.
Make sure you have a Pylon (aka, a cluster on a broken COMMS tower) so that you start gaining Royal Resin. Then, click Manage Hive > Purchase Boons. Theyre all situational: Larva Surge is always a good one, as you get 5 free larva for the Hive. (Note: I would probably ask for what their current concerns are to point to more specific boons if needed, but Surge is always a fairly safe bet)
I would stay base! It lets you be a bit safer in your gameplay by staying at range. Once your comfortable in how durable you are in combat you can branch out and try the other strains. They tend to excel in different kinds of utility, so I would go and read up on what they do on the Wiki for a much more in-depth look at each one.
All you need is a Builder caste (Drone, Hivelord, Carrier, Queen) to use Order Construction and build a Hive Cluster near a broken COMMS tower. Itll convert to a Pylon after the weeds consume the Tower!
Do note this uses collapse-able lists to help with the overall readability of this thread. Simply click on the ‘Response To Answers’, and it will show the responses :).
Marine Answers.
Response to Answers (Marine).
Answered the question well, no notes.
Good advice - if they REALLY are stressing out, and you’re available to do so, it may be wise to offer being an imaginary friend to help them understand all the interfaces and whatnot - I knew that was a big hurdle to get over when I was new to CIC.
I would have said to write ‘*help’ instead, as that brings up the full list of pre-set emotes.
No notes.
No notes.
You might want to tell them how to try xenomorph (Statspannel>Preferences>SpecialRoleCandidacy>XenomorphAfterUnrevivableDeath), though otherwise, no notes.
Good roleplay advice. I’d also personally recommend giving the lore overview page on the wiki a look, and say that the AvP wiki is mostly good for further reading. Chance is they’d ask further questions, though thats due to roleplay being rather tricky to get the hang of.
Good answers, though I would’ve told them to administer blood during the surgery.
No notes, though you might want to use another word than ‘nesting storage’, as that might confuse a newer player, but thats personal preference at the end of the day.
No notes.
Xeno Answers.
Response to Answers (Xenomorph).
No notes.
No notes, though I’d change ‘prone’ to ‘stunned’, personal preference as ever, though.
With semi-recent changes, its best practice to link the PR for further reading. You can pretty easily find PRs by throwing a bunch of terms related to the change into the Github closed (or open, if its a test-merge) PR pulls log. For test merges, you can use the ‘View server revision’ in OOC.
No notes.
No notes.
Misc. Questions.
Response to Answers (Miscellaneous)
No notes.
No notes, though I’m not on the WL.
Depending on their computer (and if they have FNLock on), they may need to hold the FuNction key while pressing F12, so you might want to include that to cover all the bases.
Good, though I’d either link the forums announcement page, or get a Discord link to PvE. (I believe this is current: https://discord.gg/pve-cmss13)
Yep. Usually people ask questions related to PR feedback less kindly than I have, though the only response is what you answered with.
Sometimes this works, sometimes it makes the issue worse. If the steps don’t resolve the issue, tell the person to click on the blank window and press Alt+F4 - This works due to the way Byond handles windows (This is all speculation), with each being its own separate window contained within the Byond game (In this case, CM-SS13). There is a chance that if they don’t click on the window, they will exit out of the game - This will also fix the issue once they log back in, though suggesting someone Alt+F4 should only ever really be used as a last resort, for obvious reasons.
No notes.
No notes.
I believe you’re a good fit for the team - you answer questions well, and you have a very articulate and understandable way with words. Your grammatical errors - far and few that there are, do not effect the ability to understand the answer.
No matter what the result of this application is, I hope you’ve enjoyed answering the questions.
Convert to ahelp button? What a nice thought. Nope, we got nothing fancy like that! Mostly just a question to double check you’d read the mentor guidelines. I liked your answers, particularly the one about warrior’s strengths and weaknesses. Overextending on a lunge is the most common reason I see new warriors die. Well, that and bullets. I don’t know you well enough to vouch for your character, but I think your technical knowledge is pretty up to snuff! Thanks for replying.
I was gonna spite code this myself out of sheer outrage but did the next best thing: IdeasGuying it to the poor Dev who’s doing the Ticket Panel rewrite :^)
I swear there was someone that re-did the mentor help stuff and then got told to do it in TGUI. No idea what happened to that. (It dieded of Stale) ((Yes I saw someone’s doing one with the CRT theme in TGUI))
I suppose I have to actually put some questions here lest I get moaned at for not conforming with the Topic.
Ahem
Someone told me I’ve set the SMES too high but I don’t know what they mean by this?
I tried to shoot a PMC with my disabler why did it not work?
How do I change the language I’m speaking in, within the chatbox?
I’m a nurse and I’m trying to do the Larva Removal Surgery, but when I use the Saw on the right step it just says “You can’t suture the incision with the circular saw, or cauterize the incision.”
I’m trying to create a macro that picks from some different phrases, how do I do that?
It means your Output is higher than your Input, so the SMES will run out of charge eventually. You always want your output to be equal to or less than your input.
Its likely set to Precise Mode, which means you will only hit Wanted targets. Click the lock icon to swap it to Free or set the PMC to Wanted if theyve committed a crime!
You prefix your chats with ‘!’ and then the language’s prefix! You can see which ones you know by checking your Known Languages verb on the IC tab!
Nurses dont have the Skill to do Larva Removal Surgery. You need at least Level 2 - which most commonly is a Doctor, Synthetic, Researcher, or the CMO.
