User:Aeon17x/Fire Extinguisher
Fire Extinguisher
| Locations | Same locations as the fire axe, plus the following: Fire Stations (8%/12%), NecroTech Buildings (5%/8%), Buildings (3%/5%), Libraries (3%/5%), Schools (3%/5%) |
| Encumbrance | 10% |
Comments:
Single use only. When applied (fire extinguisher on [target]), there's a chance it deals 1 HP damage and inflicts a 'slow' status on the target, which makes them use an additional 1 AP for the next one to three AP-consuming actions except for speaking and groaning. The probability of that happening are as follows:
- 30% - nothing happens, the target is not slowed
- 40% - the target is slowed for one action
- 20% - the target is slowed for two actions
- 10% - the target is slowed for three actions
After use, the fire extinguisher disappears from your inventory.
Anyone can cure a slow status with a First Aid Kit.
Technical details:
- When used on a target and it succeeds: you get a message -- "You spray [target] with a fire extinguisher, engulfing them in fire retardant foam. Their movements seem to be slowed by the foam. " 1 AP is consumed, and the fire extinguisher is used up.
- When used on a target and it fails: you get a message -- "You spray [target] with a fire extinguisher, engulfing them in fire retardant foam. It has no noticeable effect on them. " 1 AP is consumed, and the fire extinguisher is used up.
- When used on a survivor and the slow takes effect: there will be a cyan asterisk right next to their HP counter, like this: Infected and Slowed Survivor (42HP)*. The asterisk lasts until the target has used actions equal to how long they're slowed (e.g. if the target is slowed for two actions, the color disappears after the target has done two actions), or after the application of a first aid kit on the target.
- When used on an already slowed survivor: you get a message -- "Your target is already slowed, you will gain no benefit from using a fire extinguisher on them." No AP is consumed, and the fire extinguisher is not used.
- When used on an already slowed zombie: fire extinguisher targets the next un-slowed zombie in the stack, similar to how DNA extractors work.
- When all the zombies in the stack are already slowed: you get a message -- "All zombies in the area are already slowed, you will gain no benefit from using a fire extinguisher on them." No AP is consumed, and the fire extinguisher is not used.
Rationale:
Fire extinguishers are needed in Malton. For a city with a huge number of fire stations and firefighter wielding fire axes, it's kinda weird to have a citizenry who do not possess fire extinguishers at all.
However, like the other firefighter items, fire extinguishers are not used against fire anymore; instead they're used against zombies. And perhaps other humans.
Fire extinguishers can slow down people, depending on the material. For the fire extinguishers I'm suggesting in this game, I'm going with the AFFF (aqueous film forming foam) type, it's for class A and B fires. It cools very rapidly, sticks really nicely, expands when released, and restricts the flow of air. Imagine what a full tank of that could do to people.
About the 10% encumbrance: fire extinguishers are quite heavy compared to fire axes. I know, we have our own fire axe and fire extinguisher in the library, and I've also checked with other offices. It's definitely heavier, sometimes by as much as twice as the fire axe's weight.
About the asterisk on the survivor HP counter: It shows to other survivors that they have been slowed already, and therefore should not be targeted by another fire extinguisher. It's also used to visualize what a person looks like after they get foamed.
About why FAKs can remove the slow effect: part of applying first aid is making sure your target is clean. That includes wiping off the foam from the fire extinguisher.
Against certain inventory do's and do not's: Leave Other People's AP Alone -- A 10% chance of losing 3 potential AP from a fire extinguisher is not "massive", especially when it can be mitigated by speaking, groaning, and FAKs. There's a 1% chance to hit that twice in a row, which is the only way it would equal Headshot. Also it only deals 0-1 AP loss about two thirds of the time.
Against dupes -- Yes, I know they are out there. All of them includes the fire extinguisher killing fires one way or another. This suggestion talks about using the fire extinguisher as an item against people.
Miscellaneous:
Fire extinguishers are usually not refillable and are only used once, so I'm not including refilling in powered fire stations and multiple charges into this suggestion.
Firefighter characters should have one of these in their starting items.
I suppose this would be popular in clubs... foam parties, anyone?
On a serious note, Iscariot says that fire extinguishers can be used for griefing. If this is ever implemented, the bounty lists would have to include fire extinguisher use on other survivors in their list of offenses that could get you a bounty.
That's all, once again fire away.
