Suggestion:20080702 Signalling

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Please Note: This user is a Scot and, as a result, writes in Scottish English. Bear this in mind when reading this suggestion.

20080702 Signalling

Cheese 00:35, 3 July 2008 (BST)

Suggestion type
Item/Skill

Suggestion scope
Survivors

Suggestion description
There have been a lot of torch type suggestions lately in response to the dark buildings update. This got me to thinking. There are two things stopping the torch being a dark killer:

• If you've got a torch in your hand, it's not going to do you much good in the whole repairing thing since you'd have one hand holding it.
• If you can use it for searching, then its an overpowered survivor buff as it would totally nullify the whole "zombies can see you" idea when using a generator, i.e free search increase without any penalty.

This, naturally, leaves one torch use that could possibly be useful. Signalling. Basically flashing a torch in a certain in order to attract attention or relay a message. This would come in two parts: a torch and a skill. I'll start off with the torch.

• Items

A torch could be found in Mall Hardware Stores, Auto Repair Shops, Fire Stations, Police Departments, Hospitals and Cinemas. All with a find rate of around 3%.

Without the skill (which I'll detail below) you'll get a drop down menu similar to the binoculars which'll allow you to flash the torch in a particular direction for 1AP. Obviously, this will be seen by anyone one block in that direction.

For example:

• You stand at a south facing window and flash your torch a few times.
• You see a light flash one block north of you.

Signalling would be a new civilian skill added under Radio Operation. It would cost the usual 100xp and would allow you to send and receive more complicated messages. This would constitute a text box with a drop down box for direction next to it. You get a limit of 30 characters so you can send a brief message using Morse Code (of sorts) for 2AP (more complicated so takes more effort to do). This message will only be understood by those with Signalling as they would need to understand morse code in order to get the message. A blank box would just be a plain flash as detailed above for 1AP.

For example:

• You stand at a south facing window and flash "S.O.S" using your torch."
• A light flashes "S.O.S" one block north of you."
• A light flashes one block north of you. It seems to be coded message of some sort, but you can't understand it."

Profanity would cause your torch to break, meaning you discard it and have to find a new one.

For example:

• You stand at a south facing window and start to send a message with your torch, but the bulb breaks and you have none spare. You throw it away..

This fills a completely different niche to all the other methods of communication:

• Talking - Pros: You can say a lot. Cons: Limited to 50 people in the same area as you.
• Broadcasting - Pros: Has the potential to reach everyone tuned to that frequency Cons: Limit of 50 characters. Great Potential for Spamming.
• Spraypaint - Pros: Can be seen by everyone who passes through that block. Cons: Can be overwritten by anyone with a spraycan. Very low text space.
• Signalling - Pros: Quick communication between neighbouring blocks. Harder to spam. Cons: Can be seen by zombies as well. Limit of 30 characters.

The justification for not having batteries is that since you have other electronic devices (such as a DNA extractor, GPS etc) you'll more than likely have spares on you.

I think I've covered everything. If there's a bit you don't get, feel free to ask. Its half 12 (midnight) over here and I'm not exactly 100% awake. Therefore I'm not totally coherent. :P Any comments and suggestions are gratefully received.

Voting Section

Voting Rules

Votes must be numbered, justified, signed, and timestamped. # justification ~~~~ Votes that do not conform to the above may be struck by any user.

The only valid votes are Keep, Kill, Spam or Dupe. If you wish to abstain from voting, do not vote.

Keep Votes

1. Author Vote - Fur teh lolz. -- Cheese 00:36, 3 July 2008 (BST)
2. Keep - Efficient way to communicate. The Morse code may be a bit tricky to work out, but this is a good idea. -- Neuromanc3r ^U! 01:17, 3 July 2008 (BST)
3. Keep - I like the idea, outside communication needs to be elaborated past simple flare signals... DanceDanceRevolution 01:19, 3 July 2008 (BST)
4. Keep - It's a good idea, nothing else to say--Corndoghero^T-S-Z 01:29, 3 July 2008 (BST)
5. Keep - Yar, But it is very similar to that Signaling Mirror. _■^■
6. Keep - Nice! Especially if it was combined with the 'Flashlights and Batteries' suggestion - Zig13 - 3/07/2008 at 09:44(BST)
7. Keep - just for clarification though. when you say torch, you mean something like a flashlight or lantern, right? and not a stick on fire?--'BP^Tmz 10:14, 3 July 2008 (BST)

   Re - Yup. I'm a Scot. :P They're called torches over here rather than flashlights. And I think of a lantern as one of those candle in a box things. -- Cheese 10:31, 3 July 2008 (BST)

8. Minor Change - I like it, but I feel you should keep them out of hospitals and PDs, I know its realistic, but it blocks more important things... :( --/~Rakuen~\^Talk I Still Love Grim 19:23, 3 July 2008 (BST)
9. Keep - Would be funny to see some guy Signalling an S.O.S in Malton.--Jamie Cantwel3 ^TalkAll glory to the Hypnotoad! 08:15, 7 July 2008 (BST)
10. Keep - Interesting -- 
    •  Nevin McAvoy 
    •  (talk) 
    14:22, 7 July 2008 (BST)
11. Keep - Because it's unique without being really screwed up. --BoboTalkClown 01:17, 10 July 2008 (BST)

Kill Votes

1. Kill - survivors have plenty of ways to communicate already, another signaling box, in addition to speak, graffiti and broadcast is not needed -- boxy ^{talk • i} 04:21 3 July 2008 (BST)
2. Too many boxes. --  AHLGTG THE END IS NIGH! 04:26, 3 July 2008 (BST)
3. Kill - How about using everything you already have before suggesting new ways to do the same thing?--Karek^maps?! 07:40, 3 July 2008 (BST)
4. Kill - Enough signaling can be done by flares, radios, phones, speaking, spraypainting, and metagaming. --Officer Dick Trickle 09:57, 3 July 2008 (BST)
5. Kill - Not needed, as above. --WanYao 10:03, 3 July 2008 (BST)
6. Flare guns. The best way to signal others...even if they aren't on your side. --•▬ ▬••▬ • •••• •▬ ▬•▬• ▬•▬ ^{#nerftemplatedsigs} 18:05, 3 July 2008 (BST)
7. Kill - a nicely done suggestion, but it doesn;t seem worth implementing. Plus, it assumes constant night-time (such signaling would not work during the day) when the game sems built around a daytime setting (otherwise the whole city would be dark) and that all buildings have windows (which dark buildings clearly do not).  Swiers 18:17, 3 July 2008 (BST)
8. Kill - I think survivors have enough ways of communicating. Oh, and that censorship thing, too. --ZsL 20:36, 3 July 2008 (BST)
9. Kill - As Grim.  Billy Club Thorton  T!  RR  10:37, 4 July 2008 (BST)
10. kill - this a bit ridiculous. i am sure that in a zombie apocalypse there are better uses for flashlights than signaling people. and Swiers makes a good point about signaling during the day--Scotw 22:27, 4 July 2008 (BST)
11. Kill - As above, especially Dick Trickle and Swiers.--Jiangyingzi 13:09, 5 July 2008 (BST)
12. Kill And then when the Morse Code goes out you get the carrier pigeon ready and send it, then you summon your animal familiar (a Hawk with a +5 Ring of Invisibility) to spread the news that "hey, there's a zombie outside". WOW. Seriously, WTF do survivors have to say to each other that is important or even vaguely interesting enough that they need ANOTHER fucking way to communicate? -- #99 ^{DCC SNACK STRONG} 06:15, 12 July 2008 (BST)
13. Kill I really like the idea, but I agree that there's enough ways to communicate already, not to mention the assumption of eternal darkness.-- Techercizer ^(Food) _(TSoE) 07:20, 12 July 2008 (BST)
14. Kill it makes sense (kinda, but as Techercizer said: eternal darkness), but it's just not needed. survivors get enough ways to comunicate. frankly, zombies need more flavour.--Themonkeyman11 23:02, 14 July 2008 (BST)
15. Kill It's a nice thought, but it assumes that Malton is wrapped up in eternal darkness and people would expect to see in the dark with them. Also, I thought you were talking about fire on a stick for most of your description. It's called a flashlight, damnit.--William Told 21:00, 15 July 2008 (GMT-5)

    No it's not. :P It's a torch. I = Scottish, therefore my suggestions are written in my version of English. Imma put a disclaimer on all my other ones from now on. -- Cheese 09:47, 17 July 2008 (BST)

    Kill - Way, way too complicated. Also as Swiers and Scotw. -- Jared ^CK/^SPA Late vote struck. --Midianian^{|T|T:S|C:RCS|} 10:38, 18 July 2008 (BST)

    Kill - come on censored? gabdewulf 16:13, 17 July 2008 (BST) Late vote struck. --Midianian^{|T|T:S|C:RCS|} 10:38, 18 July 2008 (BST)

Spam/Dupe Votes

1. Spam - Agree with all of the above, but voting spam because its pretty much suggesting new ways to do old things, which if you look at the suggestion do's and do nots... Also: Censorship LOL. --The Grimch ^{U! E! WAT!} 18:04, 3 July 2008 (BST)

   Would I get a keep if it let you flash "Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckity fuck"? :P -- Cheese 18:45, 3 July 2008 (BST)

2. Nope- I still prefer: A flare was fired 1 block to the east and 8 blocks to the north. -doc crook 20:30, 3 July 2008 (BST)