LOOC Modifications

PJB · July 2, 2025, 1:21pm

github.com/space-wizards/space-station-14

LOOC Modifications

master ← EmoGarbage404:feat/looc-ooc

opened 03:29AM - 02 Jul 25 UTC

## About the PR Makes LOOC a proper out-of-character channel, making it no lo…nger appear above player's heads or use their in-game names. ## Why / Balance LOOC is notoriously an IC malding channel to the point where it is painfully detrimental to any attempt to meaningfully RP in game. Rather than being used for actual light OOC chatting (i had some good dinner today, the weather has been nice, my gf just left me, etc.), it instead is almost exclusively used for either complaining about rule breaks, in-game changes, or other players. This plainly is just frustrating as a player. Its existence basically just perpetuates toxicity which makes it extremely annoying to deal with. This is due to the fact that it largely just resembles local chat. Rather than normal OOC chat, which uses your username and doesn't appear tied to a character, LOOC both uses your IC name (which doesn't make sense) but also appears above the player's head, further cementing it as an IC char--something it explicitly is not. This is to a point where i've heard people say that it actually refers to "light" OOC chat. My goal is that by removing these more IC features, it'll push players to not use it for that type of discussion and ideally resolve things IC more. ## Technical details basically just straight removal and very minor changing in some of the chat stuff. ## Media ![image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0d95076a-4fe2-4161-8161-7eebd12cefd8) ## Requirements - [x] I have read and am following the [Pull Request and Changelog Guidelines](https://docs.spacestation14.com/en/general-development/codebase-info/pull-request-guidelines.html). - [x] I have added media to this PR or it does not require an ingame showcase. ## Breaking changes Removed `SpeechBubble.SpeechType.Looc` and `LoocAboveHeadShow` CVAR. **Changelog** :cl: - tweak: LOOC chat now uses your username rather than your character name. Additionally, it no longer appears above a character's head when they speak.

PJB · July 2, 2025, 1:22pm

Making LOOC chatbox only and saying “just read the chat window” is something I would consider to be a complete UI failure and unacceptable to merge. Complete NO for me.

Simyon · July 2, 2025, 1:28pm

While the UI “failure” is valid, I believe the issue of LOOC being abused is big enough to warrant playtesting via CVar.

PicklOH · July 2, 2025, 1:30pm

General consensus from most seems to be that LOOC should use your OOC username but stay above the character’s head.

I can agree with that, but still don’t think it’ll change anything in regards to LOOC malding.

Fildrance · July 2, 2025, 1:31pm

Pros: Seeing text pop up over character looks very much like IC thing, otherwise why it is bound to character? It is partially breaking RP.
Cons: I usually saw LOOC usage not for complains but to ask advice on how to do something and making it not show who actually was talking will lead to more confusion for newbies.

I dont think that PR will fix too much about the problem the problem is very-very deep inside promise of free and rich RP and being welcoming to new players who could have very vague understanding of ‘RP’.

PJB · July 2, 2025, 1:32pm

No, just absolutely not. We do not have to playtest features that we know objectively will break the game’s UI.

If LOOC LRP malding is a problem then turn it off. People on the GitHub PR already pointed out this won’t fix LOOC malding, it’ll just make new players not notice LOOC (which is what it’s intended for).

I’ll add another issue too: there should be nothing mid-round to reveal a person’s username for meta reasons. Some people just prefer to be anonymous characters and this also breaks that.

SlamBamActionman · July 2, 2025, 1:40pm

Anonymizing is something this game sorely lacks and there has been work made on that front. Of note is that RT currently provides all connected player account names to all clients which doesn’t feel necessary.

github.com/space-wizards/RobustToolbox

Remove sharing sessions clientside, add DisplayName

master ← SlamBamActionman:display-names

opened 11:43AM - 06 Apr 25 UTC

SlamBamActionman

+105 -15

This PR removes sharing ICommonSessions clientside for other players; the sessio…n data includes information that may be desired to keep hidden from clients, such as account name and unique ID. The client's own session is still provided (necessary for state generation). DisplayName is a new property for ICommonSessions that is meant to be used in instances where a player may wish to be anonymous. `GetDisplayName` gets the session's `DisplayName` if set, otherwise defaults to the `Name`. `GetTruthfulNameString` gets the session's `Name` and, if set, `DisplayName` in the format `"Name (DisplayName)"`. Useful for admin tools such as ahelp. Since replays are used for administration purposes, they are provided the full session list. Because the sessions aren't shared, *only* the client's own entity is given the `ActorComponent` component clientside. They still exist on the serverside for all relevant entities though. This implementation has been made for primarily admins in mind, however if a true player-controlled anonymous mode is desired, this should lay the groundwork for it.

PR above was made primarily with admin anonymity in mind, but there is no reason why its functionality can’t be expanded to cover players as well.

I do believe there are ways to mechanically lower the amount of LOOC mald that doesn’t involve killing LOOC completely, I just need to sit and have a good Think about it.

Slartibartfast · July 2, 2025, 1:44pm

Yeah, I agree with PJB.

I already mentioned github that I see a problem with new players likely not keeping an eye on the chat window when someone explains controls to them.
I don’t see “this should be in a tutorial anyways” as a valid solution as

we don’t have a tutorial yet.
it won’t be able to cover every interaction a player might need help with.
sometimes you need a reminder while in-round.

there should be nothing mid-round to reveal a person’s username for meta reasons

Yeah, revealing the OOC player name in-round just makes meta-friending even worse.
And I would like to be able to play the game without players immediately recognizing me as a maintainer when I’m using LOOC to explain something to a new player.

dihydrogenMonoxide · July 2, 2025, 1:48pm

Not sure about this as turning LOOC off won’t stop people going “LOOC: abcd” in IC chat

Killerqu00 · July 2, 2025, 2:14pm

This does not solve the problem. By moving it to chatbox, it only becomes more hidden from players - it doesn’t prevent LOOC malding, it makes it less visible, along with actual useful information in LOOC.
Introducing more ways to link characters to player nicknames introduces more ways to metagame and harass players based on their in-game actions.

A better solution would be moving the CVar to server-side, optionally anonymizing LOOC messages, and/or adding OOC chat blocks/mutes for specific people.