Server Rules/Metashield

Metashield

Metashielded information involves any information that, for the purposes of gameplay, characters may be prevented from remembering or knowing in some capacity. “Shielded” information can typically only be known to characters at round start, unless they are explicitly given that information from someone else.

Any information regarding a role that you are currently playing is explicitly not shielded. A thief knows how to use their own items. A traitor knows how to use their uplink. A cosmic cultist knows about their various abilities, including abilities they have not yet unlocked. A death squad officer knows that about Code Epsilon. A revolutionary knows that a mindshield will de-convert them. You are not shielded from any information that directly relates to the mechanics of your current role.

You may learn of metashielded information through other means, and retaining that information for the current round is explicitly not shielded. If you see a wizard, or hear an announcement from a wizard, you can reasonably operate with the knowledge that wizards are real. If you see a zombie, you can reasonably assume zombies are real. If the Captain tells you that changelings are real and can turn their arms into blades, you can reasonably assume changelings are real and have arm blades. Knowing these things does not unshield them as topics, you are only privy to the knowledge that you are actually given or observe.

Corporate Secrets

Corporate Secrets refers to knowledge, primarily regarding antagonists, that most characters are not aware of due to NanoTrasen’s efforts to keep this information concealed. Corporate Secrets are not metashielded from roundstart to any of the following roles:

• Any member of Command
• Any member of the CentComm Representatives department
• Any member of Central Command, including ERT and CBURN
• Nuclear Operatives
• Ninjas
• Wizards

Knowledge and function of any of the following subjects fall under the restriction of Corporate Secrets, and are not known by any character, except by the above roles:

• That Nuclear Operatives are real, and attack NanoTrasen stations
• That Zombies are real, and that the Syndicate creates them with the Romerol virus
• That undercover Syndicate operatives may be on-board the station
• The existence and functionality of Syndicate technology, implants, and chemicals, including anything obtained exclusively through an uplink
• That there is a Federation of Wizards capable of performing magic
• That Vampires and Changelings are real, and may be walking among the crew
• That Cosmic Cultists are real, and are attempting to summon the Unknown into reality
• That USSP revolutionaries may be hiding amongst the crew, and have access to mind control technology via flashes
• That abductors are real and may be attempting to perform experiments on crew members
• That Ninjas are real, and that Space Ninjas from the Spider Clan may be sent to NanoTrasen stations to attempt to steal technology

Knowledge of the general abilities of these subjects does not constitute knowledge of actual game mechanics. A character with knowledge of Corporate Secrets could reasonably know about the items available to Traitors, but would not know how to use an uplink or how much TC they cost. They could reasonably know what kinds of stings and transformations Changelings may have access to, but would have no knowledge of how their biomass, chemicals, or evolution points game mechanics function.

Code Epsilon

NanoTrasen’s authoritative control over its territories has resulted in situations in which they have had to enforce Code Epsilon, an alert level specifically meant to designate a station as not only unrecoverable, but in need of elimination. In the event that a senior Central Command officer has authorized the application of Code Epsilon on a station, an elite military unit known as a death squad will be dispatched to the station. A death squad is sent with a very simple goal: eliminate all remaining life on station, and arm the nuclear fission device to eliminate any evidence.

The knowledge of Code Epsilon and death squads is not known by any character, except for the following roles:

• Any member of Central Command, including ERT and CBURN
• Magistrates
• Central Command Representatives
• Central Command Enforcement Officers
• Nuclear Operatives

Despite their knowledge of Code Epsilon, it is at the discretion of any particular death squad commander to decide if Central Command employees can, or should, be extracted.

Shielded From Everyone

Information involving the following roles and items are explicitly shielded from everyone, with noted exceptions for those that actually use them:

• How to use a Syndicate uplink, except to Traitors and Nuclear Operatives
• How to use a USSP uplink, except to USSP Head Revolutionaries
• The existence and functionality of Paradox Clones, except to Paradox Clones
• The functionality of thieving gloves, except to Thieves. Note that the existence of chameleon technology is known to anyone who knows Corporate Secrets, it is only their pickpocketing functionality that is shielded

Explicitly Not Shielded

Some antagonist-related information is not necessarily covered by the metashield. This is information that your character reasonably could know, depending on their life experience. Just because this information is knowable, does not mean that every character should magically know it; decide what kinds of information it would be reasonable for your character to know and believe in, what they wouldn’t know, and embrace that. Sometimes not knowing is a lot more fun to roleplay.

The following information is explicitly not metashielded:

• The existence of the nuke disk and the fact that it must be protected and could be used by a bad actor to try to destroy the station
• The fact that alternative law sets for a Cyborg or AI exist, and could be used to alter the Silicon’s behavior
• The idea that any Syndicate agent or bad actor has goals or objectives that they are attempting to accomplish. They must have been sent here for a reason.
• The fact that there exists a coalition of corporations that have acted against NanoTrasen, that some may even have heard referred to as the Syndicate
• Another character’s typical appearance and behaviour
• That Space Dragons, Eeeps, and other xenofauna may exist in nearby space
• That powerful honour-bound warriors known as Samurai journey through space

Popular Culture

While explicit knowledge of the existence of Corporate Secrets are shielded, a vague concept of what someone is describing by name is something your character may know. For example:

• The concept of Nukies, in reference to the toys depicting them
• That a Ninja would be a clandestine martial artist
• That a Wizard would be a spellcaster
• That a copy of yourself would be called a Clone
• That a Vampire drinks blood
• That something called an Abductor would want to Abduct you
• That a Changeling is a shapeshifter
• That a Zombie is someone who has come back to life, and seems to hunger for brains

Knowledge of these concepts does not constitute knowing they really exist outside of folklore and pop culture. Knowledge that anything in the above list is real is explicitly metashielded under Corporate Secrets, as well as the actual mechanics of how they function in SS14.