Toggle menu
Toggle personal menu
Not logged in
Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits.

Marine Quickstart Guide: Difference between revisions

From CM-SS13 - Wiki
mNo edit summary
No edit summary
Line 3: Line 3:
So you've just joined for the first time as a Marine? No idea what you're doing? This [https://wiki.baystation12.net/The_Basics Starter Guide to Space Station 13] is pretty good as an introduction to the interface! Otherwise, let this guide get you up to scratch!
So you've just joined for the first time as a Marine? No idea what you're doing? This [https://wiki.baystation12.net/The_Basics Starter Guide to Space Station 13] is pretty good as an introduction to the interface! Otherwise, let this guide get you up to scratch!


As a foreword, rounds on this server usually last between two to three hours! Make sure you have the time commitment to sit a full round.  
As a foreword, rounds on this server usually last between two to three hours! Make sure you have the time commitment to sit a full round.


= The Rules =
= The Rules =
Line 9: Line 9:


= Character Setup =
= Character Setup =
For the most part this step is simple, you'll create your character on the setup character page.
This is simple for the most part. You'll create your character on the setup character page.


Do take note of the 'occupation' roles. For now you'll just want to set 'Squad Marine' to your highest role. All other roles require a little more knowledge of the game.
Do take note of the 'occupation' roles. For now you'll just want to set 'Marine' to your highest role. All other roles require a more robust knowledge of the game.




Line 19: Line 19:


== Who Orders Who ==
== Who Orders Who ==
As a Standard Marine you're on the bottom rung of the chain of command. You take your orders directly from your [[Squad Leader]], who takes his or her orders from the [[Commander]] and the [[Executive Officer|command]] [[Bridge Officer|staff]] respectively. At the start of the round, you are assigned to one of four Marine squads. Alpha (Red), Bravo (Yellow), Charlie (Purple) or Delta (Blue). As such you only take orders from your team's Squad Leader, at least outside of extraordinary circumstances. The only hope your team has of winning is either a well coordinated marine platoon or an even more incompetent xeno team. That means following your orders to the letter.
As a Standard Marine you're on the bottom rung of the chain of command. You take your orders directly from your [[Squad Leader]], who takes his or her orders from the [[Commander]], [[Executive Officer|command]], and [[Bridge Officers|staff]], respectively. At round start you are assigned to one of four Marine squads. Alpha (Red), Bravo (Yellow), Charlie (Purple) or Delta (Blue). As such, outside of extraordinary circumstances, you only take orders from your team's Squad Leader. The only hope your squad has of winning is either a well coordinated marine platoon or an even more incompetent xeno team. That means following your orders to the letter.


Should your Squad Leader die or otherwise be incapacitated you'll be taking your orders from either your teams [[Specialist]] (who is technically the second highest ranked soldier in a squad) or whomever the Squad Leader or Commander names to take over.
Should your Squad Leader die, or otherwise be incapacitated, you'll be taking your orders from either your team's [[Specialist]] (the second highest ranked soldier in a squad) or whoever the Squad Leader or Commander names to take over.


You are to obey any orders given to you by your Squad Leader at all times. The only exception is if your given orders violate Marine law or the rules. Instances of illegal orders being given are rare, but common enough to warrant a mention. Marine laws have some leeway, but the server rules come first when you're making a decision. It's better to be thrown in the brig for insubordination because you wouldn't murder someone your Squad Leader didn't like, than to be given a ban for what the moderators will probably see as grief.
You are to obey any orders given to you by your Squad Leader at all times. The only exception is if your given orders violate Marine law or the rules. Instances of illegal orders being given are rare, but common enough to warrant a mention. Marine laws have some leeway, but the server rules come first when you're making a decision. It's better to be thrown in the brig for insubordination because you wouldn't murder someone your Squad Leader didn't like, than to be given a ban for what the moderators will probably see as grief.
Line 30: Line 30:
* Text: Hides the tabs and instead shows the game logs.
* Text: Hides the tabs and instead shows the game logs.
* Info: Opens the info-section with in-game tabs.
* Info: Opens the info-section with in-game tabs.
* Wiki: Opens the game wiki in your internet browser.
* Wiki: Opens this wiki in your internet browser.
* Forum: Opens the Colonial Marines forum in your internet browser.
* Forum: Opens the Colonial Marines forum in your internet browser.
* Rules: Opens the rules.
* Rules: Opens the rules page.
* Changelog: Opens the changelog.
* Changelog: Opens the changelog.


Line 38: Line 38:
* OOC: Gives a list of Out-Of-Character actions, which are anything outside of the current game.
* OOC: Gives a list of Out-Of-Character actions, which are anything outside of the current game.
* Object: Shows you options related to the objects around you such as 'Point To' and 'Roll Down Suit.'
* Object: Shows you options related to the objects around you such as 'Point To' and 'Roll Down Suit.'
* Preferences: This lets you modify your experience such as hiding '''Local Out of Character''' (LOOC) chat from view or toggling your Friendly Fire Attack Log so you can feel better about yourself by not seeing how often you fuck up and shoot your friends.  
* Preferences: This lets you modify your experience, such as hiding '''Local Out of Character''' (LOOC) chat from view.
* Lobby: Tells you the game mode. (Only available from the lobby screen.)
* Lobby: Tells you the game mode. Only available from the lobby screen.
* Admin: The first option in this tab, 'Adminhelp', is something that should always be remembered, adminhelp sends a direct message for questions pertaining gameplay. 'Staffwho', gives a list of in-game staff.
* Admin: The first option in this tab, 'Adminhelp', is something that should always be remembered, Adminhelp sends a direct message for questions pertaining gameplay. 'Staffwho', gives a list of in-game staff.
* Status: Lists various points of interest such as orders for your squad and your current status.
* Status: Lists various points of interest such as orders for your squad and your current status.
* IC: Gives a list of In-Character actions that can be done at the moment.
* IC: Gives a list of In-Character actions that can be done at the moment.


==The HUD ==
==The HUD ==
There should be two or three indicators on the right hand side of your screen. The green man shows your health. It fades to orange, then red, as you take more damage. The letters CRIT mean you are currently dying. You can be saved if someone administers medical treatment in time. It will say DEAD if you are dead. (Marines can sometimes be revived via a defibrillator, so consider sticking around in the body for about 5 minutes after death [Cloning has been removed].) The gas mask and oxygen tank show whether you have this kind of equipment running. There may be a third icon showing how hungry you are. It'll disappear when your stomach is satisfied.
There should be two or three indicators on the right hand side of your screen. The green man shows your pain. It fades to orange, then red, as you feel more pain. The letters CRIT means you are collapsing. You can be saved if someone administers medical treatment in time. It will say DEAD if you are dead. Marines can sometimes be revived via a defibrillator, so consider sticking around in the body for about 5 minutes after death [Cloning has been removed]. The gas mask and oxygen tank show whether you have an internal air supply enabled. There may be a third icon showing how hungry you are. It'll disappear when your stomach is satisfied.


==The Buttons ==
==The Buttons ==
The bottom of the screen has two buttons for your hands. There's a button shaped like a walking human that changes your movement speed from running to walking. There's a button to the right of that which changes your intent. There are four intents: Help, Disarm, Grab, Harm. These are very important for interacting. If you charge a Xenomorph with your Help intent active, you're gonna have a bad time. Another indicator shows your body target. This is the part of the body you'll attempt to interact with when you click on another player, Marine or Alien. There's a [Resist] button to free yourself if you've been restrained, a button for dropping things from your hands, and another button for throwing them. There are five special weapon buttons clustered together in yellow and black . All the other stuff shows your equipment.
The bottom of the screen has two buttons for your hands. One button, shaped like a walking human, changes your movement speed from running to walking. To the right of it is the button that changes your intent. There are four intents: Help, Disarm, Grab, Harm. These are very important for interacting. If you charge a Xenomorph with your Help intent active, you're gonna have a bad time. Another indicator shows your body target. This is the part of the body you'll attempt to interact with when you click on another player, Marine or Alien. There's a [Resist] button to free yourself if you've been restrained, a button for dropping things from your hands, and another button for throwing them. There are five special weapon buttons clustered together in yellow and black . All the other stuff shows your equipment.


== How to Communicate ==
== How to Communicate ==
Communication is very important! Use the box at the bottom of the screen. There are several methods, but just know three for now:
Communication is very important! Use the box at the bottom of the screen, or press T in hotkey mode. There are several methods, but just know three for now:


(1) Use your headset to talk to everyone in your squad. Alpha is :q, Bravo is :b, Charlie is :c, Delta is :d. You can also use the Almayer radio using ;. Examples:
(1) Use your headset to talk to everyone in your squad. Alpha is :q, Bravo is :b, Charlie is :c, Delta is :d. You can also use the Almayer radio using ;. Examples:
Line 70: Line 70:


== Waking Up ==
== Waking Up ==
At the start of a shift you'll wake up in the ships cyro sleep quarters alongside all the other Marines, you'll be in your marine issued underpants. The first thing you'll want to do is shift click your identification card (Or right click examine it.) do this so that you know which squad you're in aka if you're in alpha, follow the big red arrow north, and if you're in bravo follow the big yellow arrow north, if you're in delta follow the big blue arrow south, if you're in charlie follow the big purple arrow south.
At the start of a deployment, you'll wake up in the ship's cryosleep quarters alongside all the other Marines. The first thing you'll want to do is examine your identification card (right-click -> examine, or shift-click). This will let you know which squad you're in. The color-coded arrows on the floor guide the Alphas and Bravos north, and the Charlies and Deltas south.


[[File:Arrows-North.png|400px]]
[[File:Arrows-North.png|400px]]
Line 76: Line 76:




Below you'll see the southern canteen room, in the bottom left of the room those are some of the vending machines. Note that both the canteens are identical (The northern canteen and the Southern canteen). Stand next to the vending machines and click them until you find something to eat. Click the food and drink items that are vended until you're holding it in your active hand. To eat or drink the item in your active hand, click the icon representing your marine in the middle of the display with the Help intent active. Once you've eaten your fill, you'll want to head out the door on the left to the prep rooms to get geared.
The below image shows us the southern canteen, which is identical to the northern canteen. There are some vending machines at the south-west of the room. Click on the food vendors and vend some food for yourself, then click on the food to hold it in your active hand, and finally eat the food by clicking on your character in the middle of the screen. Once you've eaten your fill, you'll want to head out the door on the left to the prep rooms to get geared.


[[File:Canteen.png|400px]]
[[File:Canteen.png|400px]]


== Marine Equipment ==
== Marine Equipment ==
One key to success is ensuring you're well equipped. Attacking without a weapon may result in catastrophe. These next steps should prepare you for combat.
One key to success is ensuring that you are well equipped. Attacking without a weapon may result in catastrophe. These next steps should prepare you for combat.


# Since you've just joined, go down to an equipment locker in your squad's room and equip your marine uniform, combat boots, combat gloves, M3 armor, helmet, ammo load rig and a radio headset.
# Since you've just joined, go down to an equipment locker in your squad's room and equip your marine uniform, combat boots, combat gloves, M3 armor, helmet, ammo load rig and a radio headset.
# Go north to any equipment dispenser.
# Go west to the armanents dispenser.
# [[File:M41a.png|32px]] Get a M41A Pulse Rifle and put it in your armor's exosuit-slot.
# [[File:M41a.png|32px]] Get a M41A Pulse Rifle. Load it with an M41A magazine [[File:M41Amag.png|32px]] by clicking on the rifle with the magazine. Then equip the rifle in the exosuit slot.
# [[File:M4a3.png|32px]] Get a M4A3 Service Pistol and place it inside your backpack.
# [[File:M4a3.png|32px]] Get a M4A3 Service Pistol. Load it with an M4A3 magazine. Place the M4A3 pistol in your backpack.
# [[File:Knife.png|32px]] Get a M11 Combat Bayonet and put it inside your combat boots.
# [[File:Knife.png|32px]] Get a M11 Combat Knife. Sheath it inside your combat boots.
# [[File:M41Amag.png|32px]] Take several magazines for your primary long arm, but leave some for other marines.
# [[File:M41Amag.png|32px]] Take several spare magazines for your primary long arm. Leave some for other marines.


Alternatively you can exchange your M41A for a Combat Shotgun or an SMG. You can even decide to not take your backpack and instead use it to hold a second weapon, such as an M41A and a Shotgun. However that can be risky as losing out on your backpack means less ammo and items you can hold.
Alternatively you can exchange your M41A for a Combat Shotgun or an SMG. You can even decide to not take your backpack and instead use it to hold a second weapon, such as an M41A and a Shotgun. You can also ditch the belt for a holster, or wear a sidearm directly on your belt. However, these are risky loadouts and will lead to less ammo and items being stored.


== Attachments ==
== Attachments ==
After gearing up, go to the requisitions office (West of the prep rooms and opposite the briefing area) and get in line to receive your attachments. These are items you can attach to your weapons to either enhance their capability or to add new unique functions.  
After gearing up, go to the requisitions office - west of cryo, east of briefing - and get in line to receive your attachments. These are items you can attach to your weapons to either enhance their capabilities or to add new unique functions.


Because you are a Standard Marine you can normally be issued up to two attachments. The [[Marine_Equipment#Weapon_Attachments|attachments page]] can give you a guide on what attachments you should consider getting. The [[Standard Marine]] page also has a small guide on useful attachment loadouts. Being polite to the Requisitions staff might get you extra stuff. Remember to say please and thank you.
Because you are a Standard Marine and have the rank of Private First Class, you will normally be issued up to two attachments. The [[Marine_Equipment#Weapon_Attachments|attachments page]] can give you a guide on what attachments you should consider getting. The [[Standard Marine]] page also has a small guide on useful attachment loadouts. Being polite to the Requisitions staff might get you extra stuff. Remember to say please and thank you.


== Briefing Room ==
== Briefing Room ==
Once you're geared up, your last task is to head to the briefing room, which is opposite requisitions to the west, find a seat in your squad's seating area when you're fully geared. It's organized by colour. The [[Commander]] will be along soon to describe the situation and his overall game plan, as well as issuing your squad their initial orders.
Once you've geared up, your last task is to head to the briefing room, which is opposite requisitions to the west. Find a seat in your squad's color-coded seating area. The acting [[Commander]] will be along soon to describe the situation and his overall game plan, and will issue your squad their initial orders.


Listen to what your Commander has to say, listen to your Squad Leader, and overall watch your fellow Marines backs. Stay with the team and you'll do fine.
Listen to what your Commander has to say, listen to your Squad Leader, and overall watch your fellow Marines' backs. Stay with the team and you'll do fine.


== The Dropships to the Surface ==
== The Dropships to the Surface ==
After any briefing head west of the briefing room. There are two ways to get to the surface. Dropship One (DS-1) which uses Landing Zone 1 (LZ1) and Dropship Two (DS-2) which uses Landing Zone 2 (LZ2). Get on whichever ship your squad is using or whichever Dropship drops you to the closest Landing zone to them. The ride isn't smooth, so you'll want to sit down and buckle in. Stand on top of a chair, drag your Marine's sprite to the chair. This buckles you in. To release yourself, click the chair.
Once briefing ends, head west of the briefing room with the rest of your squad. There are two ways to get to the surface. Dropship One (DS-1) which goes down to Landing Zone 1 (LZ1) and Dropship Two (DS-2) which goes down to Landing Zone 2 (LZ2). Get on whichever ship your squad is using or whichever Dropship drops you to the closest Landing Zone to them. The ride isn't smooth, so you'll want to sit down and buckle in by standing on top of a chair and dragging your Marine's sprite to the chair. To unbuckle yourself, click the chair.


== Combat ==
== Combat ==
The pulse rifle takes two hands to shoot. If it's in one hand, you're just carrying it around. To ready it for firing, click on the rifle in your active hand. Your other hand should show that it's occupied (while having the gun in both hands you will move slower). Also, your character's graphic should ready the rifle. To shoot the rifle, just point the cursor at a spot and click. Be very careful and avoid shooting Marines. Avoid shooting yourself (which pretty much everybody's done). To lower the rifle again, click it in your active hand.
The pulse rifle takes two hands to shoot. If it's in one hand, you're just carrying it around. To ready it for firing, click on the rifle in your active hand. You'll know you've wielded your rifle when your other hand shows that it's occupied, your character's graphic readies the rifle, and you move a bit slower. To shoot the rifle, just point the cursor at a spot and click. Be very careful not to shoot fellow Marines. Avoid shooting yourself (which pretty much everybody's done). To lower the rifle again, click it in your active hand.




To avoid hitting other Marines and to maximize the squad's firepower it's recommended to move in a dispersed group which means every Marine should stay at least 2 tiles from each other, with the Squad Leader staying in the center or forward center of the formation. This allows weapons to be fired even from the center of the squad. Additionally, it's advised to move in a straight, predictable pattern while engaging in combat since it's hard for the shooters to both concentrate on aiming and friendlies crossing the firing line.
To avoid hitting other Marines, and maximize the squad's firepower, it's recommended to move in a dispersed group. This means your squad's Marines should stay at least 2 tiles away from each other, with the Squad Leader staying in the center or forward center of the formation. This allows weapons to be fired even from the center of the squad. Additionally, it's advised to move in a straight, predictable pattern while engaging in combat. It's hard for shooters to concentrate on both aiming at hostiles and avoiding friendlies crossing the firing line.




To change magazines, either eject it using the special weapon button [[File:Eject-Magazine.png]] in the bottom right, or click the weapon with your other hand (make sure it's empty). To load the weapon, click it with the magazine hand active. One of the special weapon buttons lets you fire grenades from the pulse rifle. Be careful, they're dangerous and limited.
To change magazines, you will want to eject the current magazine and then place a new one. Eject magazines using the special weapon button [[File:Eject-Magazine.png]] in the bottom right, or by clicking the weapon with the empty other hand. Load a new magazine, by clicking on the weapon with a magazine in your hand. One of the special weapon buttons lets you fire the pulse rifle's grenade launcher. Be careful, they're dangerous and you only have two.




Solo Marines are pretty ineffective against aliens, especially if you're new. Unless you want to get taken out into the darkness, stick with as many other Marines as you can. For your first game, don't move around the map much unless somebody gives you an order. Find something useful to guard and guard it, preferably in good cover and good light. There's no shame in being terrified of the Xenomorphs, as they will usually overpower any Marine if they get into melee range. Keep your distance!
Solo Marines are pretty ineffective against aliens, especially if you're new. Unless you want to get taken out into the darkness, stick with as many other Marines as you can. For your first game, don't move around the map much unless somebody gives you an order. Find something useful to guard and guard it, preferably in good cover and good light. There's no shame in being terrified of the Xenomorphs, as they will usually overpower any Marine if they get into melee range. Keep your distance!


=Marine Roleplaying Guide and Expectations=
=Squad Marine Roleplaying Guide and Expectations=
* You are a "reasonable person". Preventing MP arrests verbally or arguing is OK, interfering is NOT. (Unless you have a VERY good RP reason and "MPs are shitlers" or "He's my best Bro" are not good reasons by themselves unless you've been RPing it).
* You are a "reasonable person". Preventing MP arrests verbally or arguing is OK, interfering is NOT. (Unless you have a VERY good RP reason and "MPs are shitlers" or "He's my best Bro" are not good reasons by themselves unless you've been RPing it).
* Respect the Chain of Command. If someone above you gives you an order, FOLLOW IT.
* Respect the Chain of Command. If someone above you gives you an order, FOLLOW IT.
* If you're a Marine, act like it. Don't break laws or disobey orders and expect nothing to happen. You can object to "questionable" orders and break laws in RP situations, but you wouldn't be "rioting" just because the RO is a shitler.
* If you're a Marine, act like it. Don't break laws or disobey orders and expect nothing to happen. You can object to "questionable" orders and break laws in RP situations, but you wouldn't be "rioting" just because the RO is a shitler.
* If you die, you lose 5 minutes of "conscious" memory. Meaning, if you were shot and went into knockout/crit, you don't remember who shot you, but if you're awake/fighting for 5 minutes, you WILL remember who shot you.
* Relationships are restricted to friends and girl/boyfriends AT THE MOST. Marriages between marines is FORBIDDEN. You're still part of the military and you're subject to military rules. The military would NEVER deploy a husband/wife couple on the same ship or unit, let alone the same battalion. Also, don't use your relationship as an excuse to grief or cause problems. You would probably LOUDLY object to your best friend getting arrested, but you wouldn't gun-down the MP or interfere without a VERY good reason. (You wouldn't tackle a cop in real life because he was arresting your friend for being stupid, especially since it's like, 5-20 minutes in jail. Be REASONABLE.)
* Relationships are restricted to friends and girl/boyfriends AT THE MOST. Marriages between marines are FORBIDDEN. You're still part of the military and you're subject to military rules. The military would NEVER deploy a husband/wife couple on the same ship or unit, let alone the same battalion. Also, don't use your relationship as an excuse to grief or cause problems. You would probably LOUDLY object to your best friend getting arrested, but you wouldn't gun-down the MP or interfere without a VERY good reason. (You wouldn't tackle a cop in real life because he was arresting your friend for being stupid, especially since it's like, 5-20 minutes in jail. Be REASONABLE.)
* All Marines and personnel on board the Almayer initially know nothing about the Alien infestation, or even that Aliens exist. All they know is that they received a distress signal from the planet.
* All Marines and personnel on board the Almayer know nothing about the Alien infestation, or even that Aliens exist. All they know is that they received a distress signal from the planet and that they may be encountering a hostile force.
* Survivors are allowed to know everything about the Aliens, such as how facehuggers work and the Aliens themselves.
* Survivors are allowed to know everything about the Aliens, such as how facehuggers work and the Aliens themselves.
* There are no restrictions in knowing how to operate any firearm. However, non-marine personal cannot carry a firearm larger than a handgun unless directly in danger.
* There are no restrictions in knowing how to operate any firearm. However, non-marine personal cannot carry a firearm larger than a handgun unless directly in danger.
* Combat Medics do not know how to perform surgery. Only Medical Doctors or the Chief Medical Officer know how to perform surgery.
* Combat Medics do not know how to perform surgery. Only Medical Doctors or the Chief Medical Officer know how to perform surgery.
* Marines DO NOT initially know what Facehuggers do. And only a body scanner can reveal that something is inside one's chest.
* Marines DO NOT initially know what Facehuggers do. And only a body scanner can reveal that something is inside one's chest.
* DO NOT perform tasks your round start role would not know how to do, such as a Squad Leader hacking a door or a Cargo Technician operating a over-watch console.
* DO NOT perform tasks your round start role would not know how to do, such as a Squad Leader hacking a door or a Cargo Technician operating a over-watch console.
* Command (CO, XO, Bridge Officer), Medical (MD, CMO) and Engineering staff (CE, Maint Tech) on board the Almayer cannot leave the Almayer UNLESS they have authorization from their department head, XO or CO or they are abandoning ship.
* Command (CO, XO, Bridge Officer), Medical (MD, CMO) and Engineering staff (CE, Maint Tech) on board the Almayer cannot leave the Almayer UNLESS they have authorization from their department head, XO or CO or they are abandoning ship.
* Military Police can not leave the Almayer unless they are doing so to track down a rogue Marine who is not on the Almayer or they are escorting/piloting a Dropship. Military Police are expected to return to the Almayer ASAP.
* Military Police can not leave the Almayer unless they are doing so to track down a rogue Marine who is not on the Almayer or they are escorting/piloting a Dropship. Military Police are expected to return to the Almayer ASAP.
Line 156: Line 155:
* [http://www.colonial-marines.com/viewtopic.php?f=135&t=8216 Learn our lingo Boot]: Marine lingo.
* [http://www.colonial-marines.com/viewtopic.php?f=135&t=8216 Learn our lingo Boot]: Marine lingo.
* [http://www.colonial-marines.com/viewtopic.php?f=135&t=8977&sid=02e89527bf7f41239c657af45ab707ca The Guide of Xur Part One]: Guide to Job Expectations
* [http://www.colonial-marines.com/viewtopic.php?f=135&t=8977&sid=02e89527bf7f41239c657af45ab707ca The Guide of Xur Part One]: Guide to Job Expectations
* [http://www.colonial-marines.com/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=3126 Specialist Guide] ''by Steelpoint'': A guide on the [[Specialist]] role, provides a overview of the role's weapons, loadout and expectations.  
* [http://www.colonial-marines.com/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=3126 Specialist Guide] ''by Steelpoint'': A guide on the [[Specialist]] role, provides a overview of the role's weapons, loadout and expectations.
* [http://www.colonial-marines.com/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=7285 Comprehensive Combat Medic Guide] ''by Jess'': Provides a very in depth examination of the [[Combat Medic]] and a optimal load out and examination of the Medics tools and items, as well as procedures to triage casualties.
* [http://www.colonial-marines.com/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=7285 Comprehensive Combat Medic Guide] ''by Jess'': Provides a very in depth examination of the [[Combat Medic]] and a optimal load out and examination of the Medics tools and items, as well as procedures to triage casualties.
* [http://www.colonial-marines.com/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=7164 How Not To Suck At Combat Engineer] ''by Surrealistik'': A questionable but nevertheless ok guide to being a [[Combat Engineer]].
* [http://www.colonial-marines.com/viewtopic.php?f=94&t=7164 How Not To Suck At Combat Engineer] ''by Surrealistik'': A questionable but nevertheless ok guide to being a [[Combat Engineer]].

Revision as of 20:36, 10 June 2017

So you've just joined for the first time as a Marine? No idea what you're doing? This Starter Guide to Space Station 13 is pretty good as an introduction to the interface! Otherwise, let this guide get you up to scratch!

As a foreword, rounds on this server usually last between two to three hours! Make sure you have the time commitment to sit a full round.

The Rules

Read the rules! Colonial Marines is a medium role-play server and you are expected to abide by the rules established by the server staff. If a staff member says do something, do it. If they tell you to stop doing something, stop. It will save both you and the staff a lot of trouble and effort. There is no excuse for not reading the rules. If you have been banned, fairly or unfairly, you may appeal on the ban appeal section of the forums. You have been warned. Thank you and enjoy the game.

Character Setup

This is simple for the most part. You'll create your character on the setup character page.

Do take note of the 'occupation' roles. For now you'll just want to set 'Marine' to your highest role. All other roles require a more robust knowledge of the game.


Your First Game

For your first round, try and join a round before it starts. It's no big deal to join in the middle, but starting a round will ensure you aren't kicked out of the freezer into a difficult or deadly situation. First, we'll discuss some basics.


Who Orders Who

As a Standard Marine you're on the bottom rung of the chain of command. You take your orders directly from your Squad Leader, who takes his or her orders from the Commander, command, and staff, respectively. At round start you are assigned to one of four Marine squads. Alpha (Red), Bravo (Yellow), Charlie (Purple) or Delta (Blue). As such, outside of extraordinary circumstances, you only take orders from your team's Squad Leader. The only hope your squad has of winning is either a well coordinated marine platoon or an even more incompetent xeno team. That means following your orders to the letter.

Should your Squad Leader die, or otherwise be incapacitated, you'll be taking your orders from either your team's Specialist (the second highest ranked soldier in a squad) or whoever the Squad Leader or Commander names to take over.

You are to obey any orders given to you by your Squad Leader at all times. The only exception is if your given orders violate Marine law or the rules. Instances of illegal orders being given are rare, but common enough to warrant a mention. Marine laws have some leeway, but the server rules come first when you're making a decision. It's better to be thrown in the brig for insubordination because you wouldn't murder someone your Squad Leader didn't like, than to be given a ban for what the moderators will probably see as grief. NOTE: There is a BIG difference between an order that violates MARINE LAW versus one that violates the RULES. Orders that break Marine Law are considered an In Character (IC) issue and are thus something you may resolve in game so long as the situation is role played, orders that break the server rules are a Out Of Character (OOC) affair. Should you be given orders that would violate the rules then you should contact the staff via A-Help.

The Tabs

Let us introduce to you what you are seeing, starting from the tabs located in the upper right corner:

  • Text: Hides the tabs and instead shows the game logs.
  • Info: Opens the info-section with in-game tabs.
  • Wiki: Opens this wiki in your internet browser.
  • Forum: Opens the Colonial Marines forum in your internet browser.
  • Rules: Opens the rules page.
  • Changelog: Opens the changelog.

The In-Game Tabs

  • OOC: Gives a list of Out-Of-Character actions, which are anything outside of the current game.
  • Object: Shows you options related to the objects around you such as 'Point To' and 'Roll Down Suit.'
  • Preferences: This lets you modify your experience, such as hiding Local Out of Character (LOOC) chat from view.
  • Lobby: Tells you the game mode. Only available from the lobby screen.
  • Admin: The first option in this tab, 'Adminhelp', is something that should always be remembered, Adminhelp sends a direct message for questions pertaining gameplay. 'Staffwho', gives a list of in-game staff.
  • Status: Lists various points of interest such as orders for your squad and your current status.
  • IC: Gives a list of In-Character actions that can be done at the moment.

The HUD

There should be two or three indicators on the right hand side of your screen. The green man shows your pain. It fades to orange, then red, as you feel more pain. The letters CRIT means you are collapsing. You can be saved if someone administers medical treatment in time. It will say DEAD if you are dead. Marines can sometimes be revived via a defibrillator, so consider sticking around in the body for about 5 minutes after death [Cloning has been removed]. The gas mask and oxygen tank show whether you have an internal air supply enabled. There may be a third icon showing how hungry you are. It'll disappear when your stomach is satisfied.

The Buttons

The bottom of the screen has two buttons for your hands. One button, shaped like a walking human, changes your movement speed from running to walking. To the right of it is the button that changes your intent. There are four intents: Help, Disarm, Grab, Harm. These are very important for interacting. If you charge a Xenomorph with your Help intent active, you're gonna have a bad time. Another indicator shows your body target. This is the part of the body you'll attempt to interact with when you click on another player, Marine or Alien. There's a [Resist] button to free yourself if you've been restrained, a button for dropping things from your hands, and another button for throwing them. There are five special weapon buttons clustered together in yellow and black . All the other stuff shows your equipment.

How to Communicate

Communication is very important! Use the box at the bottom of the screen, or press T in hotkey mode. There are several methods, but just know three for now:

(1) Use your headset to talk to everyone in your squad. Alpha is :q, Bravo is :b, Charlie is :c, Delta is :d. You can also use the Almayer radio using ;. Examples:

  • Say ":q Marine reporting to Alpha squad."
  • Say ":q There are multiple aliens in Medbay."
  • Say ":q We are under attack from the south!"
  • Say "; I'm on my way, doc."

(2) Talk to any Marine around you on the map. Examples:

  • Say "Please grab that gun."
  • Say "Follow me."
  • Say "What should I do?"

(3) Talk out of character (OOC) or local out of character (LOOC) to ask questions about the game and how to do things. You can toggle OOC chat in the menus if it's distracting (during the round OOC is automaticaly disabled). Examples:

  • OOC "How do I eat this MRE? How do I do X?"
  • OOC "Why is there so much lag?"
  • LOOC "Did you see the touchdown in the Seahawks game?"

Waking Up

At the start of a deployment, you'll wake up in the ship's cryosleep quarters alongside all the other Marines. The first thing you'll want to do is examine your identification card (right-click -> examine, or shift-click). This will let you know which squad you're in. The color-coded arrows on the floor guide the Alphas and Bravos north, and the Charlies and Deltas south.

Arrows-North.png Arrows-South.png


The below image shows us the southern canteen, which is identical to the northern canteen. There are some vending machines at the south-west of the room. Click on the food vendors and vend some food for yourself, then click on the food to hold it in your active hand, and finally eat the food by clicking on your character in the middle of the screen. Once you've eaten your fill, you'll want to head out the door on the left to the prep rooms to get geared.

Canteen.png

Marine Equipment

One key to success is ensuring that you are well equipped. Attacking without a weapon may result in catastrophe. These next steps should prepare you for combat.

  1. Since you've just joined, go down to an equipment locker in your squad's room and equip your marine uniform, combat boots, combat gloves, M3 armor, helmet, ammo load rig and a radio headset.
  2. Go west to the armanents dispenser.
  3. M41a.png Get a M41A Pulse Rifle. Load it with an M41A magazine M41Amag.png by clicking on the rifle with the magazine. Then equip the rifle in the exosuit slot.
  4. M4a3.png Get a M4A3 Service Pistol. Load it with an M4A3 magazine. Place the M4A3 pistol in your backpack.
  5. Knife.png Get a M11 Combat Knife. Sheath it inside your combat boots.
  6. M41Amag.png Take several spare magazines for your primary long arm. Leave some for other marines.

Alternatively you can exchange your M41A for a Combat Shotgun or an SMG. You can even decide to not take your backpack and instead use it to hold a second weapon, such as an M41A and a Shotgun. You can also ditch the belt for a holster, or wear a sidearm directly on your belt. However, these are risky loadouts and will lead to less ammo and items being stored.

Attachments

After gearing up, go to the requisitions office - west of cryo, east of briefing - and get in line to receive your attachments. These are items you can attach to your weapons to either enhance their capabilities or to add new unique functions.

Because you are a Standard Marine and have the rank of Private First Class, you will normally be issued up to two attachments. The attachments page can give you a guide on what attachments you should consider getting. The Standard Marine page also has a small guide on useful attachment loadouts. Being polite to the Requisitions staff might get you extra stuff. Remember to say please and thank you.

Briefing Room

Once you've geared up, your last task is to head to the briefing room, which is opposite requisitions to the west. Find a seat in your squad's color-coded seating area. The acting Commander will be along soon to describe the situation and his overall game plan, and will issue your squad their initial orders.

Listen to what your Commander has to say, listen to your Squad Leader, and overall watch your fellow Marines' backs. Stay with the team and you'll do fine.

The Dropships to the Surface

Once briefing ends, head west of the briefing room with the rest of your squad. There are two ways to get to the surface. Dropship One (DS-1) which goes down to Landing Zone 1 (LZ1) and Dropship Two (DS-2) which goes down to Landing Zone 2 (LZ2). Get on whichever ship your squad is using or whichever Dropship drops you to the closest Landing Zone to them. The ride isn't smooth, so you'll want to sit down and buckle in by standing on top of a chair and dragging your Marine's sprite to the chair. To unbuckle yourself, click the chair.

Combat

The pulse rifle takes two hands to shoot. If it's in one hand, you're just carrying it around. To ready it for firing, click on the rifle in your active hand. You'll know you've wielded your rifle when your other hand shows that it's occupied, your character's graphic readies the rifle, and you move a bit slower. To shoot the rifle, just point the cursor at a spot and click. Be very careful not to shoot fellow Marines. Avoid shooting yourself (which pretty much everybody's done). To lower the rifle again, click it in your active hand.


To avoid hitting other Marines, and maximize the squad's firepower, it's recommended to move in a dispersed group. This means your squad's Marines should stay at least 2 tiles away from each other, with the Squad Leader staying in the center or forward center of the formation. This allows weapons to be fired even from the center of the squad. Additionally, it's advised to move in a straight, predictable pattern while engaging in combat. It's hard for shooters to concentrate on both aiming at hostiles and avoiding friendlies crossing the firing line.


To change magazines, you will want to eject the current magazine and then place a new one. Eject magazines using the special weapon button Eject-Magazine.png in the bottom right, or by clicking the weapon with the empty other hand. Load a new magazine, by clicking on the weapon with a magazine in your hand. One of the special weapon buttons lets you fire the pulse rifle's grenade launcher. Be careful, they're dangerous and you only have two.


Solo Marines are pretty ineffective against aliens, especially if you're new. Unless you want to get taken out into the darkness, stick with as many other Marines as you can. For your first game, don't move around the map much unless somebody gives you an order. Find something useful to guard and guard it, preferably in good cover and good light. There's no shame in being terrified of the Xenomorphs, as they will usually overpower any Marine if they get into melee range. Keep your distance!

Squad Marine Roleplaying Guide and Expectations

  • You are a "reasonable person". Preventing MP arrests verbally or arguing is OK, interfering is NOT. (Unless you have a VERY good RP reason and "MPs are shitlers" or "He's my best Bro" are not good reasons by themselves unless you've been RPing it).
  • Respect the Chain of Command. If someone above you gives you an order, FOLLOW IT.
  • If you're a Marine, act like it. Don't break laws or disobey orders and expect nothing to happen. You can object to "questionable" orders and break laws in RP situations, but you wouldn't be "rioting" just because the RO is a shitler.
  • Relationships are restricted to friends and girl/boyfriends AT THE MOST. Marriages between marines is FORBIDDEN. You're still part of the military and you're subject to military rules. The military would NEVER deploy a husband/wife couple on the same ship or unit, let alone the same battalion. Also, don't use your relationship as an excuse to grief or cause problems. You would probably LOUDLY object to your best friend getting arrested, but you wouldn't gun-down the MP or interfere without a VERY good reason. (You wouldn't tackle a cop in real life because he was arresting your friend for being stupid, especially since it's like, 5-20 minutes in jail. Be REASONABLE.)
  • All Marines and personnel on board the Almayer initially know nothing about the Alien infestation, or even that Aliens exist. All they know is that they received a distress signal from the planet.
  • Survivors are allowed to know everything about the Aliens, such as how facehuggers work and the Aliens themselves.
  • There are no restrictions in knowing how to operate any firearm. However, non-marine personal cannot carry a firearm larger than a handgun unless directly in danger.
  • Combat Medics do not know how to perform surgery. Only Medical Doctors or the Chief Medical Officer know how to perform surgery.
  • Marines DO NOT initially know what Facehuggers do. And only a body scanner can reveal that something is inside one's chest.
  • DO NOT perform tasks your round start role would not know how to do, such as a Squad Leader hacking a door or a Cargo Technician operating a over-watch console.
  • Command (CO, XO, Bridge Officer), Medical (MD, CMO) and Engineering staff (CE, Maint Tech) on board the Almayer cannot leave the Almayer UNLESS they have authorization from their department head, XO or CO or they are abandoning ship.
  • Military Police can not leave the Almayer unless they are doing so to track down a rogue Marine who is not on the Almayer or they are escorting/piloting a Dropship. Military Police are expected to return to the Almayer ASAP.
  • Roleplaying Guide


Tips

  • Check out the FAQ for more information.
  • Don't panic.
  • Follow orders.
  • Stay with the Squad Leader unless otherwise ordered.
  • Never go anywhere alone.
  • Communicate as much as possible with your squad. It would be hard to talk too much.
  • Report all enemy contact.
  • Damage is realistic and getting wounded sucks. Don't rambo around or charge in.
  • The stationary side usually has the advantage. Be still and force the enemy to come to you.
  • Be safe, fall back, stay alive.

Additional Reading

The following are some links that go further into explaining details and some other Marine roles:


If you have any more questions, just A-help and one of the server's mentors will be happy to help you.