This is a compact table list of frequently asked questions and unique CM-SS13 server features that you may want to learn. If you have a question that is not covered by this article, please Ahelp in-game, and a member of the staff will assist you.
What you'd like to know:
How To:
General
This section contains the general information that is useful for both teams:
Gamemodes and Maps
Distress Signal
Also known as Infestation and formerly known as Colonial Marines, the CM-SS13 game mode is Aliens vs. Marines; this game mode ends with the eradication of one side. Custom events started by admins can sometimes take place during this mode. This is the default game mode of CM.
The Hunter Games game mode is split into two modes, the first one being a deathmatch style with random weapons, mostly melee or thrown, scattered about, typically with admins spicing it up. The second mode is where there are still weapons scattered about, and it is still a free for all deathmatch however RP is encouraged due to how multiple 'Tribes' are spawned in at certain areas of the designated map to play on. From there the tribes can go to war, conduct diplomacy, execute their prisoners of war, go looting, etc. Nearing round end the remaining players of the tribes are told to get to more of a 'There can be Only One' styled of gameplay, with the last player standing wins. This is a game mode that needs one of the heads of staff to be online to play this mode properly. Remember, this is a game mode that can only be playable from round start.
A special defense game mode that is limited to the Whiskey Outpost map but it may be playable on other maps. More information can be found here. Only admins can change this gamemode.
Hive Wars
A xenomorph only gamemode that involves a four-way war between the Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta hives. Gameplay involves diplomacy and combat, with the main objective of wiping out the enemy hive cores and queens until one hive remains.
Extended
The Extended game mode does appear in CM-SS13, but it's reserved for admin events only. Normally xenomorphs aren't spawned in extended rounds; however, it's up to the admin hosting the event. An example event that uses extended would be the CLF vs USCM.
Maps
Colonial Marines currently has nine maps. The foggy, tropical warzone colony of Lazarus Landing on Planet LV-624; the harsh, cold winter environment of Ice Colony on Planet LV-343 'Ifrit,' also known as Shiva's Snowball; the modern, hot areas of the research facility Solaris Ridge on the Planet Big-Red; the ever-floating, maximum security station is known as the Florina Orbital Penitentiary or simply, Prison Station; the expansive, open, sandy battleground of Trijent Dam; The rocky and desolate colony of chances is also simply called Chances Claim or LV-522 as the official designation goes ; the divided biome colony of Sorokyne Strata; the linear farming colony of Kutjevo; and the soon-to-be overrun Whiskey Outpost in the Neroid sector.
Ladders & Wall Holes
How to look up or down a ladder or wall hole
Click and drag the ladder or wall sprite onto your character, to cancel this view you can either walk away from the ladder or you can go into the OOC tab and click "Cancel camera view."
Combat
How to get a trap off your leg
Go to the IC tab then click on resist or type resist into the chat bar. Note that if you're an alien, you can press the resist UI button.
Setup Character
The WO Role
The WO role is a custom preference for the map Whiskey Outpost (WO). If you have it set to yes, you may be chosen to become a Doctor or Commander on that map instead of a standard grunt.
Heads Up Display
To change your heads up display go to your Character Creator/Editor and into Settings under UI Customization, click the button next to Styles to change the style of the HUD. A popular choice is selecting the dark type.
Preferences & Others
Turning off xenomorph preference
Go to the Preference tab for verbs (top right) and click on Toggle SpecialRole Candidacy and select xeno. After you've done this, you'll have disabled your xenomorph preference meaning that you won't be placed into a larva body automatically.
Check ping
Enter .ping in the chat bar.
Toggle HUD On/Off
Press F12. Useful for when you are trying to target enemies that are blocked by your HUD.
Negotiation between hostile sides (USCM/CLF/UPP/Aliens)
It is not possible to negotiate with hostile factions, nor it is possible to have a peace treaty with one faction to work together against a common goal (Killing xenomorphs). Read this for more info.
About End of Round Grief (EORG)
EORG is essentially doing something related to combat (Such as firing weapons to anyone and anything, friendly-firing, etc.) or breaking some rules of the server at the end of the round (indicated by a big round end message as well as an EORG message), hence End of Round Grief. Like most Heavy-Roleplay servers (Baystation 12, Aurorastation, etc.) in SS13, doing EORG is not allowed, and continuing to do that can lead you to a ban for 3 hours without warning. Read Rule # 3 for more info.
Marine
This section contains information for marine players:
Wall Holes
How to throw a grenade through a wall hole
Without priming the grenade, click on the wall hole with a grenade in your hand, the grenade will be automatically primed and thrown through the wall hole.
How to throw a flare 'through a wall hole
Activate the flare in your hand so that it's providing light then click on the wall hole and you'll throw it through to the other side. Also applies to Flashlights.
Reloading:
Tactical Reload (reloading with one hand)
You can "tactically reload" your weapon with a magazine. Hold your weapon in your active hand and then drag a magazine onto that weapon.
Reloading weapon attachments
You can reload weapons attachments by toggling the attachment on, then feeding the attachment with its appropriate ammo type. Underbarrel grenade launchers take M40 grenades(Typically HEDP), Masterkey Shotguns take buckshot shells, and Mini Flamethrowers take flamethrower tanks.
Refilling Incinerator Tanks
Once emptied, Incinerator tanks can be refilled by clicking on a fuel tank, welder pack or welding tank.
Reloading Heavy Weapons (M5 RPG)
You can only reload Heavy Weapons by standing still, as moving will interrupt your reload.
Combat:
Dual Wielding
You can dual wield and fire both weapons at the same time by having two guns at each hand. This will greatly decrease accuracy however.
Mounting Emplacements
You can mount the M56D emplacement by dragging it onto your person, and you can put it on burst-fire by ctrl clicking it while manning it.
You can help put someone out if they're on fire by using help intent and clicking on them with an empty hand.
Pumping a shotgun.
Click Unique Action Button to pump. Since it has no hotkey you need to make a macro to blind it with a key. The command is unique-action
Helping a recently facehugged marine regain consciousness
After the facehugger has fallen off, repeatedly shake the marine by clicking them with an empty hand and Help intent.
Preparing an item for a high toss
If you want to throw items over machines and peoples heads. Press CTRL+R (for hotkeys toggled on) to use high toss. Click a tile you want to toss it at and after a short windup, you'll toss the item, over peoples heads. Do note, it has a short range of 4 tiles.
Fireman Carrying
You will need to have any level of fireman skill to perform this action.
To fireman carry you need to be on grab intent (yellow), then grab your target and upgrade the grab (aggressive grab) and drag their sprite onto yours while on grab intent.
Non-Combat:
Squad Hud
As a non-combat role, you can see the squad HUD by toggling it to enabled, by right clicking your headset.
Medical Hud: HoloCards
You can use the medHUD to add a visible holocard onto someone by shift-clicking them and using the holocard option at the bottom of their examine description.
Intercoms
You can directly speak into an intercom without having to enable it by prepending your text with: i. For example, ":i I'm speaking into an intercom. "
Remove armor first then the weapon will drop as well, if it's not deattached (Ie, the weapon is not in the armor slot), then remove the weapon.
Throwing other marines
Grab or Right-click -> Pull a marine in active hand then click File:UP-GRADE.png (or press Z in hotkey mode) two times (there is a few seconds cooldown in between) to upgrade it to File:DISARM-KILL.png. Then you can use throw to throw them up to seven tiles away and over unbarbed wire barricades, but it doesn't pass over window frames and tables. To overcome window frames and tables, click the window frame or the table next to you to put them on it when it's File:DISARM-KILL.png.
Removing Facepaint
Pick up a piece of paper, target the mouth and click on yourself.
Click on the fallen vendor/sentry with an empty hand.
Restocking Items
To restock/refill certain items, you click and drag them onto an appropriate vendor. Doing this will refill them, except for most magazines and other sources of ammo. Useful restockable items are Powerpacks to vendors, Tricord in Nanomed and hot drinks to vendors.
Turning on floodlights
Click the floodlight with an empty hand.
Unlocking locked dropship by Xeno
In case the Queen locked the dropship, it can be unlocked by having a command role (SL, PO, SO, XO and CO) access the dropship console.
Unlocking access to dropship doors by Xeno
This is the same case as above; however, this affects only when the dropship is on the ground, you are unable to access the door locks for 10 minutes once the Queen disables door locking.
How do you drag a resting person onto a roller bed?
See the section "Throwing other marines"
How do take shrapnel out of yourself?
Hold out a knife and activate it in your hand (Z in hotkey mode). You'll start to dig out the shrapnel, do not move until the process is over.
Inventory:
Containers and you
You can view the insides of a container (backpack, belt, armor, etc.) by dragging it onto your sprite. This works for containers on the floor or equipped on you, though backpacks will have to be in your hand, or on the floor.
Xenomorph
This section contains information for xenomorph players:
Non-Combat
Check where a tunnel leads to
Examine the tunnel by right click -> examine or shift + left click.
How to exit a tunnel
Alt+click the tunnel to exit.
Checking if slashing is enabled/disabled
Click on the Stats tab, once open it'll be clearly displayed in that tab whether or not slashing is enabled/disabled.
How to knock over vendors
Use Grab intent (the yellow square on the intent wheel) and click on the vendor.
Dealing with welded vents
You can melt the pipe you're inside to make a new exit. Said exit will be one way however!
How to clear snow
Use any non-help intent and click on the snow.
Wall Holes
How to climb through wall holes
Click and drag yourself onto the wall with the hole in and you'll start to climb through it. Keep in mind that only small xenos can climb through, this being tier 1 xenos, the lurker and the spitter.
