Knowledge system (stopped due to Byond restriction)

[EvilDragonfiend]

BIG NOTE BEFORE READING

This document and the code are draft.

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Need to put: low pop bonus knowledge

Knowledge and expertise system

Design Intention

as a RP game, that you can recognise everything while you're playing a character regardless of the actual knowledge of the character you're playing badly contributes the low/no RP to your playing experience.
For example, a xenomorph that's birthed like a few seconds ago can identify what things are because the game doesn't protect you from the meta-knowledge of examining stuff - as this is a basic feature of the game.
thus, if a xenomorph's brain is implemented into MMI and becomes a xeno-xilicon, they weirdly know everything. This is very not good in RP wise.

Now, Your character will have some knowledge for each field, even as a mob. every item/stuff has knowledge requirement that will check your knowledge pool. If you don't have knowledge, you'll fail to identify it, and the name will be seen as "???" and description as "You are not sure what this is..."
If you success, then you'll get its true name, and true description.

expertise is - that something that should be called as a skill system in actual functionality. It will allow you to do something with your knowledge.

What's different about this from 'skill system'?

• Skill system: How you can do a thing well
• Knowledge system: How you know a thing well

These are similar at a glance, but it comes from a different view.

Knowledge system

Knowledge level

Knowledge has levels. Most knowledge has 3 as maximum level, but some knowledges have different maximum level.

• Foods: Miximum level 5
• Hacking: Maximum level 3
• Command: Maximul level 1

Note: There is no maximum level in fact, but you just have no way to increase those beyond the maximum.
For example...

• "You can do this! Basic cooking": 0 to 1 level
• "Advanced cooking": 1 to 2 level
• ....
• "Michelin star chef's theory book": 4 to 5 level

So, there's no book that you can advance your 5 level to 6 level. This is how maximum level works.

by reading a book, you get one of 0.15, 0.35, 0.50 that contributes to your knowledge level. level 1 means you get a step as a whole.

Reading cooldown time

You read books instantly, but you have a cooldown time.
each book has 90 seconds to read.
your brain is capable of reading 3 books every 150 seconds.
These values are not determined. can be longer.

Note: Bacon wants there's no restriction, so everyone will possibly learn everything except for very specific knowledge like antag only knowledge. (and I agree with him for the part there should be no restriction)

Knowledge types

Systemic ones

• Debug: If you have this knowledge, you'll get full list of knowledge
• no_key: This is needed in fail_name, fail_desc stuff. detailed explanation written below.
• Hint: This is given to new players. It has some helpful descriptions to new players.

Standard knowledge

• Basic: Very basic one. a xenomorph / a monkey will not have this. This is something basic to sentient lifeforms.
• Computer: your basic knowledge to use computers. mostly defaultly given.
• Drinks: Your basic knowledge to identify normal drinks. Water, Beer, something else are obviously what these look like. Bartender has this as master level.
• Foods: Your basic knowledge to identify foods. "Spider meat" will be seen as "Gross green meat" if you don't have proper knowledge. Chef has this as master level.
• Plants: Your basic knowledge to identify plants. plants will be seen as "interesting plants" if you don't have proper knowledge. Botanist has this as master level.
• Materials: Your basic knowledge to identify materials. "Gibtonite" will be seen as "Interestingly beautiful stone" if you don't have proper knowledge... Miners, engineers and some crews will have this knowledge quite high.
• Creatures: Your basic knowledge to identify creatures. If you don't have proper knowledge, everything will be 'Unknown creature'. Scientists have this as higher level.
  Beside, Ashwalker will recognise all of you as 'Ugly faced creatures' while lizardpeople as 'Ashwalker???'.
• Construction: About how to construct/deconstruct stuff.
• History: Lore-wise RP-focused knowledge. This is almost not useful but can provide some history.

Advanced knowledge

[Medical]

• Medical: basic knowledge about medical stuff.

[Security & Combat]

• Space Law: This lets you know if this is a contraband or not.
• Weapons:
• Forensics: Provides strong hints if you examine something, while provides weak hints if your knowledge is not sufficient.
  i.e.) "Lizard Hide" item
  Forensics 3: "[Forensics] This must be a crewmember's hide. You should check how this hide was made." (strong hint)
  Forensics 1: "[Forensics] You think you should ask a lizardperson if they know the lizardperson of this hide..." (weak hint)
  Lizardpeople 1: "[Lizardpeople] You are pretty sure this is your kin. They seem to be 'Butched-as-hides'. How horrible." (weak hint to bring RP case)

[Civilian & Service]

• Botany: knowledge about how to grow plants and plant genes. This is different from Plants knowledge - but with scholarship.
• Cooking: knowledge about how to cook foods. This is different than foods knowledge.
• Bartending: knowledge about how to bartend.
• Cleaning: knowledge about how to clean stuff.
• Supply: knowledge as a cargo people.

Unusual knowledge

These are special knowledges that are allowed to specific people, and not easy to access for learning because the game will hardly spawn study books that are related to these.

• Hacking: How to hack stuff. Basically, it allows you to emag stuff. Level 1 for prank level of hacking(megaphone), Level 2 for relatively harmful(emagged bots), and Level 3 for deadly hacking(hacked recycling machine)
• Syndicate: knowledge about syndicate items. Only traitors and securities have this knowledge. For securities, they should have this knowledge to confiscate syndicate stuff.
• Religion: knowledge about religionous stuff. This is not very helpful usually, but can give you hints of some omens. Chaplain has this as master level, and spiritual people have 1 level of this.
• Occult: knowldge about occult stuff (cult, heretic, etc). magics are not occult. Curator has this as master level. Chaplain has this a little.
• Magic: knowledge about magical stuff. Wizards have this as master level. Curator has this a little.

Species only

• Space Man: not species type in fact. Every crew will have this as basic knowledge. This lets you identify most stuff. a xenobiology mob will not have this, so they wouldn't know what an ID card/a PDA is.
• Ashwalker: Ashwalkers will have this as basic knowledge. They can't identify most everything, but they'll understand things as thier own. For example, a PDA will be a weird box, and can be said as "This is a box that makes a faint light."
• Humans: This is almost nothing but provides human related flavour text about human history.
• Lizardpeople: This is, but also, almost nothing but provides lizardpeople related flavour text about their history.
  Same to other species.
• Felinids
• Mothpeople
• Apids
• Slimepeople
• Plasmamans
• Ethereals
• Free Golems
• Podpeople
• Translocated Doctor: not species only... but it will be good to give a flavour to them.

Identification by examination

[how fail_name and fail_desc work?]
See the code example below first.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
    name = "Levo-Bicaridine"
    desc = "chemically levo-mirrored bicaridine. If you didn't study chemistry well, you'd think this is just bicaridine."
    req_knowledge_basic = list(KNOWLEDGE_CHEMISTRY = 3)
    fail_name = list(
        KNOWLEDGE_CHEMISTRY = "Bicaridine",
        KNOWLEDGE_MEDICINE = KNOWLEDGE_NAME_SAME,
        KNOWLEDGE_SCIENCE = KNOWLEDGE_NAME_SAME,
        KNOWLEDGE_NO_KEY = KNOWLEDGE_NAME_DEFAULT)
    fail_desc = list(
        KNOWLEDGE_CHEMISTRY = "Restores bruising. Overdose causes liver damage.",
        KNOWLEDGE_MEDICINE = KNOWLEDGE_DESC_SAME,
        KNOWLEDGE_SCIENCE = KNOWLEDGE_DESC_SAME,
        KNOWLEDGE_NO_KEY = KNOWLEDGE_DESC_DEFAULT)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
    [Case 1]: If you have 3 Level of Chemistry knowledge
        => the name will be identified as 'Levo-Bicaridine'

    [Case 2]: If you have less than 3 level of Chemistry knowledge(0~3)
        => the name will be identified as 'Bicaridine'
                This case happens the same if you failed to identify because your chemistry is less than 3,
                while you have MEDICINE and SCIENCE knowledge.

    [Case 3]: If you have none of Chemistry knowledge(null)
        => the name will be identified as '???' (KNOWLEDGE_NAME_DEFAULT)
    Having knowledge but failed to identify will give you false information.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    So, having knowledge isn't always good if your knowledge isn't perfect enough.

    the first ones have the higher priority to override the revealed name.
    `KNOWLEDGE_NO_KEY` must be placed at the last. (unless you know which shit you're doing)

    If you don't need misidentification by a knowledge type, don't put additional fail keys.
    `list(KNOWLEDGE_NO_KEY = "You think you've seen this somewhere...")` will be enough.


    Note: Since all datum subtypes don't need knowledge system, only specific ones have separate knowledge system related variables.

Knowledge check, success and failure

a proc mob.has_knowlege(KNOWLEDGE_SYNDICATE, 1) means checking your knowledge if you have 1 level of syndicate.
Only traitors have syndicate knowledge that is used to allow them to identify syndicate

Example: How to check stuff

Grenade

Grenade has basic knowledge requirement as these:

• Weapons 1
  Janitoring 3
  Engineering 3
  Science 3
  Chemistry 3

You only need one of those to use a grenade.

This means:

• Weapons 1: Security, shaft miner, exploration crew will know how to use a grenade
• Janitoring 3: Since they throw cleaning grenade, they know how to use a grenade
• Engineering 3: Engineers very easily understand how that works.
• Science 3: Scientists are not that different from how engineers understand
• Chemistry 3: not all medical crews. only chemists know how to make a grenade and use those

Guns

People just can shoot. That's basically allowed, but Firearms will need weapons knowledge to reload ammos.
Energy guns are what that doesn't need people's knowledge check, while pistol/shotgun will need knowledge check to reload ammos.

Knowledge preference

You can set knowledge like job preference. If your job has no knowledge of what you selected, you'll get a basic knowledge of those.

Expertise system

Expertise works like the real skill system that people would think. It only has TRUE or FALSE if you have it or not. Most Expertise stuff needs a knowledge to acquire. This works like traits in some aspects.

Examples of Expertise

• Lobotomy surgery: You can operate Lobotomy without an operating computer. (Requirement: Surgery 3
• Advanced Tending Bruise: You can operate Tend Wounds (bruise) as advanced version without an operating computer. (Requirement: Surgey 2)
• Fast

[PowerfulBacon]

I like this, especially the system that adds or hides information depending on what knowledge you have.

req_knowledge_basic = list(KNOWLEDGE_CHEMISTRY = 3)
    fail_name = list(
        KNOWLEDGE_CHEMISTRY = "Bicaridine",
        KNOWLEDGE_MEDICINE = KNOWLEDGE_NAME_SAME,
        KNOWLEDGE_SCIENCE = KNOWLEDGE_NAME_SAME,
        KNOWLEDGE_NO_KEY = KNOWLEDGE_NAME_DEFAULT)
    fail_desc = list(
        KNOWLEDGE_CHEMISTRY = "Restores bruising. Overdose causes liver damage.",
        KNOWLEDGE_MEDICINE = KNOWLEDGE_DESC_SAME,
        KNOWLEDGE_SCIENCE = KNOWLEDGE_DESC_SAME,
        KNOWLEDGE_NO_KEY = KNOWLEDGE_DESC_DEFAULT)

Rather than having it as vars on atoms, perhaps it would work better as a knowledge component? Then the component can just be added with the parameters for what it should display if you don't have enough skill. (Would it be easier to have a system where the default name is the true name, and anyone without the required skill level gets lowered?)

[PowerfulBacon]

You could have a system where you add a component for each unlocked knowledge token if you did it by the item starting off with nothing.

/obj/item/sketchkin
    name = "Pistol"

/obj/item/sketchkin/KnowledgeInitialise()
   AddComponent(/datum/component/knowledge, required = KNOWLEDGE_SCIENCE, level = 2, priority = 3, group = KNOWLEDGEGROUP_RESEARCH, extra_info = "This can be researched for gun tech or something idk.")
   AddComponent(/datum/component/knowledge, required = KNOWLEDGE_SECURITY, level = 2, priority = 1, group = KNOWLEDGEGROUP_COMBAT, alt_name = "Syndicate Pistol")
   AddComponent(/datum/component/knowledge, required = KNOWLEDGE_ANTAG, level = 3, priority = 3, group = KNOWLEDGEGROUP_COMBAT, alt_name = "Sketchkin Pistol")

[PowerfulBacon]

Or could have signals to add each knowledge thing.
Would make it WAY cleaner to have every single bit of knowledge added 1 at a time via procs rathe rthan being all in 1 go with lists

[EvilDragonfiend]

name = "Towercap mushroom"
desc = "A mushroom looks like a tree."

AddComponent(/datum/component/knowledge, type=KL_BASIC, req=KNOWLEDGE_PLANT, req_level=1)
AddComponent(/datum/component/knowledge, type=KL_BASIC, req=KNOWLEDGE_BOTANY, req_level=1)
AddComponent(/datum/component/knowledge, type=KL_BASIC, req=KNOWLEDGE_WIKIPEDIA_NERD, req_level=rand(1, 10)) // for fun

AddComponent(/datum/component/knowledge, type=KL_EXTRA, req=KNOWLEDGE_MATERIALS, req_level=2, c_desc="With the knowledge of the materials, you know this is actually a tree-like mushroom.", group=1)
AddComponent(/datum/component/knowledge, type=KL_EXTRA, req=KNOWLEDGE_SCIENCE, req_level=2, c_desc="With the knowledge of the science, you know this is actually a tree-like mushroom.", group=1)
AddComponent(/datum/component/knowledge, type=KL_EXTRA, req=KNOWLEDGE_SCIENCE, req_level=2, c_desc="You sure this can be researched.")

AddComponent(/datum/component/knowledge, type=KL_FAIL, req=KNOWLEDGE_CLOWN, req_level=1, c_name="funny looking tree", c_desc="SPACE TREE! You didn't know a tree can grow in the space!!!")
AddComponent(/datum/component/knowledge, type=KL_FAIL, req=KNOWLEDGE_BASIC, req_level=1, c_name="weird looking tree", c_desc="This seems to be a space tree. How weird...")
AddComponent(/datum/component/knowledge, type=KL_FAIL, req=KNOWLEDGE_NO_KEY, req_level=0, c_name=FAIL_NAME, c_desc=FAIL_DESC)

Made an example of a component, but I think it should use macros. It is too blobby...

[PowerfulBacon]

Grenade

Grenade has basic knowledge requirement as these:

    Weapons 1
    Janitoring 3
    Engineering 3
    Science 3
    Chemistry 3

You only need one of those to use a grenade.

This means:

    Weapons 1: Security, shaft miner, exploration crew will know how to use a grenade
    Janitoring 3: Since they throw cleaning grenade, they know how to use a grenade
    Engineering 3: Engineers very easily understand how that works.
    Science 3: Scientists are not that different from how engineers understand
    Chemistry 3: not all medical crews. only chemists know how to make a grenade and use those

Guns

People just can shoot. That's basically allowed, but Firearms will need weapons knowledge to reload ammos.
Energy guns are what that doesn't need people's knowledge check, while pistol/shotgun will need knowledge check to reload ammos.

I really like the idea of making people weaker compared to people who are less skilled, but I heavilly dislike the idea of restricting someone from doing something like reloading or using grenades if they don't have the recommended skill.
I guess for surgery it makes sense, but for something like reloading its a little more out there. If there was something like a reload timer thats really long if you dont have experience, that would be a lot better than just hard locking someone from reloading entirely if they don't have the skills. I think barotrauma does a really good job at this with their skill system, even if you don't have levels you can still craft higher level items in the lathes, they just take an agonising amount of time. Means non-doctors are encouraged to seek out their doctor to print something for them, but if they aren't able to, they can still do it.

[PowerfulBacon]

The restrictive nature was the main reason why skillchips never made it, along with the fact that lore wise it forced you to have a brain implant and didn't make too much sense.

[PowerfulBacon]

Although, I would be for restricting certain crafting recipes to skill levels, allowing things to be added that only roundstart antags like blood brothers can craft without allowing powergamers free access to stronger weapons.

[FriendlyContractor]

Suggestion - if you do not have knowledge about an item it's look(icon) changes to some random generic "mudane" icon preventing visual identification as well. This would have many interesting gameplay implications

[EvilDragonfiend]

Hmm, that's interesting. I will implement it into the system, but I don't want to put that as a general thing.
Very specific items will be good to have this feature.

[dwasint]

Personally i think gating content behind skill systems does nothing but cause unnecessary tedium. For instance: "Hey can i get a screwdriver", "sorry i'm busy getting my bartending skills come back in 10 minutes when i'm finished". I think its very unhealthy to gate content behind skills as its just going to cause every greytider to min max skill grind before doing anything else.

[EvilDragonfiend]

"Hey can i get a screwdriver"
"sorry i'm busy getting my bartending skills come back in 10 minutes when i'm finished"

I don't get which point you're worrying from the example.

every greytider to min max skill grind before doing anything else.

I don't think a greytider that knows everything is healthier than capping those. An assistant knows how to do surgery, atmos, sm setup, science, botany, cooking, bartending(drinks), chemistry, commanding, weapons, but assistant?
Also, it isn't "grinding". A grinding is that you need to do something repeatedly again and again and again and again to get something. You only need to read a book for a few mins, and that is not what people would call grinding.

Plus, there would be some pref setup that you can have base knowledge to keep your character's background. If you believe your character is doc main, set medical knowledge then your character will have it regardless of your given job.

[EvilDragonfiend]

because of cursed DM language, this project is in pause until the core issue can be solved.