Joining Traumastation

In order to join Traumastation, open your SS14 Launcher and search "TraumaStation", then click on it to join up!
In the unfortunate case where you are unable to find our server, then you can press Direct Connect on your launcher and enter this IP address; ss14s://server.traumastation.com

Be sure to check our discord server for updates and downtimes; https://discord.gg/GbjyuN9q

1. Setting up your character

Setting up your character in TraumaStation may be unfamiliar for you, if you have not played before. First things first, let's take a look over the tabs of the character creator;

Appearance: That's where you will select your species, your age, your sex, your pronouns and your spawn priority. You may also change your skin color and eye color in this tab. If new, stick to human species since other species have many gimmicks.
Jobs: You may choose your job here. The higher a job is in the priority, the higher is the chance to spawn with this job. As a new player, you should be choosing a job such as Janitor or anything from the Service department.
Antags: You may choose your antagonist preferences here. This decides whether you will spawn with these antagonists, or not (based on RNG when the round starts). If you're new, it is heavily suggested that you do not enable any antagonist yet, as they require a lot of game knowledge.
Traits: Traits. They can either you give accents, or disabilities, or provide you with languages.
Skills: This is unique to Trauma. Skills act as a knowledge base for your character (e.g. a medical doctor knows how to operate a patient better than a bartender). You can put points into skills in order to gain several bonuses in-game (e.g. toughness will make you survive more attacks). RPG station is real! Also, don't forget to save skills.
Markings: The place where everything relating to your character's visual characteristics go. This includes hair. Most of the markings can be colored, so go crazy with your character!
Description: This will appear when someone examines your character description in-game. Used for pure RP purposes.

After you're done, you should press "Save" and close the character creation tab. Remember, you can make as many characters as you like.

2. Controls

For a more concrete guide on controls, follow Liltenhead's guide on them; https://youtu.be/-IEyakXaiI8?si=oyS7eteYIngcqPEq

We have a lot of special controls you may not see in other servers;

Grabbing: You can grab someone by initiating a pull while in combat mode. You can resist a grab by pressing B (default)
Tackling: By pressing Alt+Q while wearing the tackling gloves as a Cadet, you will be thrown at your click direction.

You'll discover those while you play.

3. Roleplaying

TraumaStation expects you to have roleplaying standards, but does not punish you if you struggle with roleplaying. Things such as spamming meme words such as "skibidi" is not allowed, or having a LRP name in your character (as non-clown).

4. You'll die a lot

That's just the truth. There will be times where an antagonist will take you to maints and leave you to rot there.
For such matters, we do not condone malding (the act of crying in OOC/LOOC/Dead Chat over your death).

TraumaStation is a punishing experience that will not hold your hand; so learn to operate under those conditions. Other games such as SCP: SL have similar situations where an SCP will pop out of a corner and instantly maul you to death. It's just part of the experience and the chaos.

So what do you in those situations?

Learn from your death: Not all deaths are random. Some deaths were caused because you messed up. Did you trust a stranger? Did you walk into maints alone? Did you trigger an artifact without caring for the trigger? Did you jump in front of a Nukie team and expect to survive?
Scout for ghostroles: Reinforcements always appear and let you choose a character you made. Other ghost roles such as antagonists will also periodically turn in on the station.
Go outside: No explanation needed.

5. Communication

Use your radio to communicate with fellow crew-members in your department, or in Common (everyone). Examine your radio headset for available radios you have access to.

TraumaStation also offers other unique ways of communication, such as Phones! Phones are mapped in different departments and act just like real-life rotary dials.

Other means of communication may include Nanochat, an app inside your PDA. Although, rarely used, it can be useful for situations where you do not want anyone to listen. It acts as a messaging app.