Eneocho
commented
1 year ago I haven't tested the autoclother yet, but I'd like it if entering it from the output side undressed you and stored the clothes inside, so you can make a oneway system that clothes you when you enter but takes everything it gave you when you exit.
west3436
Bit of a wall of text on this one, and for that I apologize, however I feel a good bit ought to be said about this.
Had the good fortune to be able to give a thorough look at the auto clother during a recent (as of time of writing this) deadpop round. I had read about it in the changelog and was confused as to where to get them at first. It was only through actually looking at the code of the pr had I realized they were mixed in with the automation supplies in the cargo console. Although I thought this strange, what I found stranger is that the circuit board for the auto clother shared the same name of "Wrapping Machine" as the, well crate wrapping machines circuit board. No big deal of course, as actually inspecting the board tells you their difference, and it would be an easy enough change to make. What I found more frustrating was the actual functionality of the machine. Firstly, it's a one way, and functions like that of a recycler in regards to sending people through it (Step on the input tile, it teleports you to the output tile with your clothes on), this is theory is not bad and functional, however makes its placements in doorways problematic as you'd be unable to put it somewhere you may want to exit out the same way.
Another problem I found was rotation of the machine. At first I was yet again confused as I was unable to unwrench the machine without putting the wrench inside of it. I had foolishly assumed you would unwrench it, then drag and rotate it the direction you wanted it to face. In reality I needed to use a multi-tool to set the output of the machine. This would be particularly annoying, as it would keep sending me through the machine if I was too slow to set the output where the current input is. The machine also has the bad habit of eating your screwdriver when you go to unscrew it for deconstruction, thankfully, it does not eat the crowbar as you're taking it apart.
A serious problem with the Auto Clother is the removal of the clothes from the machine. While I was setting up the auto clother in the cloning room, so that whoever is cloned is automatically put into a white jumpsuit (Bad idea in hindsight as that would slow down the cloning process) I noticed under me was a bunch of white jumpers and shoes, as well as a pair of white shoes in my hand. At the time I thought I just had a brainfart and missed it, however later, while putting the clothes in the other two autoclothers I realized just by clicking on the machine with a free hand either it by mistake or purposely, all the clothing in the machine pour out as well as filling both hands with said clothes from the machine. This combined with the fact that ID's will be removed from people going through them on the very tile of the machine, means you'll find yourself constantly having to re-stock the machine from all the missing clothes on the ground in the event you have it filled with more then one outfit. It is my firm belief that, that problem alone makes the machine borderline unusable. I reckon all the other problems it has can at least be someone overlooked and worked around, however being able to just undo all the clothes you have from the machine, forcing you to put them in one at a time, is seriously fucking annoying.
So, what could possibly done to improve the machine? I believe firstly, it would be a good idea to separate it from the automation supplies in the cargo console, either making it it's own flatpack, or a crate with the stock parts required to assemble it. Secondly, I think if it possible, the machine ought to be some kind of two way, where entering from the output area would not re-cloth the person going through it (I realize this one being more of an ask, as I couldn't rightly say how challenging that would be to code, and frankly, I don't think it amongst the more important of the changes i'd like to see, but I still think it would be optimal). Thirdly, although I don't think having the machine require a multi-tool for setting your output is the worst idea, I definitely think it should be able to be unwrenched to be put into a different place if required. Fourthly I believe when clicking on the machine in hand to pull an article of clothing out, it should pull up a box like that of an empty recharge pack to allow you to pick what item you want to remove from the machine, minimizing accidental removal of clothing, and allowing you to pick and choose what you want out. Fifthly, as something on the lower end of things, I think the ability to clickdrag an article of clothing on a tile where there's a stack into the machine to fill it up like that of meat to a cloner, would make for a good quality of life improvement for those wanting to really fill the machine up. Lastly, I think the machine should have some kind of costume box it dispenses to give replaced items back to the user who just underwent the autoclothing process. This way, people won't go fumbling for their ID and PDA under the machine to go get it back, and also removing the problems of essentially ungumming the machine with unwanted clothing that might have been left stuck in there.
But yeah, that's my two cents on the topic for someone who actually got to use it. Trying to imagine what I think a good sprite for that machine would look like, I almost picture a sort of doorway, metal detector type deal, but I really don't got the creative fiber to figure such a thing, and I don't blame the creator of the PR a moment for just using the machine sprite as they did. I see good potential in the auto clother for station shenanigans, but as of it's current state, it's certainly no good.