10.4. Crewmate Information Gathering & Sharing
As a Crewmate, your primary objective is to survive and identify the Impostor(s). This requires diligent information gathering and effective sharing. Paying attention to player movements, task progress, and suspicious activities is crucial. Once you have valuable intel, communicating it clearly and concisely during meetings can be the difference between victory and defeat.
Information gathering begins the moment the game starts. Keep an eye on who is going where, who is sticking together, and who is isolating themselves. Observe players as they perform tasks. While you can't see the task bar fill up for individual players (unless visual tasks are on), you can note if someone is spending an unusually long or short amount of time at a task location. This can be a clue.
Key Information to Gather:
- Player Locations: Where did you last see a player? Who were they with?
- Task Progress: Did someone claim to do a task? Did you see them at the location?
- Suspicious Movements: Did someone run away from a body? Did someone appear to vent? Did someone follow another player without a clear reason?
- Witnesses: Who can vouch for your location or someone else's?
- Visual Tasks: If enabled, observe who completes visual tasks like MedBay Scan or Shields.
Effective Information Sharing during Meetings:
When a body is reported or an emergency meeting is called, it's your chance to share what you've learned. Be specific and avoid vague statements. Instead of saying "I saw Red acting weird," say "I saw Red in Electrical, and then they ran out towards Security without doing anything. I was in Admin and saw them on the camera feed."
Key elements of good sharing:
- Location: State where you were and where you saw the event occur.
- Time: Give a rough idea of when it happened (e.g., "just before the body was found," "earlier this round").
- Player Names: Clearly state the colors of the players involved.
- Actions: Describe what you observed them doing.
- Your Own Alibi: Briefly state what you were doing to establish your own credibility.
Example of effective sharing:
"I was in Navigation doing the wires. I saw Blue come in, then leave quickly. A moment later, I heard the body reported in Weapons. I think Blue might be the Impostor because they seemed to be heading towards Weapons after leaving Navigation, and I didn't see them do any tasks there."
Information to be wary of:
- Vague Accusations: "Red is sus." Why? What did they do?
- Unsubstantiated Claims: "I saw Green vent." Where? When? Who else saw it?
- Impostor Manipulation: Impostors will try to twist information, frame others, or create confusion.
Advanced Tactics:
- Buddy System: Stick with a trusted player. This provides an alibi for both of you and increases your chances of witnessing Impostor activity.
- Task Tracking: Mentally note who is heading to which task locations. If someone claims to have done a task in an area you know they haven't been to, it's a red flag.
- Camera Monitoring: If you're in Security, pay attention to who passes by the cameras and when.
By actively gathering and effectively sharing information, Crewmates can build a strong case against the Impostor(s) and secure their victory. Remember, communication is key, and every piece of accurate information can be a vital clue.