Cooperative shifts that sound like rehearsals
Treat every session like stage crew prepping a stunt-heavy play-somebody owns the spotlight, somebody manages props, somebody watches balconies for falling rigging.
Investigator, stocker & analyst shorthand
Investigator: questions customers aloud. Stocker: roams aisles syncing inventory quirks. Analyst: glued to workstations comparing databases. Rotate each night-hour so nobody burnout-hoards lore clues.
Voice comm discipline
- Use push-to-talk with raised tail thresholds so coughing does not spoof panic.
- Establish safe words when someone needs mute breaks.
- Repeating confirmations twice prevents desync—“Register three clear, Analyst copy?”
Pre-shift huddles (even two-minute ones)
Brief SKU anomalies seen last session, note patch rumours, rehearse shorthand for reflections and fuel lane duties.
In-game coordination cues
Tap desk twice for suspicion escalations, flashlight flick doorway corners when cameras glitch. Respect quiet zones-monsters keyed to chatter spikes.
Emergency stack-ups & panic recovery
Someone always calls Shelter Plan B-migrate to coolers, choke freezer doors, synchronize healing items. After jumpscare resets, verbally confirm emotional check-ins-human players need reassurance too.
Text pings when voice feels unsafe
Use Steam overlay or itch.io chat sparingly-eye travel kills reflexes-but fall back when household noise dominates.
FAQs
Is proximity voice implemented? Reveal answer.
Depends on nightly builds-watch official announcements; design your squad assuming traditional party chat stays default.