Block level Access

Block level Access

(With inspiration from Matata and 4Peace)

I would like the numpad on functional blocks to work as an access feature and not just as a symbolic graphic. I would like it to be colour coded to express the blocks access state. There would be no need to click on the block to find out whether or not it is 'access denied'.

Numpad colour access levels

Blue for open access

Green for faction members

Yellow for crew members

Red for authorised personnel only.

For this to work, and for the block access to be simple to manage, the blocks themselves would need only to store the access level blue, green, yellow, or red. Access to the block would be determined by referencing an activated common command block somewhere on the grid and the nature of the character attempting to access it.

The command block requires a loaded roster datapad describing a faction name, and a crew list with access levels. Anyone else on the grid and not on the crew roster will be treated as a guest and could only access blue level blocks.

If no command block or roster datapad is present on the grid then access to any block will default to open blue level access.(There would be exceptions)

A roster datapad can only be removed from the command block by authorised personnel or by the faction leader.

Command blocks are registered to the faction of the builder.

At least one named authorised personnel character must be on the roster for it to be valid.

A command block's access defaults to faction level yellow access when empty, but is set to red when when the roster datapad is loaded in.

Once a roster datapad is loaded onto a command block it becomes locked in and can be retrieved only by an authorised character.

Additional command blocks can be on the grid but they will not accept a roster datapad if an existing command block has a loaded roster datapad.

What are the advantages ?

Individual blocks do not have to store complex access rights.

Access to yellow, green and red level security on blocks can be changed quickly by editing the roster datapad in the command block.

Ship crews and access rights can be changed as a whole by swapping the roster datapad in the command block.

A non-faction member character can be given crew level access, or even authorised personnel access.

Blocks clearly identify their access levels by colour, there is no need to click onto the block to find out 'access denied'.

It should be possible to engineer a grid self destruct mechanism should grinding be attempted on a command block with a loaded roster datapad.